 The Boards Birth Stories Info Alley Mom's Lounge Reading List Resources Your Leader |
by Lisa from The Baby Lane So you're thinking, "Why
should I use cloth diapers?" Well I say, lots of reasons. The two biggest concerns
for me when I was contemplating using cloth were - 1)Can I save money? 2)And how will my
decision affect the environment? Well the answers are, 1) Yes you can save money. While
the initial start costs are a bit more, in the long run you do save. Even when you add in
the costs of washing & drying you will save a minimum of approximately $1200.00 over a
2-3 year period. If you are planning to have more than one child, you will not have your
initial lay out of money and still have dipes to put on your little. So more savings! 2)
Unfortunately, we've become a society of throw it away people. It is time for us all to
start to make an effort to leave our world a cleaner, better place for our children to
live in. And although my contribution may be small, I personally believe that every little
bit helps. Billions of disposable diapers are thrown away every year. And although the
plastic will break down, eventually, it does still leave small pieces of plastic in
landfills. Most people do not dispose of the solid waste in their baby's diapers before
putting them in the trash can and all that waste ends up at the landfill contaminating our
land & water and attracting bugs that transmit and carry diseases. Of course washing
& drying diapers will have an impact on our natural resources. I feel it is minimal in
comparison. Plus if you line dry when possible you lower this impact & save money!
Some other thoughts,
Disposable diapers are loaded with chemicals-sodium polyacrylate is what absorbs the
liquid and turns into the gel.It has been linked to toxic shock syndrome & can cause
allergic reactions, among other things. Dioxin, the most toxic of all cancer-linked
chemicals, is a byproduct of bleaching paper that is used in disposables. None of this
made using disposables sound more appealing to me.
I know some of you are
wondering about how hard/easy it is to use cloth? Well obviously I think it's easy or I
wouldn't be using them! :-) Both of the diapering systems I offer I have used and will say
they are just as easy and convenient as disposables. Kushies have Aplix closures almost
like the tabs on disposables and the Mother-ease have snaps. They are already formed so
there's no need to fold, or hassle with clips or pins. If you really want convenience try
the all in one style dipes, you don't even need to use a separate cover. I encountered a
few minor obstacles when I got started, such as should I put water in the diaper pail or
not, but got over them quickly. You will get a routine going and before you realize it,
you're a pro. Plus you won't have to worry about running to the store at 3:00am because
you forgot to get more disposables. What about leaks? If you are using a quality diaper
not those ones meant a wipe up or burp clothes, but Kushies, Mother-ease, or another
brand, you should not have leaks. If you do, be sure to check that the diaper and cover
are the correct size. Also be sure there are no gaps around the legs. I do recommend
washable liners for extra absorbency. I put my son Wyatt in a One Size dipe with a liner
and cover(the Aristocrat) at night. I do not get up for middle of the night changings. And
he wakes with his clothes and our sheets dry.
I really do enjoy the whole
routine of diapering. I never feel like it's a chore. I like the way the dipes feel, so
soft and cottony, the way they look on my son, and even hanging them out on the line in
the sunshine. And although we are personally far from the potty training stage, I believe
that cloth diapers make a child more aware of his/her wetness and more in tune with their
bodily functions. Possibly leading to the desire to stay dry and therefore getting potty
trained sooner.
If you're interested in cloth
but not 100% convinced it's for you, buy 1 or 2 sample dipes and take it from there. You
can start small and add as you go. If you have any questions, please email me lisa@thebabylane.com
Lisa is the proud owner of The Baby Lane: |
