Diaper Dilemma: What’s a Green Mom To Do?

Since Proctor & Gamble first introduced the Pampers disposable diapers to the marketplace in 1961 the debate has raged over which diapering choice is the most earth-friendly. While cloth diapers can be reused, they require hot water and electricity to wash. Disposable diapers are not recyclable and can sit in landfills for years. And yet, when babies go, it’s got to go somewhere, right?

Most environmentalists agree that cloth diapers are the most earth-friendly choice. Conventional disposable diapers contain fabric that has been bleached with chlorine, a process which creates substances, including dioxin, a carcinogen. Many studies have linked dioxin to birth defects and reproductive disorders. Additionally conventional diapers contain fragrances that can contain any number of chemicals including the hormone-disrupting phthalates.

While cloth diapers do require more electricity and water to launder, a 1991 study by an independent environmental agency found that disposable diapers use 20 times more raw materials, 3 times as much energy and 2 times as much water as cloth, and they obviously generate way more waste. While these facts might make some diaper-changing parents groan, it isn’t as bad as you think. Today there are some really hi-tech cloth diapers that are practically as easy as disposables. And there are some green-er alternatives to traditional disposables. Here’s my green diaper buying guide.

Note: Though much ado has been made about the gel beads in diapers (Sodium Polyacrylate) due to a flawed study which implicated its use in tampons to toxic shock syndrome, many, many studies have since proven its safety.

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	BumGenius 3.0 All-In-One Cloth Diaper: This product is consistently named as a favorite cloth diaper for its ease-of-use and cuteness factors. I ordered one to try out and found it to fit and absorb well. BumGenius is continually improving their products and the latest version has been redesigned to have stretchy tabs, more like disposables, and to fit a variety of different sized babies. It comes in five cute colors including grasshopper green. Save on multi-packs at NuturedFamily.com
	gDiapers Flushable Diapers: Another option is the flushable diaper. G diapers are sort of a cloth-disposable hybrid, with a fitted reusable cloth outer layer, and flushable liners that you insert. I bought a starter pack of G Diapers and found that they fit and absorbed well.The liners that are just wet can even be composted. The rest can be flushed using a special swizzle stick. I think G diapers are a great concept, but may not work with all toilets. Some toilets may require that you flush the inner layer of the insert separately from the outer layers, and it’s not difficult to separate them while keeping your hands clean. My only complaint was that the liner did have a tendency to bunch up a little bit in the back. Other than that, I found they worked pretty well and were easy to use. gDiapers are better for the environment because they don’t end up in the landfill and they are not bleached with chlorine. And boy, they are cute. A starter kit with 2 reusable little “G” pants and 10 flushables is just $26.99.
	Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Disposable Diapers: Let’s face it, for some families, using reusable diapers is simply not realistic. Either the facilities to launder them are not available, or the initial investment is too steep. There is a green-er alternative to the popular diaper brands. Seventh Generation diapers are chlorine-free, hypoallergenic and do not contribute to dioxin pollution. They are also un-fragranced. Save time and have a case shipped from diapers.com and get free shipping with a $50 order.

Other Green Diaper Doo-dads I like:

Wonder Wipes (6 Pack) by Mother of Eden: Save money - stop buying disposable wipes and use these instead! These 7″ x 10″ wash cloths will wipe up any mess quickly, often with one wipe. They are made from super soft fleece and microterry so you can just throw them in with your diapers and wash them in the same load. This is important to know, because washing cotton or hemp wipes with your diapers causes pilling on the fleece of your cloth diapers. This will not effect the performance of the diapers, but the fleece will lose its buttery soft feel!

Tushies Unscented Natural Formula Wipes: These wipes are the most natural I’ve found. They have no animal ingredients, no propylene glycol and no parabens. They work just as well as any of the more popular brands. I buy cases of 12 refill packs at diapers.com, where I get free shipping on a $50 order.

Tagged as: cloth diapers, diapers, disposable diapers, natural diapers, seventh generation diapers