Hackney Real Nappy Network

What's NEWs

News letter	Councilor Laings' letter	members meeting

HRNN's September Newsletter:
informed members of the alarming decision by the North ondon Waste Authority to end their support for the Real Nappies for London voucher scheme.

The North London Waste Authority is a statutory body set up after the abolition of the Greater London Council. Its main purpose is to arrange the disposal of waste collected in the London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest. The NLWA has a membership of 14 councillors - two for each borough - and they hold meetings five times a year. Cllr Alan Laing is one of Hackney's representatives.

Cllr Laing has written to HRNN to explain the politics of the decision and to assure us that he will work to
have it overturned. His letter is below

If you have not done so already, please email Cllr Laing

alan.laing@hackney.gov.uk.

to let him know that you were disappointed/saddened/dismayed etc to learn about the decision to end support for the voucher scheme and asking him to do everything possible to ensure this decision is reversed.

A two-line email is fine. (A slightly more detailed email on behalf or HRNN has already been sent.) Please
encourage friends/family/anyone you know who supports waste prevention (and lives in Hackney) to email the councillor too

As well as ending support for the Real Nappies for London voucher, the committee voted to:
a) withdraw the NWLA from the North London Recycling Forum
b) opened up recycling credits to private companies (previously they had only been for voluntary/community groups).

Mary Bromfield
Coordinator, Hackney Real Nappy Network

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Letter from Cllr: Laing

Dear Mary

Re. Review of Real Nappy Subsidy

At the meeting of the North London Waste Authority on Wednesday 19 September, the Conservative members representing Camden, Barnet and Enfield voted to withdraw the NLWA from the North London Recycling Forum, open up recycling credits, previously reserved for voluntary and community groups, to private companies (notably Tesco) and, most disappointingly, to end the Authority’s support of the Real Nappy campaign.

This was forcefully opposed by both Labour councillors from Hackney, by Cllr Haley from LB Haringey and by Cllr Rowell from LB Camden.

Unfortunately, the Conservative councillors used the absence of Liberal Democrats from the meeting to force through these changes, which I believe is a highly regressive step for recycling in London.

I am writing to ensure that you are aware of the decision and to reassure you that at the December meeting of the Authority, I will be putting all these items back onto the agenda to seek to overturn the decision.

Further, I have sent a letter signed by all of us who defended these schemes to the local papers in Camden, Barnet and Enfield, expressing our anger at what happened.

I hope that this goes some way to reassure you that in our eyes, the fight is a long way from being over.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Alan Laing
Labour Councillor for Hackney Central Ward
Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods

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Notes from HRNN members' meeting, 5/10/07

Many thanks to everyone who came to September's Nappy Natter and HRNN meeting.

Please continue to tell friends/family/people you meet about our monthly drop-in and also promote the fact that we have a breastfeeding supporter attending the session.

The next HRNN meeting is at 10am on Friday 2 November, at St Mary's Church Hall, Defoe Road, Stoke Newington.

It will be followed by our monthly Nappy Natter and Breastfeeding drop-in (10.30-12.30).

Notes from HRNN meeting, Friday 5 October 2007

Stoke Newington Farmers' Market
Agreed that we should do a stall in December. Volunteers needed.
Possible dates, 1 Dec, 8 Dec, 15 Dec
Jill to contact Growing Communities to investigate

Party on Tuesday 4 December, Hackney City Farm
Time confirmed - 11-2
Suggestion that we should hold a raffle with donated prizes (eg nappy t-shirts, trial packs etc) MB to investigate.
MB to ask Ander (at Hackney Council) to provide us with more real nappy t-shirts for babies/toddlers for stalls/events that we attend

Mother Earth, Albion Parade
Owner of this shop is happy for us to do a stall outside.
Will revisit this in New Year

Home visits
Agreed that these were a good idea, especially as we are not agents/salespeople.
Suggestion that demonstrations could be done at volunteer's home or in a neutral venue such as a cafe.

Promoting attendance at Nappy Natter / increasing membership
Various ideas were forwarded, including
advertising NN at breastfeeding drop-ins, chemists, Children's Centres. doctors' surgeries, Merry-Go-Round (second-hand shop in Clapton)

Training of volunteers
Agreed that some form of informal training was a good idea
MB to produce a summary of different types of available nappies

Not covered
a) production of HRNN 2008 calender
b) NLWA decision to terminate support for nappy voucher (see email about this sent on Tues 9 October)
c) working with Islington Real Nappy Network

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Links/mail	Handy Links
	Details of other services can be found on the Real Nappy Campaign Website.
	London Borough of Hackney - Environment Directorate Hackney provides cash incentives for users of cloth nappies. Contact: Ander Zabala (Waste Prevention Officer) Tel: 020 8356 3806
	This is a new London-wide scheme to provide parents with an opportunity to try real nappies.
Other North	Borough	Contact Name	Telephone
London Council	Barnet	Candice Luper	020 8359 7473
Contacts	Camden	Sara Seaton	020 7974 3727
	Enfield	Mary Blake	020 8379 1790
	Haringey	Andrew Coulthurst	020 8489 3260
	Islington	Jean Hughes	020 7527 5157
	Waltham Forest	Sue Goff	020 8496 2575
	The Hackney and Islington branch of the National Childbirth Trust offers a range of services to support local parents and parents-to-be.
	The National Childbirth Trust. Choose from a carefully selected range of washable nappies, each with their own unique features and benefits to suit your needs and lifestyle. The Nappy FAQs page will answer your questions, and explain how the nappy systems work.
CRNN	Camden Real Nappy Network If you live in Camden, you can also contact: camdenrealnappynetwork@hotmail.co.uk
IRNN	Islington Real Nappy Network If you live in Islington, you can also contact: islingtonrealnappynetwork@hotmail.co.uk

Laundry Services
	Nappy Everafter - Very popular with parents in Hackney and North London. A non-for-Profit company with a friendly service and lots of free advice. Use pushbikes and electrically powered vehicles to deliver/collect each week. Tel: 020 7383 5115 Txt: 07941 085 543 Nappy Exchange/Pass on Service Making sure re-usable nappies are being used Contact: exchange@nappyeverafter.co.uk

More Information
	Women's Environmental Network (WEN) runs the Real Nappy Project to raise awareness about the environmental impact of nappies and to ensure that parents have a fair choice.
	Practical advice about using cloth nappies - from the Nappy Lady web site.

Shops
	BORN sells environmentally friendly, natural, organic, fair trade and practical products for parents and their babies. including cloth nappies liners and wraps.168 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16. Tel: 0207 249 5069
	Snazzy Pants sells everything you need to get started using cloth nappies, whether its natural, organic cotton or bright funky washable cloth nappies.
	Green Baby 345 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 0PD (020 7359 703). This shop is based in the heart of Islington,North London,and stocks most products available in it's catalogue & online shop.
	Making a purchase couldn't be easier, with Little Lamb's online shopping. Simply browse through the shopping page. A good selection of Cloth nappies and accessories.
	Stockists of the Babino Mio range, Liners, Nappy Wraps, Pull-ups and accesories.

Organisations
	The HRNN supports the Campaign against Climate Change. After all it's our children's planet and we'd like it to be around for them to grow up in!
	Growing Communities is a social enterprise run by local people. Starting right here in Hackney, North London. Working to create a sustainable food system that makes good food available in a way which cares for the environment and fosters community.
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Frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs)

We have arranged the FAQs in alphabetical subject areas, so it is easier for you to get the information you need. Please remember that the answers we have given are based on our own experiences only!

If you want more facts and figures, see the list of organisations that can provide these, try our links page for some other usefull sites. Or for a good summary, go to: WEN facts.

Benefits to your baby

Concerns - Hygiene & Safety - Leakage - Money - Carers - Time - Laundry - Home washing

Is it true that cloth nappies lead to earlier potty training?
* They can do. The carer can look at the nappy and see if the urine is being held and can thus easily spot that the baby is ready for potty training.

What other benefits are there?
* It is so nice putting soft cloth against your baby's lovely bum!
* Babies may smell less in cloth nappies.

Benefits to the environment
Are they really better for the environment?
* Lots of people think so - like us!
* There has been a lot of research done about the benefits of cloth nappies. For a great summary of the facts go to the WEN website

Concerns

Benefits - Hygiene & Safety - Leakage - Money - Carers - Time - Laundry - Home washing

Do they cause nappy rash?
* We have found that nappy rash is usually caused by not changing frequently enough, teething, weaning or the baby being sick.
* The contact with urine the babies get from cloth nappies strengthens the skin -even some health visitors say this.

Does my bum look big in this?
* Yes! But there are more trousers available now to fit around cloth nappies. It just means finding a brand which fits your baby's shape with a cloth nappy on. We have found Next, Ladybird, Mothercare are all pretty good. You may need to buy up a size.

Hygiene/safety

Benefits - Concerns - Leakage - Money - Carers - Time - Laundry - Home washing

How do I store dirty nappies?
* Bins are provided if you use a nappy service or just buy a bin with a lid if you home wash
* Bins don't smell (smell is subjective - it is only really bad when you open the bin!), but do take up some space.
* You could always try using a drop of essential oil (perhaps tea tree) to wipe round the bin if you find it really difficult to bear.
* Also don't rinse out the nappies before you put them in the bin - this adds water that activates bacteria and can make them really smelly.
* Try and ensure good airflow through your house/flat.

Are they hygienic/safe?
* We think so. Laundry services generally launder in accordance with NHS standards. If you are home washing, 60 degrees will give them a good clean.

But don't I have to take the dirty nappies home with me?
* Taking cloth nappies home means you don't have to open the smelly nappy bins in shops etc.
* You can buy plastic-lined drawstring bags to make storage easier when you are out . You can get these from websites like Nappy Lady.

Do you need to use pins?
* No. If you decide you need to put the cloth nappy on tighter to prevent leakage then you can buy plastic "nappy nippers" which are great and safe.

Leakage etc

Benefits - Concerns - Hygiene & Safety - Money - Carers - Time - Laundry - Home washing

Do they leak?
* Nappies do leak, but frequent changing will help minimise this.

Can I use them at night?
* Yes. Although some people also use a booster, an extra large nappy and a highly waterproof wrap, just to make sure baby stays dry.

Can I use them on newborn babies?
* Yes.
* Some people have concerns about rubbing on the navel. The solution if you face this problem is to get wraps which are "lower cut".

How do I stop the liners leaking?
* You can't really stop this for newborns or breast fed babies, but it doesn’t last forever, and mostly stops once they are on solids.
* There are different kinds of liners available, so it is worth experimenting to see which work best for your baby. You can also buy washable liners.
* The nappies can be folded in different ways to help keep the poo in place!

Money

Benefits - Concerns - Hygiene & Safety - Leakage - Carers - Time - Laundry - Home washing

Are cloth nappies affordable?
* Yes! Home washing is probably the cheapest way of using cloth nappies, once you have bought the stuff you need. We have found that you need to have about 20 or so cloth nappies, plus 4-6 wraps. If you use a laundry service you get the nappies as part of your weekly fee. Everything else you will need to buy, for example wraps.
* Some boroughs offer cash incentives to get parents using cloth nappies. For example, in Hackney, Haringey and Camden you get £54, in Westminster £31, which you can put towards laundry service or home washing costs. In Islington you get £35 off for each baby under one and a further £15 when they are one.

Nurseries and child minders

Benefits - Concerns - Hygiene & Safety - Leakage - Money - Time - Laundry - Home washing

Do/can nurseries and childminders use them?
* Yes they can. Some nurseries are now converting, but most still don't. However it is always worth asking and there are definitely some nurseries in Hackney now using them for example Mini Home (020 7249 2425) and The Bath House.

Time

Benefits - Concerns - Hygiene & Safety - Leakage - Money - Carers - Laundry - Home washing

Do they take a long time to change?
* They can initially, but once you get used to them it can be a nice extra bit of contact with your baby, taking time to change their nappy unhurriedly!

My partner worries that I will be taking on too much using cloth nappies, when I will already have a newborn to cope with?
* If you are worried about having too much to do then consider a laundry service, at least to start you off.

Using a laundry service

Benefits - Concerns - Hygiene & Safety - Leakage - Money - Carers - Time - Home washing

Is a service cheap?
* Using a laundry service may in the short term seem expensive, but early potty training means savings in the longer run
* A laundry service might cost £8.50 per week and is very time efficient as nappies are delivered to your door. See our links page for Nappy services.
* The nappies are very clean when laundered.
* They are generally laundered to the same standard as hospital/hotel towels and sheets.

Washing your own nappies

Benefits - Concerns - Hygiene & Safety - Leakage - Money - Carers - Time - Laundry

How much does home washing cost?
* Home washing is cheaper than anything… just ask your mum! Once you've bought the basics it only means one more load of washing every few days.
How should I wash the nappies?
* Usually 60 degrees is okay, using ordinary washing liquid such as Ecover.
* Some people soak the nappies first just before washing - with a couple of drops of tea tree or
lavender oil, or quite a lot of bicarbonate of soda.

What do I do with my wraps and cloth nappies when I have finished with them?
* They can be sold or donated through a number of places, including e-Bay, the Nappy Lady website, NappyEverAfter, Caroline Holding's exchange/pass on service, Women's Environmental Network. See links page section for more details.

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The Basics
Things you will need to get started


	Cloth nappies: Modern cloth nappies have a variety of fixings cords, Velcro or press studs to replace the safety pin. They come in many different shapes, sizes and colourful wrappings, to fit the unconcerned newborn to the fasion concious toddler. If you use a Laundry service you will be given the nappies as part of your weekly fee, and sites like the Nappy Lady will get you to fill in a questionnaire to help you determine what size and kind of nappy you will need for your baby.

Liners: These fit inside the nappy and catch the poo. You can get biodegradable ones, and also cotton liners that can be washed.	This Nappy is all set up and ready to wear. Including a nappy Liner to keep the poo seperate which makes it easier to remove. Some of the paper liner varieties are washable for minor 'accidents'!	Wet wipes: You can get biodegradable wipes from most supermarkets. Cotton wipes are also available, which can be washed and re-used.

Booster pads: This is an extra thick cloth pad that fits inside the main nappy. You won't necessarily need these, unless your baby pees a lot, especially at night.	Wraps: These are the pants which fit around the nappies to keep them in place. They also provide a waterproof layer and stop leakages. Again they come in different shapes and sizes. If you use a laundry service, then the service's representative will probably help you with sizing for your baby and recommend a wrap to suit.	Cloth Pull-Ups: For the older child, when potty training starts you can buy a selection of washable cloth, pull-up nappies.
	Nappy bin: A bin with a lid to store used nappies. If you use a nappy service you will be given one usually, on loan. Any bin with a good lid will do!

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newsletters	meeting minutes	calendars
Nappy Natter Flyer	november minutes	Winter Calendar 2007
Real Nappy Chronicle 10/07	february minutes
Newsletter september 2007	march minutes

The Hackney Real Nappy Network has recently taken part in a video, hopefully to be shown on TV. Please visit the site and vote for it! But here's a sneak preview for those who can't wait.
The Climate Change Demo More pics soon… we got there and apparently others did too!

The Demo was bright and beautiful on a 'mild' November day (strangely). It was colourful and full of life and people asking… what'd you do with the Poo? Well visit our FAQs and find out.

"...on yer bike ...on yer bike ...on yer bike" was a popiular chant and I know just the thing for that Bull!!!

Some nice people who walked with us
More pictures to come. BBC has had to say... BBC Pics
Article from the N16 Magazine

The Happy Nappy Party at the 1 O'Clock Club in Clissold Park this summer

Nappy Networker discussing the benefits of Cloth nappies	A new Menber!!!!

"No more photos let me play!"
More images to come…

Events Page