Cloth Diapers

Benefits
Environmental Benefit: ★★☆☆☆
Yes, it's true - the gal in the photo (one of ours) is not wearing a cloth diaper. This is one we debated about, and finally gave into disposables mainly for convenience sake. But lets look at the real environmental impact! Disposable diapers are mostly made up of plastic, pulp and paper which industries produce more hazardous waste products than the cotton industry (out of which most cloth diapers are made). Cotton farming requires vast amounts of energy and water however. Cotton is also a chemically wasteful crop to grow, taking up 10% of all agricultural chemicals and 25% of insecticides used on our land. Disposable diapers make up about 2% of the total landfill volume in the US and cloth diapers a much smaller fraction. However, cloth diapers take a significant amount of water (usually heated) to clean. If a diaper service is used, there is the energy involved in the pickup service to account for. If a tumble dryer is used, then that energy use is also significant. It isn't such a clear-cut decision, is it! A 2005 study by Britain's Environmental agency determined that the carbon impact of cloth vs. disposable was essentially a "wash" (about even). However, critics of the study noted that cloth diapers can actually have an environmental advantage if the latest efficient washers are used, with large loads and using lower (cool or warm) temperatures. Another advantage is given to cloth if line drying is used instead of tumble. And finally, if the diapers are later reused on another child (in the same family, or by some means passed to another family) then this gives them a further advantage. So yes - cloth CAN be a little more environmentally friendly than disposable if handled right, and it definitely creates less landfill waste.

Money Saved: ★★☆☆☆
The fancy cloth diapers they've got these days are relatively expensive! If you pay for a diaper service then the cost will be about equal to using disposable diapers. If you wash them yourself, you can save 20%-40% of the cost of buying disposables.

Lifestyle Benefit: ★☆☆☆☆
Cloth diapers generally soak through more often than disposables, and so need to be changed more often. It can't be denied that the convenience of being able to wrap that nasty little bundle up in waterproof plastic and toss it in the bin is awfully nice too!

What We're Doing
Part of the reason we didn't use disposables is I couldn't see myself swirling cloth diapers around in the toilet like my mom did for us! Since Shannon wanted my help changing them, we got disposables. Am I too unreasonable? I'm not sure my dad ever changed a diaper!

Tip
There are charities such as miraclediapers.org that will help you recycle cloth diapers! Or you can give them away on freecycle. Myself, I'd feel strange trying to sell them! Maybe give them away at a baby shower???? (umm . . . NOT!!!!!)

A Little Humor
Q. How many babysitters does it take to change a light bulb?
A. Are you joking? They can’t even change a dirty diaper!