When parents find out that some time down the line they may be expecting a new baby into their home, disposable diapers become an automatic ingredient to their baby paraphernalia. It is interesting to know however, there are parts of the world where a disposable diaper resembles something of an alien intrusion.
In West Africa, for example, mothers tend to carry their infants in slings, with their babies swaddled in cloth as a diaper. The same mothers are generally known to be able to anticipate bowel movement and the onset of urine, thus their babies generally do not need a diaper in the modern sense. A simple history of diapering also shows communities using natural resources like leaves, moss and animal skins as their diapers. Obviously, for the modern family, rabbit skin is not always made readily available– but today’s natural diapers have taken an innovative and accommodating twist for those who are interested to cloth diaper. Forget about the huge square piece of cloth, coupled with a huge safety pin. Cloth diapers now come with gentle towel inserts, snap buttons to adjust the size and Velcro straps to fasten the diaper in place.
Despite motherhood being an acceptable phase where mothers and fathers become suddenly enthused by bodily functions, the thought of cleaning a cloth diaper may not sound so appealing. However, with the culminating health and environmental hazards, besides other factors, that accompany disposable diapers, cloth diapering may seem an attractive option for many families.
Cloth Diapering and the Gentle Earth
Cloth diapering is gentler on the earth. According to Eco Diaper Service, approximately 2 billion tonnes of diaper waste accumulates in landfills every single year, which is also the third largest consumer product that contributes to the mass pollution of the environment. With a growing population, it is only expected that this figure will increase, placing a heavy burden on nature.
In turn, disposable diapers are known to take up to 250 to 500 years to biodegrade (as a large component of each disposable diaper is made of plastic) and as they do, many landfills are poorly designed to facilitate such a breakdown. Waste from dirty diapers gets absorbed into the environment, contaminating water supplies that are later channelled back into homes. Thus, babies are leaving their waste as a burden for generations upon generations to carry. This, on its own, triggers red flags, as far as sanitation is concerned.
In many ways, cloth diapering comes as a responsibility to many, to help preserve the environment for future generations. Cloth diapering mothers indirectly pass on their love for the environment to their children and encourage the same respect for the earth and its natural resources.
Cloth Diapering and the Little Bottom
Babies spend nearly 24 hours a day, (save for diaper changes and baths), 7 days a week and 52 weeks a year, for an average of two and a half years in diapers. As a parent, one can only imagine wanting to make this duration of diaper wearing as comfortable as possible.
Between disposables and cloth, cloth diapers are far gentler on little bottoms as they reduce the risk of skin infections due to better absorption of urine and ventilation around the diaper area. Nappy rash can be extremely uncomfortable for some children, especially those with skin-related problems such as eczema or dermatitis. Parents with children who suffer from the same often choose organic soaps and lotions to reduce skin problems and natural detergents to wash baby clothes. So, cloth diapering meshes well with the need to take care of sensitive skin. A study in the journal of Pediatrics on The Relationship of Diapers to Diaper Rashes in the One-Month-Old Infant recorded that diaper rashes were unheard of before the use of rubber or plastic pants in the 1940s, (Weiner, F.1979).
A fussy baby and sleepless nights are some results of a baby who is suffering from disposable diaper discomfort. And besides that, treating diaper-related infections cost money. So taking care of a tender baby’s bottom may be something to consider when weighing the pros and cons of cloth diapering.
Cloth Diapering and the Mother’s Heart
Cloth diaper advocates often talk about how cloth diapering may improve the relationship between mother and baby as with other natural routes such as natural childbirth, breastfeeding and co-sleeping, cloth diapering encourages a meaningful bond between a mother and her baby. Mothers who have cloth diapered find an easier transition to the potty when the time is right and that their toddlers are less temperamental. Though this may sound anecdotal, disposable diapers do carry some harsh chemicals that can causes irritation, dizziness, headaches – all that can result in behavioral problems over the years. Among a few chemicals, disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin, a chemical that is said to cause hormonal problems – thus it is possible that cloth diapering generally encourages less temperamental behaviour amongst babies and toddlers.
Another hazardous chemical is Dioxin, a toxic that is related to cancer. Like many mothers who believe that breastfeeding produces excellent antibodies for their children to ward off illnesses, a mother may find more peace in knowing that a cloth diaper can more likely mean a happier, healthier baby.
Cloth Diapering and the Frugal Budget
Cloth diapering may sound expensive as a new project. Since newborns go through 10 to 12 diapers a day, it is not uncommon for mothers to purchase 30 to 40 cloth diapers as a starting package. With cloth diapers priced at approximately USD17 per piece, this does sound rather expensive. However, in the long-run cloth diapering is less expensive. Disposable diaper purchases may cost up to USD80 per month, which in itself, is a lot of money. Cloth diapers can also be passed down to siblings, if well kept and cleaned. This allows more income to be channeled towards a child’s education – which also requires a high level of expenditure.
The Down Side of Cloth Diapering
Parenting is really quite a lot of work, and cloth diapering could very well take up time and energy that is not always readily available. Caring for one newborn can be quite taxing, but when there are other children at home who need attention, cloth diapering can sound like a far-fetched fantasy. Imagine handling the children, chores, work and having to scrub dirty diapers and ensuring they are cleaned on a strict cycle.
However, managing cloth diapering is not always impossible. Many cloth diaper names are user-friendly, and come with dry pails and dry bags. Dirty diapers can be kept in either of the two, accumulated (to a certain level of personal comfort), and thrown into the washing machine. All waste comes off automatically. Once babies are on semi-solids though, the same brands require parents to empty the waste into the toilet before washing the diaper itself.
Other concerns parents may have are the convenience of cloth diapering while travelling and cloth diapering at day care. Cloth diapering may be difficult to use in either cases and many parents can always opt to cloth diaper when at home only. Others may find that travelling with a dry bag allows them to continue to cloth diaper and in some cases, day care centres may be open to accommodating the cloth diapering request.
To Cloth Diaper or not to Cloth Diaper: It’s a Personal Decision
The decision to cloth diaper may be an easy one for some mothers while others may take more time to mull over the pros and cons. After all, disposables do seem more convenient, less messy and a lot less work. Either way; cloth diapering is a personal choice and by no means a yardstick of successful parenting.
Many babies fare perfectly well in disposable diapers as long as parents are vigilant about keeping them cleaned, dried and changed often. Mothers often find ways to soothe temperaments and raise a happy, healthy child without cloth diapers. Parents can also save money by bulk-purchasing disposables or through diaper services that help curb wastage. And lastly, there are plenty of ways to encourage environmental-friendliness in the home, other than choosing to cloth diaper.
However, with the culminating effects of disposable diapering, cloth diapers are a worthy alternative and parents should consider it as an option for their child as many of the advantages do out weigh the inconveniences. Cloth diapering is still a great way to help save the environment, keep baby healthy and to curb excessive spending in the long run.
Maria Zain - Maria is a wife, mother, coffee addict, homeschooler and writer - not in that particular order. On most days, all roles get muddled up ...
