Summer is here and while everyone dresses down, modern kids stay cool in real nappies

We all want our little ones to look good, and when the heat is on and the clothes are off, you just can't get cuter than a real nappy. With tie-dye and day-glo, leopard print and gingham, floral and pastel shades, natural unbleached or classic white, your baby can be the best dressed this summer.

Even though you may be keen to show off your baby's funky nappy, bear in mind that babies should be kept out of the sun when it is at its most intense between 11am and 3pm, and topped up with a SPF 15+ factor sunscreen at regular intervals.

Glamorous Radio 2 Presenter, Janey Lee Grace likes her children looking good and is a fan of real nappies. "I just love the style that real nappies add to Rocky's wardrobe especially in the summer when he wears little else. They not only look cool, they actually are cool, as the fabrics are breathable and allow air flow." This breathability is due to the fact that while disposables are made of paper pulp, plastic and chemicals, real nappies are mostly made of natural fabrics.

Saving the environment and the pennies
And if you think the price of looking good is high, you're in for a nice surprise. Parents could save around £500 on the cost of keeping a baby in nappies. Use them again for another baby and the savings could be even greater.

Kirsty McDonald's two children wore washable nappies: "We used real nappies because we are concerned about the environment and couldn't bear the idea of all the waste that disposables create. But when I realised how much my friends were spending on their nappies, I really appreciated the savings too."

Kirsty is not alone in being concerned about the waste created by disposable nappies. Nearly three billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year. That's nearly eight million a day. Landfill space is running out so it is hardly surprising that many local authorities are promoting real nappies in an effort to reduce household waste and the cost to the local tax payer.

Mum of three, Sarah Kemp, found out about real nappies in her ante-natal class when she was pregnant with her first child. "The nurse had a selection of real nappies for us to look at. They looked great but I was still a bit hesitant at first because I thought they would be so much work. But I gave them a go and found that they are easy to use, easy to wash and quick to dry. I just put the used nappies in a bucket with a lid and every three days I put them through a 60 degree wash. No soaking, no boiling and no smells."

Door-to-door convenience
But of course if that still sounds like too much work, laundry services provide the ultimate convenience. They do all the work for you - a pile of freshly laundered nappies is delivered to your door every week and the soiled ones are taken away to be washed to NHS clinical standards.

Dad of two, Nick Bostock, uses a local laundry service. "It's so convenient. We just leave out a bag of used nappies on Sunday night and when we open the front door on Monday morning, a bag of clean ones is waiting for us. The nappies are great, easy to use with fun patterns on the waterproof wraps. I'd definitely recommend a laundry service to other full-time working families."

Again you'd think that this level of service would come at a premium cost, but NANS, the trade association for nappy laundry services, suggests an average weekly cost of around £8.50 which is roughly comparable to the cost of branded disposables. Most services offer a discount to households who have more than one baby in nappies, making it even more economical.

There are so many different real nappies available these days that the choice can be almost daunting. But with Real Nappy Week (June 20-26th) here, there will be lots of opportunities to find out more. There are events and activities planned all over the UK where parents and parents-to-be can see for themselves what real nappies are really like. To find out what's going on in your area visit www.wen.org.uk/rnw

And so much choice...
There are four main types of nappies: all-in-ones, two part shaped and fitted, pocket nappies and flat nappies. You will need about 20 nappies in each size. Some nappies are one-size to fit a baby from birth to potty so you would only need one set. Others come in three-four different sizes. Here is a guide to what's available.

Flat nappies include traditional terries, prefolds, muslins and continental tie-on nappies. All are cheap and versatile, they need some folding to fit the baby, and a waterproof cover or wrap, but they are very economic and quick drying. Even terries have changed - no pins required if you use a nifty little plastic device or special wraps. Flat nappies are priced from around £2 each.

Shaped nappies require a waterproof cover. Shaped and fitted, with elasticated legs and waist, they have a neat fit and are easy to put on. Most are self-fastening with Velcro fixings or poppers. Available from around £5 each.

All-in-ones are supremely easy to use. They are shaped and fitted, with Velcro or popper fastenings and they have a built-in waterproof cover. They are the easiest cloth nappies to use, notably when hurried or out and about. The extra layers of fabric mean that they take longer to dry than flat or shaped nappies. Available from around £7 each.

Pocket nappies are waterproof wraps with a pouch into which you can insert folded flat nappies or special inserts to provide the absorbent layer. They are especially useful when out and about or if your baby is going to a nursery as they can be prepared in advance. They are a very versatile nappy as you can add layers at night and use fewer during the day. The nappies cost from around £8 each and the inserts cost around £2 each.

The Real Nappy Helpline 0845 850 0606 give details of local real nappy contacts whether you want to buy nappies to wash at home or use a local laundry service.

Useful contacts
Women's Environmental Network 020 7481 9004
The Real Nappy Campaign

Copyright WEN April 2005