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The Super Seven
Top Reasons Parents are Choosing Reusable Diapers
Every parent has their own reasons for choosing to diaper their baby with reusable cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. Some are deeply concerned about the environmental impact of throwing away so many diapers, some make the decision because of the health benefits, while still others are simply looking at the bottom line in their wallet each month. No matter what your reasons are, cloth diapers are the best choice for both you and your baby. Check out our list below and you’ll find even more reasons to choose cloth diapers.
1. Modern Styles and Materials make Cloth Diapers EASY to use
Have you seen a modern cloth diaper recently? Cloth diapers today are so incredibly easy to use and care for. They function the same way as a disposable diaper, but we wash them instead of tossing them in the trash. Gone are the days of folding a big sheet into diaper origami and then using a safety pin to fasten it on your baby, all the while having it leak out past the plastic pants. Today, many cloth diapers work even better than disposables and really are easy to use.
2. Babies are Healthier in Cloth Diapers
Disposable diapers contain many chemicals, poisons (TBT tributyl tin), dioxins (which are highly carcinogenic) and even perfumes and dyes that are all harmful to your baby and lead to irritations and diaper rash. Most babies in cloth diapers have less diaper rash as cloth diapers are more breathable and have none of the harmful chemicals or bleaches found in disposable diapers.
The gel that is used in disposables to absorb and hold in moisture is known as Sodium Polyacrylate. If you’ve changed a diaper recently, you’ve likely seen tiny crystals or gel spheres on your baby’s bottom. This is the Sodium Polyacrylate coming through the diaper and resting directly on your baby’s skin. The Material Safety Data Sheet for this substance states that protection is needed when handling it, and yet we allow it in our diapers and on the sensitive skin of an infant? This substance has also been banned for use in tampons because of its association with Toxic Shock Syndrome. There are also studies showing links between using disposable diapers and childhood asthma as well as an increase in infertility in boys. Why would we expose a baby to such substances?
3. Cloth Diapers Can Save You Money
It typically costs at least $2000 to buy diapers for your baby for the first three years of life. This is typically around $50-$70 every month out of your pocket. Contrast this with buying a set of cloth diapers and the money you can save is shocking. You can use cloth diapers on one baby for 3 years for under $600. And, now you have the diapers should you have a second and/or third child. For a family with two children, you can save about $3400. Try putting the money you save in a savings fund for your children’s future, instead of throwing it away on diapers.
4. Yes, Cloth Diapers are Much Better for the Environment
Over four million disposable diapers are thrown out in Canada daily. That's close to 1.5 BILLION diapers that end up in our landfills yearly. In the first two years, the average baby will require between 5000 to 7000 diaper changes. In the United States an estimated 27.4 BILLION diapers are tossed away each year. That makes the total diaper waste in North America close to 29 BILLION DIAPERS per YEAR. And what about the argument that cloth diapers take water to be washed while disposables don’t? First, water is used to manufacture disposable diapers. Second, washing cloth diapers (in an inefficient top-loading machine) every few days takes roughly the same amount of water that it takes to flush a toilet 5x/day. Lastly, if we say that washing is a waste of water, why do we wash our dishes and launder our clothing? Common sense tells us that reusing our dishes and our clothes is much more efficient than using disposable dishes or throwaway clothing. Considering the high efficiency washing machines available today, water use is actually quite minimal. Cloth diapers are much less taxing on the environment even when taking into consideration the amount of water and energy used to make and wash them.
5. Cloth diapers are More Reliable than Disposable Diapers
Many parents have had the unfortunate but common experience of having to change a messy diaper that leaked, resulting in very dirty (sometimes ruined) clothing. Modern cloth diapers and covers are so well designed and the fit is customized to your baby. This means that you can get a perfect fit on your baby, regardless of her body type.
Concerned about laundry with cloth diapers? Some parents find they actually have less laundry to do because the cloth diapers are so much more reliable. The dreaded leaky solid “blow-outs” that often cause problems are contained better in cloth, especially in brands like FuzziBunz. Unlike disposable diapers, which have a slippery surface constructed of paper and plastic, these modern cloth diapers are lined with soft microfleece. Messy solids cling to the fleece much better than to a disposable diaper. And, because these cloth diapers are made to last rather than being tossed, the elastic used around the legs and at the back is of a high quality—it does a much better job of keeping messes contained than the cheap disposable diaper elastic.
6. Cloth is more Comfortable
Most moms are familiar with the discomfort of wearing a menstrual pad, and would gladly give it up for our regular cotton panties. Likewise, soft, fleecy fabric next to a baby’s tender skin is much more comfortable and breathable than the paper and plastic from which a disposable diaper is constructed. (Imagine wearing one of those pads 24 hours a day, every day for three years?) Babies also tend to be changed more frequently in cloth diapers, which means less time for your baby to be sitting in her own urine. (Not surprisingly, many parents who use disposable diapers try to change the diaper as infrequently as possible to save money. This may be a little cheaper, but having a baby lay in crystallized urine simply is not healthy.) And, as mentioned above, painful diaper rashes are virtually non-existent for babies wearing cloth diapers.
7. Toilet Training is Easier
Babies who wear cloth diapers tend to become toilet trained earlier and with less difficulty than those who wear disposable diapers. A child in cloth diapers is more aware of urinating and therefore typically potty learns faster (and with less effort from Mom & Dad) than a child in disposable diapers. Yet another perk to using cloth diapers!
There you have it—our top seven reasons parents today are making the switch to reusable cloth diapers. What are your top reasons for considering cloth? Your baby’s health? Being more responsible for our planet? A bad diaper rash that just won’t go away? Saving some much needed cash? Whatever your reasons, we applaud you and encourage you in your hunt to find a better diaper for your baby.
Looking for more information about saving money on diapers? Or the health concerns associated with disposable diapers? What about how to choose a cloth diaper? Or how to care for your diapers? Try any of these links for more information. If you still have questions, try our FAQs for even more helpful information. We are here to be a resource for you. Feel free to email us for more information about any of these items. |
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