Triplets mum says real nappies are as easy as 1, 2, 3

A LLANDYBIE mum of triplets says using real nappies is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Tracy Mainwaring says using real cloth nappies on her three little bundles of joy is cheaper than using disposables and greener too.

And she loves all the fun and colourful designs that are available for eight-week old triplets Matt, Rhys and Jack.

Tracy, aged 39, of Caeffynnon Road, said: “They are so easy to use and they look amazing, they are also so much more cost-effective than disposable nappies, especially with three! And they are also better for the environment, the amount of waste produced by disposables is just ridiculous and there is just no need for it. I bought disposable nappies to use because I knew the triplets were going to be premature, but they were really good weights so I started using real nappies almost straight away. I am using up the disposables that I have bought and when I just used those in the beginning I filled one big black sack in just two days.

“I would recommend real nappies to anyone; in fact they are better than the disposables because I find they can leak. Real nappies really are easy to use, people think that they are difficult to fold and you have to boil wash them but it’s not like that. They are shaped just like disposable nappies but with Velcro or poppers to fasten them, and all I do is put them in a wash bag and they go straight in the washing machine, it’s as easy as that.”

Tracy said her partner Paul was also fine using the real nappies and with three boys to wash, feed and change they have settled into a good routine.

“It is like a military operation in our house now, but with the three of them it has to be like that,” said Tracy.

“I wanted to use real nappies from the start when I thought I was just expecting one. I did some research into them and I found out that the council did free trial packs. So I went along to one of the real nappy drop-in sessions and it was great. Caroline, the real nappy advisor, has been fantastic.”

Carmarthenshire County Council holds real nappy drop-in surgeries in Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llanelli every month where expectant or new mum and dads can sign up for a free real nappy trial pack.

And with Real Nappy Week being held from April 16-22, what better time to ditch the disposables and give real nappies a go.

Using real nappies can save you money – up to £500 or more – and reduces your waste – families with one baby can cut their waste by half.

The council together with Waste Awareness Wales are supporting Real Nappy Week. Council waste minimisation/recycling officer Karen Fulham said: “More and more parents are discovering the benefits of real nappies, and realising how easy they are to use. Nowadays real nappies come with Velcro or popper fasteners so you don’t need to worry about safety pins, there are also very trendy with lots of different styles available, and you can use them for more than one child.”

To find out more, go along to one of the council’s real nappy drop-in surgeries between 10am and 12pm on the first:

• Tuesday of every month: St Elli Shopping Centre, Llanelli.

• Wednesday of every month: Gellimanwydd Hall, Heol Wallasey, Ammanford.

• Thursday of every month: Carmarthen Library, 9 St Peters Street, Carmarthen.

The council has also teamed up with Bum Deal Nappies and Nappy Go Lucky to raise awareness of real nappies in Merlin’s Walk, Carmarthen on Saturday, April 21 between 10am-4pm.

For further information on real nappies visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/recycling or call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.

CAPTION: New mum Tracy Mainwaring’s triplets Matt, Rhys and Jack.

Picture: Jeff Connell.