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Diapers may be made of absorbent layers of cloth or terry towelling fabric, or of disposable absorbent materials, such as wood pulp or sphagnum moss. The choice to use either cloth or disposable diapers is controversial.

Disposable diapers are a highly processed product, and they can remain intact in landfills for many years. Disposable diapers contain a layer of absorbent wood pulp (usually from managed forests), and chemicals specifically included to improve absorbancy and wick wetness away from the skin. While this system works well in keeping the skin dry, it can also be a potential skin irritant.

Cloth diapers are reusable and so place less stress on landfills, however, they also require large amounts of laundry detergent and high-temperature water to be properly cleaned. In cold or wet weather, they must also be dried. Cloth diapers are most commonly made of industrial cotton, which is grown in conjunction with the heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers. The fabric is also usually bleached white.

A life cycle analysis is one way to choose between disposable diapers and reusable cloth diapers. This analysis attempts to take into account all the environmental factors, including raw material and energy usage, air and water pollution emissions, and waste management issues. Several such analyses have concluded that when all factors are taken into account, both types of diapers have roughly the same environmental effect. Others have come to opposing conclusions, depending on the biases of the investigators and the assumptions they made.

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Chemicals in Disposables

Since your baby will spend so much time in diapers, let’s take a closer look at disposable diapers. On the market since the early 60’s, the disposable diaper changed from a plastic diaper with a lot of paper fluff to a diaper constructed of a waterproof plastic outer layer, an absorbent pad with super absorbent chemicals, and an inner liner. The super absorbent chemical, sodium polyacrylate, absorbs and holds fluids in the diaper. This chemical has been linked to toxic shock syndrome, can cause allergic reactions, and is lethal to cats if inhaled. Death has occurred from ingestion of just 5 grams of this chemical. Pediatric journals contain reports of this chemical sticking to babies’ genitals. When the baby’s skin gets wet, this super absorber can poll fluids form baby’s skin. Dioxin, the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a byproduct of bleaching paper. Even in the smallest detectable quantities, dioxin has been known to cause liver disease, immune system suppression, and genetic damage in lab animals. Dyes found in some disposables are known to damage the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) received reports that fragrances caused headaches, dizziness, and rashes. Problems reported to the Consumer Protection Agency include chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odors, reports of babies pulling disposables apart and putting pieces of plastic into their noses and mouth, choking on tab papers and linings, plastic melting onto the skin, and ink staining the skin. Plastic tabs can also tear skin, and disposables may contain wood splinters.

In 1987, the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle published news about the new Pampers Ultra. The new gel they used caused severe skin irritations, oozing blood from perineum and scrotal tissues, fever, vomiting, and staph infections in babies. Employees in Pampers factories suffered from tiredness, female organ problems, slow-healing wounds and weight loss. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, 54% of one-month old babies using disposable diapers had rashes, 16% had severe rashes. A survey of Procter & Gamble’s own studies show that the incidence of diaper rash increases from 7.1 percent to 61 percent with the increased use of throwaway diapers, great for manufacturers of diaper rash medicines. Widespread diaper rash is a fairly new phenomenon that surfaced along with disposable diapers. Reasons for more rashes include allergies to chemicals, lack of air, higher temperatures because plastic retains body heat, and babies are probably changed less often because they feel dry when wet.

Disposables and Public Health & Landfill Concerns

About 5 million tons of untreated body excrement, which may carry over 100 intestinal viruses, is brought to landfills via disposables. This may contribute to groundwater contamination and attract insects that carry and transmit diseases. In 1990, 18 billion disposables were thrown into United States landfills. Is it wise to use 3.4 billion gallons of oil and over 250,000 trees a year to manufacture disposables that end up in our already overburdened landfills? These disposables are not readily biodegradable. The paper must be exposed to air and sun to decompose. Thirty percent of a disposable diaper is plastic and is not compostable. Even if the rest of the diaper could be composted, these plants could only handle 400 of the 10,000 tons of diapers tossed in landfills EACH DAY, assuming they didn’t have to process any other compostable garbage. Biodegradable diapers have cornstarch added to the plastic to break it into tiny pieces. The pieces still end up in landfills.

Inaccurate and Misleading Information from Disposables Manufacturers

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It’s the late 1980’s, people are becoming concerned about the environment. Disposables are on the decline. The disposables manufacturers fight back. Articles and advertisements say disposables are OK. Many mothers, glad to hear that and relieved of guilt, switch to disposables. Disposables manufacturers say energy usage is the same for cloth or disposables, but the fact is that throwaways use five times more energy than reusables.

Cloth Diapers Are Easy, Simple, Inexpensive

Diapers do not need to be presoaked, I don’t even rinse mine. Just dump solids in toilet, if it does not fall out then put in hamper, the washing machine will do the rest. No pins are necessary. Two loads of laundry a week.

Here’s how to start using cloth…

You have a lot of options available through several mail order companies. There are diaper and cover combinations or all-in-one diapers which are as easy as disposables. The representatives at these companies can assist in your choice. The initial cost runs from $200-$300 to get started and will take you through the first year or so. The following systems will take you completely through potty training. Disposables will cost around $2200 during the same time period. With the systems below you could save more than $1600.

Some total system combinations:

• A. 4 velcro covers newborn

• 3-4 dozen diaper doublers

• 20-30 infant Kushies or Medium Bumkins  All-in-one diapers

• 20 Toddler Kushies or Large Bumkins  All-in-one diapers

• (if using only Kushies you will need 1 Small and 1 Large Wool Diaper Cover)

• Total cost is $550 including detergent

• B. 3 dozen rectangular or hourglass diapers untreated

• 4 diaper covers each size nb, s, m, l

• Total cost is $380 including detergent

• C. 24 infant Absorb it all  snap diapers

• 24 toddler Absorb it all snap diapers

• 1 Wool diaper cover small and large

• 3 nylon pull on pants each size s, m, l

• Total cost is $628 including detergent

• D. 24 Grow with me snap diapers

• 4 diaper covers each size s, m, l

• Total cost is $420. including detergent

All these systems can be found at Ecobaby www.ecobaby.com, or mail-order catalog 1-888-ECOBABY, 1-800-596-7450, or 1-619-562-9606.

References

1. The Landbank Consultancy Limited, "A Review of Procter & Gamble’s Environmental Balances for Disposable and Re-usable Nappies" (18 July 1991).

2. J. Tanino et al., "The Relationship of Perianal Dermatitis to Fecal pH," J Pediatr 54 (1959): 793-800.

3. B. Gaunder and E. Plummerm "Diaper Rash: Managing and Controlling a Common Problem in Infants and Toddlers," J Pediatr Health Care 1 (1987): 26-34.

4. Mothering Magazine Summer 1993. Pgs 37-48.

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