Tots Have A "Real Nappy" Week In The Highlands

Mums and Dads of young tots in the Highlands are today being urged to cut down on their daily household waste by using modern re-usable nappies.

Now in its ninth year, Real Nappy Week (20 – 26 June 2005) aims to raise awareness of the practical and environmental benefits of real modern, shaped and fitted cloth nappies and to inform parents about the range of available laundry services.

Coordinated by WEN (Women’s Environmental Network) together with WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) and SWAG (Scottish Waste Awareness Group), Scotland’s Real Nappy Week 2005 is bringing together local authorities, Real Nappy Networks, manufacturers, health boards and individuals in a national campaign to promote real nappies as a convenient, cost-efficient and practical alternative to disposable nappies.

Throughout Real Nappy Week, parents and professionals in the Highlands involved in childcare will be given the opportunity to learn more about real nappies through a variety of events and activities taking place.

The week’s events kick off on 20 June with the Real Nappy Conference 2005 at the Radisson SAS in Glasgow. Organised by the Scottish Real Nappy Network together with WRAP, the conference brings together professionals from across the private, public and voluntary sectors to share best practice on promoting real nappies to parents and parents-to-be.

During Real Nappy Week the Highland Real Nappy Project will be offering parents across the Highlands the chance to find out how good real nappies are from just £5 with the launch of its Real Nappy Incentive Scheme.

There are 100 incentive scheme kits on offer at displays taking place throughout the week - the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness, (10am-3pm, Thursday 23 June) and at Bumps and Beyond baby store, Inshes, Inverness, 10am-1pm Saturday 25th June. Parents will be asked to contribute a small amount towards the kits.

Each contains a variety of modern, colourful nappies, waterproof covers and accessories with a retail value of around £55. Small and medium sized kits are available to suit babies from birth up to around 30lbs, and experienced real nappy-using parents will be on hand to pass on tips and advice.

After Real Nappy Week the kits will be available from Bumps and Beyond and at the regular Nappy Natter drop-in sessions held at Charleston Community Centre, 2-3pm on the first Wednesday of every month.

There will also be displays on all week in Wick Library, Caithness, Belford Hospital Maternity unit, Fort William, and display/demonstrations at Beauly baby clinic in Muir of Ord all week.

Penny Lawson, co-ordinator for the Highland Real Nappy Project said: "The launch of our incentive scheme gives Highland parents a great opportunity to try out around £55 worth of lovely real nappies from only £5 - a real bargain.

We feel that once parents find out for themselves how easy, cheap and fun to use real nappies are, they will be only too pleased to be doing their bit to reduce Highland's waste problem. Our project can also offer personal advice, nappy demonstrations and talks, and trial nappy kits on loan to anyone interested."

Whilst real nappies help to cut down on domestic waste, parents of young toddlers can also take the following steps to reduce the environmental impact of real nappies: