The Truth About Disposable Diapers
Cloth diapers have a greater advantage by being reusable. They may be better known as reusable diapers, but that is not as appealing as the term cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are softer your babys skin. Because they can be used over and over, cloth diapers can last much longer, cost far less, and do not contribute to landfills.
Another advantage is that cloth diapers do not contain chemicals that some disposable diapers contain. Disposable diapers have been reported to contain some amount of Dioxin. This substance is a highly toxic paper-bleaching by-product. It is carcinogenic, and has been listed by EPA as amongst the most toxic with regards to cancer-oriented chemicals. This material has been banned in majority of countries. However, its still prevalent in the United States. Another toxin contained in disposable diapers is TBT (Tributyl-tin). Its just one of the toxic pollutants that has been known to cause hormonal problems in some animals and humans.
Sodium polyacrylate is another potentially harmful chemical used in disposable diapers. It changes into a gel-like substance when it gets wet. A similar substance was used in certain feminine tampons until it was discovered to cause toxic shock syndrome in certain situations. A health survey has discovered that using disposable diapers could harm the testicular cooling mechanism in males.
Lets assume that a baby needs between 2000 and 3000 diapers per year. The price of disposable diapers is around 25 cents and brand names are around 38 cents. The average comes to around 32 cents. Thus, the monthly cost per child in terms of disposable diapers could be around 78.00 every month.
Cloth diapers cost more, but you will save a lot more in the long run. If you were to take the average of 32 cents per diaper and multiply that by 100, you could save yourself 32.00 for each cloth diaper you use instead of disposable. Caring for cloth diapers is just like taking care of your own clothes. By washing them regularly, they should last a long enough for several children to use them. Just use soft detergents that won’t irritate your babys skin.
Trying both types of diapers to see which one works best for you and your baby is probably a good idea. You can also ask your friends and family what they preferred when bringing up their own children. In the end, it comes down to your choice and your baby’s.
