Parents Combat the Credit Crunch with Cloth Nappies
Today marks the beginning of International Real Nappy Week 2009. The message across the globe confirms many times over just much money parents can save by using cloth nappies.
The New Zealand Nappy Alliance (www.nzna.org.nz) has calculated that parents using reusable nappies can save up to $5000.
“Families who invest in modern cloth nappies could have an extra $30 - $50 per week to spend on groceries, pay off debt or spend time doing things with their family” says Kate Meads Spokesperson for the NZNA. “Disposable nappies are generally purchased alongside household groceries, so many parents may not realize exactly how much nappies are costing them long term.”
Nappy Alliance members encourage kiwi mums to lay-by their nappies while they are pregnant. Over nine months (40 weeks on average) the cost of paying off a full time cloth nappy pack may cost around $22 per week which is far less than leading disposable nappy brands which could be up to $50 per week for approximately 130 weeks after the baby is born.
“I started using cloth nappies on my second child because we simply could not afford to buy disposables every week. My cloth nappies are so easy to use; I only wish these had been around when I had my first....I cringe at the amount of money I could have saved!” Says Rebecca, mum to two girls Ella (5yrs) and Maddison (6 months), “I don’t need to soak, use pins or fold my nappies like most people assume. Best of all I will sell them on Trade me when I am finished and get money back for them, what a bargain”
Real Nappy Week provides kiwi parents with the opportunity to find out all about washable nappies and their numerous benefits. Along with all of the obvious financial benefits, parents are attracted to the environmental benefits as well. A recent government study in the UK compared cloth nappies to disposables, and found that if used correctly, cloth nappies can be up to 40% better for the environment.
“It makes far more sense for parents to deposit cloth nappies into their washing machine and their money into the bank instead of a landfill”, suggests Kate
For further information about Real Nappy Week, images, samples or interviews, contact NZNA Spokesperson Kate Meads (027) 22 11 242 or kate@nappydays.co.nz
Nappy Facts:
o The New Zealand Nappy Alliance provides support and advice to parents, manufacturers, and health and childcare professionals on choosing and using washable nappies. The Alliance campaign aims to educate people on the cost savings of cloth nappies and the environmental benefits that cloth nappies bring.
o Parents can save over $5000 by using real nappies over leading disposable brands, more if they are used on subsequent children.
o Three billion nappies a year, eight million a day - are thrown away in the UK. They are estimated to weigh 690,000 tonnes and 90% end up in landfill. In New Zealand it has been estimated that there are approximately one million disposables going to landfill every day
o A recent Government report stated that real nappies are 40% better for the environment than disposables when simple washing guidelines are followed
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Have we had the wool pulled over our eyes?
Disposable nappies only contribute a small amount to landfill.......so it would seem....
Acording to a leading brand of disposable in New Zealand, the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment suggests that disposable nappies make up around 1.9% of NZ Landfill. On their website, this company compares this figure to that of Plastics and food waste. Obviously when you compare disposable nappies at 1.9% to plastics at 9.1% as shown in the graph above, this all sounds like it is nothing at all to worry about because nappies are only contributing 1.9% of all landfill waste after all.
However when I did the maths I was truely shocked. When you stop to consider that only about 4%* of our entire population** contributes one single product (disposable nappies) to landfill and that this one single product contributes a whopping 1.9% all on its own this figure is actually shocking! Think of every plastic procuct that could possibly end up in our landfill, the list would be almost endless yet all of these plastic products only contribute to 9.1% of landfill and 100% of the population would contribute to at least some of this plastic waste.
Then when you consider that disposable nappies are solely responsible for nearly 2% of landfill waste and only 4% of the entire population uses them, these figures actually started to make me think that we may have a serious nappy waste issue.
Does anyone stand around and wait for their nappies to dry?
I was astounded to read recently that two disposable companies have been implying that parents using cloth nappies would have no time to spend with their families because they would have to spend so much time washing nappies and standing at the washing line.
What is really so hard about putting nappies in the washing machine and turning it on. With small babies, we all use our washing machines daily! The hardest thing sometimes is to get into a routine - many people simply alternate clothes washes with nappy washes and some people just throw it all in together!
Modern cloth nappies are shaped to fit just like disposables. Sometimes the wrap is separate from the nappy but one needs to dress baby in a number of items of clothing every day so one extra item of clothing makes very little difference.
Another common complaint is ’having to handle the poo when you using cloth’. I am amazed at the number of parents I have spoken to, who have not read the small print on disposables where it quite clearly states that any solids must be disposed of down the toilet. It appears that most parents just wrap up the nappy, poo and all, and dispose of it into the bin to go into our landfills – just because it is a disposable nappy. This is potentially very dangerous as there could well be tonnes of untreated human waste sitting in our landfills.
By using flushable liners in re-usable nappies, we don't have to deal with any of the nasty stuff, you simply just flush it away!
With our economy the way it is and with the price of disposable nappies increasing, disposables may actually cost your family more time than you think. Consider how many extra hours a parent may need to work each week just to pay for the $50 worth of disposable nappies their baby is likely to use per week. The amount of time the parent would have to work to earn enought to purchase their disposable nappies would far out weigh the amount of time it would take for mum to turn on the washing machine 3-4 times a week and to hang out 4 loads of washing.
Modern cloth nappies have become easy, low cost, eco friendly alternatives to disposables and will not cost a family any more time than what their daily washing routine already does.
What is really so hard about putting nappies in the washing machine and turning it on. With small babies, we all use our washing machines daily! The hardest thing sometimes is to get into a routine - many people simply alternate clothes washes with nappy washes and some people just throw it all in together!
Modern cloth nappies are shaped to fit just like disposables. Sometimes the wrap is separate from the nappy but one needs to dress baby in a number of items of clothing every day so one extra item of clothing makes very little difference.
Another common complaint is ’having to handle the poo when you using cloth’. I am amazed at the number of parents I have spoken to, who have not read the small print on disposables where it quite clearly states that any solids must be disposed of down the toilet. It appears that most parents just wrap up the nappy, poo and all, and dispose of it into the bin to go into our landfills – just because it is a disposable nappy. This is potentially very dangerous as there could well be tonnes of untreated human waste sitting in our landfills.
By using flushable liners in re-usable nappies, we don't have to deal with any of the nasty stuff, you simply just flush it away!
With our economy the way it is and with the price of disposable nappies increasing, disposables may actually cost your family more time than you think. Consider how many extra hours a parent may need to work each week just to pay for the $50 worth of disposable nappies their baby is likely to use per week. The amount of time the parent would have to work to earn enought to purchase their disposable nappies would far out weigh the amount of time it would take for mum to turn on the washing machine 3-4 times a week and to hang out 4 loads of washing.
Modern cloth nappies have become easy, low cost, eco friendly alternatives to disposables and will not cost a family any more time than what their daily washing routine already does.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Nappy Workshops in Hamilton
More Nappy Workshops for 2009
Overview of Nappy Workshop Itinerary for 2009
Overview of Nappy Workshop Itinerary for 2009
- 20th February at 7pm @ Parents Place 87 Boundary Road Hamilton
- 21th February at 10am @ Parents Place 87 Boundary Road Hamilton
- 27th March at 7pm @ Parents Place 87 Boundary Road Hamilton
- 28th March at 10am @ Parents Place 87 Boundary Road Hamilton
The cost of attending is $15 per couple or individual. Limited numbers available.
Huge interest and positive feedback from last year's workshops has led to four more workshops being scheduled for early 2009. Hamilton parents have raved about how informative these seminars are and how it totally took the mystery out of choosing modern cloth nappies.
Both workshops will be presented myself.
These have proven to be very popular especially considering parents want to learn the benefits of cloth nappies for their baby and also how they can save families $1000's and reduce their household’s carbon footprint.
To begin with there will be a 45-55 minute presentation. I will cover:
- The 5 Main nappy options available to parents today – Disposables, Pre-folds with covers, Pocket nappies, Fitted nappies with covers and All in Ones.
- Liners and boosters – what are they and why would you use one
- Fabrics – what modern nappy fabrics are available today?
- How to choose your nappies – Which one will be suitable for your baby
- Washing your nappies – You wash your underwear it’s no different
Then I will go through in detail the main styles of cloth nappies available in New Zealand. I explain what is involved in using each system and show how each brand and style is different.
Parents will then have the unique opportunity to try the different nappies for themselves on dolls supplied at 4 nappy stations and I will be open for questions through this time. Parents will be given tips on choosing which system will suit them and their baby.
Best of all, each pregnant mum attending will take home a free pack of nappies that has been supplied by one of the NZNA members and is funded by the Hamilton council. Each pack will be valued at around $70.00.
They will be fun, enlightening and educational workshops. You learn something new everyday so why not come and learn about nappies.
There is a limit of 10 pregnant women plus support person/partner per workshop so registrations are essential. To register please contact me on 07 549 2955 or 027 22 11 242.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Can parents afford not to use cloth nappies?
As the world’s recession becomes a reality, redundancy rates rise and many young families are struggling to get by on one income, a growing number of parents are now making the smart switch to modern cloth nappies.
Many parents are discovering that they can save up to $50 per week on their grocery bill which can come to an astonishing $6300* over 3 – 3.5 years.
Generally when couples have their first child they drop from two incomes to one so their weekly income is literally cut in half.
These now single income families are providing for a new baby who will cost a small fortune in their first few years of life.
“The main issue that puts parents off using cloth nappies is the initial investment because it can be anything between $500 and $1500 depending on the chosen brand,” says Kate Meads, cloth nappy expert and spokesperson for the New Zealand Nappy Alliance (www.nzna.org.nz)
“However if you had to go and purchase all of your disposable nappies up front, you just wouldn’t buy them because who could afford to spend such a huge amount of money up front on a product you will only use once”–
“We suggest parents purchase their reusable nappies while they are still pregnant and pay them off while they make the most of still having two incomes to draw on,” Says Kate Meads who is also director of Nappy Days Limited (www.nappydays.co.nz)
“These parents can then be happy in the knowledge that they won’t have an additional expense buying disposable nappies each time they go to the supermarket.”
“With a little bit of education, parents are discovering that using Modern cloth nappies take no longer to use than disposables and they are finding out first hand how much these wonder nappies are saving them on a weekly basis.”
Kate also knows many parents become overwhelmed when researching their nappy options because of the amount of information available online.
This resulted in her writing a book titled ‘Modern Cloth Nappies’
“I wrote ‘Modern Cloth Nappies’ to help parents decide which type of nappy would most suit their lifestyle and to dispel the many myths surrounding cloth nappies today” Says Kate
Kate has provided her book to Waitakere City Council who is jointly publishing it so they can use it as a resource in the Waitakere City area.
"This book is clear and informative for anyone who is starting out with cloth nappies. The book covers all the various types of cloth nappies available on the market while being an easy read - a great resource for cloth nappy users." Says Jennifer Aschenbrenner, cleaner production officer, Waitakere City Council
“I am hopeful my book will be used and supported in future by other councils and that it will make choosing and using washable nappies far easier for parents, potentially saving them thousands,” says Kate
Many parents are discovering that they can save up to $50 per week on their grocery bill which can come to an astonishing $6300* over 3 – 3.5 years.
Generally when couples have their first child they drop from two incomes to one so their weekly income is literally cut in half.
These now single income families are providing for a new baby who will cost a small fortune in their first few years of life.
“The main issue that puts parents off using cloth nappies is the initial investment because it can be anything between $500 and $1500 depending on the chosen brand,” says Kate Meads, cloth nappy expert and spokesperson for the New Zealand Nappy Alliance (www.nzna.org.nz)
“However if you had to go and purchase all of your disposable nappies up front, you just wouldn’t buy them because who could afford to spend such a huge amount of money up front on a product you will only use once”–
“We suggest parents purchase their reusable nappies while they are still pregnant and pay them off while they make the most of still having two incomes to draw on,” Says Kate Meads who is also director of Nappy Days Limited (www.nappydays.co.nz)
“These parents can then be happy in the knowledge that they won’t have an additional expense buying disposable nappies each time they go to the supermarket.”
“With a little bit of education, parents are discovering that using Modern cloth nappies take no longer to use than disposables and they are finding out first hand how much these wonder nappies are saving them on a weekly basis.”
Kate also knows many parents become overwhelmed when researching their nappy options because of the amount of information available online.
This resulted in her writing a book titled ‘Modern Cloth Nappies’
“I wrote ‘Modern Cloth Nappies’ to help parents decide which type of nappy would most suit their lifestyle and to dispel the many myths surrounding cloth nappies today” Says Kate
Kate has provided her book to Waitakere City Council who is jointly publishing it so they can use it as a resource in the Waitakere City area.
"This book is clear and informative for anyone who is starting out with cloth nappies. The book covers all the various types of cloth nappies available on the market while being an easy read - a great resource for cloth nappy users." Says Jennifer Aschenbrenner, cleaner production officer, Waitakere City Council
“I am hopeful my book will be used and supported in future by other councils and that it will make choosing and using washable nappies far easier for parents, potentially saving them thousands,” says Kate
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