Top Ten Reasons to Choose Cloth Diapers

Top Ten Reasons Parents are Choosing Cloth Diapers

Let’s face it, we all know cloth is better for the environment. But did you know there are MANY other reasons that more and more parents are choosing cloth diapers today (yes, in the year 2008!?!). These are only the top ten reason why moms and dads are considering cloth diapering their baby. Once you actually give them a try, you will discover many more!!

1. Cloth diapers have come a long way, baby!!

Chances are you wouldn’t even recognize cloth diapers today. Cloth diapers have evolved to such an extent over the last ten years that many rival disposables - they are just as easy to use, change and wash! In fact, if you were to put an All-In-One cloth diaper next to a disposable, you would find very little difference in bulk, size and function.

2. Cloth diapers are more economical!

Disposable diapers become very expensive when you consider a 2-3 year diapering period. They can only be used once and are then they are tossed away. They can not be used for a second (or more) child. You can use cloth diapers on one baby for 3 years for as little as $400!! That’s a savings of $2500 (considering the average family spends $2800-3000 in disposable diapers over 3 years) for one child. Now, how much would you save if you had 2 or 3 more babies? Yes folks, that could mean a savings of almost $8000!! By the way, remember that initial $400 you spent on cloth diapers? Due to their excellent resale value, you may be able to get as much as half of the money spent on cloth diapers back on an auction site. Try doing that with your used disposables!

With the recent state of the economy many customers are considering cloth diapers as an option, to trim the family budget. Cloth diapers are worth taking a second look! If you were to take that $2500 you've saved and invest it in a very modest 5% GIC, in 18 years that $2500 would be $5,064.54! If you invested that $2500 in a more aggressive stock fund at a 10% return in 18 years you would have $13,899.79. Just in time for college! Check out the handy, dandy calculator used to do our calculations - Money Chimp

3. Babies are healthier in cloth diapers!

Disposable diapers contain many chemicals, poisons (TBT tributyl tin), dioxins (which are highly carcinogenic) and even perfumes and dyes that are all harmful to your baby and lead to diaper rash. The majority of babies in cloth tend to have less diaper rash as cloth diapers are more breathable and have none of the harmful chemicals or bleaches found in disposables. The gel that is used in disposables to absorb and hold in moisture is known as Sodium Polyacrylate. A quick look at the Material Safety Data Sheet for this substance is not reassuring (scroll down to #3 - Hazard Identification, and further down for Safe Handling Procedures). From A Tale of Two Diapers, "the OSHA "Material Safety Data Sheet on Superabsorbent Polymer" states, "Preexisting skin or breathing disorders may become aggravated through prolonged exposure." A study in the September 1999 issue of Archives of Environmental Health found that laboratory mice exposed to various brands of throwaway diapers suffered eye, nose, and throat irritation, including bronchoconstriction similar to that resulting from an asthma attack. The lead author of the study advised asthmatic mothers to avoid exposure to the chemicals found in most throwaway diapers.".

There are also many studies that have been done to show a direct link between using disposable diapers and childhood asthma as well as an increase in infertility in boys (Mothering Article - Link to Asthma). Considering we have alternatives that are so easy to use today, why take the risk?

4. Cloth diapers are more reliable and less messy than disposables!

Yes, we are talking about leaks! With a correctly fitted cloth diaper the majority of moms experience less leaking than you get with using disposables. New, modern cloth diapers and covers are so customizable that you have the ability to get a perfect fit on your baby each and every time. Think you will have too much washing to do using cloth? We're certain you'll find it’s no more (maybe even less!) than with disposable diapers. It's a little known secret that the “blow-outs” that occur from leaky solids are actually contained better in cloth. Disposable diapers have a slippery surface to them which causes a "slip and slide" effect with messy, leaky solids. It's not pretty! The textured fabric that cloth diapers are constructed of provides the perfect surface for leaky messes to cling to.

5. Cloth is more comfortable!

Would you like to wear paper underwear all day? Why would you think your baby thinks any differently? Soft cotton next to a babies tender skin is much more comfortable and breathable than paper and plastic. Babies also tend to be changed more frequently in cloth diapers, as opposed to single use disposable diapers, because moms are aware of when baby is actually wet. Just because a disposable “feels” dry, does not mean a baby is not sitting in urine. It just happens to be dry, crystallized urine! And, with the new microfleece fabric used as liners in cloth diapers today, your baby will not have wetness against their skin. The liquid is wicked away to the cotton diaper underneath, keeping baby feeling dry.

6. Cloth diapering is quick and EASY!

Yes, we said easy! The concept of convenience is a marketing ploy that disposable manufacturers use. They don't what you to know how easy cloth diapering really can be! With new, modern cloth diapers and the many innovative accessories available today, cloth diapering CAN be easy. And it takes no more time to change your baby and run a load of laundry than it does to change your baby, get baby dressed to go out, put baby in a jacket or snowsuit, fasten baby in car seat, get stroller out of car, take baby out of car seat, fasten baby into stroller, go into the mall, weave through the aisle to get to the disposable aisle...wait a minute? This seems like way more work to us!

7. Cloth Diapering is Fun!

With all the choices in diapers, fabrics, fun prints and colors to choose from, and that fact that we can do away with pins and wet, messy diaper pails, using cloth diapers can actually be fun! Setting up your cloth diapering layette is just as much fun (maybe more so!) as picking out bedding and blankets. The majority of moms that are cloth diapering love to talk about cloth diapers and how much they enjoy using them. They love to show them off! I don’t know anyone who feels this way about disposables...do you?

8. Babies look adorable in cloth diapers!

Cloth diapers are a modern baby's fashion statement! And modern moms love to shop for cloth diapers. Have you ever noticed how professional photographers use cloth diapers on their baby models? Cloth just looks better on babies. There are so many choices in cloth diapers today. With all the styles and colors, babies look adorable in cloth! Show your little one off in a soft, comfy, adorable cloth diaper.

9. Potty learning is easier!

Here's something you may not have already known. You will likely change less diapers in the long run, if your baby is wearing cloth diapers. It is a little known fact that cloth diapered children potty learn earlier and with less effort on the part of the parent. Again, cloth diapers are saving our families time! As children are actually aware of the sensation of urinating, the average child that is cloth diapered typically potty learns faster than their disposable diapered friends.

10. Cloth diapers are better for the environment!

Okay, we just had to throw this in! But you know it’s true!! Over four million disposable diapers are discarded in Canada each and every day. That's close to 1.5 BILLION diapers that end up in our landfills yearly. In the first two years, the average baby will require between 5000 to 7000 diaper changes. In the United States an estimated 27.4 BILLION diapers are tossed away each year. That makes the total diaper waste in North America close to 29 BILLION DIAPERS per YEAR (source Environment Canada and Wikipedia). Now that's a lot of diapers ending up in our landfills each year!

The disposable and cloth diaper debate has been ongoing. Many studies have been done funded by disposable diaper companies, with fewer that have been "independant". For a picture of the disposable diaper industry’s ongoing efforts to undermine the cloth diapering industry view a timeline as posted in The Politics of Diapers: A Timeline of Recovered History. This article covers the history of the disposable diaper industry from 1961-2000, and many of these studies are cited.

Cloth diapers are less taxing on the environment even when taking the amount of water and energy used to make and wash them. Read our article on Ways to Lessen your Environmental Impact when Using Cloth Diapers for more suggestions.

Want to learn more about using cloth diapers?

Continue on with our Cloth Diapering Tutorial using the following links:

Cloth Diapering 101 Guide - Start

Cloth diapering does not have to be an all or nothing endeavor. Some parents use cloth full-time and some use cloth part-time. It takes very little money and resources to give cloth a try, and with our conveniene cloth diapers, the transition from disposables to cloth does not have to be difficult. Let Parenting By Nature help get you started! It really is much easier than most parents realize. Contact us today to get started with cloth diapers!

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