THE cloth nappy revolution has gone from strength to strength over recent years, as more parents turn towards reusables.

They are shaped and fitted like disposables, with Velcro fastenings and are often all-in-one with a waterproof outer over an absorbent inner.

One reason for their popularity is financial. You can buy enough cloth nappies to use them full-time from around £50.

With around 5,000 nappy changes in the average child's lifetime, and the average disposable costing 15p, well – you do the maths.

'But what about higher energy bills and water usage,' I hear you cry.

I do one or two nappy washes per week; not exactly arduous, expensive or wasteful – and still cheaper than disposables.

And if you use them for more than one child, the savings multiply.

The other huge benefit of using them is ecological.

Imagine 5,000 disposable nappies being shovelled into landfill.

They will long outlive you, I and the baby bottoms they have clad.

Disposables do not decompose for several hundred years. Compare this to around 20 cloth nappies being used repeatedly.

There are local incentives to get you using cloth – the council offer a cash back scheme on cloth nappies, and you can 'try before you buy' with the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Nappy Advisory Service (WHNAS) who lend you a kit of washable nappies to experiment with, and talk you through the process.

Did I mention how utterly gorgeous they are?

In every colour and print imaginable from comic book prints to gorgeous florals, rainbows, and more – it's almost a shame to cover them up.

This week is Real Nappy Week. You'll find loads of cloth nappy offers and bargains online, and from 11am until 3pm on Sunday, April 30, at Worcester Woods Worcestershire Mums Network and WHNAS are having a social, walk and picnic where you can chat about all things cloth. Join us!