Diapering: Why We Use Cloth

For thousands of years women have diapered their babies using natural ingredients from the earth. It may have been grass stuffed in a rabbit skin. It may have been moss, linens, and leaves. Often times babies were simply naked so mothers used Elimination Communication with their infants. Only in the past 30-40 years have parents used disposable man-made materials on their children's bums (disposable diapers where technically in use beginning in the 1950s, but they were considered a rare novelty and only used during special occasions by parents that could afford them). Growing up as a child I didn't really consider that there was an option other than disposables. They were so popular that I can honestly say I don't ever remember seeing a cloth diaper during my teens or twenties. Slowly, though, the truth began to seep out. And as I began thinking about starting my own family, I started to pay attention.

Environmental Impact. It started out with acknowledging the huge environmental implications of using disposable diapers. In the United States alone, 27.4 BILLION diapers are used each year ... resulting in 3.4 MILLION tons of used diapers ending up in landfills every year. The more I studied the environmental impact of disposable versus cloth diapers, the more convinced I was that I would use the latter. Cloth diapering does not come without environmental impacts, however. Washing, drying (if using a machine), even growing cotton to make the cloth diapers, all impacts the environment. However, with a little education and proper care, cloth diapering can be the more environmentally responsible choice. Some things to consider: 1) wait to wash a full load of diapers, 2) hang diapers to dry in the sun whenever possible, 3) buy 100% organic cotton, hemp or bamboo cloth diapers rather than regular cotton (cotton crops are notorious for using lots of chemicals), and 4) re-use cloth diapers for more than one child.

Did you know that on the package of disposable diapers it clearly states that "when disposing of soiled diapers, empty contents into toilet." First of all, nobody I know of does this. Second, why is this? Because dumps and landfills are not allowed to store human waste. Only sewage systems and septic tanks are made to dispose of human waste. Yet each year millions of towns of human waste are placed in landfills via disposable diapers.

Chemicals. Exactly what is in a disposable diaper remains a mystery. Why? Because the diaper companies won't tell you, and legally, they don't have to. Here is a list of a few ingredients that is known about what is in a disposable diaper: paper pulp, polyethylene (and other plastics), glues, dyes, synthetic perfumes, and sodium polyacrulate (a super absorbent material that absorbs urine in a type of "gel"). And here is why I care. In 1999, a study was published in The Archives of Environmental Health that found that mice exposed to various brands of disposable diapers suffered increased eye, throat, and nose irritation - including bronchoconstriction similar to that of an asthma attack. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America states that "the prevalence of asthma has been increasing since the 1980s." Of course other environmental factors need to be looked at as well, but with disposable diaper use hitting an all time high in the late 70s and early 80s - it causes one to stop and wonder.

Our skin is like a sponge. It soaks up whatever is on it. That is why we can use patches for medications like birth control, nicotine, and fentanyl (for pain). Why would be want chemicals sitting against our baby's bum all day? The skin WILL absorb them.

Diaper Rash & Fertility. The incidence of diaper rash has increased from 7% in the 1970s to 60% by the mid-1990s ... which happens to coincide with the increase in disposable diaper usage. Wearing disposable diapers make infants feel dry - even when they are wet. Wearing disposable diapers actually cause an increase in skin wetness and pH - which in turn can cause diaper rash. Visit this website for more on diaper rashes. Using cloth diapers alerts an infant immediately when they have soiled. Little Bear cries immediately upon wetting or pooping, notifying me that it is time to change her! Very rarely will she allow me to let her sit longer than several minutes in a soiled diaper! As of yet, we have had no diaper rashes.

Additionally, in October 2000, the Archives of Disease in Childhood speculated that disposable diapers may be partially responsible for the increase in male infertility over the past 25 years. Disposable, plastic-lined diapers keep the testicles hotter than core body temperature - 1.8 degrees hotter that cloth diapers! An increase in testicle temperature for extended periods of time can cause reduction in sperm production and possible long-term infertility. Think about it ... all male babies that wear disposable diapers the first 2-3 years of their life are constantly exposing their testicles to higher than normal temperatures!

Economics (saving money!). Over time, cloth diapering costs less. Here is a great website that looks at the costs associated with each option. Cloth diapering saves you roughly $1000/year ... if not more. This savings jumps even higher if you use the same cloth diapers on baby number two and three!

Potty Training. Children that wear cloth diapers potty train faster and earlier than children that wear disposables. It is assumed that because a child knows immediately when he or she has wet or soiled a cloth diaper that potty training is made easier for them, as opposed to disposable diapers that wick moisture away and cause the child to feel dry - even when they are not. Cloth diapering also, I am sure, makes Elimination Communication (early use of the potty with infants) easier for both mother and baby, as well. Because a baby wearing cloth diapers lets someone know immediately when they have wet their diaper, parents can more easily learn their child's potty cues and potty schedules. This way, a parent can more easily anticipate when their child might need to use the potty - even from a very young age.

I'm sure there are many more reasons to choose cloth over disposable. Feel free to list your reasons in the comments below! And the best part: once you get a routine down with your cloth diapers, they really are just as convenient and easy to use as disposables. Really. So I encourage everyone out there to at least do a little more homework and consider the option of switching from disposable to cloth ... whether it is for the health of your baby, to save money, to assist in potty training, or to help out the environment. It's a choice you won't regret. I promise.