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Disposable vs cloth diapers


PrairieMom wrote: I am still trying to figure out of I wan't to switch to cloth diapers, so I have been digging around the net a bit and came across this site.

http://www.ilea.org/lcas/franklin1992.html

it says that using disposables uses 29% less energy, than home laundered cloth diapers, due to washing, It also says that home laundering causes more atmospheric damage due to laundering.

I was mainly thinking of my effect on our land fill, but I never thought about the other stuff! ohmy.gif

stella6979 replied: I've never even considered cloth diapers. I would be lost without the disposables. biggrin.gif

lovemy2 replied: You are a better woman than I to even CONSIDER cloth diapers:)

lisar replied:
I agree. I just dont think I wanna clean the poppy ones. KWIM? I dont down people who do though I know people who use them and love them.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I'm on the disposable side. I don't want to clean the cloth ones (call me lazy, oh well) and plus I can't help but think of the many germs that are present in stools and urine. I'd rather just put them in the trash, but that's just me. Interesting link! smile.gif

luvbug00 replied: Wow i didn't think about that Tara. Good research. umm yeah so back to luvs it is..

PrairieMom replied:
I guess it just depends on which way you want to destroy the environment. looks like you loose either way. dry.gif I'm thinking I am going to stick with sposies too. Since Al is already nearly 1, we are through the worst part as far as diapering goes, so I don't think it is worth the $ investment for us, but I may think about it when, (if ) i have another baby.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I always thought that was a funny unmentioned part of the arguement for cloth diapers-the additional water and electric used to clean them-you really couldn't wash them with other clothes and I would HAVE to wash them in hot so more electrity and soap runoff in the ground water possibly leaking into nearby creeks and streams- wreaking havoc on the fish and wildlife blahblah.gif laugh.gif It would just be so much easier if none of us pooped ever again! rolling_smile.gif emlaugh.gif blink.gif rolling_smile.gif emlaugh.gif

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I just dont believe that. Like I said before I was in no way using cloth because of teh enviroment so I dont care in that way. buutttttt I run and extra 2 loads of wash a week and dont use the drier...or if I do I throw them in with other clothes. Also If I have been lucky enough to only have him poop in disposables I will wash with other clothes.
how do we factor in things like the production of rash cream and disposal of the tubes. and the cardboard and plastic that disposables are packaged in. You could always pull the drain hose for your washing machine and use it to water your lawn soap is great for the grass and poop remnants could be used as fertalizer laugh.gif

Cece00 replied: I've never considered cloth, but I too wondered about that, because I figured even though there would be less diapers in landfills, you would use more water and more detergent and probably more drying time, so that's more electricity. Especially if you are really anal about your laundry (like I am) and then if you have a lot of kids back to back...I think what you conserve from the trash is just being used in other ways (water, etc). So really, I think there is very very little difference. That, coupled with me not wanting to have to wash out a crappy diaper and wash those & etc etc etc- I never considered cloth. I think they are cute, but just too much work for me.

3_call_me_mama replied:
My thoughts exactly. Well not the lawn fertilizer part. (Also for babies who are solely breast fed.. the breast milk poo is totally water soluable. it disolves. seriously/.
Even if you factor in the cost of water (ew have a spring fed well, and line dry whenever possible) and electricity is is no where near teh expense and damage done by disposables. AND as I mentioned before you aren't supposed ot throw the poop in teh trash. if you read teh label of teh diaper box it says to dump the waste int teh toilet and flush. Same things as cloth. It really grosses me out to think of all the feces that disposable diapers put into the ground.
I'm not tryign to debate but it really irks me that one negative review makes everyone not bother with the positive reveiws and decide that throwing everything away is better. The point being that you dont' have to use a ton of energy or electricity to wash/clean them. But I've already said that.. I'll stop my rant now. Sorry.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I don't know....I really just skimmed the article but it seemed to me that it was basically just saying cloth diapers used more energy. The waste generated was still nearly double for disposable diapers. I guess it all depends on whether you are more concerned about energy usage or garbage.

PrairieMom replied:
exactly. You loose either way. Here we do not have spring water, so water usage would be a factor for me. plus, we are not able to line dry all the time, although I am starting this summer. wink.gif Cost is a huge factor for me too. Since Alexis is already nearly a year old it just doesn't make sense to invest in cloth right now. BUT if i have a # 3 I will seriously think about it again.

I posted the article because I was only thinking of my effect of the land fill using disposables. It never even occurred to me that there could be effects from water usage, and on the atmosphere as well. I found it interesting.

MommytoTommy replied: wow i never really considered cloth diapers! i love my disposables. so much more convenient and u dont have to wash them which would gross me out. plus, i used to babysit for a kid that used the cloth ones and id always prick him with the pins! i felt so bad. and theyd never have gloves for my hands and the diapers always got ALL wet when he peed and yeah. so i dont really care for them, but that was a really interesting article!


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