It is for individual national health service hospitals and trusts to determine the practicalities of promoting the use of reusable and/or disposable nappies in their maternity units. We believe that parents and carers should be given information on the benefits of using either of these options to enable them to make an informed choice. Two comprehensive information booklets, “The Pregnancy Book” and “Birth to Five”, published by Central Office of Information on behalf of the Department, are given free to all first time mothers. Both booklets give detailed information on both types of nappies.