NEXT week is Real Nappy Week and, according to one Fordingbridge mum, not enough people are taking it as seriously as they should.

Stephanie Smith points out that research shows that the average baby gets through approximately 5,480 disposable nappies and that, as a country, we throw away approximately eight million nappies a day, using up valuable landfill sites.

What's more, it takes hundreds of years for disposables to break down - which means that every disposable ever created still exists and will probably outlast the baby who wore it.

Stephanie is an agent for Lollipop, a company that promotes and raises the profile of real nappies.

"The aim of Real Nappy Week is to encourage people to think about disposable nappies and the harm they do to the environment. The problem is getting them to change to real nappies," she says.

"Modern nappies are light years away from the old cumbersome terry towelling nappies with sharp pins and sweaty plastic pants, which needed boiling for hours.

"Today's nappies are machine washable, baby-shaped for comfortable fit and fastened with velcro or poppers."

Nor do they have to cost the earth.

She says that people are welcome to come to her home for a free demonstration to talk about real nappies and help decide which is the best type to use. She promises no hard sell or obligation to buy.

"What I am concerned about more than anything is helping people to see the harm that is being done, and the difference they can make to the environment, the health of their child and their purse as well," she says.

Stephanie can be contacted on 01425 657768.