Real Nappy Week
Using reusable nappies means less waste and less plastic. Even the occasional use of reusable nappies will still make a major difference to the 8 million single-use nappies destined for incineration or landfill every day in the UK.
Modern reusable nappy designs and improvements in washing machines, make using, washing and drying easy. There are a variety of different types of reusable nappies available that are fast drying and just as easy to put on as a disposable nappy. The use of natural fabrics also means no superabsorbent chemicals against baby’s skin.
Starting on Earth Day Monday 22nd April 2019 and also leading into the week 29th April 2019, there will be additional opportunities to participate with fun reusable nappy campaigns, learn about reusable nappies online and in person at nappy demos taking place across London and the UK.
Real Nappies for London will be running an online photo competition and writing competition; running reusable nappy demos and a real nappy meet up to offer face-to-face support; as well as asking the public to contact their local MP to support the Nappies (Environmental Standards) Bill, a Private Members Bill launched by Scottish MP David Linden earlier in March.
The Nappies Bill will establish an industry and government-led campaign to promote reusable nappies in the UK and incentivise Local Authorities across the country to roll out reusable nappy incentive schemes like the Real Nappies for London voucher scheme. By hearing from parents who have benefitted from nappy schemes, we hope more action will be taken to support and pass this bill.
Did you know that the plastic consumption of the average daily use of single-use nappies is equivalent to throwing away seven supermarket plastic bags per day? That’s 6,388 plastic bags over 2.5 years all sent to incineration or landfill.
Plastic Bags Per Day
Positive steps for change this Real Nappy Week
Promoting Reusable Nappies in the UK – How You Can Help
Contact your MP by email or twitter
Ask your local MP to support a new bill which has just been introduced to Parliament – The Nappies (Environmental Standards) Bill.
What the bill does: The bill promotes reusable nappies in the UK by incentivising local authorities across the country to roll out reusable nappy voucher schemes. It also establishes an industry and government-led campaign to promote reusable nappies in the UK. You can view the bill here.
Benefits of the bill: The UK throws away nearly three billion single-use nappies a year, 90% of which will go through household waste streams which means either incineration or landfill where they can take more than 300 years to break down. Even if they do break down, disposable nappies generate methane gas adding to global warming and damage air quality. The bill will help to tackle this.
A report by The Institute of Civil Engineers and The University of Northampton shows that reusable nappy voucher schemes are already delivering significant cost and environmental benefits for local government, families and single parents. Reusable nappy voucher schemes are helping to cut the circulation of single-use plastics and ensure less plastic waste goes to incineration and landfill.
How you can help: Send a short email to your MP asking them to support the bill and asking them to write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove, who is responsible for this crucial policy area.
We have created a suggested e-mail template, which you can download here: E-mail Template – Nappies Bill (.doc 48KB). You may wish to include some of your own experiences of using reusable nappies in the email. To find out who your MP is and their email address please insert your postcode here. We suggest you use the MP’s parliamentary email address.
You can also get in touch with your local MP and connect with your councillor via Twitter, you’re welcome to use our template: Suggested Tweets – Nappies Bill (.doc 50KB).
Volunteer
UK Cloth Nappy Libraries and Real Nappy Networks are usually made up of parents who have used, or are currently using, reusable nappies on their children. Get in touch with your local nappy library or network to find out how you can get involved promoting reusabale nappies to support new parents and carers making the switch. If you would like to hear what opportunities we have, please get in touch by email:info@realnappiesforlondon.org.uk. We are always on the look out for keen nappy ambassadors. Volunteering works around your time and commitment.
To find out about your local Cloth Nappy Library, visit: UK Nappy Network
Real Nappy Week via Go Real
Go Real will be setting FIVE #ChallengeForChange challenges for anyone to get involved with this Real Nappy Week …read more via Facebook
Photo Competition (Facebook and Instagram) and Writing Competition (via our Blog)
Join in on our photo and writing competition to share your experiences.
Photo Competition
Share a picture of your reusable nappy collection, your baby wearing a reusable nappy, or the nappies hanging out to dry on our Facebook page or Instagram page. You may also like to include a caption sharing your experiences and tips. (Please note, you do not need to show your baby’s face in the photo).
The competition starts Monday 22nd April 2019 (Earth Day). The most likes by Sunday 5th May 23.59 on Facebook and most likes on Instagram, will win a reusable nappy related prize (prize details TBA on this page and social media). The winner will be announced on Tuesday 7 May at 12 noon.
Share your photo with us using: Facebook: @RealNappiesforLondon, Instagram: @RealNappiesforLondon
Writing Competition
Send us max 300 words sharing your reusable nappy story. This may include, reasons why you switched, your experiences and/or sharing your routine to help give tips to others who are looking for advice. If you need inspiration, previous guest entries can be read via our blog. Please send your blog entry to: info@realnappiesforlondon.org.uk
Get your blog post in as soon as you can so that they can be loaded from Monday 22nd April 2019 onwards. The guest blog post with the most unique visits by Sunday 5th May 23.59 will win a reusable nappy related prize (prize details TBA on this page and via social media). The winner will be announced on Tuesday 7 May at 12 noon.
Please make sure you read the Photo Competition and Writing Competition Terms and Conditions before entering:
Photo and Writing Competition Terms and Conditions
By participating with Real Nappies for London’s Photo and Writing Competition during Real Nappy Week 2019, you agree that:
- By sending Real Nappies for London any posts of pictures or written content whilst participating with the photo and writing competition during Real Nappy Week, you are giving Real Nappies for London permission to use this information on our website and social media platforms – such as but not exclusively Facebook, Twitter or Instagram during Real Nappy Week and after. You are responsible for any content you post to us and you should only provide content which you are comfortable sharing with others. We do not take responsibility for such content and we reserve the right to remove or block any and all postings that we deem irrelevant to this competition or that we in our discretion decide not to use.
- When submitting any photographs you do not need to show your childs face.
- Pictures shared online and written blog posts will be visible online after the competition. Unless requested to remove or removed by the person responsible for posting.
- Comments posted by users do not necessarily reflect our views and we shall not be liable for any user information posted or displayed on, or uploaded onto social media platforms. We monitor social media and shall use reasonable endeavours to check that information is accurate and used appropriately but in doing so we are not assuming any responsibility. We reserve the right, but have no obligation, to monitor and/or become involved in any dispute between you and other users and we are not obliged to perform any adjudication or ruling service.
- Real Nappies for London does not endorse one particular brand or real nappy manufacturer.
Local Green Points
Don’t forget that if you live in the London Boroughs of Bexley, Camden, Hackney and Waltham Forest you can claim Green Points for using reusable nappies. You can choose how you would like to spend your points, either donate as cash to local charities or put the points towards something for yourself. Find out more via our blog post: Earn Green Points for Using Real Nappies
For Camden residents, if you enter Real Nappies for London’s photo and/or writing competition you can earn an extra 500 Green Points and if you share the post with Recycling Rewards you’ll earn another 1,500 points.
Attend a Nappy Demo Event
Throughout Real Nappy Week there will be additional opportunities to learn about reusable nappies online and in person at nappy demos taking place across London and the UK. information and support will be given from cloth nappy advisors and other parents who have used reusable nappies on their babies.
Learn about the benefits of reusable nappies and how to use, wash and dry them. Meet other parents along the way. For a list of upcoming events see below, or visit our events diary for events later in the year.
If you’re already using reusable nappies, please help spread the word to friends and/or family members, invite them along to an event. Make a morning, afternoon or day of it. After all, that’s what Real Nappy Week is all about right? Making #ClothNappiesMainstream.
Drop-in Demo’s at Nappy Ever After
Advice on reusable nappies and laundry service. A real nappy advisor will talk your through the different types and give information and tips on washing and drying reusable nappies. Advice is tailored to give you the best start. You will be able to redeem your real nappy voucher for a reusable nappy starter kit, for a selection of nappies of your choice, or for a trial laundry service.
Tuesday 23 April 2019
2pm – 6pm
Danson Children Centre, Brampton Road, DA7 4EZ
Bexley Reusable Nappy Demo and Nearly New Sale Give and Take
Wednesday 24th April 2019
9:30am – 1pm
(Nappy demo starts 10am)
Epping Forest Nappy Library
Brambles Family Hub, St John’s Road, Epping CM16 5DN
Celebrate Real Nappy Week with Epping Forect Nappy Library. Cloth Nappy Demo at 2pm. Stay after the demo to meet other families and for raffle prizes, cake and goody bags.
Contact: eppingnappylibrary@gmail.com
25 April 2019
Nappy Demo starts 2pm. Party 2.30pm.
KukooLaLa, Leyton Jubilee Park, E10 7BL
Cloth Nappy and Sling Social with Waltham Forest Cloth Nappy Library and East London Sling Library. Free event.
Clair from the WF Cloth Nappy Library will be demoing from 10.40am covering the different nappy types, absorbency options, using and caring for cloth nappies and much more. She’ll be available after the demo for questions and troubleshooting.
Annabelle from the East London Sling Library will be demoing newborn carrying after the nappy demo from 12pm approx. Prior to that, she’ll be available for troubleshooting if you’re struggling with your own carrier or want to try some library slings out.
Sunday 28th April 2019
10.30am – 12.30pm
Drop-in Demo’s at Nappy Ever After
Advice on reusable nappies and laundry service. A real nappy advisor will talk your through the different types and give information and tips on washing and drying reusable nappies. Advice is tailored to give you the best start. You will be able to redeem your real nappy voucher for a reusable nappy starter kit, for a selection of nappies of your choice, or for a trial laundry service.
Tuesday 30 April 2019
2pm – 6pm
Real Nappy Week 2019 – Real Nappy Meet Up
Join us on Wednesday 1st May for a Real Nappy Meet Up at Room S6, St Hildas Community Centre, 18 Club Row, E2 7EY
- Get support and advice on how to get started with reusable nappies.
- Meet local parents and share your reusable nappy experiences.
- Get involved by volunteering with Real Nappies for London.
- Celebrate Real Nappy Week 2019 and learn about the new Nappies Bill.
Reusable nappy advice will be available throughout the event from Hackney Real Nappy Network, Nappy Ever After and volunteers. If you would like to help out on the day, we would love to hear from you!
Light refreshments will be available. Babies and toddlers welcome.
Please register on Eventbrite.
Wednesday 1st May 2019
10.30am – 12.00am
Lambeth Reusable Nappy Demo @ Brixton Library, SW2 1JQ.
Real Nappies for London will be running a short reusable nappy demonstration after the Baby Rhyme session at Brixton Library on Thursday 2nd May at 2pm. We will demonstrate the three main types of reusabale nappies and talk about how to wash them. If you would like to apply for a real nappy voucher, Veolia Lambeth will be on hand to issue vouchers on the day. Please bring your supporting documents.
The Baby Rhyme session – story, rhymes and songs for babies up to 18 months – starts 1.30pm.
Thursday 2 May 2019
Demo starts at 2pm.
Free Real Nappy Voucher
Apply for a FREE real nappy voucher worth up to £54.15
If you are a parent with a baby under 18 months, or parent-to-be, living in the following London Boroughs: Bexley, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth and Waltham Forest, you are eligible to apply for a free voucher to help with the initial cost of buying reusable nappies. The voucher can be put towards a set of reusable nappies you have researched and would like to get started with. Or if you are unsure, then we recommend spending your voucher on a trial kit containing the three main types of reusable nappies. Real Nappy Vouchers can also be put towards a trial laundry service.
Reusable Nappies
Your Guide to Getting Started
Where to Buy
Buy Reusable Nappies
Get Involved
Promote Reusable Nappies