The advantages of using disposable diapers are convenient, no need to wash, and may even be cheaper than re-usable cotton diapers. However, most people may not know that the nasty chemicals used in the manufacture of disposable diapers can leach into your baby's skin, causing skin rashes or even infection. The heat in disposable diapers can raise the temperature around the genital area to an ideal level suitable for a breeding ground for infection.
Disposal diapers unfriendly to environments
It is estimated that each year, the U.S. consumes about 40 billion of disposable diapers which resulted in hundreds of tonnes of rubbish, over 90% of them end up in a landfill. Tens of millions of dollars are spent on collection and disposal of the rubbish a year.
Several millions of trees are cut down to just to make diapers each year. Up to 20 trees and about 420 gallons of petroleum are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby each year.
Disposable diapers are estimated to take hundreds of years to decompose, so it will likely cause problem to our next generations.
Recycling disposable diapers has been found to be economically not viable.
Organic disposable diapers?
When I tried to look for information on organic disposable diapers, I could not find any, not at least on the internet. I guess that they are not widely available or well supported by the organic community. I am not surprised because even though organic disposable diapers have the same benefits as other organic products and they are biodegradable, they will still result in tonnes of rubbish since they are made for single use. And of course, the second reason is probably the higher price due to the cost of organic raw materials.
Benefits of cotton diapers
Therefore the best alternative is to use reusable unbleached organic cotton or cotton-and-wool diapers. There are many benefits:
- Organic baby diapers made from organic cotton are the most absorbent diapers because the dense loops create more surface area for contact and absorbing moisture.
- The conventional cultivation of fibres, including cotton consumes huge numbers of agro-chemicals. On the other hand, the raw materials of organic cotton clothing are grown without harmful pesticides or insecticides, and the diaper clothes are not chemically treated and do not receive chemical textile finishes.
- Using organic cotton diapers ensures that you are protecting your baby from chlorine bleach, glues, plastics, formaldehyde, dyes, artificial perfumes, chemical lotions, and other toxins that are widely found in both plastic and paper disposable diapers.
- Cotton diapers are expected to last between 50 to 200 times of usage before being turned into rags.
- Organic cotton cloth diapers will definitely helps to relieve pressure on our fast disappearing forests and our planet's fossil fuel limited supply.
Using re-usable unbleached pure cotton or cotton-and wool organic diapers may be expensive in terms of outlay, but knowing that it helps to reduce the considerable risks both to your baby and to the environment, is worth the extra price difference.
Before I stop here today, would like to share with you some interesting tips on baby diapers:
- Some babies have diaper rash, it could be because their skins come in contact with chemically treated fiber or plastic disposal diapers. It will be good to give organic diaper a try to see whether the condition improves.
- Avoid using petroleum-based cleaners (for example silicon-based softeners) helps to prevent waxy build-up that can prevent your baby clothes or diapers from absorbing moisture as much as they use to be.
- To keep your cloth diapers soft without adding chemical softeners, you can place in your dryer a gym sock tucked with a hockey puck or rubber ring. It "stirs" the diapers around as they dry as to prevent them from becoming stiff. When you remove diapers from the dryer, shake them to loosen and soften the fibers. This will fluff up the diapers and make them more absorbent.
Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness
