Why Would Anyone Want to Fool with Cloth Diapers?

When you hear about cloth diapers, what first comes to mind? Most people automatically think pins and a flat piece of white cloth, and a baby wearing ugly rubber pants. While that was an accurate portrayal of cloth diapering in the 1950's, cloth diapers are really quite different today. Many families are giving cloth diapering a try. The popularity of cloth is on the rise in the United States and in other industrialized countries around the world, especially as we learn more about the hazards of using disposable diapers.

What's the deal with cloth diapers today? Are they really worth considering? Usually diapering is the last thing on the mind of new parents. They pick up packages of disposable diapers at the store and don' realize there is any other option, aside from the pins and plastic pants. If you're a parent of a baby in diapers or a parent to be, take a second glance. You're missing out on an entire world of cloth!

Modern cloth diapers are cute, convenient, and are as easy as disposables for many families. Today's world of cloth diapering comes with several choices. There are still the classic prefolds, rectangles of absorbent cloth that you fold onto a baby's bottom. Instead of pins, a easy to use device called a snappi clasps the diaper at three points to fasten it. The clasp of a snappi is similar to the little metal clip that holds ace bandages in place, except it is made of plastic instead of sharp metal. Prefolds require a cover, but you will find very few rubber pants for sale on the cloth diapering market. Most parents prefer wool, fleece, or a material called PUL. PUL is laminated cloth that repels water. Covers come in many different colors and prints that make cloth diapering fun for you and for your baby.

If prefolds are too much for you to handle, you should check out fitted diapers. A fitted diaper is shaped like a disposable diaper. They usually contain an inner layer of very absorbent materials and fasten with snaps or Velcro. Fitted diapers also require covers over them to prevent wetness from soaking onto baby's clothing.

If you are not interested in using diapers and covers, keep reading. The modern world of cloth has something else to offer. All-in-one diapers, or AIO's, are cloth diapers that do not require anything over them. Most AIO's are made with a waterproof layer of the laminated PUL. These are very popular diapers. The most popular AIO's are pocket style. They have a pocket opening, usually found at the back of the diaper, where pad of absorbent materials, referred to as an insert, can be slid inside.

Many people say that cloth diapers cause diaper rash and cite that reason as a good excuse to continue using disposables. This is a myth. Cloth diapers are actually healthier for your child's bottom than most disposable diapers.

Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate. That is the name for the little balls of absorbent gel. Parents of disposable diapered children will note that they often find these little balls on their child's bottom when changing a soaked diaper. This material was linked to toxic shock syndrome and can no longer be used in tampons, though it is continually used as the main absorbent material in disposable diapers. Workers in sodium polyacrylate manufacturing plants have been known to suffer weight loss, fatigue, and female organ problems, along with wounds that are slow to heal. An interesting observation, isn't it?

Most children spend the first two or three years of their lives in diapers. In the past 25 years there has been a sharp rise in male infertility. In the past 25 years there has also been a sharp rise in the use of disposable diapers. Perhaps that is a coincidence, or only part of a bigger picture, but studies have shown that disposable diapers can heat a boy's testicles to such a degree that they stop developing normally. Tribulytin, otherwise known as TBT, has also been speculated as a cause of male infertility. It is one of the most toxic substances ever made. TBT harms the immune system and impairs the hormone system. In May of 2000 Greenpeace found traces of TBT in Pampers diapers.

Dioxin, a known carcinogen, has also been found in disposable diapers. It is a by-product of bleaching using chlorine gas and is banned in most countries. Unfortunately, the USA and the FDA still allow it. Dioxin causes immune system suppression, liver disease, and genetic damage.

The chemicals found in disposable diapers can have unknown effects on your child. Some researchers suspect that asthma and other respiratory problems in children is aggravated or caused by inhaling the mixture of chemicals emitted from disposable diapers. Disposable diapers also have a higher rate of urinary tract infections in baby girls, explaining why UTI's in babies is on the rise today. One study showed that if you use disposable diapers and wipes and other standard baby products on your child their delicate, developing skin will absorb 48 chemicals.

And the simple argument that cloth diapers leave a baby's bottom damp and cause diaper rash? Not so with most cloth diapers. Most AIO diapers are lined with materials such as suede cloth or micro fleece that allow moisture to pass right through, into an absorbent layer below, rather than clinging to a baby's delicate bottom. Prefolds and fitted diapers can work in the same way when they are lined with a strip of micro fleece. Since micro fleece doesn't unravel, it can be purchased at most fabric stores and simply cut into strips. This also makes for very easy clean up when it comes to poop filled diapers.

Changing a baby's diaper after a bowel movement isn't really as hard as it may seem with cloth. For a breastfed infant the diapers can be tossed into the washer as they are. The poop just dissolves away. With a fleece liner, solid poop can be dumped into the toilet and flushed with no problem. There is usually no disgusting swishing or rising needed. To store used diapers most cloth diapering families use a wet bag. Wet bags are made of the same waterproof PUL material as covers and AIO diapers. The wet bag can be used alone or as a pail liner. When it comes time to do laundry, all you have to do is dump the diapers out of the bag and into the washing machine, then toss the bag in with them.

Washing cloth diapers is simple. The best method is to soak them for an hour or so in cold water with a little fragrance and brightener free detergent, then wash on hot with baking soda. Put half a cup of vinegar in the rinse, and run it through an extra rinse cycle. (Do NOT use bleach, as it can react with the ammonia in urine and cause a chemical burn on your baby's bottom.) Then throw most everything in the dryer or hang the PUL materials to dry.

If you're still wondering how it can be claimed that cloth diapers are as easy as disposables, think about it this way: Would you rather spend less than five minutes dropping diapers in the washing machine and then tossing them in the dryer, or would you rather spend money, drag whining children out the door, into the car, and through a store to pick up a package of disposables and trash bags? You then have to find a place to store all of the used disposable diapers until the trash comes. Did you know that cloth diapers hardly smell bad at all compared to the scent of soiled disposable diapers?

It is possible to buy a stash of cloth diapers for less than $500. These diapers will last your child through potty training. You can re-sell the diapers once your child grows out of each size to purchase the next size up, or you can save them for future children. Compare that to spending $30 a week on disposable diapers and you'll find that you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars diapering your baby.

To sum it all up: Why are cloth diapers worth your time? They are simple to use, cheaper to purchase, and healthier for your child. Not to mention the fact that you aren't filling landfills with human waste and a product that takes thousands of years to decompose. Aside from all of those reasons, cloth diapers are just plain cute. When was the last time you showed off your baby's adorable disposable diapered bum?