Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

“You’ve got to be kidding me! You’re not really expecting me to use cloth diapers, are you?”

Calm down. It’s not as awful as it seems! Despite our 21st century mindset that strongly leans toward convenience, some couples are making the switch and pampering their babies’ bottoms with comfy cotton diapers.

Way back in 1946, Marion Donovan, a housewife, came up with the “Boater,” and disposable diapers were soon being used for special occasions. Considered luxury items, they were also regarded as one of the greatest inventions of humankind.

Proctor and Gamble employee, Vic Mills, worked on the design until, in 1959, he invented Pampers™. Two years later they were available to the public. Inventors and designers continued to improve the diapers and in 1975, Luvs ™ introduced the hourglass shape, followed by the introduction of Huggies™ in 1976. Commercial diaper service, though still popular at the end of the decade, was starting to be overshadowed by the ever-popular disposables.

Diaper service grew in popularity during WWII out of necessity for the many working moms. As we welcomed the 21st century, many were referring to disposables as similar necessities. Ignorance is bliss, they say.

Convenience isn’t always the best choice. Pouring out some whole milk from a carton in the fridge sure would be easier than mixing and heating up formula. Or, gasp, trying to find a private nook to nurse Lucy in. Would you do that to your newborn for convenience’s sake? Of course not.

And I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t expose her to Dioxin, the known carcinogenic that the EPA calls the most toxic of cancer-related chemicals. What about TBT (tributyl-tin), the toxic pollutant linked to hormonal problems in humans? You also wouldn’t do anything to willingly cause a severe allergic reaction in your son that could include vomiting, fever and/or staph infections! So why are you thinking about taping up a potentially toxic diaper to his bare bottom? Sodium polyacrylate becomes gel-like when wet. This super absorbent polymer (SAP) makes disposable diapers super absorbent. Because of its link to Toxic Shock Syndrome, sodium polyacrylate was banned from tampons in 1985, yet we continue to buy and use diapers that contain this dangerous chemical. The use of disposables has also been linked to asthma and future infertility.

We’ve looked at some of the dangers of disposable diapers, so let’s take a look at some of the advantages of cloth diapers.

Comfort
You have a choice of diapers which are 100% cotton or ones that are a combination of cotton and hemp. This blend is extremely comfy, as well as highly absorbent. All cloth diapers are cleaner, cooler and more comfortable than disposables. They don’t rub like paper does and oxygen travels through the diaper to your baby’s skin.

Antimicrobial
Hemp is known for its natural antimicrobial properties, which deters bacteria, mold, mildew and fungus, so if you opt for the blend there are even more advantages.

Chemical-free
Cloth diapers are free of all of the chemicals that can cause health problems now and in the future.

Less diaper rash
7% of babies and toddlers were reported as having diaper rash in 1955. By 1991 this number rose to 78%!

Environmentally friendly
For those of us who are green-minded, it goes against our conscience to add our baby’s diapers to the ever growing landfills. One ton of garbage is created per each child using disposables. It is estimated that it will take a minimum of 250 years for disposable diapers to decompose. As a result, diapers account for the third largest single consumer item filling up our trash heaps.

For every year a child uses disposable diapers, 300 lbs. of wood, 50 lbs. of petroleum fuel stocks and 20 lbs. of chlorine are needed for production. The actual manufacturing and use of disposable diapers requires 2.3 times more water than when diapering with cloth.

Cheaper, cheaper, cheaper
If you have two children, the estimated cost of cloth versus disposable is 90% less. Just think about what you could do with that 90% savings! The cost of diaper service (yes, it does still exist!) is about the same as using disposables. The advantage there is that don’t have to wash the diapers. Local diaper services in your area can be found at www.diapernet.com.

Granted, disposable diapers are more convenient. There’s no argument there. But using cloth diapers isn’t as awful as it may seem! As a matter of fact, it’s relatively simple. If you’re breastfeeding and don’t introduce your baby to solid food until he or she is six-months-old, all you need to do is drop the soiled diaper into a pail with an airtight lid. Then just dump the contents of the pail into your washing machine every few days.

Twenty-four diapers is the recommended amount to wash in each load. Add a fourth of the suggested amount of baby-friendly detergent and run the diapers through a cold cycle; a hot cycle needs to be run after the first cycle completes with one-half of the recommended amount of detergent. There are differing views on whether or not to add bleach; just be aware that bleach will cause the diapers to wear out faster. Hanging the diapers outside to dry will eliminate any stains, as the sun will bleach them naturally. Plus, the sun and wind don’t require any electricity or gas to run, which is another earth-friendly choice. If you do opt to use the dryer, throw a towel in with them to help them dry faster.

Once solid foods are introduced, you’ll have to dispose of the solid waste in the toilet prior to putting the diaper in the pail. Then follow through with the same laundering instructions as above.

“But what about diaper pins? Yikes!” It’s understandable that you’re concerned about pricking your baby’s delicate belly with a diaper pin. But take heart – cloth diapers have evolved and diaper pins are becoming a thing of the past! Diapers now come with Velcro closures or snaps. There are also user-friendly Snappi™ diaper fasteners that make diapering an infant a snap! Plus, diapers are no longer just boring white! Many online retailers sell a wide variety of cute designs and accessories that make cloth diapering more inviting than ever.