Why We Chose Cloth Diapers (& Why You Should Too)
- mothermademb
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 31
I feel like there is a lot of nerves and uncertainty around cloth diapering
Is it gross? Is it hard? Is it really inconvenient?
What if I told you it isn't hard at all
What if I told you that its not any more inconvenient than disposables once you get the routine down
and the gross part -- well its all pretty turd forward.. the wiping, the accidently getting it on your hand, the smell...
Its all pretty much the same whether you're throwing it out in the trash can or tossing it in a wet bag for washing
Its true!
Cloth diapering can be a great, even enjoyable process
Personally, I absolutely LOVE our cloth diapers
And although my husband may never admit it, he also likes using them
I certainly had all the questions and above thoughts about cloth before I began
Lucky for me I had a dear friend who I was able to learn a lot from, and that gave me the confidence to take the leap myself
There are a lot of things we like about them
Once your done this article as to WHY, Check out Cloth Diapering 101 for the HOW
Why We Chose Cloth
For one it saves a whack load of money over the lifetime of the diapers and the diapering period of baby
There are tons of really cute colors and prints that the covers come in
There are many different choices of style of diaper, so you have a choice in fit and fabric for your diapers
It is WAY healthier for the planet
and it poses many health benefits for baby as well
Did You Know -- Single use diapers take over 500 years to break down in a landfill, as they are made of plastic and absorbent polymers. They are the 3rd largest consumer item in the landfills(1).
On average there are around 355,000 babies born in Canada each year (2)
Babies are typically diapered for at least two years, usually longer.
One baby uses approximately 2500-3000 diapers a year (3)
Soooo lets say in 1 year, babies first year baby, which is when baby will need the most changes.
Baby uses 3000 diapers x 355,000 annual births in Canada = 1 Billion 65 Million diapers in the landfill.
YUP -- You read that right, here it is in # form
1, 065, 000, 000
Kind of a shocking number
And lets put it further into context, this is just a Canadian estimate.
Single use diapers are used in most countries all around the world
Second to that, single use diapers are expensive
A lot of parents have a hard time affording diapers, and they certainly chew up a large part of the monthly budget.
Arguably you're literally throwing your money away.
Disposable diapers cost on average $ .30 per diaper(3).
Using those same stats as above
3000 x $ .30 = $900 for diapering in babies first year
Currently my 3.5 year old is still diapered at night.
Certainly kids use less diapers as they get older but you get the idea...
Costs ADD up
Getting started with cloth carries a greater initial investment, however over the lifetime of the diapers it is much more cost effective.
BONUS -- you can use them for multiple children, even better!
Not only are cloth diapers healthier for the planet AND more cost effective, they are healthier for baby too.
Disposable diapers are primarily made of plastics and absorbent polymers such as polypropylene and polyethylene.
These plastics commonly contain Phthalates, which are usually weakly bonded to the materials and easily transmittable when we come into contact with them.
When absorbed into the body, phthalates are known endocrine disruptors which means they affect the normal function of the hormonal system(4)
Additionally many of the adhesives and products used in the manufacturing process of disposable diapers can emit VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds.
When disposable diapers are opened and worn, this poses risk for inhalational and absorption of these compounds into the body.
Long term exposure to VOCs has been linked to kidney damage, liver damage and nervous system disruption(4)
Disposable diapers also often contain adhesives, bleaching agents and fragrances, all of which pose risks to health.
The length of time baby is in diapers, the close contact with the skin and high absorption rate of the genitals is certainly cause for concern when these chemicals are in the diapers baby is wearing.
There are certainly companies manufacturing single use diapers that are using materials that are less toxic, and testing their products for harmful chemicals (Oeko-Tex 100 Certified).
Regrettably these companies usually charge more for their products.
Trust me, I know reading these facts can set off the mom-alarm bells with fury and cause a lot of worry -- BEEN THERE.
However, as I have stated in other articles, one of my favorite sayings is
Harm Reduction Over A Lifetime
There is endless sources of exposure to toxic pollutants in our world today, and it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to avoid them all
I do believe a little effort makes a big impact over the lifetime of our littles
Any conscious reduction or limiting of exposure to harmful substances will have big impact over time
Its like compounding interest.. of health
The best thing we can do is inform ourselves and use that information to make the choices we feel are best for ourselves, and our families.
These are some of the reasons we decided it was a worthy investment to cloth diaper our kiddos
When my first born was super new, we used disposables to make our life easier in the adjustment period!
Also we are a big camping family and when we took her camping we often took disposables depending how long we were going for
I know a a lot of moms who "combo diaper" - they use cloth sometimes and disposable sometimes because that's what best fits their life
Any way you do it - do what's right for you and yours
Much Love,
Katie
P.S. -- Check out my Cloth Diapering 101 article! It'll give you the low down on getting started and hopefully demystify the process of cloth diapering should you decide to take that path.
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