Tova’s Top Ten Reasons to Cloth Diaper

10. They’re adorable! I mean, who would choose a crumply, white, pad-looking sposie over an adorable, brightly colored, cloth nappy?! CAUTION: Be warned, the cute factor makes cloth diapering dangerously addicting. Have you seen the new Bum Genius prints?? Let’s not even mention the Tots Bots Easyfits that are on their way… 9. They rarely (if ever) leak! That’s right, you heard me. Of course, you may have to find which diaper fits your child best and that can take trial and error. But once you’ve found it, you’re set! Have you ever dealt with a ‘breastmilk-poop-splosion’ up your baby’s back? All the way up to their hair??? Well, I haven’t. But I’ve heard it is nasty. It’s funny to me that the thought of washing ‘poo-laundry’ turns people away from CDing. Because disposable diapers cause an awful lot of poo laundry… 8. They act as cushioning for your baby’s butt! If your baby is not mobile yet, you may not understand this. Once your baby starts standing and cruising, they fall. A lot. And baby’s fluffy, padded bum acts as a sort of “butt helmet” to minimize the fall! 7. You can make a diaper co-op! A what?! You mean, people share diapers??? Yesiree! If you have friends that are due at different times, you can all pitch in for a fab newborn stash and rotate it! You can borrow different types of diapers from friends to see which brand you like best. You can create a collection with friends who have kids different ages than yours. (This makes CDing even cheaper)! 6. They come in one size. One-size diapers have many advantages. For one, they grow with your baby. That minimizes both the cost and the carbon footprint. Secondly, if you ever have two children in diapers at the same time, you can use the same stash! You don’t have to worry about which diapers you take with you; which ones need to be washed; where the toddler’s diapers are…they can both wear the same diaper! 5. Children tend to potty train earlier in them. True stuff! This is mostly because cloth diapers feel wet (although there are stay-dry options) and a child learns to tune into their body’s signals earlier. Disposables wick away moisture and give children no motivation to train because they can’t feel wet. 4. They are MUCH cheaper. This is probably my husband’s favorite reason for CDing. My entire stash cost me under $300. There are both cheaper and more expensive ways to cloth diaper but even if you used the priciest nappies, you would not come close to disposables. Now, it would be unfair to ignore the energy cost (since CDing does involve a little extra laundry here and there). However, I think we can say it cancels out since disposables require constant gas usage whenever you realize you are out and have to run to the store. If you were to buy enough disposables for your child to last from birth-potty training, it would cost at least $2000 (and that would be generic brand). Also, that doesn’t include pull-ups (which some children will wear for a couple of years). So I think we can all agree, CDing saves. Unless you are not careful and you get addicted… 3. They don’t have nasty chemicals Off the top of my head, most disposables contain at least some of the following: dioxins, sodium polyacrylate, tributyl-tin, VOCs, dyes, fragrances, plastics, and petroleums. Ok, confession, that was not off the top of my head. But it scares me nonetheless! Some of the possible effects from those chemicals include respiratory issues, eye, nose, throat and irritation, damage to liver, impairments to the immune system, nervous system, and reproductive functions. Blech. That makes me nauseous. I feel much more comfortable knowing my daughter wears diapers made from natural, sustainable fibers. 2. Save the environment! No one knows how long it takes a disposable diaper to decompose because since they were invented, none have begun to break down! It is estimated that it may take as long as 500 years. Now, don’t tell me that a lot goes into manufacturing cloth diapers as far as pollution. Because, even though that may be true, a lot goes into manufacturing disposables as well. They certainly chug their fair share of toxins into the atmosphere! When I am done using my cloth nappy, I don’t throw it in the landfill. I wash it and use it again! When my child is potty trained, I put it away for the next child, give it away, or sell it! When they become really beat up, I turn my diapers into cleaning rags. Sounds like reducing, reusing, and recycling to me! 1. Did I mention how cute they are?