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Making diaper duty less of a mess is something every new parent can rally behind. But how much of a mess will your choice of diaper make for the planet? Unfortunately, there’s no clear (or clean) winner. Cloth diapers are water hogs, disposables will become long-term residents at your local landfill, and even avoiding diapers altogether has some impact.
So what’s an eco-mom and dad to do?
Consider the environmental issues most important to you and your immediate environment (are you in a drought, or is landfill space extra tight?), plus what fits your life and your budget. Here’s a breakdown of the five options we’ve researched to help you figure out what’s right for your lifestyle, your conscience and your budget.
1) Cloth – Home-laundered
Lose the image of big safety pins and endless folding. The modern cloth diaper has Velcro tabs, snaps and fasteners that make them poke-free and a breeze to change.
Cloth diapers have a reputation for being the eco-smartest diaper out there. But recent studies have thrown that title into question. First, there’s the huge amount of pesticides used in cotton farming. Then there’s the water, energy and detergent required for washing. Reuse is good, but the process is resource-dependent. Having an energy smart washer and dryer and using organic cotton or hemp diapers will, of course, make your footprint a little smaller.
Cost: $300 for all prefold cloth diapers and covers needed until potty training (16 wraps and 60 prefolds); pricier all-in-one diapers will double that total – roughly $600 for 36 diapers.
Pros: By laundering the diapers yourself, you can teach your child the value of reusing items. Plus, since cloth-diapered babies feel the wetness of their diaper, potty training tends to happen faster compared to their Huggies-toting playmates.
Cons: Laundering the diapers yourself requires more time, which is a valuable commodity when you’re a new parent. Also, cloth diapers are bulkier, so be prepared to size-up with onesies and pants.
Green tips: Use eco-friendly detergent, wash full loads only, line dry, wash at a lower temperature, and buy used.
2) Cloth Alternative – Using a diaper service
Get all the benefits of cloth diapering without the mess or higher utility bills. With a diaper service, clean diapers are delivered to your door – and the dirty ones picked up – once a week.
Cost: Roughly $15-20 per week for delivery and pickup of 80 diapers. A hamper liner is included, but diaper covers must be rented or purchased for an additional fee.
Pros: Makes cloth diapering possible for apartment-dwellers with limited access to laundry facilities. Plus, because commercial launderers have advanced cleaning systems, they use less energy, water and detergent than home machines.
Cons: Those living in rural areas may have a difficult time finding a diaper service.
Green tip: Avoid services that use bleach. Instead, look for green diaper services that use Earth-friendly detergent, have organic cotton options and fuel their fleet with biofuel.
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Community Voice
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I bought almost all of our diapers second hand (yes, some think its gross but I do wash them first!) and I plan on saving them for our next child, once I'm done those that can be passed on I will and those that can't are going to become cleaning cloths!
You can also now buy cloth that is made of renewable bamboo and/or organic cotton. The choices are endless.
Of course so is this debate. . .Good luck to all those Mommies with making this decision and kudos for giving it this much thought!
Sep 3, 2008 6:28:04 PM
http://www.gdiapers.com/
Sep 3, 2008 10:18:58 AM
Aug 27, 2008 7:45:09 PM
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