Parenting & Pregnancy >
Diapering
Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedWhich are best for the environment: Eco-friendly diapers or cloth diapers
Results so far:
| Eco-friend | 50% | 21 votes | Total: 42 votes | |
| Cloth diap | 50% | 21 votes |
Eco-friend
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesEco friendly diapers vs Cloth diapers. I will be the first to admit that cloth diapers to me are the best for the environment, however require management of water usage to make them actually friendly to the environment. Cloth also increases your "at home" work time with the baby, storing, washing, drying, folding, and the like.
However I have found an environmentally sound diaper that allows you to use cloth if you would like, but is much more convenient when out. This is the G-diaper. They are somewhat new on the market, however getting a lot of spotlights lately. The are a cloth cover with a water proof liner. In the liner it is suggested that you use the compostable and/or flushable inserts. These inserts are much like a disposable diaper that you can remove and toss away if you would like, however they are also flushable and compostable. The G-diaper can also be used with cloth inserts when you choose, for example cloth at home and the flushable inserts when out. It is the best of both worlds and easy on the environment.
These diapers are available in sizes from Small to Large and fit most all babies over 5 pounds. They are also available in a range of wonderful colors from pink, blue, green, vanilla, chocolate, violet and many more. They offer a soft cloth cover adorned with a "g" on the rear, boasting your choice in diaper to the world. They seem strange at first, as the Velcro closures are opposite of conventional diapers, closing in the back. However this is the most genius part of them, stopping youngsters from reaching the tabs and removing the diaper on their own, until they are old enough to realize that they are in the back.
These diapers also transition well into training pants, leaving parents with the choice of using a cloth "flat" diaper, which is less absorbent and will let your child feel wet right away, or even just using the easy to remove cover as under ware. They are quick to remove, completely washable, and again, good for the environment.
These diapers are also a great option for those parents practicing EC or elimination communication with their children. You can use just the liner and cover, or just the cover as infant under ware. The small size gdiapers will work well, as infant sized under ware are hard to find. They make EC a bit easier, as you can use an insert or a cloth diaper when out and use the same cover when home until you and your baby are miss free. The Velcro offers quick removal of the diaper, making misses less frequent.
You can find more information on the company website, gdiapers.com. You can also find parents who use gdiapers in groups on yahoo.com and cafemom.com. The diapers are available at most Whole Foods stores, on line, and are popping up in Babies R Us's across the nation. They have made their way from Australia to the US and are now even available in Europe as well.
As for cost, with any cloth or Eco friendly diapering option, they are a bit costly. However, like with cloth, it is only the initial investment that is costly and if you use cloth inserts, your one time investment saves you quite a bit of money over time. The refills or inserts can be costly to use all the time, however if you write to gdiapers they will send you valuable coupons, they offer sales on their refills, and you can find refills for "resale" from many parents on line for quite a savings. The most economical way to use these diapers is with cloth at home, or all the time, and only the flushable inserts when out.
Learn more about this author, Lisa Web.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Cloth diap
I started my motherhood off with disposable diapers. I received the old school cloth diapers as a gift at my first sons' baby shower. I made several attempts to use the cloth diapers only to quickly have to change a very soaked baby. No matter how many diapers I layered together his clothes, bed, car seat, play pen, and anything else near him would be drenched. So I gave up and used the cloth diapers as burp cloths. I now have three boys, all raised in disposable diapers.
About 6 months ago I came across a whole new cloth diaper world that I was completely unaware of. These cloth diapers are designed to work just like a disposable diaper, the only difference is that you take it off and wash it. I immediately sought out a work at home mom that makes cloth diapers. My baby is 16 months old and will still be wearing diapers for awhile so I ordered 25 diapers, 25 liners for extra absorbency, and 5 covers for night time. It cost me $130.00 including the shipping. With in 2 months my new diapers had paid for themselves! My diapers have Velcro tabs, and a cover sewed directly to the diaper. One piece, no pins!
I ordered a diaper sprayer that hooks up to the plumbing at the back of the toilet. It looks like the veggie sprayer that pulls out at the top of your kitchen sink. I use the hose on the soiled diapers so that the waste can be flushed down the toilet and treated, not buried in the earth. Also would be great for postpartum care!
I know what your thinking, lots of water waste, electricity waste, and lots of extra time! I am here to tell you it really is not! Here is my system...I have a bucket with a lid that latches. I scrub it out with very hot water and soap on wash day, in the bottom I place a flannel washcloth that I have dabbed a couple drops of lavender on. Lavender has natural antimicrobial properties that fight germs and bacteria. My bucket is now ready to store the dirty diapers. I wash my diapers in very hot water, with earth friendly, non scented laundry soap. When the wash cycle is finished I remove my diapers and place them on a drying rack, where it takes about 36 hours for them to dry. You can also place them outside where they will dry faster in the sun and fresh air, this helps naturally remove stains and odors. I put the diapers in a drawer when they are dry. That's it!I wash about every 4 days. I love the diapers so much I taught myself how to make them so I have about 30 now, I also made about 50 double layer flannel washcloths. Perfect for diaper changes, wiping messy faces and hands, and bath time. I just throw them all in the washer with the diapers. I also came up with my own organic diaper ointment recipe that I now use instead of over the counter ointment.
I save about $76.00 a month on diapers, wipes, and ointment. For the six months that I have been using the cloth method I have saved $456.00. The total investment for the cloth diapers that I ordered and the diapers and wipes that I made is $147.00.I also save about $400.00 in diaper ointment a year. Isn't that amazing? Imagine what I could have saved had I known about this system when my first baby came along. I have notice no difference in my water and electric bill with the added laundry as each load is very small and the smallest cycle is used even with washing 25-30 diapers a load. If you don't want to fold them, you don't have to leave, them in the laundry basket. It's so simple!
When I travel I pack a lots of cloth wipes, and a squirt bottle filled with organic baby soap and water mixture with a drop of tea tree oil to keep the bacterial in check. I use the squirt bottle to wash my kids hads, restaurant tables, and anything else that may need to be washed. I carry a water proof bag that I can stuff my dirty diapers in and carry them home to be washed.
We are a one income family struggling to make ends meet. I always stressed about how we were going to buy diapers and wipes. At one point my middle son and youngest son were wearing diapers together, that was super expensive! I now am worry free! I know that no matter what our financial situation is we always have diapers and wipes. It is such a good feeling! Best off all I don't have to go to the store as often!
Now to the most important reason to switch to cloth diapers. The health of your baby and the earth is being severely effected by disposable diapers!
Disposable diapers are full of pesticides, bleach, wood pulp, and other harmful chemicals and debris. According to my sources these ingredients have been known to cause many health issues and complications. These include infertility, suffocation due to plastic and stuffing, allergic reaction, breathing difficulties, skin reactions causing open oozing wounds, vomiting, staph infections, links to various forms of cancer. The factor workers as well as the farm workers who handle the ingredients also suffer from the above heath issues as well as others. The absorbent crystals now used in disposable diapers was used in a tampon that was removed from the market back in the 70's that caused Toxic Shock Syndrome.
The environmental effects are staggering as well. Most people do not practice healthy waste disposal, after they take the diaper off their baby they role it up and toss it. This puts 43,000 tons of of waste into our earth per year, 84 million pds of poop absorbed into the earth. The same earth we draw our water from and grow our gardens and crops in. Viruses can feed in a diaper for at least 2 weeks. 4.5 trees are used to produce diapers for each baby that wears disposable for at least 2 years. 2 tons of fecal waste is disposed of per baby!
Our trash consists of more diapers that any other non recyclable product. We spend approximately 50 million dollars a year trying to contain and control disposable pollution.
One billion trees a year are used in the production of disposable diapers. 10 kg of cloth is used for each baby per 2 years of diaper wear as opposed to 200-400 kg of chemical infused cotton and wood pulp for every baby wearing disposable per year. 130 kg of plastic is used per year just for the production of disposable diapers. All of this is going into our babies and our earth. I personally put a large part of the blame for global warming to the production and management of dirty diapers. Really, it's so simple, make the change today!There really is no extra work, literally a few extra minutes a week if that! Better for your baby, better for the well being of mankind! I can't take back the thousand of dirty diapers that I sent to the dump, but I have decreased the waste that went into the ground for the past 6 months. It is a wonderful feeling, I want to shout it from the roof tops! I want everyone to have a healthy happy baby, promote a healthy earth, and save lots of money won't you join me today?
(sources: born to love, diaper hyena, very baby
Learn more about this author, Alysha Prakin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
