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Get ‘real’ and save hundreds

Published: 29/04/2014

As plans for this year’s Real Nappy Week get underway, Flintshire County Council is encouraging Welsh parents to join the growing numbers using ‘real’ cloth nappies on their baby. Real Nappy Week is an annual event taking place between 28 April 28 and 4 May. The event is supported by Recycle for Wales and will see local authorities joining with real nappy retailers to show parents how reusable nappies can help them save money as well as reduce waste. The average baby will need to wear disposable nappies for two and a half years, a cost of £650 to £1300*. Real Nappies on the other had could cost just £200* (purchase cost) for the same two and half year period, taking your child from birth right up to potty training. These savings really start to escalate when the nappies are reused on subsequent children. Modern real nappies are fun, fashionable and come in a range of styles designs and colours, from denim to camouflage and cow print to ruffles. Real nappies also benefit the environment, a Flintshire Council spokesperson said: “Disposable nappies can take up to 500 years to bio-degrade, but by simply switching to cloth nappies instead of disposables, prevents over 4,000 nappies from going to landfill” “Cloth nappies are soft and comfortable to wear, and if you choose the right cloth nappy for your child’s shape, they leak much less than disposables. “ Flintshire County Council, along with Denbighshire County Council offers a voucher service to encourage parents to use real nappies. Up to £75 worth of vouchers can be used as part payment towards Real Nappies or a Real Nappy Laundry Service. Qualifying parents will receive vouchers worth £25 each for use when their baby is aged 0-3 months, 4-9 months and 10-18 months. For more information look at the Real Nappy Incentive Scheme leaflet at http://www.flintshire.gov.uk Throughout the week, local authorities will be holding advice sessions to give parents the opportunity to find out more about the different types of real nappies available and information on the benefits of using them. For information on events happening in your area please contact your local authority, or visit www.realnappies-wales.org.uk or www.recycleforwales.org.uk Editors note Sources *www.goreal.org.uk, *http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/environmentandtransport/domesticrecyclingandrubbish/wast eminimisation/realnappies.aspx