When author of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide Jen Gale announced on Instagram she was going to run a virtual festival on living a sustainable lifestyle, it felt like fate. It was the first thing I saw on my Instagram feed when I checked back in the day after finishing her book (for the second, or third time.) This week should have been #realnappyweek and collectively the reusable nappy manufacturers have decided to postpone their usual campaigning and marketing in light of the pandemic and its impact on the world.

However the market has seen a huge uptake in people making the switch to reusable nappies during the coronavirus outbreak and my social media has been awash with people seeking help. I heard the call. I contacted Jen. We’ve had a chat and now I’m a guest speaker on the topic ‘A beginner’s guide to cloth nappies’ at the Sustainable-ish Festival.

A simple cloth nappy chat and Q&A with Laura Tweedale - Wednesday 12 May 2020 at 12.30

When I decided to use cloth nappies for my son, I was lost. I didn’t have any friends or relatives that cloth nappied and I tumbled down the YouTube rabbit-hole of ‘how to’ videos. I listened to so many conflicting pieces of advice, it was enough to put anyone off. All I wanted was to talk to someone, one simple ‘how to’ I could follow that didn't leave my head in a spin of acronyms. I benefited from such a chat thanks to a trip to a cloth nappy library, but since lockdown this has made those impossible, so I'll be running a virtual Simple Guide to Cloth Nappies that covers the basics you need in terms of kit, cleaning and nappy styles.

I'm no 'nappy guru', I'm not affiliated with a brand and strongly believe in buying what you need rather than following any cloth fashion trends. I make videos for IGTV with a group of other parents on the topic of #clothmadesimple. Whatever reason you choose to use cloth, know this: reusables are simple, better for your baby’s skin, create less waste and reduces harmful plastics and chemicals from leaching into our planet. Every reusable cloth nappy truly does make a difference.

The online festival is taking place 11 - 15 May and is a celebration of all things sustainable(ish)! People will be coming together to share ideas, tips, and eco-imperfections, and will include topics such as ‘How to grow food in small spaces’ with university lecturer Julie Charlesworth, and ‘How to go on a plastic diet’ by Sisters Against Plastic. If you'd like to hear more about the festival, have a look at the line up below, go to Jen’s website ww.asustainablelife.co.uk/the-sustainableish-online-festival or head over to the Facebook group Sustainable(ish) Festival Pop-up. Please join, share and wish me luck!