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 Why Cloth? Let me count the ways! 1. Cost, lets break it down... The cost of disposables for 2 years and most children at least another year longer amounts to about $2016.00! Here's the math: 12 diapers/ day x 7 days = 84 diapers/ week 84 diapers/ week x 4 weeks = 336 diapers/ month 336 diapers/ month x 12 months = 4032 diapers/ year! The average cost one disposable diaper is $0.25. $0.25 x 4032 = $1008.00 /year! Add wipes to that: Another $600.00 for 2 years of wiping. One case of wipes (640 wipes) costs $25.00 If you use an average of 2 wipes/ change that is 168 wipes/ week. 168 wipes/ week x 4 weeks = 672 wipes roughly one case. $25.00/ month x 12 months = $300.00
Now lets look at cloth reusable (multiple children even!) First the high end version - still cheaper than disposables! Consider you will need 36 diapers/ size. And that is a high estimate! You could easily get a way with 30 or even 24. Please see our how many will I need page. 36 pocket diapers (insert incl) x $17.95 = $646.20 / size $646.20 x 3 sizes = $1938.60 total from birth to potty training! (And multiple children) Reusable wipes: If you use, again, 2 wipes/ diaper change that is 24 wipes/ day. If you plan to wash diapers every two days you want at least double that amount. One 12 pack of cloth wipes (Imse Vimse) costs $8.70. $8.70 x 4 packs = $34.80 and again you can use these for multiple children. They will last if properly cared for.
OK, so now the low end (which is still a very nice cloth diaper and how my daughter spend most of her diapering days). The Prefold Diaper: Diapers + cover = $276.00 total! Again, 36 diapers/ size, except toddler size: $54.00 + $72.00 + $60.00 = $186.00 Infant: 36 diapers x 1.50 each = $54.00 Premium (6months-18months): 36 diapers x 2.00 = 72.00 Toddler (if needed): 24 (36 would be overkill) x 2.50 = $60.00 Waterproof covers: We'll use the Classic Prorap Cover price $7.50 and 4 covers/size. $7.50 x 12 covers (4 covers for 3 sizes) = $90.00 2. The Environment, our planet Earth that we want to leave a better place for our children and children's children ( no guilt here...)! As our society has evolved we have clearly come to see the need to REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! We do it with our cans, bottles, paper, plastic, you name it these days someone can recycle it and if not someone may just reuse it. Our landfills are growing and so is the popluation. Consider those 4000 some odd diapers that are getting used per child and getting thrown into the garbage can which then go to landfill. 3. Health Those 4000 diapers are soaked with urine and human waste. All poop from a baby's diaper should be emptied into the toilet before going onto the garbage but many poeple do not know or do that eventhough it is printed on the disposable diaper package (read the fine print). Even if the poop does get flushed, that famous newborn poop will not shake off no matter how hard we try... and for the older baby some remants will most certainly remain. So, where does that go? Yep, into the garbage and into the landfill which then becomes not only a waste issue but also a public health issue! All human waste should go into the sewers that go to the waste water treatment plants that can properly handle it safely. Disposable diapers are also a hazard in the way they are manufactured. Most are bleached which produces the highly toxic by product Dioxin. Disposable diapers not only contribute to excess waste, which we all know is bad for our environment but also can pose a public health issue as human waste in our landfills can contribute to all kinds of illnesses. 4. Comfort Think of what is going to next to your child's skin. What feels better to you and think about what you wear. Paper or cloth? Cloth diapers are available in so many different types of cloth all of which are very soft and comfortable and not to mention the variety of styles that are avaialble. What I have written here is basic common sense, you can find more information on the following websites: www.realdiaperassociation.com www.borntolove.com www.mothering.com
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