Diaper rash? Just throw some diaper rash cream on that baby's bum!
Not the case with cloth, diaper rash creams can ruin your cloth diapers by creating a waterproof film on the diaper and preventing any liquid from being absorbed. Eek!
Our daughter had frequent diaper rashes in the first few months of cloth diapers and I spent a lot of time researching and trying to figure out how to solve the issue. It turns out what she was experiencing was a yeast infection. Let me share some tips I learned in the hopes that it will help you through the rash.
Tip One: Get rid of the yeast!
Yeast is nasty stuff. It is invisible and can survive even the hottest wash cycle. To kill the yeast you will need either Grapefruit Seed Extract (be liberal-20 drops?) or Bleach. Also add about ½ teaspoon of dawn dish detergent to strip the residue off the diaper. You must make sure you kill the yeast on all the diapers and wipes. This may take a few cycles while your baby also rids their body of the yeast.
Tip Two: Get the rash off of baby’s bum.
Get some diaper rash cream. "Wait! You said I can't use diaper rash cream!!"
Well, there are some creams that are safe for cloth diapers. We used Northern Essence Diaper Rash Salve. Worked great and smells yummy.
One option is to switch to disposables until the rash is gone. If you switch to disposable diapers you can use traditional diaper rash cremes. Avoid using the tradition zinc oxide creme as this is designed to keep moisture on baby's bum. Try a creme like A&D original ointment, this is designed to create a barrier to keep moisture off baby's bum.
Some have recommended wiping baby’s bum with some apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball. I have not tried this method. Apple Cider Vinegar may burn, if baby is in pain try rinsing with water after application. Note: it is important NOT to use white vinegar as the yeast will actually feed on white vinegar and the rash will become worse.
Tip Three: Check baby’s diet.
We found that our daughter stopped getting rashes as soon as we figured out that she had food allergies. Particularly, we discovered that she was intolerant of gluten (just like her mommy!). As soon as we cut out the gluten the rashes went away. When she ate gluten it caused the folds in her small intestine to become flat decreasing the amount of good bacteria that her system was able to make. As a result her excrement was full of nasty things that created a yeast infection.
Your baby’s rash may not be caused by a gluten allergy, but it could be something dietary that is affecting the levels of good bacteria in the digestive system. If your baby can eat solids, and milk products try feeding them yogurt with active cultures. Also you can try feeding them Kefir (a probiotic rich, gluten free yogurt-like product).
Here are some other tips from allaboutclothdiapers.com
* Make a mixture of 10 drops of Citricidal Grapefruit Seed Extract to one ounce of water. The use of distilled water to make your solution is very important. The chemicals placed in your local tap water to kill bacteria can reduce the effectiveness of the active ingredients in GSE. Put the solution into a spray bottle or swab with a clean absorbent pad at every diaper change.
* Slather the rash with plain yogurt containing live cultures.
* Clotrimazole anti-fungal cream (available over-the-counter with the creams for vaginal yeast infections) can be added to a diaper rash cream or you can mix your own cream using zinc oxide and lansinoh.
* A cup full of apple cider vinegar can be added to baby’s warm bath to help soothe his sore bum.
* Add a cup full of apple cider vinegar to your rinse cycle when washing diapers.
* Add 4-5 drops of Tea Tree oil to your wipe solution.
* Wash diapers in hot water.
* Dry diapers in the sun.
* Add Grapefruit Seed Extract to your wipe solution or to baby’s bath.
* Add 4-5 drops of Tea Tree oil to the initial rinse or wash cycle – many mothers find TTO has a strong smell and suggest adding it before the final rinse cycle so that most of the smell is washed away.
* Do NOT use cornstarch powders on a yeast rash. The yeast “feeds” on the powder and will make it worse. This includes plain cornstarch and any baby powder brands that include cornstarch.
* Hydrocortisone cream can help reduce the swelling and inflammation and can be applied under the other diaper creams.
* Remember: Keep treating for 3-4 days after the rash is gone.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Cloth Diaper Systems
This one is a long one! Hope you will find my descriptions of cloth diapering systems helpful. Here it goes...
Prefolds with cover
This is the cheapest way to cloth diaper and how I started. Actually this was THE way to diaper for decades. Prefolds are pieces of woven cotton sewed together to form a rectangular shaped piece of quilted cotton used as a diaper. The name prefold is used because they require folding to fit your baby and then fastening using pins, a snappi, or a applix diaper cover. Prefolds are not waterproof, so they DO require a cover to make them waterproof (unless you want a mess allover babies clothes, your furniture, the rug, etc…). I did not stick with this form of diapering. I could never get the fold quite right and had trouble keeping messes inside the cover. For some, however, it works great. Keep in mind that if you do a diaper service you will be using prefolds.
There are three kinds of prefolds that I know of. The kind made by Gerber that you can get at any retail store that sells baby merchandise, Chinese prefolds and Indian prefolds. The Gerber diapers are not even comparable to the other two. They are great for burp cloths, but I would not use them as diapers. I have never used Chinese prefolds, but from what I understand the major differences between the two are that Indian prefolds are softer, thicker, sometimes run smaller in size and are slightly less durable. And of course one is made in China and the other in India : )
The greatest thing about prefolds (I think) is that you can use them as cleaning cloths long after baby is out of diapers.
Pros: Inexpensive (about $2 per diaper), can use with a diaper service, great for use long after it is no longer a diaper.
Cons: Folding seems complicated, not as leak resistant as other diaper systems.
Fitteds with or without cover
Fitted diapers are layers of absorbent material sewn together into a diaper shape with elastic and snaps or applix. They can come in a one-size fits all diaper or in sizes for different weight ranges. Because they work just like a disposable diaper, fitted diapers are very user friendly.
I have heard great things about fitted diapers for newborns. In fact, I have been told that a fitted diaper will hold in newborn poop better than a disposable! Some moms have told me they like using a fitted diaper without a cover because they can fell dampness on baby’s bottom when the diaper needs to be changed. They can, however, also be used with covers and made waterproof.
We used fitted diapers on our daughter after she turned two. They worked great to help potty train because they had snaps on the side and she could slide them up and down. Because the cotton touched her bottom she was able to tell when she was wet and learned quickly how to recognize the feeling of “having to go”.
Because these diapers are so absorbent and have so many layers of material they often take longer to dry in the dryer or on the clothes line.
There are many brands of fitted diapers. Among the most popular are GoodMamas, Kissaluvs, Thirsties, and KiwiPie. We used Green Sprout Diapers- made by a work at home mom.
Pros: Very good at holding in messes, easy to use, great transitional diaper when potty training, comes in one-size options.
Cons: Can be pricey, especially the one-size fits all kinds (between $25 and $30 each diaper), not waterproof on its own, long dry times.
Pocket diapers
Pocket diapers consist of a waterproof outer layer (usually PUL) and a water resistant inner (fleece or micro fleece) with a pocket in the middle for holding inserts with can be made of a variety of materials. They fasten with snaps or applix and work much like a disposable diaper. They can come in a one-size fits all diaper or in sizes for different weight ranges. The water resistant inner layer helps to keep wetness away from baby’s bottom.
The most important feature is the pocket- which allows you to make the diaper more or less absorbent based on your need. This also means that you will have to take the inserts out to wash the diaper and put them back in after they are clean. Some people have said that the stuffing and un-stuffing makes using these diapers less desirable. Because the inserts are removable, the separate pieces will dry fairly quickly in the dryer or on the clothes line.
There are a variety of brands to choose from among the most popular are BumGenius, Happy Heinys, Fuzzibunz, and Swaddlebees.
Pros: Keeps wetness away from baby’s bottom, adjustable absorbency, waterproof, comes in a one-size option, dries quickly.
Cons: Keeps wetness away from baby’s bottom (not good for potty training), can be a pain to un-stuff and stuff.
All-in-one diapers
All-in-one diapers feature a waterproof exterior with layers of cotton or other material on the interior. They are one piece with applix or snaps for fasteners. These diapers are most like disposables diapers in convenience and trimness (although please keep in mind that no cloth diaper will be equally trim to a disposable diaper).
The most common complaint I’ve heard about these diaper is that because they are one piece they can take significantly longer to dry in the dryer or on the clothes line (sometimes two cycles in the dryer). They can also be on the more expensive side.
There are a variety of brands including but not limited to BumGenius, Bumkins, ImseVimse, Dream-Eze, and Kissaluvs.
Pros: Most like disposable- easy to use, trimmer than other diapers.
Cons: Expensive, take longer to dry.
All-in-two diapers
All-in-two diapers are like an all-in-one diaper except the absorbent layers are not inside the diaper. They will be shaped like a diaper insert that can be snapped or placed into the diaper shell. This system allows for quicker dry times than the all-in-one diaper because the absorbent layers will separate from the diaper in the wash and then dry as separate pieces of fabric. Another benefit of this feature is that if the exterior is clean you can reuse it by just changing the inserts.
I have to be honest, I tried using an all-in-two diaper with my daughter and was not satisfied. I found it difficult to get the insert lined up correctly when fastening the diaper to a very wiggly baby. I have heard similar reports from people using hybrid diapers (see next category).
Examples of this type of diaper are SoftBums and GroVia.
Pros: Because the cover is reusable this option can be less expensive than other systems, quicker dry times.
Cons: Hard to fasten correctly.
Hybrid diapers
Hybrid diapers are similar in form to all-in-two diapers. They have an outer shell which is waterproof and absorbent inserts that are placed into the shell. Most importantly they offer the option of using a reusable cloth insert or a “compostable” disposable insert.
I have not used a hybrid diaper myself- but I have seen them and heard first hand accounts.
I will start with the disposable insert. What a great idea! I am sad that I never got to test this because I thought many times while diapering my own daughter- why can’t there be a disposable insert that I could use with her diaper covers when we travel?
I think this concept needs to be refined a little more before it can truly be ideal. I have heard that it is difficult to get the insert into the cover perfectly- probably because the insert shape is not matched perfectly to the diaper cover (an unfortunate defect in my opinion). The disposable insert claims that it can be ripped apart and disposed in the toilet however we all know better than to trust these types of claims. The insert is large and bulky, much larger than anything I’ve ever flushed down the toilet. I wouldn’t flush unless you have a truly amazing septic system (which most of us can not admit to).
I have not yet seen the cloth inserts or talked to anyone who has used them so I can’t yet speak to their function.
Some brands that offer a hybrid diaper are GroVia, Flip, GDiapers.
Pros: Convenient for travel, can be less expensive than other cloth options (when using cloth inserts), safer disposable option than a fully disposable diaper.
Cons: Hard to get a perfect fit, expensive if using only disposable inserts.
Types of Covers:
Plastic: These are the cheapest option and what our parents would have used. They do not give a great fit and are susceptible to leaks. They will wear quickly in the wash and will need to be replaced often.
Brands include: Gerber.
PUL: PUL is a polyurethane lamination either placed between layers of breathable cloth material or left exposed. PUL covers offer good breathability and are easy to wash (although many brands recommend drying on a line rather than in the dryer because the PUL will deteriorate with exposure to high heat). Often you can wipe the interior clean between changes and use the cover several times in a day. These covers offer a good fit and often come in one-size options.
Brands include: Thirsties, Prorap, Bummis, Kissaluvs, Flip, GroVia, ImseVimse.
Fleece: We loved covers for our daughter. They are water resistant rather than waterproof and so they allow for more air movement (great for a baby who has especially sensitive skin). Some people do not like fleece because it can sometimes feel damp to the touch when the diaper is wet. They are easy to wash, but not as durable as PUL or wool.
Brands include: Bummis, Stacinator, Swaddlebees, Organic Caboose.
Wool: Wool covers offer great breathability and a natural material next to baby’s bottom. Many people swear by wool saying that these covers are the best at containing messes. Wool, however, requires special care when cleaning including special soaps and routine lanolizing. Brands include: ImseVimse, Little Beetle, Kissaluvs, Organic Caboose.
Snaps vs. Applix
Many ask: what’s better snaps or applix? The differences are pretty simple, but it all comes down to personal preference.
Applix
Pros: Easy to use, easy to adjust to baby’s size.
Cons: Tabs must be closed prior to wash, sometimes they can get stuck to other items in the wash causing applix to loose stickiness over time, applix can curl over time, as baby gets older they can learn how to unfasten diapers themselves.
Snaps:
Pros: Durable, no special treatment prior to washing, they are more difficult for children to unfasten themselves.
Cons: Some people say snaps can be difficult to fasten, less adjustment is possible based on snap placement.
Prefolds with cover
This is the cheapest way to cloth diaper and how I started. Actually this was THE way to diaper for decades. Prefolds are pieces of woven cotton sewed together to form a rectangular shaped piece of quilted cotton used as a diaper. The name prefold is used because they require folding to fit your baby and then fastening using pins, a snappi, or a applix diaper cover. Prefolds are not waterproof, so they DO require a cover to make them waterproof (unless you want a mess allover babies clothes, your furniture, the rug, etc…). I did not stick with this form of diapering. I could never get the fold quite right and had trouble keeping messes inside the cover. For some, however, it works great. Keep in mind that if you do a diaper service you will be using prefolds.
There are three kinds of prefolds that I know of. The kind made by Gerber that you can get at any retail store that sells baby merchandise, Chinese prefolds and Indian prefolds. The Gerber diapers are not even comparable to the other two. They are great for burp cloths, but I would not use them as diapers. I have never used Chinese prefolds, but from what I understand the major differences between the two are that Indian prefolds are softer, thicker, sometimes run smaller in size and are slightly less durable. And of course one is made in China and the other in India : )
The greatest thing about prefolds (I think) is that you can use them as cleaning cloths long after baby is out of diapers.
Pros: Inexpensive (about $2 per diaper), can use with a diaper service, great for use long after it is no longer a diaper.
Cons: Folding seems complicated, not as leak resistant as other diaper systems.
Fitteds with or without cover
Fitted diapers are layers of absorbent material sewn together into a diaper shape with elastic and snaps or applix. They can come in a one-size fits all diaper or in sizes for different weight ranges. Because they work just like a disposable diaper, fitted diapers are very user friendly.
I have heard great things about fitted diapers for newborns. In fact, I have been told that a fitted diaper will hold in newborn poop better than a disposable! Some moms have told me they like using a fitted diaper without a cover because they can fell dampness on baby’s bottom when the diaper needs to be changed. They can, however, also be used with covers and made waterproof.
We used fitted diapers on our daughter after she turned two. They worked great to help potty train because they had snaps on the side and she could slide them up and down. Because the cotton touched her bottom she was able to tell when she was wet and learned quickly how to recognize the feeling of “having to go”.
Because these diapers are so absorbent and have so many layers of material they often take longer to dry in the dryer or on the clothes line.
There are many brands of fitted diapers. Among the most popular are GoodMamas, Kissaluvs, Thirsties, and KiwiPie. We used Green Sprout Diapers- made by a work at home mom.
Pros: Very good at holding in messes, easy to use, great transitional diaper when potty training, comes in one-size options.
Cons: Can be pricey, especially the one-size fits all kinds (between $25 and $30 each diaper), not waterproof on its own, long dry times.
Pocket diapers
Pocket diapers consist of a waterproof outer layer (usually PUL) and a water resistant inner (fleece or micro fleece) with a pocket in the middle for holding inserts with can be made of a variety of materials. They fasten with snaps or applix and work much like a disposable diaper. They can come in a one-size fits all diaper or in sizes for different weight ranges. The water resistant inner layer helps to keep wetness away from baby’s bottom.
The most important feature is the pocket- which allows you to make the diaper more or less absorbent based on your need. This also means that you will have to take the inserts out to wash the diaper and put them back in after they are clean. Some people have said that the stuffing and un-stuffing makes using these diapers less desirable. Because the inserts are removable, the separate pieces will dry fairly quickly in the dryer or on the clothes line.
There are a variety of brands to choose from among the most popular are BumGenius, Happy Heinys, Fuzzibunz, and Swaddlebees.
Pros: Keeps wetness away from baby’s bottom, adjustable absorbency, waterproof, comes in a one-size option, dries quickly.
Cons: Keeps wetness away from baby’s bottom (not good for potty training), can be a pain to un-stuff and stuff.
All-in-one diapers
All-in-one diapers feature a waterproof exterior with layers of cotton or other material on the interior. They are one piece with applix or snaps for fasteners. These diapers are most like disposables diapers in convenience and trimness (although please keep in mind that no cloth diaper will be equally trim to a disposable diaper).
The most common complaint I’ve heard about these diaper is that because they are one piece they can take significantly longer to dry in the dryer or on the clothes line (sometimes two cycles in the dryer). They can also be on the more expensive side.
There are a variety of brands including but not limited to BumGenius, Bumkins, ImseVimse, Dream-Eze, and Kissaluvs.
Pros: Most like disposable- easy to use, trimmer than other diapers.
Cons: Expensive, take longer to dry.
All-in-two diapers
All-in-two diapers are like an all-in-one diaper except the absorbent layers are not inside the diaper. They will be shaped like a diaper insert that can be snapped or placed into the diaper shell. This system allows for quicker dry times than the all-in-one diaper because the absorbent layers will separate from the diaper in the wash and then dry as separate pieces of fabric. Another benefit of this feature is that if the exterior is clean you can reuse it by just changing the inserts.
I have to be honest, I tried using an all-in-two diaper with my daughter and was not satisfied. I found it difficult to get the insert lined up correctly when fastening the diaper to a very wiggly baby. I have heard similar reports from people using hybrid diapers (see next category).
Examples of this type of diaper are SoftBums and GroVia.
Pros: Because the cover is reusable this option can be less expensive than other systems, quicker dry times.
Cons: Hard to fasten correctly.
Hybrid diapers
Hybrid diapers are similar in form to all-in-two diapers. They have an outer shell which is waterproof and absorbent inserts that are placed into the shell. Most importantly they offer the option of using a reusable cloth insert or a “compostable” disposable insert.
I have not used a hybrid diaper myself- but I have seen them and heard first hand accounts.
I will start with the disposable insert. What a great idea! I am sad that I never got to test this because I thought many times while diapering my own daughter- why can’t there be a disposable insert that I could use with her diaper covers when we travel?
I think this concept needs to be refined a little more before it can truly be ideal. I have heard that it is difficult to get the insert into the cover perfectly- probably because the insert shape is not matched perfectly to the diaper cover (an unfortunate defect in my opinion). The disposable insert claims that it can be ripped apart and disposed in the toilet however we all know better than to trust these types of claims. The insert is large and bulky, much larger than anything I’ve ever flushed down the toilet. I wouldn’t flush unless you have a truly amazing septic system (which most of us can not admit to).
I have not yet seen the cloth inserts or talked to anyone who has used them so I can’t yet speak to their function.
Some brands that offer a hybrid diaper are GroVia, Flip, GDiapers.
Pros: Convenient for travel, can be less expensive than other cloth options (when using cloth inserts), safer disposable option than a fully disposable diaper.
Cons: Hard to get a perfect fit, expensive if using only disposable inserts.
Types of Covers:
Plastic: These are the cheapest option and what our parents would have used. They do not give a great fit and are susceptible to leaks. They will wear quickly in the wash and will need to be replaced often.
Brands include: Gerber.
PUL: PUL is a polyurethane lamination either placed between layers of breathable cloth material or left exposed. PUL covers offer good breathability and are easy to wash (although many brands recommend drying on a line rather than in the dryer because the PUL will deteriorate with exposure to high heat). Often you can wipe the interior clean between changes and use the cover several times in a day. These covers offer a good fit and often come in one-size options.
Brands include: Thirsties, Prorap, Bummis, Kissaluvs, Flip, GroVia, ImseVimse.
Fleece: We loved covers for our daughter. They are water resistant rather than waterproof and so they allow for more air movement (great for a baby who has especially sensitive skin). Some people do not like fleece because it can sometimes feel damp to the touch when the diaper is wet. They are easy to wash, but not as durable as PUL or wool.
Brands include: Bummis, Stacinator, Swaddlebees, Organic Caboose.
Wool: Wool covers offer great breathability and a natural material next to baby’s bottom. Many people swear by wool saying that these covers are the best at containing messes. Wool, however, requires special care when cleaning including special soaps and routine lanolizing. Brands include: ImseVimse, Little Beetle, Kissaluvs, Organic Caboose.
Snaps vs. Applix
Many ask: what’s better snaps or applix? The differences are pretty simple, but it all comes down to personal preference.
Applix
Pros: Easy to use, easy to adjust to baby’s size.
Cons: Tabs must be closed prior to wash, sometimes they can get stuck to other items in the wash causing applix to loose stickiness over time, applix can curl over time, as baby gets older they can learn how to unfasten diapers themselves.
Snaps:
Pros: Durable, no special treatment prior to washing, they are more difficult for children to unfasten themselves.
Cons: Some people say snaps can be difficult to fasten, less adjustment is possible based on snap placement.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Washing Cloth Diapers
Washing Diapers...
This is maybe the most confusing and complicated part about using cloth diapers, but it certainly doesn’t need to be. Let me help take the confusion out of cloth diaper wash.
I’ll need to preface: every child is different and every diaper is different. This is the system that worked best for us and I have heard of others also having success with this method.
1.When diaper is soiled place it in a wet bag.
2.When the wet bag is full, you are close to out of diapers or the bag is getting stinky (we did laundry every other day) it’s time to wash.
3.Empty the wet bag into the washing machine by turning it inside out. This allows you to get everything out of the bag without touching anything. Place the wet bag in the wash with the diapers.
4.Wash with hot water and an extra rinse. Spin on a high setting if possible.
5.Air dry on a rack or tumble dry on low.
When shopping for a detergent you should look for something that does not contain perfumes, fabric softeners, chlorine bleaches, dies or oils. This can be quite a task. Here is a website that has a nice detergent chart: http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html
In our house we use Country Save laundry detergent. I highly recommend it. It is a reasonable price, available from Amazon.com and great for all laundry (not just diapers).
I have to say that although some people have had success with Charlie’s Soap, we found that it left our daughter with a nasty rash.
I do not use bleach. I don’t really have a good reason, other than I haven’t needed it. However, BumGenius recommends occasionally using bleach with their diapers. I have heard people complain about their BumGenius diapers getting stinky and the bleach takes care of the smell. We only used BumGenius for a short time because of fit issues so I can’t attest to the stink phenomenon.
A good bleach alternative (and general good thing to have in the home) is Grapefruit Seed Extract. This has natural antibacterial qualities. I add 8-10 drops of this to every diaper load.
Also, I’ve found that sometimes diapers need to be “stripped”. They naturally will acquire a certain amount of buildup and will become stinky. I stripped my diapers about once a week by adding ½ tablespoon of plain blue Dawn dish detergent to the wash.
Some people first do a cold rinse on their diapers. This is not necessary, but will help remove stains before they set in.
This is maybe the most confusing and complicated part about using cloth diapers, but it certainly doesn’t need to be. Let me help take the confusion out of cloth diaper wash.
I’ll need to preface: every child is different and every diaper is different. This is the system that worked best for us and I have heard of others also having success with this method.
1.When diaper is soiled place it in a wet bag.
2.When the wet bag is full, you are close to out of diapers or the bag is getting stinky (we did laundry every other day) it’s time to wash.
3.Empty the wet bag into the washing machine by turning it inside out. This allows you to get everything out of the bag without touching anything. Place the wet bag in the wash with the diapers.
4.Wash with hot water and an extra rinse. Spin on a high setting if possible.
5.Air dry on a rack or tumble dry on low.
When shopping for a detergent you should look for something that does not contain perfumes, fabric softeners, chlorine bleaches, dies or oils. This can be quite a task. Here is a website that has a nice detergent chart: http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html
In our house we use Country Save laundry detergent. I highly recommend it. It is a reasonable price, available from Amazon.com and great for all laundry (not just diapers).
I have to say that although some people have had success with Charlie’s Soap, we found that it left our daughter with a nasty rash.
I do not use bleach. I don’t really have a good reason, other than I haven’t needed it. However, BumGenius recommends occasionally using bleach with their diapers. I have heard people complain about their BumGenius diapers getting stinky and the bleach takes care of the smell. We only used BumGenius for a short time because of fit issues so I can’t attest to the stink phenomenon.
A good bleach alternative (and general good thing to have in the home) is Grapefruit Seed Extract. This has natural antibacterial qualities. I add 8-10 drops of this to every diaper load.
Also, I’ve found that sometimes diapers need to be “stripped”. They naturally will acquire a certain amount of buildup and will become stinky. I stripped my diapers about once a week by adding ½ tablespoon of plain blue Dawn dish detergent to the wash.
Some people first do a cold rinse on their diapers. This is not necessary, but will help remove stains before they set in.
Reasons to Swith to Cloth: Reason #3- Health Concerns
Reason #3: Health Concerns
My mom used disposable diapers on me, I used disposable diapers on my daughter for the first 18 months of her life and we all lived. So what's so unhealthy about a disposable diaper?
Well, 3 things are unhealthy. To be specific: Dioxin, Tributyl-tin (TBT), and sodium polyacrylate. To some these names may sound familiar- I did not know what any of these items were nor how they could possibly harm my baby. Let me explain.
Let's start with Dioxin. Dioxin is a byproduct of the bleaching process. Ever wonder how those disposables get so white? Bleach. Disposable diapers which have been bleached inevitably contain traces of dioxin. I am not aware of any specific studies of how much dioxin remains in a disposable diaper. It is clear, however, how dangerous it is. The EPA has characterized Dioxins "as likely human carcinogens and are anticipated to increase the risk of cancer at background levels of exposure." Pretty scary if you ask me.
How about Tributyl-tin (TBT)? I am not sure how TBT got in disposable diapers, however in a study Greenpeace did in 2000 the biocide tributyltin was detected in eight brands of disposable diapers. It is known that TBT can be absorbed through the skin and lead to immune system damage and disrupted hormone function, however the problem is not being addressed. Diaper manufacturers are not routinely testing there products for this substance.
Sodium polyacrylate is a super-absorbent polymer. It comes in the form of crystals. These crystals can absorb up to eight hundred times their weight in water (though the chemistry of urine reduces this considerably), turning into gel when wet. I remember many days when I went to change a dirty diaper and my daughter would have these gelly crystals all over her bum. "Yuck!" I'd exclaim and then wipe them off and move on with my day. What I didn't know was these same super absorbent polymers were once used in tampons until it was linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). The argument for not taking them out of diapers was that they do not go into the baby's body. But if you've ever experienced a faulty diaper getting the gel all over your baby I'm sure you'd be equally concerned.
In addition to the "big three" researchers are now linking disposable diaper use to male infertility. I'm not going to get into the details of this one, but you can read for yourself: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/HealthConcerns.php
Realizing the dangers of disposable diapers is a step in the right direction. I'm sure the owners of big brands like Pampers and Huggies want us to think that they care about our children- but I'd like to see them doing more testing to prove it.
My mom used disposable diapers on me, I used disposable diapers on my daughter for the first 18 months of her life and we all lived. So what's so unhealthy about a disposable diaper?
Well, 3 things are unhealthy. To be specific: Dioxin, Tributyl-tin (TBT), and sodium polyacrylate. To some these names may sound familiar- I did not know what any of these items were nor how they could possibly harm my baby. Let me explain.
Let's start with Dioxin. Dioxin is a byproduct of the bleaching process. Ever wonder how those disposables get so white? Bleach. Disposable diapers which have been bleached inevitably contain traces of dioxin. I am not aware of any specific studies of how much dioxin remains in a disposable diaper. It is clear, however, how dangerous it is. The EPA has characterized Dioxins "as likely human carcinogens and are anticipated to increase the risk of cancer at background levels of exposure." Pretty scary if you ask me.
How about Tributyl-tin (TBT)? I am not sure how TBT got in disposable diapers, however in a study Greenpeace did in 2000 the biocide tributyltin was detected in eight brands of disposable diapers. It is known that TBT can be absorbed through the skin and lead to immune system damage and disrupted hormone function, however the problem is not being addressed. Diaper manufacturers are not routinely testing there products for this substance.
Sodium polyacrylate is a super-absorbent polymer. It comes in the form of crystals. These crystals can absorb up to eight hundred times their weight in water (though the chemistry of urine reduces this considerably), turning into gel when wet. I remember many days when I went to change a dirty diaper and my daughter would have these gelly crystals all over her bum. "Yuck!" I'd exclaim and then wipe them off and move on with my day. What I didn't know was these same super absorbent polymers were once used in tampons until it was linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). The argument for not taking them out of diapers was that they do not go into the baby's body. But if you've ever experienced a faulty diaper getting the gel all over your baby I'm sure you'd be equally concerned.
In addition to the "big three" researchers are now linking disposable diaper use to male infertility. I'm not going to get into the details of this one, but you can read for yourself: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/HealthConcerns.php
Realizing the dangers of disposable diapers is a step in the right direction. I'm sure the owners of big brands like Pampers and Huggies want us to think that they care about our children- but I'd like to see them doing more testing to prove it.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Reasons to Switch to Cloth: Reason #2- Cost
Reason #2: Cost
Who wouldn’t want to save a few bucks? Well in this several hundred dollars?
If you compare the cost of disposables with the cost of cloth the winner is obvious. Let me outline the cost savings for several different cloth diapering systems, starting with the cost for disposables.
Disposable diaper costs:
(I am using average costs found on the diapers.com website for Huggies diapers, if you were to buy store brand diapers the cost may be slightly less).
Newborn 0-6 Months, 10 diapers per day, $.20 per diaper = $364
Infant 6 Months-18 Months, 8 diapers per day, $.25 per diaper = $728
Toddler 18 Months-2 Years Old, 6 diapers per day, $.30 per diaper = $328
Potty Training, 2 Years Old-3 Years Old, 4 diapers per day, $.50 per diaper = $728
Cloth Diaper Costs:
Please note that it is rare to rely on one cloth diapering system for the entirety of baby’s life in diapers. Different systems work better at different times.
(These estimates are based on doing laundry every other day).
System #1: simplest system- Prefolds and Covers
There is a relatively new product on the market from the makers of BumGenius called Econobum. It is a one size prefold and cover.
(2) sets of 3 one size diaper covers with 12 one-size prefold diapers = $50 per set.
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $100
System #2: One-Size Pocket Diapers
(2) sets of 12 BumGenius One-Size pocket diapers = $204 per set
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $408
System #3: Sized Pocket Diapers
24 Fuzzi Bunz, Size Small = $396
24 Fuzzi Bunz, Size Medium = $396
24 Fuzzi Bunz, Size Large = $396
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $1188
System #4: Fitted Diaper with Cover
24 Kiwi Pie One-Size Fitted Diapers = $600
24 Newborn Kissaluvs Fitted Diapers = $288
6 Wonderwraps One-Size Diaper Covers = $90
6 Thirsties Size Small Diaper Covers = $72
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $1050
System #5: My Choice
12 Newborn Swaddlebees Fitted Diapers = $144
10 One-Size Kiwi Pie Fitted Diapers = $250
4 Wonderwraps One-Size Diaper Covers = $60
4 Thirsties Diaper Covers, Size Small = $48
8 Swaddlebees Size Medium Side Snap Velour Diaper = $176
12 Swaddlebees Size Large Side Snap Velour Diapers = $264
10 Tiny Tush Elite Side Snap, Size Small = $110
(10) Hemp Doublers = $40
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $1052
Accessories to add to the cost of cloth diapering:
Large Wetbag = $20
Small Wetbag = $15
After adding accessories to the most expensive cloth diapering system you would still be saving $925.
You may also want to figure in the costs of water use (the extra load of laundry every other day will probably make a difference in your water bill) as well as the cost of laundry detergent.
Because I pay to bring my trash to the dump and disposable diapers would greatly increase both the quantity of trash and the frequency in which I’d need to go to the dump- I think this equals out the extra laundry detergent and water usage.
I hope that these basic figures will help you see that cloth really is a huge cost savings over disposables. Also take into account that diapers can be used with second and even sometimes third children- or sold used if they are in fairly good condition. I bought my BumGenius diapers for $16 each and sold them used for $10 each on Craigslist.
From a financial standpoint cloth is by far a more solid investment!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Reasons to Switch to Cloth: Reason #1, The Environment, Part Two
The Environment, Part Two:
In my last post I talked about the effect disposable diapers have on the landfill. Today I'd like to discuss other environmental factors (some more health and economy concerns) related to the use of disposable diapers.
Lets talk about poo. Did you know that the instructions on a disposable diaper package advise that fecal matter is disposed of in the toilet before depositing the diaper in the trash? I didn't know this until someone pointed it out to me. I don't know a single person who does this. Let's talk about why this is advised.
Putting poo in the lanfdill is both a health and environmental hazard. "Leachate containing viruses from human feces (including live vaccines from routine childhood immunizations) can leak into the Earth and pollute underground water supplies. In addition to the potential of groundwater contamination, air-borne viruses carried by flies and other insects contribute to an unhealthy and unsanitary situation. These viruses could include Hepatitis A, Norwalk and Rota Virus (for source see #2 below)." We should NOT be intermingling raw sewage with solid waste.
Did you know that by buying disposable diapers you are increasing our reliance on oil (a non-renewable resourse)? Sounds funny, how could using a disposable diaper have any effect on my use of oil?
Well, disposable diapers are made with a waterproof polyethylene outer layer and water-repellent liner...in simple terms this is plastic. It is estimated that it takes 1/3 cup of crude oil to produce the plastic for 1 disposable diaper! This means that if you use diposables until your child is 3 (average 60 diapers per week) you will be using 3,120 cups of crude oil (in the form of disposable diapers) per child. In a broader sense, as a population we use 3.4 BILLION GALLONS of crude oil per year just to manufacture disposable diapers.
Why is it that we care about reducing our use of plastic at the grocery store (something we do about once a week) but give little or no thought when we change our baby's diaper (about six times a day!)?
Next time you empty your Diaper Genie, please consider how that diaper sausage that you are bringing out to the trash will effect the general health and well being of our world.
More soon...
Sources:
#1 GDiapers website http://www.gdiapers.com/happy-planet/great-debate/disposable-diapers
#2 http://libaware.economads.com/ddiapermyth.php
In my last post I talked about the effect disposable diapers have on the landfill. Today I'd like to discuss other environmental factors (some more health and economy concerns) related to the use of disposable diapers.
Lets talk about poo. Did you know that the instructions on a disposable diaper package advise that fecal matter is disposed of in the toilet before depositing the diaper in the trash? I didn't know this until someone pointed it out to me. I don't know a single person who does this. Let's talk about why this is advised.
Putting poo in the lanfdill is both a health and environmental hazard. "Leachate containing viruses from human feces (including live vaccines from routine childhood immunizations) can leak into the Earth and pollute underground water supplies. In addition to the potential of groundwater contamination, air-borne viruses carried by flies and other insects contribute to an unhealthy and unsanitary situation. These viruses could include Hepatitis A, Norwalk and Rota Virus (for source see #2 below)." We should NOT be intermingling raw sewage with solid waste.
Did you know that by buying disposable diapers you are increasing our reliance on oil (a non-renewable resourse)? Sounds funny, how could using a disposable diaper have any effect on my use of oil?
Well, disposable diapers are made with a waterproof polyethylene outer layer and water-repellent liner...in simple terms this is plastic. It is estimated that it takes 1/3 cup of crude oil to produce the plastic for 1 disposable diaper! This means that if you use diposables until your child is 3 (average 60 diapers per week) you will be using 3,120 cups of crude oil (in the form of disposable diapers) per child. In a broader sense, as a population we use 3.4 BILLION GALLONS of crude oil per year just to manufacture disposable diapers.
Why is it that we care about reducing our use of plastic at the grocery store (something we do about once a week) but give little or no thought when we change our baby's diaper (about six times a day!)?
Next time you empty your Diaper Genie, please consider how that diaper sausage that you are bringing out to the trash will effect the general health and well being of our world.
More soon...
Sources:
#1 GDiapers website http://www.gdiapers.com/happy-planet/great-debate/disposable-diapers
#2 http://libaware.economads.com/ddiapermyth.php
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Reasons to Switch to Cloth: Reason #1 The Environment, Part one.
The Environment, Part One:
You must excuse me, I have to preface this post by saying that the older we get the more my husband and I embrace our "hippyness". You may not share our passion for a clean, green earth- but please read on despite our differences : )
Let's talk trash.
The first itch I had to try cloth was back in the summer of 2009. My husband is in charge of trash duty so I rarely even looked at our trash bin, except to tell his how stinky it was. As I was outside more and more that summer I began to peek into the can (to throw out trash from my car, deposit litter from the street, etc..). What I witnessed was incredible. More than half of our large outdoor trash can was filled with diapers! I'm sure if you've ever had an infant you may have noticed the same thing. Our trash output more than doubled after having a child and what was doubling was the diapers!
OK, so diapers double your household trash output, what's the big deal? I'll contribute my 3+ years of diapers to the landfill and then it'll be over with. Well, IF your child is potty trained by 3 (which in disposables is no easy feat) this means you will use approximitely 9,360 diapers (average 60 diapers per week). Experts estimate that this comes out to be over 3 tons of diaper garbage per child.
To make things worse- did you know that we still do not know how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose? Most estimate between 200 and 500 years. Truth is, we can't say for sure because we have not seen proof that even the earliest diapers (invented over 50 years ago) have decomposed yet.
Please take a long careful look at what kind of legacy you are leaving behind for your children, your children's children, your children's children's children, etc...
You must excuse me, I have to preface this post by saying that the older we get the more my husband and I embrace our "hippyness". You may not share our passion for a clean, green earth- but please read on despite our differences : )
Let's talk trash.
The first itch I had to try cloth was back in the summer of 2009. My husband is in charge of trash duty so I rarely even looked at our trash bin, except to tell his how stinky it was. As I was outside more and more that summer I began to peek into the can (to throw out trash from my car, deposit litter from the street, etc..). What I witnessed was incredible. More than half of our large outdoor trash can was filled with diapers! I'm sure if you've ever had an infant you may have noticed the same thing. Our trash output more than doubled after having a child and what was doubling was the diapers!
OK, so diapers double your household trash output, what's the big deal? I'll contribute my 3+ years of diapers to the landfill and then it'll be over with. Well, IF your child is potty trained by 3 (which in disposables is no easy feat) this means you will use approximitely 9,360 diapers (average 60 diapers per week). Experts estimate that this comes out to be over 3 tons of diaper garbage per child.
To make things worse- did you know that we still do not know how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose? Most estimate between 200 and 500 years. Truth is, we can't say for sure because we have not seen proof that even the earliest diapers (invented over 50 years ago) have decomposed yet.
Please take a long careful look at what kind of legacy you are leaving behind for your children, your children's children, your children's children's children, etc...
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