The design is called No More Nappies.
According to a study by the Women's Environmental Network (WEN) three billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year - an average of eight million nappies thrown away each day . Nappies accounts for almost 8% of all common house-hold waste thrown away each year.
However, not all cultures rely on the 'convenience' of disposable nappies. For centuries' East African tribes have embraced the use of Elimination Communication where parents teach a child to associate a noise or sound with going to the toilet within two to three weeks of being born.
Mothers place their child in the 'Ba' position when she feels it's time for the child to go to the loo. While the child has been placed in the position, the mother will make a consistent 'Shush' sound which the infant will go on to associate with going to the toilet. No nappies are used during the toilet training phase and children gain full bladder control by 10 months, almost 18 months less than its western counterparts .
No more nappies - How does it work?
Matthew Bailey's No more nappies potty design has been based on the age old method of Elimination Communication. No More Nappies is a double layered potty which can be stacked together to accommodate children in varying heights and ages as well as to act as a water tight lid when the potty is used on the move.
Parents place or hold the child on the potty while they go to the toilet during which the parent should use the rain rattle to make a long consistent sound. It is during this phase that the child will begin to associate the sound or noise as the appropriate time and signal to go to the toilet. As the child gets older, parents need to continue making the same sound when progressing from the potty to a loo. This method requires no form of nappies during the loo training phase, eliminating nappy waste and costs so many parents experience.
Matthew's No More Nappies potty comes with a combination of clips to ensure that travelling babies can make use of the potty without the hassle of a smelly nappy. Once the baby has made use of the potty, parents can simply clip lock the two potty layers together to provide a water-tight container which can easily be stored and emptied at a convenient time when used whilst travelling.
Innovator, Matthew Bailey, says: “It still amazes me that parents delay potty training to as late as two years when there is no need for it. I feel that today's modern parents could learn a lot from the rural African cultures through the Elimination Communication method. This method of toilet training is beneficial for both parent and child, while parents could save a pretty penny, they can also eliminate nappy rash, conserve the environment and not to mention their child will have full and total bladder control by the age of 10 -12 months.“
Stephen Green course lecturer at Brunel University's School of Engineering and Design, comments, “Through his environmentally conscious No More Nappies design, Matthew has tackled two key issues affecting modern day parenting, cost and convenience. Matthew's method highlights that today's designers need to continue incorporating well-being and environmental benefits within their designs to help better the way in which we live. I believe the No More Nappies design is a great ecological concept that is both easy for parents to teach with and babies to learn from“
Matthew has also compiled a website of support for parents interested in trialing this method of toilet training. www.nomorenappies.com is a destination where parents can come together and share their experiences and thoughts.
Elimination Communication - Benefits
• Conserves the environment as no nappies are needed
• Enhances the bond between parent and child
• Responds to infant's needs
• Eliminates nappy rash
• Reduces urinary tract infections
• Toilet control by 12 - 18 months
• Saves money
• More hygienic.
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Notes to Editors
Interviews and images are available on request.
For further information, please contact:
Dominique Nunes / Katy Askew at Racepoint Group
Tel: 020 8752 3214 / 07
Email: Dominique.nunes@racepointgroup.com / katy.askew@racepointgroup.com