IN response to Heather Causnett's letter ('Nappies blowing in the wind', April 3), yes I am aware millions of disposable nappies that are used are going to have an impact on the environment and most mums will be mindful of this.

As a mother of two small children I have often thought about this. But most mums are hard-working individuals and not lazy as Ms Causnett implies. The demands of motherhood have changed down the years.

Wouldn't we all like to spend time standing at our fence chatting to our neighbours, while pegging out the washing?

The commitments of mothers today are far greater and more women now have to go out to work and juggle this with the housework, laundry, grocery shopping, as well as the demands of the children.

So, if we can make life easier we will take the easy options in life.

If we started using the good old terry towelling nappies as Ms Causnett suggests then wouldn't that also have an environmental impact in using additional energy, water and chemicals to wash these?

Why doesn't somebody lay the blame at the door of the manufacturers of the disposable nappies who must make huge profits and could use these to develop products that are biodegradable?

Mrs Sarah Hewitt,

Calvert Close,

Haxby, York.

...I AM a mum with two children in nappies and agree with Heather Causnett that seeing your nappies blowing on the line brings lovely feelings of satisfaction, one reason to ditch disposables but not a primary motivation.

Things have changed. I have a washing machine (as do 90 per cent of us now), so there is no boiling nappies in tubs. I imagine the smell was awful. I also have radiators so drying is easy.

Real nappies are now easy to use. I have never had to learn to use a 'terry' square as most now come shaped with Velcro or poppers, so why don't we all use them?

I disagree with Heather that today's mums are too lazy, and readily waste money.

The disposable nappy manufacturers bombard us with advertisements - £10 million was spent in 2000 by just two leading brands - and information about modern alternatives is not readily available.

The NHS promotes disposables through the Bounty bags.

I had to do lots of research to find the real nappy world and I am happy now, saving money, reducing our waste mountain and keeping suspect chemicals away from my children.

Tracey Johnson,

Crossfield Crescent,

Fulford, York.

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, April 07, 2004