With a DIY and organic craze sweeping the Western world, it is no surprise to find a revival of cloth diapers. Here are three reasons you will want to make the switch:
1. Save $2,000 or More
Considering that babies wear diapers from birth to three years, the cost of using and throwing away multiple disposable diapers is enormous. Many people pin the cost of diapers at $2,000-$3,000 dollars per child. On the contrary, you can spend as little as $400 on cloth diapers, giving you anywhere from $1,600 or $2,600 in savings. And that is just the savings for one child. You can reuse diapers for multiple kids, stretching your investment further into the thousands.
You can save even more by purchasing well-cared-for used diapers off eBay or Craigslist. And if you treat them well and wash them correctly, you can sell them for almost the same price. Diapers will last longest when only the inserts are put in the dryer, so let the rest of the diaper set line dry.
2. Make it Easy, Organic, or Colorful
Cloth diapers can be customized to be as easy and eco-friendly as you want. Many diaper systems, such as the fitted diaper and pocket diaper, are as easy to put on as disposable ones. They snap close, include an absorbent insert, and include a water-proof diaper wrap. They can also be as easy to remove and launder. Disposable rice liners collect the solid poop, allowing you to simply grab the corners and toss in the toilet. Then, put the dirty diaper in a diaper pail until laundry time.
Want to be as green as possible? You can make or buy your own baby wipes, too. Organic cotton cloth diapers help ensure that your baby has no toxins next to his or her sensitive skin as well. Diapers and inserts made of bamboo and hemp are also available at more affordable prices at some of the best shopping sites.
For those who love colors and patterns, colorful waterproof diaper wraps give you the options to color coordinate with their outfit. Pink, green, and blue are favorite colors, as are jungle or animal patterns. Pocket diapers that already include a waterproof outer layer also come in fun colors and patterns.
3. Save the Landfills
Did you know that it is actually illegal to put human waste in the garbage in several countries? The World Health Organization says it is also against their policy to put human waste in landfills. And yet millions of poopy diapers go into landfills across America every year. Disposable diaper companies get around this by recommending that you shake diapers out over a toilet, but most people don’t even know that is what they recommend. These laws and recommendations are just on human waste itself, not to mention the space and waste of the plastic and toxin-filled disposable diapers.
Economical, user-friendly, and baby-friendly, cloth diapers are a great way to keep your baby clean. What do you love about cloth diapers?