Does it really truly matter what other people are putting on their behinds? Cloth or disposable, which is better for the environment?
I grew up with that association of babies and baby powder smell … equals intoxicatingly gross. Perhaps that’s why I was never drawn to traditional disposable diapers when it came time for me to pick a route.
How bad is a dispoable diaper?
Whether you’re talking about diapers (any age), leak proof underpants, diva cups, reusable pads, stay dry liners or shells, it all touches your precious itsy bitsies. Do you know what lies in the disposable diapers, tampons, pads, underwear and more? Your traditional disposable diaper, all 20 billion of it, goes to the landfill every year and takes about 500 years to decompose adding to toxic waste and overall global warming.
Parents are supposed to dump the solid waste down into the trash before disposing of the diaper but many do not. This contaminates groundwater. Disposables have a much higher cabon footprint then reusables. Huge impacts on the ozone depletion.
Diapers contain chemicals in them. Chemicals that are toxic to humans if used for periods of time. We do not yet know the full extent of effects because no one wants to do the testing and release the horrible findings not do they want to sign up for it once they know what’s in them. We do know the inner layer is a major allergy trigger. These diapers usually have dyes and dioxins which is a carcinogen and causes cancer. Sounds safe to me.
What goes into a diaper?
Raw materials, water and electricity but in various amounts depending if disposable or reusable. Disposable diapers create more landfill waste. Reusable diapers take a bit more water to make the finished product; mostly to grow and process the cotton. You need some water to wash those reusables. So when you think about it you use twice the water resource for a reusable cloth diaper compared to a disposable diaper.
On the contrary I know that the resuable diaper isn’t decomposing in the landfill for over 500 years after one single use. Consider the reusable, which uses twice the water resource, as something still capable of amazing things. If you are first time owner and bought them new you can always use the reusables on other children, nieces, friends or sell it on a buy and sell and know that the reusables are now living life in the positive – keeping that many more diapers out of the landfill. Or you can buy used and know you are the second or third or maybe fourth person to use them. That means the disposables have already “paid for themselves” in resources used.
I had a handful of diapers gifted to me brand new while the rest I bought secondhand and later on eventually grew a small cloth diaper collection *ahem* addiction. I put two children through them …. Even though the second child barely wore them [if I’m being brutally honest]. I can’t say I noticed a spike in my water bill, still had a load of laundry to put away, no extra stinky shit to drag to the curb on garbage day busting my busted back. Nestlé drains more lakes than I did washing these.
Reusable diapers can generate more toxic waste than disposables through the process of washing them and using detergent and softener to wash them. I will however challenge you to make your own laundry detergent [liquid or powder] and try some dryer balls with essential oils for scent. The dryer balls reduce drying time, static and the need for fabric softener. Did you know dryer sheets are actually called asthmagens? They are major causes of asthma and other respiratory related issues. I’ve got a few simple detergent and stain stick remover recipies in the SUSTAINABLE ESSENTIALS | GREEN CLEANING SUPPLIES download for free here. By making your own using naturals chemical free ingredients you are lowering the amount of toxic waste created. Using more efficient washers, laundry routines, cleaner sopas and power resouces, reusables will have a smaller impact than disposables.
If you decide not to make your own it does not mean you took the more toxic route. You do you. Whatever fills your life one day and what you have time for one day will not be the same the next. Do not get upset with yourself if one method you tried didn’t work or you don’t have access to something. I understand sustainable living, homesteading, low waste, whatever youw ant to call it is a privilege and is often hard work. Do with what you have. Ask around, get help, share resources, buy used. You will save yourself money doing cloth anything [diapers, napkins, paper towels etc] but beware not to get sucked into the trendy cute patterns and marketing need for more. Start out with what you think you need, add more later. Maybe friends or family have some things they aren’t using right now and are willing to share or sell or donate to you. Check local thrift shops and buy and sell groups – they will save you even more money.
A few gratis and loved pieces in the shop.
Cloth diapering is hard work.
Life gets busy I get it get but honestly no excuse because cloth diapering is so easy to do versus the time and resources it takes to go get a box of disposables or have them shipped to your front door. Hands down. I was lazy and busy doing other things but okay, as we all get like that. Let’s be honest and remember this isn’t about pointing fingers and poo-pooing on one anothers [or your own] diaper choices. It comes down to, do I want to contribute to the forever toxic landfill of shit or do I use reusables and washing them in times where the Amazon is burning and drought stricken areas exist all over. Reusable cloth diapers will alwasys use more water than traditional disposable diapers but they offer something disposables don’t: the opportunity to decrease overall impact.
Although I fell off reusable wagon once I was a year into having two children the I did however help other Mamas along the way get into cloth and or back into cloth. I had a Mama start clothing a wee girl because I told her just try it on. She insisted before she tried them on they wouldn’t fit because her daughter was so tiny – they fit! By the time I thought Elara would fit the cloth diaper [based on me looking at it and even the tag] she was already too big for the newborn set. Then I got more sad that she had already grown up … then I got pissed off I spent money on disposable diapers for a handful of weeks just because I didn’t try on the reusable because I thought it looked too big. It may seem intimidating but it is not, I promise you and I can help you if you like. Give me a shout and I’d be happy to help with your cloth issue. All our journeys are different.
What’s the big idea?
What exactly is cloth diapering? If you’re at this stage in your life then you’ve probably also crossed the bridge of car seats and strollers – there’s thousands to pick from. Cloth diaper can feel the same but the basics are simple.
What do you pick? Start with what feels of sounds good to you. Get out there to the store or ask people who have them if you can see their collection, touch it, feel it, see how they work. Yes this takes time but you took the time to test drive your car when buying it right? You can’t really go wrong with any of those. Some brands sway you with cute pattens while some are simple and do the same thing. Others are specialy made fabrics dut to skin sensitivities. When I started out I found a large lot of All-in-Ones on a local buy and sell, bought them and started there. I got some Pocket style ones brand new from my shower, fitted, all-in-two and prefolds for free over the eyars from some other Mamas. Find your local cloth diapering community – it’s out there and they’re wonderful people. So wonderful they will even help you come up with your own personal washing routine based on your washing machines – I kid you not!
Got your new or loved diapers so wash them now. The more you wash cloth diapers the more absorbant they get. Hand dry is ideal but if you don’t have time or space I suggest what I do: take them out of the washing machine and they’re pretty much already almost dry and throw them around the house. No one has time to put away laundry, let’s be honest, so you’ll always have one within arms reach. Trust me – experience has taught me this.
Place diaper on child as you would any other and adjust accordingly to fit. Use the buttons and of snaps or velcro that comes with the diapers. Outter shells exist and are great for overnight diapering to prevent bed wetting. There are also stay dry liners that help the absorbancy of the diapers you use.
Every child is a different wetter and that various at different times of their lives. Children that don’t eat solids yet can have their diapers go striaght into the washing machine without removing poop into toilet. Once they start real food their poop gets disposed of into the toilet before disposing of the diaper. What do do with this diaper now? I have a large garbge with step on it that opens the lid. large wet bag in there. When that fills up I toss the entire thing inside out into the washing machine. By the way this bin has zero smells – you’d be surprised. In the summertime I do however move it a few feet down from the door because flies will find shit anywhere.
Wiping bums with cloth? no problem. Take those wipes and store them somewhere in a large basket onthe change table. Get a spray bottle … make a solution [I have recipies and spray bottles available, just give me a shout], spray on butt and pat clean. Throw wipes in the bin outside with reusable diapers. It’s that simple.
Elara has never had a rash as her butt rare saw disposables. It wasn’t until she was 3.5 years old she wore more of them and by then she was potty training so we only wear disposables at night now. Reusable cloth diapers don’t fit her anymore beause she is so big and her liquid is in large amounts. I thought about getting larger reusables made by a local but I don’t think it’s worth the investment at this point. I wish I thought of it sooner. I do have some gifted reusable training pants but she’s outgrown them now. There were times we did disposables when we were outside the house and then came a time we ony did cloth the entire time. I thought it was because I love a challenge but really we knew nothing else different since we started out with cloth and cloth only. Cloth dipaers and cloth wipes. It didn’t become more work and more stress untill I introduced disposable and reusable and then often found myself forgetting something. having to buy the item while out or eventually saying fuck it – I’m justing doing what works for us. Reusable cloth worked for us and continues to do so yet again ….
Luna overnight developed a rash overnight that appeared raw instantly. After a day or two of trying everything I knew nothing was changing it for the better. I decided to switch her back to reusable cloth and no creams. Within a handful of hours her raw skin started to close up and heal. I can’t help but think that the disposable diapers on her bare raw skin was only hurting it more and not helping it heal. We cannot beat ourselves up for all the choices we do or don’t make based on what we did or didn’t know. All we can do it take what we learned today and do better tomorrow with what we are given tomorrow – and know it’s okay to ask for help or advice from others.
Our journey continues as we go back on the reusable cloth diapers because I’m out of disposables and I refuse to buy more since Luna has been wanting to potty train for a couple months now. Fine …. let’s do this. What’s your cloth journey like? Past present and or future? Would love to hear about your journey.
