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It would appear that the verdict is still out on whether disposable or cloth diapers are better for your baby and better for the environment. Deciding to use cloth or disposable diapers depends on your lifestyle, personal preference, and your concern for the environment. Remember, 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.
The on-going diaper debate can be divided into 4 categories: environmental concerns, health issues, cost, and convenience.
Environmental Concerns
Disposable diapers came on the market around 1961, and today, account for 80% of the diapers used in North America. On average, a baby will use a total of 5,000 diapers from birth to about 30 months. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in the US alone, this accounts for over 16 billion diapers or 2.7 million tons of solid waste directly into the landfills per year. Disposables are the third most common item in landfills, after paper products and food containers, and each diaper takes about 500 years to break down.
While the above figures are disturbing, it is still unclear whether cloth diapers are a better, more environmentally friendly alternative. A study by Franklin Associates, Ltd. suggests that cloth diapers have an equally harmful effect on air and water, due to the energy and chemicals used in the laundering process. The study concluded that the laundering of cloth diapers used twice as much energy, and four times as much water compared to disposables, creating greater air and water pollution.
Health Issues
The primary health concern when diapering your baby is keeping them dry. A wet bum means diaper rash, which can be irritating, painful, and often difficult to get rid of. Disposables generally keep you baby drier for longer since they whisk the wetness away from your baby's skin. Cloth diapers mean frequent changes, which can be disruptive, particularly at night. While it would appear that disposables come out on top in this category, there are studies that show disposables can cause irritation with their dyes and fragrances. If using disposables, try and find ones that are fragrance-free, and chlorine-free. Remember, there's really no good reason why diapers have to be stark white!
Cost
While cloth diaper proponents will argue that they are much cheaper than disposables, the final numbers don't quite add up. It is estimated that parents will spend approximately $50 a month on disposables. A cloth diapering service will also run about $50 a month, or $40 a month if you clean your own (and that doesn't take into consideration what your time is worth). In the end, cost shouldn't be a real factor in your decision to use either cloth or disposable diapers.
Convenience
Without a doubt, disposable diapers are the most convenient way of diapering your baby. When you're out and about, the last thing you want to worry about is changing a diaper and taking it home with you to be cleaned.
If you find the decision about diapers confusing, you're not alone. A lot of parents struggle with this decision as they try to weigh all the factors. For many, the best decision is to use a combination of both, using cloth at home and disposable when they are going to be out all day. Luckily, today there are many other alternatives to the traditional disposable or cloth diapers that may make the decision easier. To find out more about these alternatives, check out our product reviews on Seventh Generation Diapers and G Diapers. We are also researching a diaper made from corn fiber, so check back soon! Labels: Diapers
The Diaper Debate
The Diaper Debate
posted by Eco Baby Products on Tuesday, October 23, 2007
© 2007 EcoBabyProducts.com
3 Comments:
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October 31, 2007 11:02 AM my daughter uses seventh generation diapers on her little girl and l know it really gives her peace of mind that she's helping her baby and the enviroment |
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January 13, 2008 8:15 PM we use seventh generation diapers and they've been a great alternative to regular diapers. we also recently found a biodegrable diaper in our local Target store made by nature babycare (www.naty.com). these are the closet we've found to a disposable enviro friendly compromise. the only problem is that they are "biodegrable" which i understand is a different breakdown process from "compostable". |
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February 14, 2008 1:50 PM Have you actually done any real lookng into cloth diapers and their cost?? Of course a service is expensive. But washable diapers will run you MAYBE $600 from birth to toilet training and cost you about $70 additional A YEAR for your hydro costs. You will spend $1500 - $2500 on disposables for the same period. |
