Organic Diapers-Part 1

With society's current focus on eco-friendly products and practices, organic diapers are enjoying a surge in attention. Made of cloth, typically an organic natural fiber such as cotton or wool, organic baby diapers are meant to be washed then reused.

In contrast, disposable diapers, which are extremely popular, are single-use products that boast convenience as their primary benefit.

Babies Wear Lots of Diapers!

Did you know that the average human baby will wear about 6000 diapers before being potty trained?

God-bless parents. That's a lot of diapers to change!

Still, parents may not be working as hard as the earth is when it comes to disposables. According to some reports, disposable diapers may take 200-500 years to decompose.

So that diaper that just went into the diaper genie will be here long after you and your children are gone. It's amazing that something so small could impact the planet for so long!

But many parents, even those who are organically-focused, many find the convenience of disposables hard to give up. In fact, the diaper debate can get a bit confusing. Proponents of disposable diapers argue that cloth diapers require time, water, electricity, and gasoline for delivery and washing.

However, it is important to remember that if your the production process for organic cloth diapers is much friendlier on the earth than the process for disposables. Washing cloth diapers does take electricity and water but if you incorporate them into your laundry routine and limit a lot of extra loads, the additional impact can be decreased.

Cloth diapers now come in many varieties. Click here to to find out more about the different types of cloth diapering options available.

What are the Benefits of Organic Diapers?

Free of Chemicals

Organic cotton diapers avoid the use of chemicals and therefore are much better for your baby's skin at a time when your baby's skin is very fragile.

In contrast, disposable diapers utilize a number of chemicals, which are either for aesthetics or absorbing power. One example is sodium polyacrylate which is used in diapers to make them absorbent. Sodium polyacrylate can absorb as much as 400 to 800 times its mass in water which makes it one of the most important parts of a disposable diaper.

However, sodium polyacrylate has been found to cause allergies in babies among other problems. Disposable diapers may also contain trace amounts of dioxin which is a by-product of the bleached paper used.

The EPA has characterized dioxin as a known human carcinogen and therefore indicated that it can increase the risk of cancer. According to surveys conducted by the scientists, it was found that 54% of babies who've used disposable diapers have had skin rashes [1].

Have a Favorite Organic or Natural Cloth Diaper?

Finding the right diaper for you baby can sometimes be trial and error. If you've found a great alternative to disposable diapers, let us know!

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