Diapers Q&A
Nappies (diapers) disposable vs cloth?
No doubt this has been asked before but we are using cloth nappies. Is it true 'environmentally' there's not a huge difference? And more of a difference cost wise? (we're in Australia) has any one worked out what one would save using cloth? Thank you
Public Comments
- There is a huge difference. We have huge landfills filled with diapers. You are saving the world of thousands of diapers that need to be crushed and put in landfills every year. Not only that but all the chemicals needed to produce these diapers are being put on our baby's delicate bums. With cloth diapers it is like putting on a very thick pair of underwear on. Who doesn't like cotton underwear. As for cost I figured it to be a very big savings on my part by buying cloth diapers. It cost me $200 to get all the diapers I need for one child. Before when I was using disposables I used to spend $45.00 a month on diapers. That is $1620 a year. Children are usually in diapers for three years. So for three years you will have spent $4860.00. That is a saving of $4660.00. And if you have more children the savings are even higher. You use baking soda or vinegar which I am sure you already have in the house and regular detergent to wash the diapers so the only thing you are spending is your time to wash and drag up the stairs. Thumbs up for using cloth diapers
- I love this question and I agree with the first response. I am totally for saving the environment. But I am wondering, b/c I too was thinking of using cloth, do people who use cloth diapers usually wash by hand??? b/c if you use the washing machine every night or two nights to wash them how much are you really saving? I am still considering using organic cloth...
- I initially decided to use cloth diapers at least part time with my daughter, but was discouraged by the fact that a diaper service wasn't available and the fact that i don't have hot water to my washer. I am reconsidering this now as I can have hot water run to the machine. I will probably continue using disposables for outings, but I think that even using cloth part time is huge step towards helping out the landfill problems. Besides, who doesn't like to save money!
- i care for the environment and everything but my daughter gets rashes very easily and cloth diapers do not pull liquid away from the body like disposables do, plus when you are on the go or in a hurry cloth diapers can end up being SUCH a pain in the butt. There actually is a huge difference, disposable diapers are not that good for the environment. But here in my city and state in the USA our water company has a "set" fee for our water bill each month and if we go over that then they tack on a lot of money. So doing all those diapers each and every single day would be a waste of electricity and water, electricity apparently contributes to global warming so I am doing my part by buying disposable ones, and by having only one child. also i buy about $100 a month for diapers and I use generic. So, thats about $1200 a year at least, and if they get potty trained at age two then thats about $2400 you are saving if you go with Cloth, but with the detergent and water and electricity you are using just to clean those diapers, you are prolly only saving about $1000 total.
