Lee-Ann Pinkard and Lisa Martinez have found their niche among parents who desire to reduce their babies’ exposure to potentially harmful ingredients found in disposable diapers, cut down on household waste heading to the landfill, and toxic chemicals released into the environment through the production of disposable diapers.
Recent years have seen a resurgence of cloth diaper usage, as parents seek to reap health and financial benefits for their families. Some choose cloth primarily for environmental reasons, while others prefer the diapers just because they like the idea of using soft, all-natural materials on their baby’s skin. (See Mothering Magazine’s excellent reviews of the benefits and downsides of both cloth and disposable diapers, as well as a how-to guides on the different types of cloth diaper systems available.)
Pinkard became interested in cloth diapering when she became a mother in 2009. She recalled her mother using them, and was inspired by a friend who used cloth on her baby. She was surprised to find that the diapers had come a long way beyond prefolds (those flat, rectangular diapers that needed to be folded up around the baby and pinned, before the advent of the snappi.) since she was a baby. It’s hard to find an opportunity to see and touch the different types of diapers before committing to buy. Pinkard decided to fill that void in the DC area by setting up Ecobabies and providing opportunities for parents to see the diapers and learn how to use them at cloth diapering workshops and parties throughout the area. Ecobabies offers a newborn diaper rental service so new parents can get a feel for what fits best on their baby and works best for their household routines before committing.
Martinez, of 2 The Root, began her business in 2009. It offers home delivery service, and differs from other diaper services in that it uses environmentally friendly products, as well as washing and delivery methods. In-home demos and monthly cloth diapering 101 workshops are also provided to orient parents to the use of the diapers. Already have a stash of cloth diapers, but feeling overwhelmed at the thought of adding more laundry to your daily routine? 2 the Root offers a Laundry Break service, in which they will pick up your own diapers, wash them using their environmentally sensitive methods, and return them to you fresh and clean and ready to use. Cloth diapering doesn’t get much easier than that!
Both businesses (along with Alyahs Alternatives, also a local, mom-run business) are part of the DC Cloth Diapering Cooperative, which will be hosting the DC-area location of The Great Cloth Diaper Change this Saturday, April 23rd. The purpose of this world-wide event is to celebrate Earth Day by bringing awareness to the benefits and convenience of using cloth diapers, and set a Guinness World Record in the process. The group will attempt to set a record for the most babies being simultaneously changed into cloth diapers at one time. The event will take place at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church, 310 Tulip Ave. in Takoma Park. See the website for more details and to pre-register.
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