When I was pregnant with my first child I was haunted by photos of towers of disposable diapers collecting in landfills. Disposable diapers are the third-largest single consumer item in U.S. landfills, according to a
2003 study. And according to a report by the Women’s Environmental Network, disposable diapers represent about four percent of solid waste, which of course doesn’t include the toxins used to produce them and the fuel used to transport them all over the world. As a mom-to-be, started to seriously fret: What will my family's impact on that towering heap?
While there has been some debate about the actual 'green-ness' of cloth diapering – given the water and energy required to wash them, or if you use a service, to transport them—
numerous studies show cloth diapering is more environmentally responsible. Whether or not it is the right choice for you depends on a whole array of other lifestyle and budget factors.
I can tell you that after using disposables for a few months, and emptying the bizarre string of poopy pearls from the diaper genie (the horror of which defies apt description) I decided to cover my newborn daughter's bottom with cloth. Here are a few things I learned in the process.
Information on cloth diapering can be overwhelming and intimidating. What is a pre-fold? All-in-one? Plastic covers or wool? Advice abounds, and not all of it is terribly helpful. A quick Google search yields scads of
Cloth Diapering 101-type results. For my part, I needed to actually see and touch the things to really understand my options. If you live in the Twin Cities, your first stop might be to
Peapods on Snelling Avenue in St Paul. The helpful staff will patiently explain it all to you.
Newborns and cloth don't necessarily mix. If you are ambitious and ideologically committed, by all means, go for it. But I found the first few months of parenting sufficiently exhausting to cut myself some slack. We used disposables for the first three months for a few reasons. 1. Every other aspect of parenting was mysterious and daunting enough. 2. Newborns require a smaller sized diaper that only lasts about, well, three months and so it wasn't economically viable. 3. We were given loads of disposables as shower gifts. If you choose to wait a few months to begin your cloth regime, you can lessen the environmental impact by using
bleach-free diapers. You can also lessen the load (no pun intended) on landfills by disposing of feces in the toilet before you toss the paper nappy in the trash.
How precious is your baby's bottom? Priceless, right? Still, as I contemplated the start up costs of my diapering operation, I often pondered that question. Pre-folds with a plastic lined cover offer the most economical option, and are also easy to care for. If you strive for a plastic-free home,
wool covers, while more expensive and labor intensive, are a wondrously breathable and waterproof alternative. If you've got less time than money, all-in-ones, which combine an absorbent cloth lining with a synthetic waterproof outer layer, are a joy to behold. I bought a supply of sixteen pre-folds, four diaper covers and a few all-in-ones, which are convenient for outings. Used cloth diapers are a great find. Check craigslist and e-bay for bargains. Used diapers are completely sanitary and effective – and re-use makes them extra eco-friendly. Just remember to make sure they've never been bleached, as this deteriorates the cloth.
Let's talk logistics. You need a diaper pail – a can with a tight fitting lid. Inside the pail, you'll want a liner to transport the diapers to the washer. I sewed a couple of washable sacks to fit my pail, and threw the dirty one in with the diapers at laundry time. You'll want to launder your diapers when you get a large enough load to make it worth running the machine. Which brings me to an important point: If you work out of the home, and your day care provider is unwilling to fall in line with your cloth diapering practice, this will take a long time. Probably too long to tolerate the smell. I'll leave that to you, but when I had my second child, we converted, sadly, to paper diapers for that reason.
Some folks are squeamish about human waste. True, diapers do stink, but you get over it. Hold your breath as you dump our dirty laundry in the tub. I've found that everyone has their own highly ritualized method of caring for diapers, but it's fairly simple. Diapers in, run cold water. Use about 1/4 of the detergent you normally would, being especially careful if you have and HE washer, as detergent build up effects absorbency. To combat odor, toss in a fabric softener ball with a bit of white vinegar, and run the machine. Some people run an extra hot rinse. Once they are clean, line drying or machine tumbling is fine. There is a great satisfaction in seeing a clothes line of clean diapers drying in the sun, and the warmth and light of the sun helps to reduce staining and odor. Weather permitting in the Twin Cities of course.
You can take it with you. Bring an extra cover and a couple of pre-folds in your diaper bag, or stash a few all-in-ones for ease on the go. Save bread bags or other plastic containers to transport your stinky dipes back home. Allow for flexibility. If you're visiting the in-laws for a week in Florida, slurge on a pack of earth friendly-disposables for the trip. Changing cloth diapers is also much easier than in the old days. And because you will change diapers with a frequency that boggles the mind, the learning curve is quick no matter what cloth method you use.
Resources are plentiful on line, and parents who embrace cloth diapering are enthusiastic, borderline fanatic. If your lifestyle allows for it, cloth diapering is an economical solution with real environmental benefits. Do something for your baby's future now, and wrap that sweet little tushie in a soft cotton diaper. Some day maybe they'll thank you. But I wouldn't count on it.