Cloth Diapering...Yes, I'm trying it!

Cloth Diapering...Yes, I'm Gonna Try It! August 24, 2009


Why Cloth Diaper?







I've decided to try cloth diapering and have gotten mixed reviews from people I've told. So...while doing some research, I came across this "thesis" on a website and thought it simplfied the basic reasons I'd like to try it. If any of you out there are thinking to yourself, "I know Emily Anne and she won't last a week doing this..." then you aren't thinking anything that I haven't already thought myself. BUT, I do believe that it would be a HUGE contribution to the environment and beneficial to my child's butt...so, just say what you want to yourself and if I give up, then you can tell me what you were really thinking.







A ‘Thesis” by Kim Stinson (from EcoStyleBaby.com)



1. Cost

a. Yes, there’s a little sticker shock on the price of cloth

b. However, over time cloth is the cheaper choice

i. Disposables = 7500 changes x $.25 = $1,875!

ii. Luxury Cloth = 54 diapers x $17.95 = $969

+ Laundry $800 = $1769

iii. Bargain Cloth = 54 diapers & covers = $250

+ Laundry $800 = $1050





*I think this is a high estimate of how many cloth diapers I would purchase...I'm thinking half that amount!



2. Environment

a. The sheer volume of trash. It’s gotta go somewhere somehow. That means a truck on the road using energy picking up the bag each week. Then it usually goes to landfills.

b. There’s seepage from the feces that doesn’t get processed like through the sewer system. If you read a box of disposables, users are to flush feces. Oops. In Pinellas County, Florida trash is incinerated and made into energy, but still it’s unnecessary waste.



3. Chemicals on Baby’s Tush

a. The Gel (crystals) in disposables is a chemical called sodium acrylate, a polymer able to hold many times its weight in water. Listed on material safety data sheets as “Skin, eye and respiratory irritant.” Banned from tampons in 1985 for its’ direct link to Toxic Shock Syndrome.

b. Dioxin is a contaminant byproduct of the chlorine bleaching process. Noted to be as hazardous as plutonium. Risks include cancer, birth defects and reproduction issues, Not being produced as much now, but still in environment from decades ago. Dioxin is absorbed through respiration, diet or skin contact.

c. Information about the actual dioxin content of a disposable diaper is quite scant. Three studies show no dioxin; however, they show presence of a close cousin to dioxion - furan (TCDF). Slighly less potent, furan exhibits similar toxic properties. Although both dioxin and furan are known to migrate from paper products to the skin, little is known about the amount transferred to baby's bottom.



4. Much cuter than disposables

There’s a reason why the photographers at the mall photo studio give you a cover to put over the disposable when Junior is getting his photo taken. Today’s bright colors and fun prints are world’s cuter than those plain ol’ white disposable diapers with some lame washed-on character print on the Velcro-like tabs.



5. It’s not that hard

a. Back in times pre-Maytag, diaper washing would have been difficult. I’ll go so far as to say pre-pocket diapers, washing would have been difficult. Now, there’s no soaking or dunking. The technological advances in fabric make waste roll off the diapers.

b. No pins necessary! Pocket diapers are hourglass shaped, many offer Velcro or snaps. Even if you use the rectangular pre-fold diapers, there’s nifty waterproof covers with light materials that eliminate the need for uncomfortable and hard to use ‘plastic pants.’ If you feel you must fasten the prefold, there’s Snappis – clever ‘Y’ shaped fasteners.

c. Most cities don’t have diaper services anymore, so you have to wash yourself. We’ve used cloth from about 6 weeks on. We throw the dipes in a wetbag. When full, we throw the bag plus contents in the washer for an extra two or three loads per week. That’s it. No scrubbing, dunking, no bleach. It’s not that hard!



6. Less Diaper Rash

a. Babies in disposables feel drier, so parents change less often but bacteria is still there!

b. More air circulation in cloth, hence less diaper rash. Possibly no diaper rash.