Cloth Diapers…the 3Ds why.

I’m a sucker for a great deal. Why spend $1862-2358 (1) on disposable diapers (not including wipes and diaper rash ointment) when you could spend $500-600? Having a baby is expensive enough! Dave and I opted for a one-time, upfront cost (for which we were able to plan, save and budget) rather than paying weekly and monthly for an unspecified period of time (until potty training)! The one size diapers that we have will grow with little Milo from brand-new to bathroom.

Did you know that a disposable diaper takes in the ballpark of 250-500 years to decompose (2)? That is a long time for our earth to deal with something as simple as baby pooh! It’s not as if there is endless land to be used for land-fills for us to deposit our 5-12 diapers a day…for 2-3 years…for each of our children…grandchildren…great grandchildren…you get the picture? Being a RN I also wonder about the implications of having tons of human waste, filled with bacteria, viruses and yet undiscovered terrors, possibly seeping down into the ground water supply. I’ll go ahead and toss mine in the wash where I know the water and waste will all be treated as it should.

#3. DERRIERE

Diapers cover a very sensitive and important area of the body. Most disposable diapers are manufactured using a long list of chemicals. Some of them are known hazards to the skin and nervous and respiratory systems (3), yet we still wrap our babies up in them. Although diaper rash has not shown to be caused by disposable diapers, because the plastic on the outside feels dry, parents of disposable diapered children may wait too long to make a change, and leave baby’s bottom wet and burning with ammonia longer than parents of cloth diapered babies (4). Also, cloth breathes, and plastic doesn’t. I know that Milo will get his fair share of chemicals and toxins just living in today’s world. I’d like to do my best to not contribute too much. I’d also like to keep his baby bum healthy and happy.