Cloth Diapers

March 4th, 2011 by admin1

Cloth diapers are usually regarded as a natural, healthy, environmentally conscientious choice for families with new babies.  It might be surprising that a more balanced assessment of the benefits of cloth diapers is closer to the truth; they do have benefits, but they are not as ideal an option as one might think.  There are negative ramifications for both the health of the baby and for the environment to take into consideration.

Health Effects

?  Many people choose cloth diapers over disposable diapers believing that the material is more natural and therefore, less irritating to a baby’s skin. But in order to produce the distinctly white cotton that is preferred for babies, the cotton must be bleached. Rubber or plastic pants are then worn over the diaper to protect outer clothes from the wetness of the diaper.  Cloth diapers do not wick moisture away from babies’ sensitive skin, and the rubber or plastic keeps the diaper in constant contact with the skin.  This constant contact with urine soaked material is a common cause of diaper rash, and the rubber or plastic pants themselves can cause chafing and irritation.  Cloth diapers are often washed in heavy detergents and bleaches to remove stains and odors. Cloth diapers may be a natural choice, but they can cause diaper rash, skin irritation and allergic reactions with their use.

 

Artificial Materials

?    While it is taken for granted that cloth diapers are natural, in actual fact, some diaper materials are constructed from polyester blends that are then sprayed with chemical treatments.  Then these are enclosed in a vinyl, rubber, or plastic outer pant. That is a large assortment of chemicals coming into contact with the baby’s sensitive skin. Some of these chemicals are known carcinogens; although in the small amounts used in diaper products, they are usually assumed to be safe.

Production

?  There are significant environmental factors to consider in the production of cloth diapers.  Cotton growers use insecticides, fertilizers, heavy machinery, and water resources to produce their crops.  The petroleum or fossil fuels used to grow and process cloth diapers are nearly equal to that used in the production of disposable diapers.

Continued Use Impact

?  The virtue of cloth diapers is that in washing and re-using them, one can reduce her impact on the environment.  Certainly, cloth diapers do not have any impact on landfill space.  However, Cloth diapers need to be changed more often than disposable diapers.  The amount of hot water, bleach, and detergents required to wash and disinfect those diapers, plus the energy required to power the machines that clean and dry them, can actually add up to larger carbon footprint than that for disposable diapers.

Cost

?  When comparing  the cost of cloth diaper use to the use of disposables, many things need to be taken into account.  There is the initial investment in the diapers and rubber pants themselves, which can be surprisingly high, but likely less than the overall cost of buying disposable.  But the costs associated with washing a large number of diapers add up as well in higher energy bills, as well as higher consumption of water, detergents and bleaches. Cloth diapers are changed more often which translates into washing more diapers, as opposed to simply throwing them in a trash can.

Convenience

Cloth diapers require a greater time investment for most families.  Mothers and fathers spend more time changing, washing, and drying diapers and rubber pants than they do when  dealing with disposable diapers.