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The Dirty Diaper Dilemma
by Eco Rock
The great societal debate about cloth versus disposable diapers isn’t as simple as it might seem. Concerned parents should consider the process of production as well as the disposal of the diaper, and keep in mind that the most environmentally friendly choices usually are the best for your baby’s health. While disposable and cloth are the most well known options, there are others to be aware of too. I have listed a few types of nappies, a brief description and some resources.
Cloth diapers: Cloth diapers are classic - my parents used them with me! They are well known for not being very absorbant. On the plus side these children tend to potty train more quickly, but are notoriously more messy. According to www.punpkinbutt.com, a baby will only need 3 to 5 dozen cloth diapers over a 2.5 year period. You don’t even have to wash them yourself! 42 of the 50 states have some diaper delivery services - they pick up soiled diapers and drop off clean ones! Finally, because their imprint on the landfill is minimal, a recent study released by ABC has found that cloth diapers are have a much smaller ecological imprint. Still they do require varying amounts of water to wash and dry them, this part is up to you and the efficiency of your washing machine.
Disposable diapers: Disposable diapers have come a long way. They are fully absorbant and comfortable, come in a range of sizes and colors, and are irresistable convenient. You may not know, however, that most disposables are bleached and made of unearthly plastics and toxins (like dioxin, Tributyl-tin (TBT)), known to contain carcinogens and cause athsma and rashes! And think of the amount of money and landfill space you could save by switching to disposables:
- In 2005, there were approximately 4.1 million births in the U.S.
- Children are usually potty trained by the time they are 2.5 years old.
- If these children go through 8 diapers a day in the first year on average and 4 diapers a day in the second year and a half
- 4.1 million children x ((8 times a dayx365days a year)+(4 times a day x548 days in a year and half))=20,459,200,000!
- Thats over 20 billion diapers if each of these children were to use disposable!
Thankfully, Bio-degradable, disposable diapers offer a third option, which may seem like a silver bullet but has its own downsides. While free of most toxins, they don’t actually biodegrade without the proper conditions (not a landfill). Still check out Seventh Generation or Nature Boy and Girl.
