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What needs to be done before using cloth diapers for the first time?
Why use cloth diapers?
What are the environmental benefits of cloth diapers?
How are disposable diapers manufactured?
What are the health benefits of cloth diapers?
Will cloth diapers give my baby diaper rash?
What about potty training a cloth diapered baby?
Where do I store dirty diapers?
How do I launder cloth diapers?
Should I use bleach when cleaning cloth diapers?
Should I use cloth or disposables wipes?
Will cloth diapers REALLY save me money?
What's the difference between bleached and unbleached diapers?
Very important! Before using for the first time-make sure you wash & dry (in a dryer) at least three times. Never use a fabric softener on diapers-it affects absorbency.Where to begin? Why not? Disposables are MUCH more expensive than cloth. The average savings (using cloth) are $1800 for the first child´s 2 ½ years. You´ll save right around $2200 for any following children. Also, there is the benefit of knowing you´re doing a positive thing for the environment.What are the environmental benefits of cloth diapers?
When cloth is used, it saves space in landfills. Disposables pose a tremendous threat to the environment. Over a 2 ½ year period, about 2 tons of waste is generated from disposable diapers. Nearly 30% of the non-biodegradable waste in landfills is created from disposables-or single use diapers.How are disposable diapers manufactured?
To acquire the wood pulp for disposables, approximately one billion trees are cut down each year. Disposables are so white because the pulp is bleached with chlorine gas, which produces toxic chemicals called organochlorines. Dioxin is the most notorious organochlorine-one of the most toxic substances made by humans. Dioxin is associated with birth defects, miscarriages and cancer. Organochlorine is one of the primary ingredients of Agent Orange. Not a nice choice for your baby!What are the health benefits of cloth diapers?
Then there are the chemicals that are in contact with the baby´s skin. Disposables are made with a waterproof polyethylene outer layer. The inner layer is made with wood pulp and super absorbent crystals (sodium polyacrylate-this was also connected with "Toxic Shock"). There hasn´t been a long-term study of sodium polyacrylate on the health of young children. It stands to reason that after being exposed to sodium polyacrylate for (roughly) 2 ½ years, may cause trouble in the future for our young ones. Cloth has been proven to be a much safer alternative.Will cloth diapers give my baby diaper rash?
A diaper rash is most often caused by the baby sitting in feces or urine. Cloth diapers "breathe", and you can easily tell if the diaper needs to be changed. With a single use diaper, the parent tends to change the baby less often.What about potty training a cloth diapered baby?
Babies that wear cloth potty train sooner. The average: 24-30 months for cloth versus 36-42 months for the single use diapers. With cloth diapers, they can feel when they´re wet. Disposables give them a "false" sense of being dry.
Where do I store dirty diapers?
It doesn´t have to be a fancy pail. There´s a lot available. I use a small diaper pail with a snap on lid. I use a solution of vinegar and water (A splash of vinegar to a pail of water) Sometimes, I add about 15 drops of GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract)-not necessary, but it is a disinfecting ingredient. Just remember, you´ll have to bring the diaper pail to the washing machine, so you don´t want it too large. I know of some people who don´t use water-that works too! Some people prefer diaper pails with a liner-it´s all a personal preference.How do I launder cloth diapers?
It´s really very easy. When changing a "poopy" diaper, you should dump the fecal matter in the toilet (technically speaking, this should also be done when disposing of a disposable diaper for sanitation purposes). Wet diapers can just be thrown into your pail. Bring the pail (or the liner) to the washer. Wash only diapers and wipes, so it´ll probably be a small load. Use a gentle fabric detergent (especially for babies) and add an extra rinse. I use cold water for the wash and first rinse-hot water for the second rinse. Never add fabric softener, it affects the absorbency. After they´re done, you can either dry in dryer or hang them on the line in the sun. By hanging them in the sun, they´ll be brighter and like the dryer, kills bacteria.Should I use cloth or disposables wipes?
Why use the paper wipe one time and throw it away? By using the cloth wipes, you can just put them in the diaper pail along with the diapers. That way, you will be helping the environment by re-using.Let's compare costs over a 2 1/2 year period, shall we?
Disposables
Cloth Diapers
0-3 month olds need 10-12 changes per day. Ten diapers per day for 30 days = 300 diapers. Three hundred diapers for 3 months=900 diapers. If we use a popular brand at almost $.25 per diaper, it equals approximately $198.00
3-12 month olds need 7-9 changes a day. Seven diapers a day for 30 days=210 diapers. Two hundred-ten diapers for 10 months=2100 diapers. This size diaper is just over .30 each, approximately $651.00
12-30 months need 6-7 changes a day. Six diapers per day for 30 days=180 diapers. One hundred-eighty diapers for 18 months=3240 diapers. This size is just over .40 each, approximately 1328.40.
That´s a total of $2177.40. That doesn´t include the cost of wipes.
0-3 months 10-12 changes per day. You would probably need 3 dozen Infant Prefolds@ $12 a dozen=$36. You´ll need at least 6 covers@ $10 each=60. That´s a total of $96
3-12 month olds need 7-9 changes each day. You would probably need 3 dozen Infant size Prefolds @ $14 a dozen=$42. You´ll need about 6 covers @ $13=$78. That´s a total of $120.
12-30 month olds need 6-7 changes each day. You would probably need 2-3 dozen Premium Prefolds @ $19 a dozen=$38-57. You´ll need about 4 covers @ $16=$64. That´s a total of $102-121.(Hint: You can use the outgrown infant sized prefolds as doublers)
That´s a grand total of $337.00 compared to $2177.40 for single use diapers. That doesn´t include the cost of washing them. Prices for energy and detergent varies greatly, so it´s hard to come up with a figure.
Should I use bleach when cleaning cloth diapers?
An important word about Chlorine Bleach & diapers: Chlorine Bleach is not a good choice to remove stains on the diapers. As everyone knows, bleach weakens fabric and will shorten the life of the diaper. There are plenty of natural alternatives available. I´ve always found the sun to be the best & cheapest whitener. For a simple and sanitary method of rinsing diapers, check out the Mini Shower!What is the difference between bleached and unbleached diapers?
Bleached prefold diapers are white because the cotton yarn was bleached in the factory prior to weaving the material. Cotton is naturally an ivory or light brown color. The bleaching process turns the cotton fibers white and also removes the natural cotton oils in the fibers. In doing so the strength of the fibers is reduced and the resulting woven material is slightly less durable. The bleaching process can lead to additional pollutants being released to the environment through airborne and waterborne emissions. Recent improvements in bleaching technology has reduced but not eliminated this impact.Because unbleached diapers retain much of their natural cotton oils in the fiber, they are softer and more durable than bleached cloth diapers. Unbleached prefold cloth diapers must be washed at least 2-3 times after you receive them before they become absorbent. We recommend washing the diapers in hot sudsy water and drying them on high heat and repeating as many times as necessary for the diapers to become absorbent. You can test the absorbency by making a pocket of the diaper and slowly pouring 1/2 cup of liquid into the diaper. If the liquid pools and does not soak in fairly quickly, keep washing. Depending upon the detergent you use and the hardness of your water and the natural variations in cotton materials you may have to wash these up to 5 times before they become fully absorbent. Do not under any circumstance use fabric softener as this causes the fabric to be coated and thus repels moisture. Despite the added effort necessary to break in these diapers, they are extremely popular and by most accounts well worth it.
Our thanks to Punkin Butt for contributing the content in this section of our site!
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