Cloth Diapering and the Environment

"Going green" seems to be the mantra of today's society. We are being more frugal with energy, cutting down on waste, and reusing whatever we can. When you add a new baby to your life, you suddenly realize that being "green" is not going to be as easy as you might wish. Babies come with lots of "stuff," and that stuff creates lots of waste. If you want to be a green parent, one thing you might be considering is cloth diapering. Before you make the investment into cloth diapers, read the pros and cons of this diapering option.

Pros of Cloth Diapering

Cloth diapers are less harmful to the environment, because they create less waste. Disposable diapers never break down completely, so every time you throw away a disposable diaper, you are adding something to the landfills that will always be there. There is no waste materials to add to landfills with a cloth diaper.

Using cloth diapers can actually save you money. You can limit your monetary investment into cloth diapers by purchasing a brand which has a one size fits all sizing scheme. Parents who use disposable diapers tend to run out at the worst times and need to run to the store to get additional supplies. You do not have to run to the store to get clean diapers, just your laundry room.

Some parents notice their children show an interest in potty training earlier when using cloth diapers. Disposable diapers do a great job of keeping wetness away from the skin, but this can make potty training difficult. The child does not feel "wet" when the diaper is wet, so learning when it is time to go is hard. With cloth diapers, the child feels wetness on his skin when the diaper is wet, which can push him towards potty training early.

Cons of Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers can cost a bundle to purchase initially. There are many different vendors, and you can even buy the diapers and covers used, but some of the best diapers cost as much as $300 to $500 to get a beginning set. This can cause many parents to turn away, even though they will spend much more than that over their child's lifetime if they are buying disposables time and time again.

While cloth diapers do keep the landfills more clear, they are not completely environmentally friendly as might be thought. It does take a bit more energy to wash and dry these diapers. They have to be washed in hot water, which takes a lot of energy. This also adds to the cost factor, as it increases your utility bills.

Some parents find cloth diapers difficult to manage while out in public. Transporting soiled cloth diapers can be daunting, but there are products which can be used to help parents with this task. It is particularly difficult to manage while traveling when you may not have access to a washing machine. Don't forget the good news! You can use disposables during those infrequent times you do not have access to a washing machine or dryer and still use cloth the majority of the time if you want.

So are cloth diapers for you? It is up to you to decide. Before you decide, do some research into the cleaning and care of cloth diapers to help you determine whether or not you might enjoy clothe diapering. If you feel like you can manage it, then you can do your part to help protect the environment by diapering your baby with cloth.