Cloth Diapers
A Simple Choice With Benefits
Cloth diapering often elicits a not-so-pretty picture of pins and rubber pants, whereas disposable diapering has taken on the image of convenience, which is frequently the determining factor for many modern parents. But take a second look; the cloth diapering process has undergone some brilliant design innovations over the past 30 years, making them a close second to disposables in convenience. No more pins and no more plastic pants! Plus, when you cloth diaper you benefit from less diaper rash, less leaking, and numerous other environmental, economic and health benefits.
Early Potty Training
This is one of the best perks of cloth diapering. Simply stated, early potty training is better for everyone: your child experiences increased independence and self confidence and you save time and money by not changing diapers for that extra year ―not to mention the waste associated with diapering is cut by one third.
Most cloth diapered babies potty train around the age of two while disposable diapered babies typically potty train closer to the age of three or beyond. Cloth diapers allow your toddler to become aware of the process and sensations involved with toileting, which are necessary factors in learning to use a potty. Now that most disposable diapers are “super absorbent” they are essentially like a mini port-a-potty, good for holding many bladder and bowel movements and holding your child back from using the potty.
No Chemicals
Your baby will spend a lot of time in diapers: what would you rather wear soft cotton, or plastic diapers filled with a chemical gel? Disposable diapers are filled with super absorbent polymer (SAP). Parents who use disposables can testify to the beads of SAP can leak out of the diaper and end up on your child's genitals. Allergies or sensitivity to the super absorbent polymer can cause irritation.
Avoid Diaper Rash
In 1955 virtually every baby in the United States was diapered using cloth diapers, and only 7% of babies in diapers had diaper rash. By 1991, 90% of babies were in disposable diapers, and 78% had diaper rash. Critics of disposable diapers say that the dramatic increase in diaper rash can be linked to the corresponding growth in the use of disposable diapers. The argument is convincing given the following features of disposable diapers:
- Most disposable diapers are plastic and do not allow air to circulate. This traps in the ammonia from urine. The plastic also retains body heat, which causes babies to have a higher temperature around their bums, aggravating rashes.
- Babies wearing disposables are often changed less frequently because the wicking gel makes the diaper 'feel dry' when in fact the baby has wet the diaper. This causes the baby to be left in prolonged contact with the ammonia of his urine, which can upset the skin's natural pH balance and lead to a rash.
- Sensitivity to the chemicals within disposable diapers can cause irritation.
Environmental Impact
Cloth diapers come out far ahead of disposables on two main environmental factors: land-filled waste and material resources.
Waste:Disposable diapers generate 3.7 million tons of land-filled waste in the U.S. each year, representing 1.5% of the entire municipal waste stream, and each diaper can take up to 500 years to biodegrade. Cotton diapers can be worn until they can't be used any longer and then they can be recycled as rags.Resources: According to a 2005 Life Cycle Analysis study by the British Environmental Agency, in 2.5 years a child using disposable diapers will go through approximately 4,000 diapers. A child exclusively in cotton reusable diapers will use approximately 50 diapers in those 2.5 years. While the only material in those 50 reusable diapers is cotton, the 4,000 disposable diapers are made up of a host of materials including: tree-based fluff pulp, super absorbent polymer, polypropylene and polyethylene (petroleum-based plastics) and adhesives.
Easy and Stylish
A lot of a new parents time is spent changing diapers, so it’s important that diapers be quick and easy to use. There are several different cloth options to choose from that suit your lifestyle, budget, and personal tastes best.
It is easy to get lost in the vast array of cloth diapering options that are available these days. Starting out using a diaper service that picks up and delivers clean diapers to your doorstep every week keeps it clean and simple. If you are ready to take the plunge and start washing your own diapers, rest assured that it is not very hard to do. All you need is a good stash of cloth diapers to do about two extra loads of laundry per week. Considering how much laundry you already do with little ones in the house ―an extra load or two is no big deal.
These days you can choose from one of the many pocket, all-in-one, fitted, or snap diapers that employ sophisticated wicking fabrics, as well as innovative designs to make cloth diapering even easier. You can choose from multiple styles, colors, and materials that make cloth diapering soft, convenient, and cute. Use the experts to help guide the way and answer questions; you can always call your local diapering service to get answers and to find a diapering system that will work for your family. Many diapers today are designed to fit from newborn through potty training, so that you can truly buy diapers once. That is money and time well spent for your baby, your budget, and our environment.
