| Several factors influence parents today to chose cloth | | | | a dollar. In fact, most cloth diaper users recommend |
| diapers over disposables. Here are some broad | | | | less detergent than regular loads (still gets diapers |
| categories of reasons why cloth may be preferred: | | | | clean with less chance of residue). Flats, prefolds, and |
| comfort, health, style, frugality, the environment, and | | | | diapers made from recycled fabrics are all economical |
| convenience. | | | | choices for buying diapers, and online tutorials abound |
| Comfort--Imagine yourself wearing paper | | | | for reducing the cost even further by sewing your |
| underwear...hmm, not too appealing. Now imagine | | | | own and most diapers last through multiple children and |
| wrapping your newborn's delicate skin in flannel, velour, | | | | have a surprisingly good resale value. By comparison, |
| or other soft fabrics instead of paper. Because most | | | | even generic disposables cost about $10/week. Even |
| cloth diapers are sewn by work-at-home moms, you | | | | choosing high-end diapers can still result in significant |
| can get an even better customized fit with cloth than | | | | savings, as their purchase is a one-time cost. |
| with mass-manufactured disposables. Did you know | | | | Environmental Impact--Using cloth reduces the strain |
| that you can find cloth diapers that have stay-dry | | | | on our nations landfills, and reduces our consumption of |
| liners, adjustable tabs, elastic (or non-elastic if | | | | paper and plastics. As for water usage, most diaper |
| preferred) waist and leg openings, and even | | | | users plan on 2-3 loads a week, and flushing the solid |
| breathable fabrics that are still water-resistant? | | | | wastes of toddlers perhaps twice a day. Altogether, |
| Health--Ever wonder what's inside the average | | | | water usage is comparable to having a potty-trained |
| disposable diaper? Just a teaspoon of the absorbent | | | | child, and waste water can be properly treated as a |
| crystals can be fatal if swallowed, and they are no | | | | renewable resource via sewage plants or septic |
| longer used in tampons due to toxic shock syndrome. | | | | systems...after all, that's what happens when we flush |
| The process of bleaching paper pulp to make diapers | | | | our toilets or wash regular laundry! By contrast, the |
| leaves behind dioxins, a group of chemicals banned | | | | manufacture of disposables produces more harmful |
| from personal care products in Europe. And of course, | | | | waste water due to the by-products of producing |
| some children are allergic to fragrances and other | | | | plastics and bleached paper pulp. Also, the majority of |
| additives that are not required to be listed on the | | | | disposable diaper users throw away solid waste |
| package. Most moms find that cloth diapering causes | | | | despite instructions on the package to flush excrement |
| fewer rashes than disposables, providing they steer | | | | down the toilet. These instructions exist because the |
| away from bleach, excessive detergent, and so forth. | | | | untreated solid waste that is sent to the landfill |
| Style--Cloth diapers come in any color you want, | | | | becomes a breeding ground for germs as well a |
| including cute prints and soft fabrics. Outer layers can | | | | source of groundwater contamination. |
| even be made to work as part of your child's outfit! | | | | Convenience--Yes, convenience! If you find it a big |
| Just like the customizable options for obtaining the | | | | production to go shopping with the kids, and hate |
| perfect fit, the design possibilities are endless if you | | | | hauling diaper trash out to the curb, washing diaper |
| chose handmade diapers...even the mass-produced | | | | laundry can actually be more convenient. You can |
| cloth companies offer far more variety than | | | | throw in a load whatever time of day you prefer; |
| disposables. | | | | about 2-3 times a week. And in terms of long-term |
| Frugality--Even factoring the cost of detergent, water, | | | | convenience, cloth diapered children tend to potty-train |
| and energy, washing a load of diapers costs less than | | | | much earlier, about a year sooner on average. |