What about diapering? I'm sort of torn between disposable diapers and cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are reusable after washing and drying them as apposed to disposable diapers which are just thrown away after each use. Here is a chart I made to weigh out each option:
Concerns
|
Disposable Diapers
|
Cloth Diapers
|
cost
|
Estimated cost from birth to potty
training is $2,000-$3,000 per child
|
Estimated cost from birth to potty
training is $300-$500 for all children
·
Cloth diapers can be reused for
child number two, three, four etc.
·
They are expensive in the beginning because you have to buy a large amount, but in the
long run it’s worth it
·
You can buy different sizes OR
adjustable ones. Adjustable diapers save money because as the baby gets
bigger, the diapers get wider.
|
Smell
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Same amount of smell as cloth
diapers
|
Same amount of smell as a
disposable diaper
|
Care for
|
Throw away after use
|
Reuse the diapers which means they
need to be washed and dried. Even
though cloth diapers require more work, it’s not as bad as it sounds.
·
The dry pail method seems to be
the easiest: take the dirty diaper and either put the solid waste in the toilet
or not, it’s not mandatory. After you
removed the diaper you put it in a dry diaper pail, which has a cloth liner.
When it is time to do laundry take the cloth liner with all the cloth diapers
and throw them into the washing machine. Wash the diapers and put them in the
dryer, or to save energy, hang them outside to dry
|
Sanitary/leaks
|
Have chemicals. How do you think
the diapers absorb so much?? There are
many different types of chemicals and the “high absorbency” causes lazy
parents to change babies less often, which is not good either. Babies and
toddlers should not be sitting in diapers for long hours because the diapers
can handle it. GROSS. Both types of diapers should be changed every 2-3
hours. Cloth diapers sound way cheaper now right?
|
No chemicals and have pouches and
slips to put in extra absorbency pads for heavy wetters
(they still need to be changed
every 2-3 hours)
|
Energy/water
|
If you think about it, disposable
diapers use energy and causes harm to the planet.
·
Cut down trees to produce diapers
·
Water and energy are used to
create diapers and bleach it
·
More paper and plastic used for
packaging
·
Gas used to transport them by car,
truck, cargo planes
·
Energy used to at the dump after
they are thrown away
|
After reading the energy and water use of the disposable
diapers, cloth diapers don’t seem so bad
·
Cloth diapers do cause more
laundry which uses energy and water. If you have an energy/water efficient washer
like I do, there is not as much water and energy being used. But even if you
don’t, it’s not that much.
|
Convenience
|
Disposable diapers are more convenient
because they just need to be thrown away after each use.
|
Cloth diapers are less convenient,
but I feel like once there is a routine and comfort it won’t be that bad. But,
if someone is watching the baby or going on a long trip, the special diaper pail
needs to come along and you have to keep the dirty cloth diapers until they
can be washed.
|
As you can tell, I'm leaning more towards cloth diapers. I mean, It doesn't hurt to try. I just can't stand the thought of putting my child in a harmful chemical-filled porta potty. I also read, on many accounts, that there is a higher percentage of diaper rash in babies who wear disposable diapers. Diaper rash is painful!
ALSO, My husband is a plumber and cleans drains and pipes and deals with sewer problems so, I'm washing his work clothes that are full of poop anyway...what's another 7-10 poopy diapers? If it doesn't work out I can find away to make it work, or find another solution.
Most of my information came from here!
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