When I initially got pregnant with my first child over 6 years ago, I wanted to research EVERYTHING! I think that’s a normal response to the impending responsibility that comes with carrying another human within your womb. I cannot even remember how I happened upon a website that was selling cloth diapers, but I remember thinking how gross it sounded to wash diapers. I also have no idea why I continues to research the topic further. All I could think about was diaper pins, and my grandma telling stories about leaky cloth diapers; however, cloth diapers have come a long way in the last 20 years! They’ve come far in the last 6 years even! These aren’t your grandma’s cloth diapers!
Myth: It’s more difficult to cloth diaper than to use disposables.
Fact: A lot of companies make “All-in-One” cloth diapers. This means that the absorbent layers are connected to the waterproof layer, and the action of putting a diaper on the baby is no different than the action of using a disposable diaper.
Myth: The diapers must be rinsed before placing in the wash which adds a whole new step!
Fact: While the above statement may be true for older babies who are eating solids, it is not true for younger babies. Prior to the start of solids bowel movements are water soluble, and the diaper can be thrown directly into the wash with no prior rinse!
Long list of why cloth is the way to go:
- Cloth is better for the environment!
o Disposable diapers take around 500 years to decompose due to the plastics use to make them!
- Blow outs!
o Cloth diapers hold up better to those crazy blow outs that veteran parents are very familiar with!
- Cost effective
o Enough cloth diapers to last until potty training will cost around $500 if you buy the fancy expensive ones, plus the cost of water/detergent brings you to around $734-ish. I know what you’re thinking! That’s a hefty price to pay for baby underwear! BUT…
o Disposable diapers will cost between $2000 to $3000 from birth to potty training!
- Chemicals… yuk!
o If you’re like me, and you’re trying to reduce your family’s exposure to harmful chemicals avoid disposables. According to MamaNatural “Most disposables are bleached with Dioxin, which, in animal studies, caused nerve damage, birth defects, increased rates of miscarriages and changes to the immune system. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified dioxins as a probable human carcinogen.
Next up is Sodium Polyacrylate, the super absorbent gelling material, or AGM, that allows your baby to go long periods in one diaper. Sodium Polyacrylate has been linked in the past to toxic shock syndrome, as well as allergic reactions, and it’s is potentially lethal to pets.
AGMs are also linked to an increase in childhood asthma and a decrease in sperm count among boys.” Why risk that
o Since the wide spread use of disposable diapers, the incidence of diaper rash has increased due to the chemicals.
- There are about a billion more reasons to cloth diaper, but my hands are now cramping from typing all these awesome reasons, and as a pediatric and family chiropractor, I need my hands!