Reusable Diapers vs. Disposables
Reusable cloth diapers are not what they used to be. Most cloth diapers have multiple layers of cotton, hemp or bamboo or use micro fiber, making them more absorbent than cloth diapers of even just a few years ago. Some styles of cloth diapers (fitted diapers or All in Ones) now come with Velcro or snap fasteners, eliminating the need for those large safety pins. A few offer a built in layer of fleece or suedecloth for a built in stay dry liner. If you choose to use prefolds (Diaper Service Quality diapers) you can use a diaper service to lauder the diapers. Diaper covers use velcro and/or snaps for easy closing and offer a snug fit that eliminates the need for pins or fasteners.
There is also an entire grocery store row worth of disposable diaper choices, ranging from simple plastic covered paper diapers to the newest in high-tech, gel-filled with printed outers.
What you choose to use on your child should be the best thing for your family. You will need to consider any environmental issues that are important to you, what is allowed in your city and the comfort of your child.
Most parents worry about keeping their baby’s skin dry, healthy and free from diaper rash. Many things can cause diaper rash. Prolonged wetness, lack of air circulation, soap, chemical and dye allergies, ammonia formed by bacteria that interacts with urine left sitting against the skin and the growth of microbes in the diaper area can all be irritating and cause rashes. Leaving any diaper (whether it is reusable or not) on too long can cause diaper rash.
Some concerns about disposable diapers have been about dyes, sodium polyacrylate (the super absorbent gel), and dioxin, which is a by-product of bleaching paper. Sodium polyacrylate has been linked in the past to toxic shock syndrome, allergic reactions and is very harmful and potentially lethal to pets. Plastic tabs can also tear skin if the diaper is not properly put on the baby.
According to the Journal of Pediatrics, 54 % of one-month old babies using disposable diapers had rashes, 16 % having severe rashes. The incidence of diaper rash has gone up since the widespread use of disposable diapers, mainly due to leaving the super absorbent diapers on longer than is recommended. Dyes in disposable diapers can also lead to rashes wherever the diaper is in contact with your baby. In some disposables with fragrance additives even adults may have an allergic reaction or irritation.
A hybrid alternative, the gDiaper has recently come upon the diapering scene to further complicate matters. The diaper has a reusable washable outer with an absorbent inner liner that is placed in the cover. After use, the liner should be torn open and emptied into the toilet where it joins any waste and is flushed away.
Recently the city of Vancouver, “in a study conducted last year and finalized recently, put gDiapers to the test. After searching in vain for relevant research, the city’s engineering department reported that it dyed gDiapers’ disposable liner pads and tracked the product through Vancouver’s sewer system. The city concluded that the liners run the risk of entangling pumps. In addition, engineers found that the product could hinder the system’s ability to kill pathogens with ultraviolet light before the effluent is discharged into the Columbia River.” (11/15/07 full story)
Keep in mind that each baby is different; some parents will find their baby does perfectly fine with disposables while other parents may find their baby has some type of reaction to disposables.
It is all a matter of personal preference, how your baby is reacting to a particular diaper and how you feel about other factors that come into play when deciding between cloth and disposables.
The best way to prevent diaper rash is to change diapers, cloth or disposable, frequently. While disposable diapers can hold large quantities of urine, this slight wetness is still against your baby’s skin, which can lead to rashes. Disposable diapers should not be kept on until they look ready to burst and should be changed as often cloth diapers. Cloth diapers should be changed every time your baby wets and then the diaper should be properly cleaned so all bacteria that may be in the cloth is killed.
The cost of diapers is usually a great concern for most parents. You are likely to spend over $2,000 on disposable diapers before your child is potty trained. The cost to purchase and then wash even the most fancy cloth diapers will be about half of that. The more economy minded parent can spend less than $500 and most likely be able to use the diapers on another child.
The cost of disposable diapers varies due to the wide range of disposables on the market. Some name brands are very expensive, while some store branded disposables can be half the price of name brands. If you are purchasing disposable diapers, search online for coupons before each purchase. Many wholesale clubs have good prices and decent diapers.
The cost of a diaper service (usually only available in larger cities) mainly varies because of two factors. One factor being the amount of competition in your area (number of diaper service companies) and the second being the absorbency of diapers that you choose to use. You should be able to rent diaper covers from the service or you can purchase your own and wash them yourself. The cost of laundering your own cloth diapers also varies because of many factors. One factor is the quality of the cloth diaper. Some parents will initially purchase very high quality cloth diapers which will last several years, while other parents might buy low quality diapers which only last for a short time. Another factor is the amount of laundering that is done for each load of dirty diapers. Some parents will only do a minimal amount of cleaning and sanitizing, while other parents will go through many steps to clean a load of dirty diapers. The more cleaning and sanitizing that is performed for each load of diapers the higher the cost although most Energy Star washers do a great job washing while saving energy. Other factors are your time to launder the diapers, cost of electricity, soap, water, and wear on your washing machine and dryer.
In general, if you compare the cost of the fancier high tech disposable diapers to the cost of laundering your own cloth diapers, you will save money by using cloth diapers and laundering them yourself.
There has been much debate over the impact of disposable diapers and cloth diapers on the environment. The pro-disposable diaper advocates say that the extra water used to wash cloth diapers is just as much of an abuse to the environment as the production and disposal of disposable diapers.
It is estimated that roughly 5 million tons of untreated waste and a total of 2 billion tons of urine, feces, plastic and paper are added to landfills annually. Although some disposables are said to be biodegradable, the very nature of our landfills make this impossible since the trash it cut off from sunlight and air. The untreated waste placed in landfills by dirty disposable diapers is also a possible danger to contaminating ground water.
Pro-disposable advocates say that cleaning cloth diapers uses more energy, and contributes to the load on sanitary sewer systems and potential water pollution. This view really makes no sense if you think about it. The amount of water used per week to wash cloth diapers at home is about the same amount consumed by an adult flushing the toilet four or five times daily for a week. Also, the greater amount of water and energy being used by diaper service companies to wash large amounts of cloth diapers multiple times; the per diaper impact on energy and water supplies is actually less than home washing.
When flushing solids from a cloth diaper down the toilet and washing the diapers in a washing machine, the contaminated, dirty water from both toilet and washing machine go into the sewer systems where they are properly treated at wastewater plants. Currently this is our best choice of breaking down municipal waste and reusing our water resource. The amount of water used to wash a day’s amount of diapers is similar to the amount of water that an adult uses to flush the toilet daily.
With the newer style of cloth diapers that are on the market, disposable diapers are not much more convenient that cloth diapers. The new multiple layer, Velcro fastening cloth diapers are just as easy to put on and take off as disposables. Cloth diapers do not really need to be presoaked, or even rinsed out. Flushable liners can be used with cloth diapers that let you lift the soiled liner off the cloth and flush the liner and the poop down the toilet. If you don’t use liners, you can just dump the older baby’s solids down the toilet or you can use a sprayer to rinse solids away before putting the diaper in your diaper pail. Cloth diapers usually only add about 2 extra loads of laundry a week to your schedule.
Disposable diapers are more convenient when traveling because you can just throw the dirty diapers away without carrying them around for washing. For extended vacations without a washer, they may be your best choice. You can get away with fewer changes because of the super absorbent materials in disposables but taking into consideration the increased risks of rash and the extra impact on the environment, your decision should be made with much thought.
Certainly your choice does not have to be reusable or not. Many families use both, reserving each type for different circumstances.
The choice between the different types of diapers available is a matter of personal preference while taking into consideration all of the topics discussed previously. There really is no one best type of diaper that is good for every family. Deciding to use cloth or disposable diapers depends on your lifestyle, personal preference, finances and your concern for the environment. The choice that is right for you and your baby may be different from the one that’s right for your friend and her baby. Whichever diaper you decide on now, you may find that your baby develops diaper rash more frequently later or has some type of allergic reaction. Especially if there is a reaction where the diaper rubs on your baby, this could be sensitivity to your choice. If this occurs, don’t fight it, just change it up. Try a different type of diaper, a different brand or if you are washing your own cloth diapers change detergents. If your baby ever shows signs of having a reaction to a diaper you should always notify your doctor. The reaction you might be seeing could just be a small rash, but it could be a more severe allergic reaction. Your doctor can tell you exactly what it is and what you should do.
