RSS
Home
Five myths about cloth diapers
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
Today's cloth diapers are cute!
Think cloth diapering is only for the brave and old-fashioned? Not so, says Bayla, owner of Soft and Cozy Baby, Baltimore's cloth diaper boutique. Read on to find out why cloth isn't necessarily as [fill in the blank] as you might think.
MYTH #1: Cloth diapers aren't really better for the environment if you consider the water and detergents used to wash them.
FACT: "Several studies have shown that it requires more water and natural resources to manufacture disposables than it does to make and use cloth diapers, even when you consider the washing process," Bayla says. The bottom line: If you're washing your own diapers, you're saving money AND the environment. Diaper services may neutralize this difference, however, by washing each diaper several times in bleach and other harsh chemicals.
According to the Real Diaper Association's Web site, each baby diapered with disposables contributes 1 ton of waste to landfills. In the United States, that amounts to approximately 27.4 billion disposable diapers every year. Once they reach the landfill, disposable diapers take an estimated 250 to 500 years to decompose.
Still not convinced? Calculate the costs yourself.
MYTH #2: Disposables are perfectly safe for your baby - why switch to cloth?
FACT: Cloth diapers aren't just better for the environment - they also protect your baby's health.
"Disposable diapers contain a lot of chemicals," Bayla says. "Dioxin, a cancer-causing chemical, has been banned in most other countries. Sodium polyacrylate, which creates the absorbant gel in disposables, increases the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome and hasn’t been used in tampons in years. But it’s still widely used in American-made disposable diapers."
Research has shown that disposable diapers also lock in body heat and raise the temperature of boys' scrotums, likely contributing to the recent rise in male infertility.
MYTH #3: Cloth diapers are just too complicated and messy.
FACT: Today's cloth diapers are designed like disposables and are no more difficult to use.There are several styles, colorful patterns and modern brands to choose from. Here's a quick breakdown of the most popular styles:
- Prefolds: These are what everyone used before the dawn of disposables. Rather than using dangerous pins, today's prefolds can be quickly and safely secured with an ingenious device known as a Snappi. Prefolds are most often used inside reusable diaper covers, which only have to be washed when they get dirty.
- Pockets: These look almost exactly like disposables - they have elastic at the legs and waist, and close with velcro or snaps. The difference is that a pocket diaper is basically a diaper cover with a built-in inner pocket that can be stuffed with a prefold. This system is similar to using a prefold with a traditional cover, except that the pocket diaper combines both pieces into one neat, convenient package. However, unlike traditional diaper covers, pockets must be washed each time the diaper is soiled.
- Fitteds: These also look like disposables. Some fitteds come with a snap-in liner and most require the use of a waterproof cover, but this system is easier to use than prefolds + covers because fitted diapers are so contoured and trim. Also, there's no Snappi involved - the diapers close with either velcro tabs or snaps.
- All-in-one diapers: These are the Cadillacs of cloth diapering: a diaper and cover, all in one. They look almost exactly like disposables, except that they're much cuter and, of course, not disposable. All-in-one diapers are perfect for daycare providers or cloth-wary caregivers - no extra steps, mess, or fumbling required.
So which style to choose?
"It kind of depends on your situation," Bayla says. "If you’re going to stay home with the baby, whatever you’re comfortable with is a good fit. But if you’re sending the baby to daycare or if somebody’s coming in to take care of the baby, you'll want to make it as simple as possible for them to use your diapers."
"The easiest diapers to use are probably the pockets or all-in-ones. They go on like disposables and then you can just wrap them up and throw them in the wash when you’re done."
However, Bayla recommends trying several different styles and brands before you invest in a full stash.
"There really is a difference between diapers," Bayla says. "Some are a bit more trim; some have more room for babies with chunky legs. Some babies are thinner and some are fatter around the waist. So all diapers fit a little differently. It’s also the parent’s preference – some diapers have snaps, Velcro, different colors, different styles. People usually find a brand of diaper that they like, and they stick with it."
MYTH #4: Cloth diapers require several extra loads of laundry a week.
FACT: Not necessarily. The number of extra loads largely depends on the number of diapers you invest in. Parents who stock up on prefolds may go several days or even a week before a load of laundry becomes necessary.
"A lot of people say, 'I really want to use cloth diapers, but I can’t do an extra load of laundry,'" Bayla says. "That’s really what turns a lot of people away, is contemplating an extra load of laundry. But if you’re already doing laundry, an extra load every few days is really not a big deal. You just throw them in and it’s not like you have to do anything special."
So you have a pile of dirty diapers... what now?
"Everybody has their own method for washing diapers," says Bayla. "It kind of becomes an obsession - people start to argue about the best way and the best detergent, stuff like that. I think the simplest way is to do a cold rinse first, then do a hot wash. Depending on the type of detergent you use, you might have to rinse the diapers even further. If you’re using an additive-free detergent, one rinse is fine. If you’re using something different, you might need a couple extra rinses." No bleach required.
"Washing diapers from formula-fed and breastmilk-fed babies is basically the same – their poop is still water-soluble, so it can go straight into your washing machine and it washes out without a problem. Once babies start eating solids and their poop starts getting peanut-buttery or even firm, you should try to get rid of it before you put it in the washing machine. You can either use a disposable or reusable liner to catch the poop or you can use a diaper sprayer, which helps remove most of the solids. Diaper sprayers are basically the same thing as sink sprayers – they’re really easy to install. I love them – it really makes a difference and a lot of people would not cloth diaper without their sprayer."
Which detergent works best?
"Nowadays, detergents have a lot of additives and brighteners and scents. All of that will affect how absorbent your diaper is. Because these diapers are so absorbent, they’ll take in everything. So you need to get a detergent that has nothing added to it, to prevent leaking. There are some basic brands, like Tide Original, that you can buy in any store. Any detergent that has nothing added to it (i.e., no synthetic dyes or fragrances) is fine. It can be very hard to find that in regular stores, but you can buy special detergents at some natural food stores (like Whole Foods) or cloth diapering stores."
What do you do with the dirty diapers in the meantime?
There are two types of diaper pails: wet and dry. The dry pail is the simplest and safest option: Just line a waste basket with a large diaper bag, like this one made by Bummis. Choose a waste basket with a tight-fitting lid, and periodically sprinkle the diapers with baking soda to control the smell.
The wet pail method is messier, more complicated and a drowning hazard for young children. "Most diaper manufacturers are not recommending wet pails anymore; it even voids the warranty on some brands of diapers," Bayla says. "Using a wet pail can affect a lot of things in the diaper- it can cause stains to set, it can break down the coating on the outside of the diaper. The diaper manufacturers really want you to use a dry pail and wash the diapers frequently. I also think it’s kind of gross – who really wants to stick their hand into a wet pail?"
MYTH #5: Cloth diapers are just too expensive.
FACT: Not when you consider the cost of disposables, and the option of using those very same cloth diapers on each of your future babies.
"A disposable diaper, on average, costs about 25 cents per diaper, depending on the brand," Bayla says."A baby uses between $1600 and $2000 in diapers in 2 years. Some people don’t want to spend money on a cloth diaper because they feel it’s so expensive, but it’s not nearly as expensive as $2000! You can easily buy a cloth diaper stash for as little as $300, then reuse those same diapers for future children. If you have three or four children, you could be sending your kids to private school for the cost of their diapers. Even if you calculate in water costs and detergents, you’re not spending nearly as much on cloth diapers as on disposables."
Soft and Cozy Baby offers a gift registry and a layaway option - both are easy and affordable ways to get started, especially for expectant parents or others working their way into a cloth diaper stash. In addition, most diaper companies offer bulk discounts. Visit www.softandcozybaby.com to view a variety of other packages designed for people who want to try cloth diapers but don’t really know how to get started.
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
