Organic DiapersWith 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. 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 ChemicalsOrganic 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].
Good for Baby's SkinSince your baby's skin is fragile. It requires sufficient access to air so that it remains supple and grows properly. Organic diapers, which are typically made of a highly absorbent material such as organic cotton and allow air to circulate on your baby's skin. The use of disposable diapers generally restricts the amount of air that the baby's skin receives which can cause skin rashes.A Good Economic ChoiceMany people have been led to believe that organic diapers are more expensive than disposables; however, that's not necessarily the case. Although, the initial purchase price of organic diapers is higher compared to disposable diapers, organic diapers become a smart economic decision over their useful life.In fact , it is estimated that the average family spends $1500-2200 on disposable diapers by the time a baby is 2 ½ years old as compared to $300-800 when using organic cotton diapers. So in the long run, it can be quite cost-efficient to use cloth diapers.
Better for the EnvironmentOrganic diapers are typically produced in a way so as to limit environmental impact. In addition, they are completely reusable so they reduce waste. In contrast, disposable diapers are generally not recyclable. They utilize materials such as paper (which in turn is obtained from trees) and plastic (which is non-biodegradable). In the 1990s, it was estimated that more than 18 million disposable baby diapers were disposed in the USA alone [2]. This is a huge stress for mother earth to handle. In addition to containing pollutants, disposables cannot be degraded (even biodegradable disposable diapers have 30% plastic which makes them therefore, not entirely biodegradable. Even knowing the benefits, some people still find cloth diapers intimidating. The good news is that today's organic cloth diapers are not the same as those in years past. There have been innovations to make them easier to use and more convenient for today's times. The bottom line is that using organic diapers is a personal choice. If you find the idea of going to all cloth diapers intimidating for your busy lifestyle, consider a compromise. Some people use cloth diapers while at home and disposables for when they are on the go. Experiment to see what works best for your family. References 1. J. Tanino et al., "The Relationship of Perianal Dermatitis to Fecal pH," J Pediatr 54 (1959): 793-800 2. The Landbank Consultancy Limited, "A Review of Procter & Gamble's Environmental Balances for Disposable and Re-usable Nappies" (18 July 1991). Other Articles You Might Be Interested InReusable DiapersFind out more about the different types of cloth diapers. Homemade Baby Wipes Save money and protect your baby's skin by making your own homemade baby wipes. It's quick and easy. From Organic Diapers to Home Page
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