A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs study indicated total carbon produced could be reduced by reusable nappies – if they were not washed at high temperatures or tumble dried.

However, Amber Hatch, from Nappy Free Baby, suggests a third option that might really reduce the impact.

She said: “Elimination communication is a method which involves teaching your baby to live without a nappy from day one. Babies are really clever and they are waiting to build up associations, so it becomes a systematic method to keeping baby much cleaner.”