Interested
in cloth diapers but aren’t sure they are right for you? You might ask ‘Why should I choose cloth?’ Perhaps the real question you should
be asking yourself is ‘Why should I
choose disposable diapers?’ Well let’s examine that question, why should
you choose disposable diapers?
The
first reason is convenience – because we all know how convenient it is when you
run out of diapers in the middle of the night and have to make that special
trip to the store or how convenient it is trying to find a garbage can when you
are on the go to toss the dirties. When using cloth diapers, these issues are
not a concern. You always have all of the
diapers that you need right at home. And
when you are on the go, you just store your soiled diapers in a wet bag until
you get home – no need to hunt for a garbage can.
Another
reason to choose disposables is their ease of use. So what does that say about cloth? Are they not easy to use? When most people think of cloth diapers they
still have the mental image of a piece of cloth that has to be folded, wrapped
around baby, pinned together, and then covered with rubber pants. Although this style of diaper may still exist,
there has been a cloth diaper evolution over the years offering a more modern,
easy to use cloth diaper. We will go in
to more depth about the types of cloth diapers in my next publication but the important
thing to know at this point is there are several styles that are just as easy
to use as disposables. All-In-One
diapers are functionally comparable to disposables with only one major
difference in its use model – it gets washed and reused. Pockets, All-In-2’s, fitteds and hybrids are
also comparable in use once washed and stored on the changing table or diaper
bag.
The next
reason to use disposables is… oh, wait, there aren’t any! They cost more, generate more waste, use more
natural resources, and contain harsh chemicals from the manufacturing
processes.
Cloth
diapers can save you big bucks! On
average you can expect to save $1,200 for one child and for each consecutive
child the savings continues to rack up since the diapers can be reused and only
need to be replaced if damaged/worn out. That figure includes the cost of the diapers as
well as all associated costs, like laundry care for the cloth diapers and disposable
diaper pail liners for the disposable diapers. Another key aspect to cloth diapers is they
have great resale value – if in good condition, you can easily re-sell for
about 50% of the retail value. Interested
in more ways to save? Consider cloth
wipes as well!
Disposable
diapers generate a staggering amount of waste. It’s estimated that they take several hundred
years to decompose with some estimates as high as 500 years! According
to the Real Diaper Association, disposable diapers are estimated to be about
50% of the waste generated by a household with a child in diapers. And if that isn’t enough, taking a look at the
manufacturing process paired with the use of disposable diapers, approximately
20 times more raw materials are used and 60 times more solid waste is generated
in comparison to the manufacturing and use of cloth diapers.
There
are several chemicals present in disposable diapers that can irritate baby’s
skin or worse. Some of the chemicals
include sodium polyacrylate, which can cause skin irritation and can be harmful
if ingested and dioxin, which is highly carcinogenic according to the EPA and
is banned in most countries. Other
notable trace substances include Tributyl-tin, toluene, and xylene amongst others, as well
as unnecessary fragrances and dyes.
If
properly fitted, cloth diapers provide a better overall fit resulting in fewer
leaks. What parent doesn’t like fewer
leaks?! Cloth diapers are also more breathable and are ultimately more comfortable for your baby. Another perk to cloth diapers, is there are so
many styles and colors to choose from which makes them an adorable addition to
your baby’s wardrobe. Fun for mom to collect
or to trade with friends!
In
conclusion, when choosing cloth diapers you will simultaneously save money,
save the earth, provide baby a healthier more comfortable environment, with
fewer leaks and a stylish tush.
If you
wish to learn more about cloth diapers, stay tuned for our future publications
or visit www.InTheTreetopsBabyBoutique.com.
Copyright © 2012 by Amanda
Mathews, owner of In The Treetops Baby Boutique
Helpful links:
Cloth Diaper FAQ
Cloth Diaper Lingo
Cloth Diaper Workshops
Contact Us
Helpful links:
Cloth Diaper FAQ
Cloth Diaper Lingo
Cloth Diaper Workshops
Contact Us