Disposable or Cloth Diapers? What's Best For Your Baby And The Environment?

By Elizabeth Johnston

The decision whether to use disposable or cloth diapers is one of the biggest ones you'll make when welcoming your baby into the world. And it's not always an easy one. Your choice impacts your baby's health and comfort, as well as your finances and the environment.'

When I first started thinking about this decision, my assumption was that cloth diapers were the way to go, for the health of both my baby and the environment. But I heard that some environmentalists were arguing that cloth wasn't necessarily better, because of the water and energy used and chemicals needed to wash them. This could be as harmful to the environment as the waste created by disposables.

So I decided to do some further research.

First, I started researching disposables. The benefits include the ease of taking them off and throwing them in the garbage (convenience), and the dryness factor. And of course there's no messy washing involved.

But I was quite shocked to learn about some of the harmful chemicals and materials used in making them. For instance, most contain sodium polyacrylate. Not only do many babies have an allergic reaction to this chemical, but it also can be linked to toxic shock syndrome. And cats have died when exposed to it. Basically, it's not something I want to expose my baby to if I don't have to!

Some other startling facts about throw-aways:

* Around 20 billion disposable diapers are thrown into US landfills per year. Most of the materials are non-biodegradable.

* Babies can pull apart disposables and put the materials in their mouth. This can expose them to the chemicals and dyes, and poses the threat of choking.

* Dyes used have been linked to damage of the liver, kidneys and central nervous system.

* Diaper rash was not as common when cloth diapers were the only option. Why isn't this reported on more? Hmm, could it be that diaper rash cream manufacturers are making a huge profit off of diaper rash?

This was enough to convince me that I didn't want to use your everyday disposables.

But I still had some further research to do. I had heard from a co-worker that cloth diapers weren;t as good for "blow-outs," in other words when your baby produces a high-volume offering. She said that cloth diapers weren't as good for holding in the goods, so to speak. And I wanted to know more about the energy and chemicals used to wash cloth diapers.

Also, what about the disposables that claim to be earth-friendly?

And how do the different options compare in cost?

Does anyone make organic cotton diapers?

And are there any OTHER alternatives?

I started looking in to options for cloth diapers. It turns out, this is a whole world of its own. There are MANY different solutions to every problem a new mother might consider when choosing cloth diapers. There are ways of folding the cloth diapers so that you don't have to use pins. Some have Velcro tabs. And to address the blow-out issue, the answer is diaper covers. There are leak-proof diaper covers that you slip on over the cloth diaper and voila! No blow outs. As far as washing, you can either do it at home or have a diaper service come to your doorstep, take away the dirty ones, wash them and return them to you, all for about the same prices as buying disposables.

I now felt even better about cloth diapers, but I still had some choices to make and some questions to answer.

On to the energy / water consumption issue. It turns out that the amount of water used to wash diapers at home for a week is about the same as the amount of water used to flush the toilet four or five times a day for a week. Not much. And even better if you choose a service to do it for you. The amount of water and energy used to wash large quantities is even less than if you do it at home. And of course, you can improve the environmental impact by choosing organic laundry detergent and using energy-efficient washers.

There are some diapers that claim to be biodegradable. These are certainly a better choice than the average disposable. But the fact is, to decompose, they have to be exposed to air and sun, which is unlikely with most landfills. So the chance of them decomposing before your baby becomes an adult is unlikely.organic cloth diapers.

Here are a few more benefits of cloth diapers:

* Babies raised on cloth diapers tend to potty train up to one year earlier than with disposables. Why? The technology used in disposables to keep bottoms dry and "comfortable" makes baby less likely to have any motivation to move out of diapers at all. Having the wet diaper feeling actually serves a purpose, it gives babies a reason to want to graduate.

* A cotton diaper can also be used as a burp shield, a bib, a wash cloth, a changing pad and lots of other things.

* Disposable diapers cost approximately $50 to $80, per month, using a diaper services will cost approximately $50 to $80 per month and laundering your own cloth diapers will cost slightly less at approximately $25 to $60 per month.

I started comparing prices and options for cloth diapers online. I found that there are organic, all-natural and eco-friendly diapers on the market including pre-folded diapers, fleece diapers, organic cotton diapers and a variety of diaper covers in different patterns and made out of different materials. A simple search for "organic diapers" on any search engine will turn up many different options. And for parents new to cloth diapers, some retailers offer starter packages that include diapers, diaper covers, diaper totes and flushable liners. In fact, a Portland, Oregon-based company, gDiapers, even makes a flushable diaper.

The bottom line?

There are some very good alternatives to disposable diapers, and most of the myths about cotton diapers being inconvenient or expensive are simply not true. Cloth diapers prove healthier for the environment and your baby, whether you go with a diaper service or, for the most eco-friendly option, buy organic cloth diapers and wash them at home. I hope I have helped in your decision making process, and that whatever route you decide to go you will feel confident you have done the best thing for your baby and the environment.