Disposable vs. Cloths

The debate between which type of diaper is best is not an easy question to answer. The reusable cloth diaper isn’t what it used to be. Some cloth diapers now have double or triple layers and a multiply, fiber-filled strip, making them more absorbent than older styles. Some styles of cloth diapers now come with Velcro strips, eliminating the need for those large safety pins. There are also various types and styles of disposable diapers, ranging from simple plastic covered paper diapers to the newest high-tech, cartoon covered, absorbent gel material filled, elastic legged disposables.
With so many different choices, here are some things to take into consideration:
- Skin Care & Health concerns:The greatest concern for parents is to keep their baby’s skin dry, healthy and free from diaper rash. Many things can cause diaper rash. Prolonged wetness, lack of air circulation, soap, chemical and dye allergies, ammonia formed by bacteria that interacts with urine left sitting against the skin and the growth of microbes in the diaper area can all be irritating and cause rashes. Some concerns about disposable diapers have been about dyes, sodium polyacrylate (the super absorbent gel), and dioxin, which is a by-product of bleaching paper. Some dyes and dioxin according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the USA, is known to cause damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. Sodium polyacrylate has been linked in the past to toxic shock syndrome, allergic reactions and is very harmful and potentially lethal to pets. The (FDA) Food & Drug Administration in the USA, has received reports that fragrances in disposables caused headaches, dizziness and rashes. Problems reported to the Consumer Protection Agency in the USA, regarding disposables include, chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odors, babies pulling disposables apart and putting pieces of plastic into their noses and mouth, choking on tab papers and linings, plastic melting onto the skin, and ink staining the skin. Plastic tabs can also tear skin if the diaper is not properly put on the baby.
According to the Journal of Pediatrics in the USA, 54 % of one-month old babies using disposable diapers had rashes, 16 % having severe rashes. A study done by a disposable diapers manufacturing company (we won’t name the company, but its one of the largest manufacturers) shows that the incidence of diaper rash increased from 7.1% to 61% with the increased use of throwaway disposable diapers.
- Cost:The cost of diapers is usually a great concern for most parents. However, as most parents find out, cost becomes less important since studies show using disposables, home laundered cloth diapers or using a diaper service usually all cost about the same. Based on cost comparisons done in the USA show you will spend approximately $75 a month for disposables (with wipes), $75 a month for a diaper service and $60 a month for washing your own cloth diapers. But since your time is valuable and when you take into consideration the cost of electricity, soap, water, and wear on your washing machine, all the choices mentioned above usually equal out to cost about the same. As a final note, if you compare the cost of the fanciest high tech disposable diapers to the cost of laundering your own cloth diapers, you will save money by using cloth diapers.
- Environment:There has been much debate over the impact of disposable diapers and cloth diapers on the environment. The pro-disposable diaper advocates say that the extra water used to wash cloth diapers is just as much of an abuse to the environment as the production and disposal of disposable diapers. But taking into consideration the following estimates you will probably agree that disposable diapers are much more harmful to the environment than cloth diapers. It is estimated that roughly 5 million tons of untreated waste and a total of 2 billion tons of urine, fasces, plastic and paper are added to landfills annually. It takes around 36,000 Kg of plastic and over 200,000 trees a year to manufacture the disposable diapers for American babies alone. Although some disposables are said to be biodegradable; in order for these diapers to decompose, they must be exposed to air (oxygen) and sun. Since this is highly unlikely, it can take several hundred years for the decomposition of disposables to take place, with some of the plastic material never decomposing.
The untreated waste placed in landfills by dirty disposable diapers is also a possible danger to contaminating ground water. Pro-disposable advocates say that cleaning cloth diapers uses more energy, and contributes to the load on sanitary sewer systems and potential water pollution. This view really makes no sense if you think about it. The amount of water used per week to wash disposable diapers at home is about the same amount consumed by an adult flushing the toilet four or five times daily for a week. Also, the greater amount of water and energy being used by diaper service companies to wash large amounts of cloth diapers multiple times; the per diaper impact on energy and water supplies is actually less than home washing.
Finally, when flushing solids from a cloth diaper down the toilet and washing the diapers in a washing machine, the contaminated, dirty water from both toilet and washing machine go into the sewer systems where they are properly treated at wastewater plants. This treated wastewater is much more environmentally friendly than dumping untreated soiled disposable diapers into a landfill.
- Convenience:With the newer style of cloth diapers that are on the market, disposable diapers are not much more convenient that cloth diapers. The new multiple layer, Velcro fastening cloth diapers are just as easy to put on and take off as disposables. Cloth diapers do not really need to be pre-soaked, or even rinsed out. Flushable liners can be used with cloth diapers that let you lift the soiled liner off the cloth and flush the liner and the poop down the toilet. If you don’t use liners, you can just dump the older baby’s solids down the toilet. Cloth diapers usually only add about 2 extra loads of laundry a week to your schedule.
Disposable diapers are more convenient when traveling because you can just throw the dirty diapers away without carrying them around for washing. Disposables also require fewer changes because of the super absorbent materials; but taking into consideration the increased risks of rash and the extra impact on the environment, your decision should be made with much thought.

34 Weeks Tummy

34 Weeks Changes:
The Baby responds as a newborn with its eyes open while awake and closed while sleeping. She/He is developing immunities to fight mild infection. Those sharp little fingernails are at the ends of the fingertips already, and you might need to clip them during the first few days after birth.
I am feeling great and I adore to look at my tummy in the mirror. It is a great sensation to feel the baby moving inside my tummy. I am not sleeping well.

The Pregnant Tummy

The Photo is my Pregnant Tummy. A new mother to be.
This small galleries is to share the joys of a Pregnant Belly.
I hope that you throughly enjoy these photos.
'Pregnancy is a Precious Gift, a Life-Changing Event. It is a truly intimate experience between Mother and Baby that should be cherished forever. What a better way to remember and share this special time than a well taken photo.'
Photo By Kerry Todyruik (my dear Husband)