Tens of thousands of Scots parents have shunned a key item in the SNP/Green Government’s Baby Box.
Nearly nine out of ten households have not claimed a free reusable nappy kit designed to save money - a figure even lower than the year before.
Ministers are now trying to boost uptake by including an electronic QR code to make it easier to access the eco-friendly product.
Every family with a newborn in Scotland is entitled to a Baby Box which contains items like a mattress, blanket, clothes and underarm thermometer.
A voucher giving households a free reusable nappy kit, which includes a waterproof wrap and five pads, is also part of the scheme.
Not only are they cheaper than disposable nappies in the long run, but supporters say they are better for the environment.
The Record revealed recently that more than 40,000 boxes had been delivered in 2020, but only 7192 nappies were claimed - around 18 per cent.
New figures for 2021 show that the take up has fallen even further to 13.8%, despite the equivalent figure for the Baby Box being 98%.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “It’s frustrating that fewer than 14 per cent of baby box vouchers for reusable nappies are being used.
"The Scottish Government should be doing more to promote this, as families can save around £1,400 if they ditch disposable nappies that end up in landfill sites in our communities.
“Nappy libraries and ‘birth to potty’ schemes, like the one pioneered by Labour in North Ayrshire, show what can be achieved.
“I’ll continue to raise this with the SNP and the Greens as Scotland could be a world leader on reusable nappies if there is political will.”
In a letter to Lennon, Children and Young People Minister Clare Haughey said:
“We continue to evaluate how Scotland’s Baby Box is helping families and to monitor how it can be improved. We are working with our managing agent, APS (Scotland) to explore the possibility of adding an electronic QR code to the nappy voucher which would make it easier for families to apply for the reusable nappy.”
Marion Davis at One Parent Families Scotland said: “To help increase take–up and encourage more parents to take advantage this money saving option we suggest that instead of a voucher the baby box should include one reusable nappy kit so parents can test it out and be persuaded that it’s a better and cheaper option in this period of increasing living costs.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We would encourage parents to try reusable nappies, which can be more affordable in the long run, to see if they fit their lifestyle – and the Baby Box includes a voucher for them to do just that.
“We will, of course, continue to evaluate how Scotland’s Baby Box is helping families and to monitor how it can be improved.”
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