Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I am a LAZY green mama. That’s not to say that I don’t do my part to protect the planet. But when I do make an effort to go green, I need to know that it is not in vain. And I’m the last person on Earth who would want to make extra work for herself. So when I tell you that I have used cloth diapers for both of my daughters, I hope you’ll understand that this was not an undertaking that I accepted lightly. I looked at the facts, I talked to the experts, I tried it myself, and I concluded that cloth diapers were the best thing for both my children and the planet.
Now if there’s one thing that I can’t stand it’s a guilt trip. So you won’t get any of that here. Yes, I think cloth diapers are fantastic (Fuzzi Bunz are my favorite!) but I know they’re not for everyone. Still, I think it’s time to “clear the air” about the common cloth diaper misconceptions…
The Ick Factor. This is probably the #1 reason that most parents turn their noses up at cloth diapers. It’s easy to imagine that with cloth diapers you’ll be up to your armpits in toilet water trying to wring out some nasty, poppy rag. If you’re concerned about the ick factor of cloth diapers, I have a little advice, but be warned, you may not want to hear it. Here it is…
Poop. Is. Icky. And cloth or disposable, as a parent, you are going to come in contact with it. Get over it. Oh, and one more thing, did you know that you are required to remove poop from disposable diapers and toss it in the toilet? It’s true, it says so right on the package. Even the disposable manufacturers know that it’s nasty to put human poop (even if it came from your sweet little baby’s bottom) in a landfill.
The Time Factor. This is the second reason that most parents want to forgo cloth diapers. To this I reply, have you looked at cloth diapers lately? Back in the day, cloth diapering meant pins and plastic pants, and the procedure did add a bit of time (albeit probably just a few seconds) to the average diaper change. But today’s selection of Velcro or button fasteners and all-in-one cloth diapers are an absolute cinch to put on and take off. The only difference in the whole procedure is that you take cloth diapers off and throw them in the washing machine as compared to the trash can for disposables. The time factor no longer exists.
The Water Consumption Factor. From the beginning, disposable diaper companies have contended that the water consumed to wash cloth diapers negates any environmental benefit that could be gained by keeping disposables out of the landfill. Their theories were somewhat backed up by a flawed study in 2005 that concluded that there is no environmental difference between using cloth diapers and using disposables. Now, when I say that this study is flawed, I say it not as a raving “save the Earth” lunatic (although I am) that can’t imagine that cloth diapers could be environmentally equivalent to disposables. Rather, I say that this study is flawed as a scientist (because I am) and it is. Here’s why.
- The study surveyed 2,000 parents who use disposables, but included only 183 parents who use cloth diapers in their research. The results are therefore neither balanced nor conclusive.
- The study did NOT take in to account the possibilities that some (if not most) cloth diapering parents use Energy-Star rated washing machines, wash full loads of laundry, line-dry their diapers or use moderate temperatures to wash their diapers.
- The study did NOT take in to account that most (if not ALL) cloth diapering parents pass their cloth diapers on, either to their subsequent children, or to their friends, thereby dramatically reducing the environmental impact caused by the creation of the diaper.
- The study only analyzed one type of diaper…a terry cloth diaper…that takes significantly longer to dry than other cotton diapers. And again, they made no mention that these diapers could be dried on a clothes line rather than in a dryer.
The Cost Factor. Last but not least, there is the cost factor. Undeniably, cloth diapers require a greater initial investment than disposables. But study after study after study after study has concluded that using cloth diapers can save you thousands of dollars over the course of your child’s diapering career. (If you’re not convinced, you can use this handy-dandy comparison calculator to see for yourself.) Now who couldn’t use a few extra thousand dollars in their pocket?
So there you have it. A straight-up, no-guilt, fresh look at cloth diapers. Take it or leave it. But at least now you know the facts.
Read more from Jenn at her blog, The Green Parent and don’t forget to enter her contest to win a Waste-Free lunch kit just in time for school!
Original 5 Minutes for Going Green post.
I started cloth diapering when my oldest was 8 months old, and I will never go back to disposables. Right on with all the points you made.
Also, cloth diapers are sooo much cuter than disposables! And when I give my cloth diapering workshops, I always make sure to point out how cloth diapers actually smell less than disposables; a fact that not too many people are aware of :o)
I’ve been cloth diapering my son since he left the hospital and I really do think cloth diapering couldn’t be easier. Thank you for addressing these issues with your readers. Now, if only Parents mag would allow you to write an article about cloth diapering instead of the doofus they had do it in June.
We have been using cloth lately during the day. We prefer the AIO or pockets over pre-folds, which we find to be a bit bulky. My issue is that we haven’t bought enough to get us through two days and I have to wash them every night and dry them in the dryer to have them ready the next morning. This can’t be efficient. Any suggestions?
My kids are almost 10 and 4, and I never even considered cloth diapers, but after seeing the surge in popularity over the last couple years, I would definitely give it a try if I had another one.
My son is 19 months old… call me a late cloth convert. I’ve been gathering information for the past week, and this post put me over the top. Unfortunately, his daycare does not allow cloth, so he will be cloth at home, disposable at daycare. Every little bit counts, right?
Thank you for this post. As I’m pregnant with baby number three due later this year I’ve been seriously considering using them. But like you I don’t like adding more work to my plate than needed. I’m going to be a busy Mom of three boys 4 and under, I’m a work at home Mom, wife and blogger…lets not forget blogger. lol Anyway, I really needed this post so thank you.
:–) Nell
Shelly: I’m glad you liked the post! And thanks so much for mentioning the “cute” factor. That’s a big one ;)
abbyjess: I missed the Parents mag “doofus.” Thank goodness there are sites like this one where real “parents” can get their info!
Leeanthro: Have you considered using an indoor drying rack or retractable clothes line so that you could hang the diapers at night instead of using the machine?
Jennifer, Snapshot: It’s hard to believe how much cloth diapers have grown in popularity. My eldest is 6 and when I was trying to find out about diapers when she was born, my only source of info was my MIL!
Maria: I’m so glad you’re considering cloth. And you’re absolutely right, every little bit does count, so give yourself a pat on the back!
Nell: Congratulations! Sounds like you have a lot on your plate already and it’s only going to get busier. I think we all have to pick and choose the steps that we can take to go green. If cloth diapering doesn’t work for you, I’m sure you’ll find other ways to fit it in. Good luck!!
Thanks for this frank and honest post. I needed it. I’m reviewing some cloth diapers right now, working on my post and you’ve made some of my work easier. I can just link back to your post and be done with it! LOL!
I’m with you, I’m a little lazy. These myths are argued about in my home with my huband but the lazy factor is his big issue. Can’t teach a old dog new tricks.
Regardless, were working on the switch.
[…] Well, over at Going Green, Jenn is breaking down barriers to cloth diapering. […]
My confession is over at “5 Minutes for Mom”.
I completely agree with everything you say here Jenn… but I failed and I admit the whole truth.
I’m curious if there are any other failures out there like myself? Because I always hear that everyone who tries cloth, loves it… I’m I the only one who didn’t make it work?
[…] Well, over at Going Green, Jenn is breaking down barriers to cloth diapering. […]
For those you say cloth diapers are to much work!!!! I say to them: for me they are the easiest thing I have to do in my very very busy life! read on to see!
I use cloth on my first since she was a couple of days old and we do plan to also use cloth on our second that is coming soon!
Some people say “your nuts 2 babies on clothes at the sames times how much laundry will you be making a day!”
For those who don’t know we have a laundry machine but no dryer so we use a wash line in the summer and in the winter it’s a jungle out here cause clothes are drying inside the house on every corner available! But I also live with my BIL and hubby own a pizza shop so their is more clothes (apron, dish clothes etc…) to wash so I do 6 loads/day every single day!
Do I see the end of my basket! Bot often LOL but it sure is keeping me occupied
To top all of this I’ve been and still is breastfeeding Ecing with our daughter since she was about 3 months old/babywearing/attachement parenting / teaching her sings language and teaching her french and english (yes future homeschooling mom never too early to start!!!) I also cook all my meal from scratch and have grown our own garden, doing preserve for the winter, I have 11 brothers and sister inlaw that lives about 10 minutes from our house and they do come unexpected for a meal of else etc….
I wake up at 6 am and stop working around the house around 6pm (12 hour shift was waht I was use while being a nurse!) Do I have times to rest and enjoy life and our daughter Indeed I do I even got a tan this summer. Am I a pro in organazing stuff and is my house super clean, Oh no but the essential is made ( I mind having my bed that is never made or that I have dust bunnies under the couch those are the thing people don’t see at least when they are visiting)
This is my life and I love it!
My baby days are over. The Boy is going on 11 and the girl is going on 7 (this month! *sob!*). I never used cloth diapers. But if I had a baby, I would use them now. They’ve come such a long way. (And in fact, I have a few friends who make them, so I’d line their pockets investing in some diapers and supplies).
I am a lazy green mama, too. In fact, I’m probably more of a ‘teal’ than a ‘green’. The truth of the matter is – it’s all about time and money for me. Oh and effectiveness.
For example, this year, I invested in plastic containers to pack my family’s lunch. I did it because it was a cost factor. Washing these plastic containers doesn’t take much time out of my schedule because they get washed with my other dishes.
I run my errands in one fell swoop, not because I’m worried about the effects that my car has on the environment, but what the cost of GAS has on my budget. But, I am killing two birds with one stone – and I’m okay with that.
I’m still processing the idea of using reusable bags. WalMart has the best ones (and most expensive). Still pondering.
But it is nice to know that I’m not the only lazy green mom out there. It’s a process for me. I’ll get there. It’ll just take awhile.
I needed those facts. Altho I’m still not sure it’s for me. We use Seventh Generation products and that eases my guilt a little more, but it would be great if I could at least give cloth a try someday. On days like today, tho, with three small children, one due next month, and a broken washing machine… I’m not there with the cloth quite yet!
Steph
I chronicle my cloth diapering journey here: http://mygreening.blogspot.com/search/label/cloth%20diapering
I’m on cloth-diaper wearing baby #2!
I’m a big advocate of cloth diapers. We used them on our girlie for several months before I had to go back to disposables; she got a recurring yeast infection that nothing would cure. But I’ve lovingly folded & put away my cloth diaper stash, waiting for any future babies we may have!
I didn’t think cloth diapers were too much work at all, and they certainly smell better than disposables. They are a bit more bulky, but going up a size in pants/skirts usually fixed that problem. And cloth wipes are DEFINITELY better than the disposable wipes!
I’m a lazy cloth diaperer lol. I go through spurts of using them then spurts of disposables. But I figure at least doing it some of the time helps a little bit :)
I must admit that cloth diapering was simply not for me. By the way I read my diaper box package and it doesn’t say anything about not leaving poop in the diaper. Perhaps that is because I am in Canada.
I am not opposed to cloth diapers. Not at all. I think they are a great idea.
I am, however, opposed to losing my sanity.
I DID try cloth diapers for a couple of months. And it DID take significantly more time because I had to change diapers way more often and it completely took over my laundry machine. And the expense was insane- I had two in diapers for 3 years and since the two of them went through at LEAST 10 per day EACH I had to have a stock pile or be doing laundry every two hours. I TOTALLY agree that in the long run it is not as expensive but some of us simply do not have the capital to put out a huge chunk at the beginning like that. The only reason I could try it was because I got them given to me.
And OH the horrible smell if I didn’t get to the wash immediately (like if I had a different load in the washer already). It wasn’t bad with my newborn but my older child… oh it was so very gross.
My kids also got insane diaper rashes. Insane. And I changed them constantly. I changed laundry detergent. I didn’t use fabric softener. I used diaper rash creams, prescription and not, and still no luck. I realize my kids are especially sensitive but the day after I switched back to disposables the rashes started going away and we’ve never had them since. Again, I realize it was probably the BRAND of cloth diapers I had but I really could not afford trying out several different brands.
Again- I am TOTALLY not saying cloth diapering is not a wonderful idea. It is. I am simply sharing my story. I had two children very close together. I had intense post partum depression, I hemorrhaged when I gave birth and so my milk never came in and breastfeeding was a nightmare. People were constantly on my case. The guilt was intense. And as ridiculous as it sounds switching back to disposables DID ease my stress level a bit.
Again- not against cloth diapers- just sharing how it went for me :)
We love cloth around here!
We do do sposies some, but we try to use mostly cloth.
Our oldest daughter was almost full cloth too
I did my research & actually bought one of several different types of cloth diapers so we could test them all out first & then me & my husband decided we liked the Bum Genius pocket diapers the best. They’re super easy to use with the velcro and they haven’t been that much extra work. The most time-consuming thing is probably when we stuff them all after washing a load. However, I’m a little worried that the “one-size fits all” thing isn’t going to work out for us, as our little boy isn’t so little and is growing into them a lot faster than I expected. But so far we’re loving them!
I love all the discussion! It’s so great to hear different women’s perspective. And I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who didn’t make the cloth thing work. But power to all of you who do make it work!
Renee, wow you are one superhero homemaker!!! I cannot even imagine.
We cloth diaper Parker and LOVE it. We do use a sposie at night, I will admit. But that is because Parker is on continuous feeds at night which means he is also peeing all night long as well.
But any other time Parker’s tush is covered in cloth.
We cloth diaper for health reasons:
A kid with chronic lung disease and disposables do not a good pair make.
The cost factor:
Parker needs to be changed many, many, many times a day. I simply don’t have the money to spend 100+ a month on something I throw away.
I had diapers custom made to go up and over Parker’s ostomy bags, creating less of a chance for messes and those bags getting pulled off.
Now I am saving my pennies to be able to purchase a previously loved stash of regular sized diapers. After Parker’s next surgery in October he’ll be able to wear typically sized cloths which mean typically sized diapers! Whoot!
I plan on donating his custom diapers to Miracle Diapers. Miracle Diapers provide cloth diapers to families who can’t afford to cloth diaper. Many families who have children with special needs can use the type of custom made diapers Parker is now using.
Okay, Jenn. Your next post needs to be on cloth wipes and wool! :D
I’m an on-again, off-again cloth diaper user.
I used them 90% of our son’s first year, 40% of our daughter’s first year, 25% of our son’s remaining 10 months in diapers and now about 75% of the time with our daughter in her second year. My daughter had a bad rash when we tried a generic brand of disposables, which turned me back to cloth in a heart beat (we had taken a break) – her rash cleared up within 2 days!
I think any amount I’m able to use them is a good amount – some weeks it is easy, other weeks it just doesn’t fit what we’re doing. I decided not to beat myself up about it, because in the course of cloth diapering I’ve managed to share our diapers with 2 other families who otherwise wouldn’t have given it a go – and they’re being passed to another family this winter since none of us used them 100% of the time.
Life is all about balance! If I get too hung up on feeling guilty about not using them more consistently, I can’t use that energy to tackle another something that needs doing.
On a side note – we have ditched paper towels all together, though! Cloth napkins and wash cloths replace them and are perfect laundry load fillers with our sheets and towels.
WE have been using cloth diapers with our 2 yr old son since he was about 4 months old. I have tried a few different kinds but have found Bum Genius One Size pockets to be the easiest and best. We do use disposables at night- I can’t stuff the diapers enough to absorb all he produces. We also use disposables when we are out. So we’re probably about 60% cloth. I used to do cloth exclusively when he was smaller, but he gets chaffed from the cloth diapers if he is running around a playing for any long period of time.
I think cloth diapers are no more real work than disposables. I haven’t really had any trouble with the smell and do a load about every 2-3 days. I was doing them a little more often when he was smaller. I plan on using these same diapers for baby number 2 from the beginning.
Have to admit that when it came to diapering my three children, I buried my head in the sand and used disposables. The author of this post pretty much blasted my “reasons” as to why I didn’t use cloth right out of the water. Though it does still seem to be a time consuming process. Kudos to all of you who’ve made a go of it. Truly.
Kirtsy’d this… if I do ever have another baby, this post made me decide that I’d give the whole cloth diapering things a go…
now i need to go find me a husband… so i can have a kid… so i can breastfeed and use cloth diapers… :D
I totally loved cloth diapering my first don…but then I got pregnant with my daughter when he was 5 months old…two in diapers was chaotic but for the most part i stuch with it BUT then I found out I was pregnant again 6 months after she was born….So then I had three in diapers!!!#3 is now 8 months old and the first two are SLOWLY being potty-trained…So hopefully when all is said and done we will be back to cloth diapers by the end of the year!
After helping to cloth diaper 6 of my 7 siblings, I’d had enough. I’m using the disposable on my son. I think for me, it’s mostly the Ick Factor. I’m good with anything but smells. I can help skin an animal, perform a dissection of a cow’s eyeball, squish bugs, and stand any amount of blood and gore, but smells turn my normally strong stomach to mush!!! I just can’t take it.
So, I’ll find other ways to be green… ways that smell better. :-)
I made the switch to cloth diapers a few months ago, and only wish I had done it sooner! There are so many options out there, that I think most people who give it a try will realize it’s not so bad. There is just such a stigma associated with it from the days our mothers had to use them and they were horribe!
Trust me– I don’t think there is another baby out there who pees or poops more than mine–if I can do it, anyone can.
I am one of those parents who turned my nose up at cloth diapers. I never even thought twice about using them. Three kids later, I love my cloth diapers and I actually find that they are so much easier than using disposables. I don’t have a pile of stinky diapers waiting for trash day and I don’t have to make last minute trips to the store for a pack of diapers.
Has anyone tried gDiapers? You can flush them!
http://www.gdiapers.com
I’m a relatively new BumGenius convert–loving them and not really finding them to be a big deal at all. And actually, I’m LOVING not having to haul 2 kids to the warehouse store to buy the jumbo boxes of diapers.
That said, when it’s 100 degrees out, I’m putting the babe in a disposable and going to the ball game–I’m not into hauling around festering waste!!
For the cloth die-hards–do you use them on the road?? We were out of town for two nights and I just couldn’t figure out how to make it work– I ended up using disposables the day before we left (as well as on the road) so that I would have a clean stash before I left–didn’t want to come home to THAT diaper pail after three days…ideas? suggestions?
I don’t agree that the 2005 study you mentioned is flawed. Rather, I think the study is often misunderstood and misapplied.
The study was not undertaken to find out which is better for the environment, cloth or disposable. The study was conducted to uncover the environmental cost of the various methods currently used for diapering with the aim of improving current practices.
There was no effort to find the best way (most environmentally friendly) of cleaning cloth diapers, but there also was no effort made to find the best way of making and disposing disposables either.
The study showed what was currently being done. If people were using terry cloth diapers they showed the effects of terry cloth diapers. If the people in their sample used an electric dryer, they took the data from using an electric dryer.
In the end, their conclusion should still point you to cloth. You can have a much greater impact on the environmental cost of cloth than you can have on the environmental cost of disposables. The study pointed out that for disposable diapers, improving their manufacture would have the greatest impact (most of us can’t help here) while for cloth, cleaning practices is the key (well within our grasps as you pointed out).
I personally liked the study. Think what would happen if the study concluded that cloth was better for the environment. The disposable diaper companies wouldn’t have much motivation to improve. They’ve lost that battle so on to fighting for ease, convenience, ick factor, etc. Also, those terry cloth users who wash in hot water and dry in electric dryers would continue as they were, thinking they were doing so much good for the Earth.
The largest problems I see with scientific studies isn’t the mistakes they make in setting them up, but in the conclusions people make and the way news sources and bloggers read an abstract and make their own conclusions (not including you in this group).
You also mention that “…the study did NOT take in to account that most (if not ALL) cloth diapering parents pass their cloth diapers on…” The study does take this into account.
It says, “We have not allocated any disposal burden for terry nappies to the system, as nappies tend to be reused for other purposes within the home, including use on another child.”
As for the costs of manufacture, they used the number of cloth diapers in the house, but they corroborated it with cloth diaper sales vs. cloth diaper users. The numbers weren’t significantly different.
So again, this study was taking into account what was being done in practice, not potential.
-david (cloth diaperer)
Hi All,
It is so wonderful to hear all of your comments on this topic. Good, bad, and ugly, I think it’s important for parents to hear from a variety of perspectives about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to diapering. Remember, no guilt here…I used cloth diapers on my daughters, but there were a lot of other “green” things that I didn’t do at the time. We all have to pick and choose the things that will work best in our home. Thanks all for your input :)
–Jenn
I’m a little late to the comments here, but I love cloth for all the reasons you pointed.
I have saved sooo much money by using cloth. I find that with a well fitting cloth diaper you can pretty much eliminate the diaper blowouts that sometimes happen with ‘sposies.
Also, you can often resell your used diapers to other moms thus getting some of your initial investment back. Yes, it’s a bit more work, but thank God for washing machines! It’s not like I’m out at the river beating them over a rock or anything. heh.
I also like to point out that it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing thing. You can still use disposables for traveling or whatever if you so choose. I’ve personally used them when had the sickies in our house.
–David,
Thank you so much for your comments. I don’t want to trade quotes from the study with you, but rest assured, I did read the whole report, not just the abstract, and I stand by what I wrote.
I understand the purpose of the study, but I disagree that you can talk to 183 parents who use cloth diapers and 2000 that use disposable and make any kind of reasonable comparison between the two.
I also disagree with your statement that the study took in to account the common practice of passing on of cloth diapers. Yes, it didn’t count disposing of cloth diapers as an environmental burden, but in essence the energy and resources used to manufacturer the diapers should have been halved with each subsequent user of the diapers.
And I’m afraid I’m not as optimistic as you are in thinking that this study actually propelled disposable manufacturers to strive towards greener practices. From what I have seen, heard, read, and witnessed, disposable diaper manufacturers whip this study out on every possible occasion to try to convince parents that there is no point in wasting their time on cloth diapers as they are apparently no better for the environment than disposables. Maybe it’s me, but I haven’t seen one single green improvement come from the disposable diaper industry as a whole since this study came out. Have you?
Thanks so much for your interesting points, I hope if nothing else, we can agree to disagree.
–Jenn
Avid cloth user here. :)
If you have not done so yet, I highly recommend posting about green menstrual products, such as menstrual cups and cloth pads. I wrote an intro about why I use cloth pads on my blog here http://brightonwoman.blogspot.com/2008/06/you-use-cloth-for-what.html
and I have also posted about my care/washing routine for them here http://brightonwoman.blogspot.com/2008/07/caring-for-cloth-pads.html
I should add that for anyone looking for cloth diapers, there are a LOT of small-time WAHMs on etsy who sell diapers, and have banded together to promote/support each other and cloth diapering in general. Visit http://etsyclothdiapers.blogspot.com to learn more about us!
Amoxicillin….
Amoxicillin….
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