A very interesting debate for sure – we have tested so many amazing cloth diapers at PTPA and I have to say as a mom who used disposable if I were to have any more children I would for sure try out cloth:)

I’ve done both! I have a friend who is a super cloth diapering Mom and I aspired to be like her. I hated the thought of diapers filling landfill space and wanted to tread lightly on the Earth. I have to say that despite my very best efforts (and I REALLY wanted to be a cloth diapering Mom!!!), I only lasted 3 months. The amount of laundry was too much for me. At least I can say I’ve done both and tried my best!

We made the switch to cloth diapers when my daughter was 3 months old and are still using them now and she is 22 months old. While we’ve tried several types my favourite is the GroVia One Size Hybrid System. The shell lasts throughout a few changes so you are washing less items, and the one size is very economical. Line drying is the way to go with cloth, since the sun will bleach out any stains and is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly option as well. We use a diaper sprayer to clean the diapers directly into the toilet before washing, and I don’t think I could live without it! I purchased many of our cloth diapers through discount sites like Baby Steals, so I do believe in the long run they are much cheaper, and I feel good about the fact we are reducing the amount of waste. Plus if you take care of your cloth diapers properly you should be able to use them on more than one child which makes them even cheaper!!!

I disagree w/ your numbers. I also have to point out that you are not calculating the long term cost to the environment, the extra taxes paid to haul away the extra garbage, and the potential long term health effects of disposables on the babies wearing them as well as people working in the factories where they are made. And what about the petroleum being used to make the single-use diapers that could be used in much more practical ways like, oh I don’t know, fuel for cars?

Even the best couponing skillz in the world will not make the landfills less full — are you aware of the sheer mass of single-use diapers one child will go through? That’s not a legacy I want to leave for my kids. I have used cloth on all three — 2-3 extra loads of laundry a week and no extra effort. Many of them have been used on all three children..

I’m curious to know how you factor your child’s future into this decision — look at the current weather patterns, we are RUINING this planet. One cup of crude oil goes into manufacturing ONE disposable diaper, that fact alone is disgusting. Buy one set of diapers, and use it with all your children, then pass them on to someone else who can use them (or use them as dust rags, or whatever). Do you wear disposable clothing? If not, your logic makes no sense (ooooh, think of the water!). Geez.

I only really needed to read the first line to see where you were going with this one, this is not a balanced nor even remotely informed piece. This is writing with an agenda, something I see every time PTPA Media post crosses my desktop. It all reeks of paid advertising and I believe most people are intelligent to see through the veil of “a mom’s honest opinion”… seriously!

I’m not sure how anyone would think disposables were they way to go. The thought of all those chemicals leaching into my babies body is horrifying!

Wow! I have 3 kids all of which have survived using disposable diapers. The oldest being 15 and the youngest still in diapers at 21 months old. When I had the first 2 I knew nothing of cloth diapers and didn’t even consider them. With the 3rd I put a lot of thought into it but it just didn’t seem like something that was going to work for us, already having 2 teenagers and a crazy busy life to start with. How dare anyone even suggest that I or anyone else have done something wrong by making the choice to use disposables. I agree that there are pros and cons to both sides and anyone who thinks they have the right to judge others for their choices must be seriously living the PERFECT life!!!

Three things:

1. DONNA, I can assure you that I’ve never been paid to write a thing for PTPA. My blogs are totally authentic and based on personal trial. I would certainly welcome any questions!

2. I can only guess that the writer here lives in the USA, where couponing allows one to pay for only the tax on diapers. This is not our reality in Canada, and if you can find diapers for as little as 10 cents each, please tell me how.

3. I used disposables 100% with my first, who has been out of diapers for a year. Until a couple of weeks ago, I’d done the same for my second. Then I had the opportunity to try Charlie Banana cloth diapers and they’re kind of blowing my mind. I’ve bought several more and I think I’ll use them until my daughter’s potty trained. I love the reduced environmental impact, the cost isn’t so bad considering how much you can reuse them, and – frankly – I’m already drowing in laundry so what’s the difference?

Thank you Pam!!
Everyone here condemning those who use disposable diapers, must all live off the land and use solar energy for power and a well for water etc.
Give me a break. Most of you are hypocrites who use cloth diapers, grow a few vegetables in your garden and think you live off the grid. Id love to see you actual scientific proof about ‘chemicals leaking into your childs body’, not just a magazine article or website you read.
I think that it is great that you guys are willing use cloth diapers, but dont be so condescending to those who choose not to. Your arrogant tones are nauseating.

I have two children…. multiply that by 5000 diapers each…. That’s a lot of garbage! Put them in a landfill without sunlight or air and I’m guessing they will still be around in several hundred years. I used cloth for both. I don’t mind laundry and it just feels good to have cloth against their little bums.

Thanks for all your comments. I should have stated more about my situation. This post was not to create an argument about which one is more environmentally friendly only which is less expensive.

Personally, we do not have access to a washer/dryer in our unit and have to pay $2 each load. For many families this is the reality so that makes cloth diapering unaffordable if you have to pay $2 each wash and $2 each dry.

The calculator shows that if you do not pay for laundry, that cloth diapering is less expensive.

All families have the right to choose the diapering system that works for their family.

The calculator is only looking at cost. But in the cost category it is forgetting to factor in that you don’t need to purchase more cloth diapers if you have more than one child and also that cloth diapers usually resale for at least half their purchase price if they are well taken care of, so that is money refunded.
You can also save money on drying by hanging the diapers to dry.

Not looking to debate or argue.But I noticed cloth diaper services were not mentioned once.We used an amazing diaper service with our first son and will be using it again with the one arriving in the next few weeks.So many positive things to say about cloth diapering but I’ll be brief!Obviously better for the environment, if you look up the stats of disposables in landfills it’s disturbing to say the least.Less diaper rashes, easier to potty train and if you use a diaper service WAY cheaper than buying disposables!With the service we used you don’t even have to empty anything into the toilet.Take the diaper off throw it in the bag,put the bag outside once a week and they switch it for clean ones.Couldn’t be easier!Should also mention there is a huge misconception that all cloth diapers are a flat piece of cloth you pin on your baby, but they have come a long way in design. It’s all in what you let you get yourself get accustomed to from the start.I encourage everyone I know to research cloth diaper services in their area as they are becoming much more common.Good luck, hope this helps!

Nice post and great information:-)

The environment is already messed up. Using cloth diaper is not going to save the environment.

Diapers are made of cloth or synthetic disposable materials. Cloth diapers are composed of layers of fabric such as cotton, hemp, bamboo or microfiber and can be washed and reused multiple times. Disposable diapers contain absorbent chemicals and are thrown away after use. Plastic pants can be worn over diapers to avoid leaks, but with modern cloth diapers, this is no longer necessary.;..

Check out our personal blog as well
<http://healthmedicinelab.com