When you cloth diaper your baby you get a lot of questions. Of course, people have heard the horror stories from their grandmothers, or possibly their mothers, about cloth diapers. They always want to know WHY I would choose cloth diapers when the alternative, disposable diapers, are readily available.
That question is a simple one to answer actually. It can be answered with a question of my own. “Would YOU like to wear paper or plastic underwear?”
Because folks, that’s the bottom line. Cloth diapers are primarily made up of three ingredients; paper, plastic and sodium polyacrylate (the chemical that causes disposable diapers to be absorbent). You know what else uses these same three materials? Women’s sanitary pads.
That’s right.
Disposable diapers are made of the same ingredients - in fact, not just the same ingredients, but also put together in the same way. The same absorbent center panel, the same waterproof plastic exterior, and finally, the same wrap around tabs to secure it. The only difference? You secure one to panties and you secure the other to a baby.
Now, imagine wearing a giant sanitary pad wrapped around your waist and covering your body from your back waistline, through your legs, and to your front waistline. And that is a disposable diaper. Would you want to wear an adult size sanitary pad wrapped around your body 24 hours a day?
I wouldn’t either.
I am glad that cloth diapers are the environmentally sustainable way to take care of my child’s waste. I’m also glad that by using cloth diapers I saved a significant amount of money. I’m certainly glad that it is healthier for my child too. But even if it didn’t have any health or environmental benefits over disposables and wasn’t less costly, I’d still choose cloth diapers.
I believe in giving my children the same comforts that I give myself. If I’m going to purchase soft, 100% cotton underwear for myself, I’m certainly not going to wrap my child in paper and plastic.
Cloth diapers are made out of a variety of naturally absorbent fabrics; 100% cotton twill, absorbent hemp fleece, certified organic cotton, the soft plush of cotton fleece and sherpa, knit terry, and other custom milled blends.
Don’t diaper your baby in paper and plastic. Consider Cloth diapering your baby.