by Jess Gray

Created on: January 23, 2007   Last Updated: May 17, 2007

Being a mother of two boys under two years old, I go through a lot of diapers.
I am currently in the process of converting full time to cloth diapers. Currently, I estimate my household goes through 40 disposables a day.

Here are some facts about disposable diapers and their cloth counterparts:
*Disposables use 3.5 times more energy
*Disposable diapers produce 60 times more solid waster

*Both use similar amounts of fossil fuel
(For further information on environmental studies see: http://www.cuddlybub.com.au/index.php?main_page=page &id=5&chapter=1)

There is a mind field of choices out there. Firstly no longer, are cloth diapers the terry flats, that many parents and grandparents remember from 20 odd years ago. No longer, do parents have to contend with confusing diaper folds and over sized pins.

Here is a brief run down on the Cloth diaper jargon:
AIO= All in One
A cloth diaper that does not need a cover. It has a waterproof layer inside it. They have Velcro or snaps to hold them together. Depending on the layers this can leak more then ay other type of cloth diaper. These diapers also take longer to dry due to the waterproof layer. These are shaped to fit a baby like a disposable.

Fitted/Shaped
Fitted Cloth are shaped diapers similar to disposables. They usually have Velcro or snaps to hold them together. These diapers require a waterproof cover. They are shaped to fit your baby in the same sort of way disposables are.

Pre-Folds
Basic non terry (usually a cotton blend) folded into a rectangle and held into place by a waterproof outer wrap (cover).These are quick to dry but can be less absorbent then fitted's or AIO's.

Terries
The cheapest and most basic cloth diaper. The one everyone knows about. This requires folding and being secured into place by either a diaper pin or a diaper clip. They dry very quickly but aren't as absorbent as the modern cloth diapers.

Now something to think about, most children do not master toilet training until the age of 3.The Average child will use approx 3000 diapers before toilet training. These diapers take 500 years to decompose. They also make up 10% of landfill waste each year. (See Nilumbik Shire Council http://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_I d=970&h=0 for more information on nappy alternatives)

When you are out choosing diapers think about not only, what is best for your budget & your baby, but what is best for our planet.

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