Why Use Cloth Diapers
Maybe you are just expecting your first child and are researching about cloth diapers, or already have children and are considering switching to cloth.
Either way it is never too late to begin cloth diapering.
Below are some of the most common reasons people chose cloth diapers:
Cloth diapers are cheaper than disposables:
Even your cheapest disposable diapers can not compare to the cost saving you will incur if you use cloth diapers. The average cost of a disposable diaper is 30cents a piece. The average cost of using your own cloth diapers is 3 cents.
You will spend between $2000-$3000 per child on disposable diapers by the time they are potty trained (average age 3). Per child! Consider then a family of 2-3 children. Your savings could double, or triple up to $5000.
Depending on which cloth diapers you use, they pay for themselves after 6 months of their purchase. After that you’re using them for free. Any subsequent children can continue to use them for free as well.
Even if you factor in the cost of water and energy required to launder the diapers, it is minute compared to the cost of disposables. The cloth diaper calculator will provide you with a mind blowing comparison. http://www.diaperpin.com/calculator/calculator.asp
Health impact for your baby:
Today’s cloth diapers are made with a baby’s full comfort in mind. Constructed from the softest materials on the market, organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, cloth diapers are a marvel of luxury for your baby’s tush.
Disposable diapers are full of concerning chemicals, some of which cause diaper rashes, and others which are known carcinogens.
SAP (super absorbent polymer) gel is one of these carcinogenic chemicals. You can sometimes even see it on your child’s skin after changing the diaper. It looks like clear gel residue. Its function in a disposable diaper is to absorb the moisture in a gel like form. This is what gives disposable diapers such a great absorbency rate. SAP has however been a suspect in deaths from TSS (toxic shock syndrome) in feminine products. The manufacturers of these products have since removed it from use. Why they have not done the same for baby’s diapers is a question to ponder.
Dioxin is another toxic chemical produced during bleaching of disposable diapers. Dioxin is a known carcinogen and should be nowhere near a child’s sensitive skin. If you noticed some disposable diaper companies have created “chlorine free” diapers to address this issue. One must be cautious, as many diaper companies that offer “chlorine free” do not actually mean 100% chlorine free. A large percentage of chlorine is still used.
With Cloth diapers you have choices. Generally cloth diapers have no such issues as toxins are generally not present in the materials used. If you still have concerns about some man made materials used (nylon, micro fiber) you have choices to opt for completely organic alternatives of organic diapers and organic wool covers.
Earlier potty training:
I am attempting to find an article I read earlier this year comparing the statistics of potty trained children today to those in the 1950’s and 60’s. From what I remember from the article, and much anecdotal evidence gathered on the web, it seems children in cloth diapers are potty trained at a much earlier age. As my children are still small (2 years and 7 months) I have yet to experience this.
What cloth diaper users have found is, as children are more able to feel when they are wet, they learn the connection between the physical need to “go” and the actual event much quicker. Disposable diapers make this task more challenging as children don’t feel when wet. Not to mention that the disposable diaper companies greatly benefit from our children using their product as long as possible. They want our kids in diapers.
Using cloth is healthy for the environment:
One child from birth to 3 years of age will create on average 3 tons of garbage when using disposable diapers! In Canada, approximately 4 million disposable diapers are discarded per day (1.6 billion per year)! Disposable diapers make up the third largest source of solid waste in landfills, and may take up to 500 years to decompose. These numbers are staggering.
The environmental hazards that are created with disposable diapers rotting in landfills are even more worrisome. All human waste, including poop in disposable diapers is supposed to be discarded in the toilet. Even though printed on the instructions of the disposable diaper boxes, I know of no one who’s done this. WHO (World Health Organization) has been very concerned for years about human waste rotting in landfills and potentially polluting our water. They have created guidelines against actually dumping human waste in trash. The issue is even more concerning in third world countries where the landfills are non regulated and very close to human dwellings.
Not to beret the issue, I must mention that the list of cloth diapers being a more environmentally sound choice is endless. It takes so much more energy to produce a disposable diaper, compared to cloth. Also the huge factories where diapers are made create tons of chemical pollutants in the process, and harm our water ways and land.
You have a choice to use cloth diapers and reduce your impact on the environment, in turn contributing to a safer world for your child to grow up in.
And using cloth diapers is no fuss
Today’s cloth diapers come with many bells and whistles; numerous options. So much that fist time consumers are quite confused about what to choose. Whatever type of cloth diaper you chose, you will feel great about providing your child with a healthier alternative to disposables. And the earth will thank you too.
Not to mention cloth diapers are so darn cute. | 
