6 Reasons Why Cloth Diapers Are Better Than Disposables (+ 1 Way They Ain't)

http://mamanatural.com/ Cloth diapers are great. And they're way better than disposables. Here's why.

1. Cloth Diapers are cheaper

Disposable diapers will set you back at least $2,000 before your child is potty trained. And if you buy premium or biodegradable options, that number will look more like $3,000.

Whereas twenty of the most expensive cloth diapers will set you back less than $400. Factor in detergent and water bills, and you're still looking at half the cost of disposables.

Sources: Consumer Reports (July 8, 2009). "Cloth vs. disposable diapers: Getting started".
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1702357,00.html#ixzz1MLGLaVco

2. Cloth diapers are way better for the environment

An average child will go through anywhere from four to eight thousand diapers in his or her life.

Nationwide, parents in the USA use an estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers each year. That's around 3.4 million tons of diapers that end up in landfills each year.

The environmental footprint of disposable diapers is staggering.

And when you compare all that to using the same twenty cloth diapers over and over, washing them with minimal and safe detergent (method) in a high efficiency washer, there's just no contest.

Sources: The number of diapers a child uses comes from the conservative estimate of six per day x 365 x 2 years = 5475 diapers used.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1702357,00.html

3. Cloth diapers are more absorbent

I speak here from experience. With a cloth diaper, I don't have to change my baby in the middle of the night. With disposables, I do.

Then there's the blowout factor. Cloth diapers are generous, and they contain. Disposables, not so much.

4. Disposable diapers are loaded with nasty chemicals

Many parents don't realize that disposable diapers contain some nasty chemicals.

Most disposables are bleached with Dioxin, which, in animal studies, caused nerve damage, birth defects, increased rates of miscarriages and changes to the immune system. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified dioxins as a probable human carcinogen.

Then there are AGMs - linked to an increase in childhood asthma and a decrease in sperm count among boys.
Now, big diaper manufacturers point out that these chemicals exist in very small doses in the diapers, and so don't post a risk. And, sure, more studies need to be done. But Mama Natural says, why risk it?

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/are-disposable-diapers-really-that-bad/ Source: Illinois Dept of Public health http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/dioxin.htm http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/04/63182

5. Cloth diapers may help protect your baby boy's jewels

German scientists found that the skin temperature around baby boy's genitals was significantly higher when they wore disposable diapers as opposed to cloth. While the scientists called for more research, they suggested that prolonged use of disposable diapers in infants could be an important factor contributing to the decline of sperm production in adult males.

6. Cloth diapers are cuter than disposables :)

Colors, patterns, textures. Especially when yr kid's dressed in a diaper only. Cloth are way cuter.

1 Reason Why Cloth Diapers Ain't Better

1. Tyranno-poops

Occasionally, all babies will produce humungous and, frankly, baffling poops. The last thing you want to do is get all hands-on with that diaper, rinse it, store it, etc. Throwing the stinking thing out would be so much easier....

BUT, that's an infrequent and short-term bummer. In the long term, and by just about every single measure, cloth diapers are better for you, your baby, and the world.

What do you think? Why do you use cloth diapers?

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[christynjohn09]

im think im going to give cloth diapering a try! Do you also use cloth wipes?? and if I try it out for a week and dont have a toilet sprayer how would I clean them??

[MamaNaturalBlog]

Sometimes I use cloth wipes. You can use a laundry sink or bathtub.

[EmilyHannah2011]

You almost had me convinced to start using clothe diapers by the time this video was over until i thought about what happens when she goes number two when were out in public?

[MamaNaturalBlog]

I have a small bag that's insulated that I bring along in my diaper bag. Works well.

[HateMillions]

Wow! I'd love to try cloth diapers I took a liking to them a while ago I had one given to me. But where do I purchase these!?

[MamaNaturalBlog]

Thank! Search for Mama Natural's Cloth Diaper Setup here on YouTube to see which ones I use and where I recommend buying them.

[Elizabetherb]

Most don't even use diapers in india and indonesia...

[tygersflowerz]

Hey guys, type these words into search: "cloth diaper channel diaper sprayer."

It should be the 1st video that pops up, from the ClothDiaperChannel.

She killed a lot of my apprehension over spraying poopy diapers. :-) I love her idea of holding the diaper w/ her knee and pushing it outward/downward into the bowl. I think if skeptical potential cloth diaperers watch that video, they'll feel a lot better, and save themselves a lot of mess & awkwardness when they give it a try themselves.

[Danielle lee]

i really wouldn't mind using cloth diapers, i just am a bit grossed out with having to clean them :/ changing diapers aren't fun to begin with, having to scrub shit off of them, well, that's even nastier..

[creAttitude]

I am new to cloth diapering and love it! Except for the poops (not that bad) and having to use cloth-approved diaper rash creams which don't cut it. I live in an apt and have a washer and dryer but I find myself washing them every night and leaving them to dry in the shower. Takes like ten minutes to wash and are usually dry by morning. Love fuzzibunz and am going to try grovia hybrid soon. I would like to add to the video that with cloth, their life expectancy is for more than one child, you m

[trumpetSL08]

are you serious? Cloth diapers aren't for everyone.

[damadae]

I agree. I used econobums when I first started. They cost me six dollars each and I got the prefold inserts at my baby shower. People gave them to me for burp cloths but I used them for their original purpose.

[damadae]

I've had more problems with the TRex leaks in disposables than with my cloths.

[damadae]

I was in your position and I can tell you from experience it cost me more to buy the disposables than to wash the diapers. But You could always hand wash and then just use the dryer.

[damadae]

You can buy them online or at different stores across the country. If you find the diaper you like (I would highly recommend fuzzi bunz one size) you can go to that brands site and they'll give you a list of places near you that sell their product.