Nappies

N
appy changing is what motherhood is about – or so it seems at times. A good nappy is one of life’s essentials! In ancient times they used leaves or animal skins – in fact, the use of nappies is one thing that distinguishes humans from other animals!

Swaddling bands were strips of linen or wool that were tightly wrapped around baby. By the 1500s, the nappy was changed around once every three days! By the 19th century, babies were wearing nappies similar to modern ones, but boiling nappies to clean them and reduce nappy rash didn’t become commonplace until the beginning of the 20th century. Goodness know what our ancestors’ bums looked like – undoubtedly red and raw!!! Waterproof covers made their appearance in the late 1940’s with the first disposable being launched onto the market in 1956. Progress was rapid with absorbency and fit being improved, with absorbent polymers being added in 1987. Around this time, the vast majority of babies were in disposable nappies.

Disposable nappies are highly advertised with the large amounts of space given over to them on the supermarket shelves but media interest in global warming, and all things environmental is pushing up the awareness that disposable nappies form a significant percentage of landfill rubbish and many mothers are turning to washable nappies. Cotton nappies are now mainstream and retailers are increasingly likely to stock several brands.

Many Local Authorities are offering new mums incentives to use washable nappies. These can include ‘cash back’ schemes whereby Mums get a percentage of the cost of cotton nappies. Some are more generous than others and some restrict the outlets from which the nappies can be bought.

Birmingham has a novel scheme – a Nappy Library! Parents pay a one off fee of Ł10 to use the kit for up to 10 days. The nappies are sent to be laundered to NHS standards between hiring, to ensure that they are sanitised prior to use. Parents get up to about 20 different nappies and wraps, a lidded nappy bucket, nappy net, paper liners, wipes, boosters and fleece liners. The kits are delivered to the home and a council employee explains everything and they are happy to promote any supplier or retailer if they send leaflets. The service runs at a loss cost wise so they rely on nappy suppliers donating samples. The likelihood that parents go on to buy one of the nappies in the kit is extremely high as nappies etc are not just being advertised, but tried before purchase. For more information on this email here.
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