This Is Guernsey

THE States has upped the real nappy grant in an effort to reduce the 9,000 disposables going to landfill every day. But saving the environment need not mean putting newborns straight into real nappies, said Sally Dyas, who organised a meeting at Cobo Tea Room yesterday for mothers to discuss the issue.

‘Now that the States has increased the grant to £35, we are encouraging mums to buy a few and try them out,’ she said.

‘If they come to the mornings they can get information and advice from us. We can pass on the pitfalls we met in the early stages.’

Mrs Dyas said that mothers could start using them at any point - it did not have to be from birth.

‘When it gets to the point when the child is dry in the day, it’s the easiest time to do it.’

Claire Holmes, 33, uses reusable nappies for son Ezra, who is eight-and-a-half months old. She said that parents should consider the terry type but not push themselves into it straight away.

‘Don’t be too hard on yourself,’ she said. ‘Look at the different types and come to events like this. Get yourself each type and build up a pack.

‘When the baby first comes home, just use disposables, then start using reusable nappies when you are ready. There’s a lot of pressure and it’s hard getting used to them.’

Charlotte Froome, 25, who is eight months pregnant, was at the event to find out more.

‘I’d probably consider it for environmental reasons as I’m quite conscious about landfill,’ she said.

‘I work with children so I have come across them before. I would like to think that I would be environmentally conscious but at the same time you think it would be easier to have disposable nappies. I’m hoping that being here will help make up my mind.’

* A nappy clinic will be held on Sunday between 2 and 4pm at St Martin’s Community Centre.

* Real nappy mornings are held on the first Monday of the month at Cobo Tea Room, from 10.30 to 11.30.