How many diapers do I need? How
many diapers you need really depends on how often you plan to wash, and
how many you want to buy. A newborn baby will pee every 30 minutes to an
hour. For a newborn, I tend to either keep them naked on top of a pre-fold, or keep them in a wool diaper with an absorbent
cotton or bamboo liner, so that I only have to change the liner every
30 minutes or so. I try to never, ever leave them in a wet diaper, as
their skin is so delicate and sensitive.... and they deserve to be
comfortable.
If money is an issue, I recommend purchasing two dozen infant prefolds (unbleached Chinese or Indian prefolds). Do not bother with cheapo prefolds... get the good ones, as they are pretty low cost anyway, and work so much better you'll be happy you got them.
If money is no issue, have fun and purchase as many diapers as you want.When you are done, you can sell them or pass them down.
If money is only a slight issue, I would purchase a dozen fitted diapers and a dozen infant prefolds,
a few wool covers, and maybe 2 All In One or Pocket diapers. Really, it
depends on how much money you want to spend, what kind of diapers you
want, and how often your baby pees and poops.
Many toddlers will wait 2-3 hours between pees. For these children, a dozen diapers is plenty.
Another
thing to consider is whether you plan to change during the night. I
always changed my children's diapers through the night. I found that
they slept better in a clean, dry diaper. For this reason, I had to
calculate how often they peed during the day, and how often I changed
during the night.
I always keep at least 6 prefold
diapers on hand. This is great for times when baby has an upset
tummy,or when you aren't able to wash diapers. The more the merrier, I
always say.
How do you wash cloth?
There are as many answers to this question as there are cloth diapers. I'll give the basic guidelines:
Rinse soiled diapers
off with a sprayer to get rid of the solids. Solids should be flushed
whether you are using cloth or paper diapers (read the package of paper
diapers and it does say to dispose of solids in the toilet) You can store
the cloth diapers in a diaper pail, or you could try my little trick -
After
doing laundry for the day, early in the morning, I make sure my washing
machine is empty. Through the day, when I change a diaper, I throw it
in the washing machine. At the end of the day, I turn the machine on
just a rinse cycle on cold, with some baking soda and dawn dish soap in
it (just a small squirt). Once the rinse cycle is done, I do a regular
wash cycle with my favorite powdered laundry detergent. I use about
half the amount called for on the box,and use hot water. Once they are
finished, I hang them to dry on my drying rack that I have inside my
house. They hang there over night,and go in the dryer for a few minutes
in the morning to finish drying, kill any germs that may be lurking, and fluff them up to their regular softness.
Do not use any bleach, unless absolutely necessary, as it will break down your fabric and elastic. Do not boil your diapers, for the same reason. It's best to wash your diapers on the gentle cycle of your machine, as this will help the elastic and fabric last longer. The less time they spend in a dryer, the better for the elastic. Liquid detergents do tend to leave a buildup, which isn't great on diapers. Do not use fabric softener, but you can use some vinegar in the rinse cycle in place of fabric softener. I
highly recommend washing your diapers daily. The longer they sit in
urine, the more your fabric will break down, and the more your diapers
will stink. The more they stink, the harder they are to get clean. For
me, throwing a load in every evening is very easy, since I don't have
to hand wash them or anything. (and I have done that, by the way) Although
you may find many people online who have huge, complicated washing
routines with their diapers, this is not necessary. Using cloth diapers
can be simple and fairly easy. You might even find that you prefer it.
I've seen cloth diapering items that are wool. Isn't wool scratchy and itchy?
Some
wool is. There is no simple answer to this question. Many cloth diaper
makers have worked specially with fabric millers to mill soft wool.
Most wool used for cloth diapers is purchased for its softness, and is
therefore not scratchy or itchy. Many times, over processed wool will be scratchy, or wool that has been stripped of its lanolin. Sometimes over felted
wool is uncomfortable, but sometimes wool that is not felted at all is
scratchy. Your professional diaper makers take special care to make
sure they felt the wool just right, and find wool that is nice and
soft. Wool yarn does not need to be felted, and most knit wool items
are not scratchy or itchy. Your professional diaper cover knitters take
special care to find wool yarn that is super soft, not over processed,
and perfect for cloth diaper covers. In short..... the wool used for
cloth diapering should not be itchy or scratchy.
Why do my cloth diapers leak after a few hours?
Many people have gotten used to the idea of a paper diaper that has "super absorbent polymers"
These polymers absorb the liquids and keep the diaper from leaking.
Although many people have gotten used to keeping a disposable diaper on
a child for hours at a time, it can't be comfortable, or healthy. When
using cloth, one has to let go of the concept of the diaper lasting for
hours, and change the baby when they are wet or soiled. Just as we
don't want to have our own urine or feces against our skin for hours,
our babies don't either. In short... change more often.
I've heard moms saying that a diaper only lasted 15 minutes? Does that mean that it isn't absorbent?
No.
In order to understand why a diaper would be wet and need changed 15
minutes after putting it on, we need to first understand how babies pee
and poop. A baby is not like a slow drip faucet. Rather than having
urine or feces constantly leaking, they wait until the urge hits, then
let it all out at once. When a diaper only lasts 15 minutes, this
simply means that the baby peed or pooped 15 minutes after the diaper
was changed. This is a good sign that the baby sat in the previous
diaper for a while after soiling it, and might be a good sign that
he/she needs changed more often. While some babies may hold their urine
for 3 hours, then flood the diaper, others may actually urinate every
30 minutes. It's important to check often and get to know your baby's
habits. This will help to avoid a diaper rash and keep your little bundle of joy comfortable.
Is it really better for the environment to use cloth diapers?
Well,
it can be. This really depends on how you cloth diaper. If you want the
super fancy materials, like bamboo and organics, it will only be
slightly less money in the short term. In the long term, however, you
are able to re-sell those diapers and recoup some of your costs, or
pass them down to the next child. There is no simple answer to this
question. If you want to cloth diaper for economical reasons, it is
easy to do. You can purchase prefolds and a few covers. Nice prefolds do not cost very much. I highly recommend unbleached cotton. They can be found on ebay,
or by doing a simple search online. Many people are not cloth diapering
for economical reasons, and they prefer the super boutique cloth
diapers. This is a good thing, as it keeps the small businesses in
business, makes cloth diapering fun, and makes the world a prettier
place.
Why are cloth diapers so expensive?
Not
*all* cloth diapers are expensive. If you are looking for materials
like organic bamboo velour, organic cotton, etc, they are expensive.
Let's do a small cost breakdown: I purchase bamboo velour for $11 per
yard. Then, I have to wash and dry this bamboo a few times to shrink it
and get the stuff off of it that was used to process it, etc. This uses
some energy and water, that I have to pay for. It costs me about $6 in
fabric to make your diaper, but I have to buy snaps, thread, needles,
maintain machinery, pay for web hosting and cart hosting, pay for
shipping materials, pay paypal fees
in order to accept credit cards, and the list goes on. By the time I
add all of this up, it costs me about $11-$15 to make your diaper. It
takes me an hour to an hour and a half to make each diaper. I need to
make at least minimum wage, right? And since I'm a business owner who
has been doing this long enough to be considered a professional,
shouldn't I make above minimum wage? And while it might take an hour
to an hour and a half to make each diaper, there is still the time
spent photographing the diapers, editing the background out of the
photos, listing the items, answering at least 30 emails daily, sourcing
fabrics, keeping an inventory of fabrics and of finished product, doing
the "books", etc.
So, if you purchase hand made diapers, made
with high-end materials, they can be expensive. If you go to a boutique
and look for hand made clothing that is made out of high-end materials,
I would guess you would be paying quite a bit more than shopping at
Target for your clothing. You can use prefolds and
keep the cost of cloth diapers down, but of course, it won't be quite
as fun as enjoying the number of prints and dyes on high-end fabrics.
Why do so many cloth diapers come in pretty prints when you just cover them up with a diaper cover?
In
short, because it's fun. If you go to Gymboree, you'll see little girls
undies with pretty flowers, or ladybugs, etc. Why? Because it's fun. It
is important to have fun with your infant, and enjoy even those tasks
that seem so.... not fun. When you change your baby's diaper, they are
focused on you, and seeing your reactions. If you open up a diaper and
have a look of disgust, they see you looking at them with disgust.
Ifyou open up the diaper and are smiling and enjoying your time,
talking about the cute diaper you got them, kissing their cute little
belly and feet... what a difference! So, if you want to buy the cute
little diaper with giraffes all over it, do. Life is short, enjoy it
while you're here.
Why do people use cloth diapers?
There
are a few reasons why most people use cloth diapers. One of those is
because it is SO much better for the environment. We are concerned
about the environment and the future of our children. The impact that
our choices have on the environment is important, and cloth diapering
is a great choice for the environmentally conscious.
Another
reason many people cloth diaper is to save money. Because cloth diapers
are re-usable, you do not have to keep buying them. As a matter of
fact, they can be passed down to the next child. If you spent $1,000 on
cloth diapers, and those cloth diapers lasted through potty training,
then on to the next kid through potty training, you have saved a great
deal of money. Even using the high-end boutique diapers, you can save
money in the long run.
Many people use
cloth diapers for health reasons. Cloth diapers can be associated with
less diaper rashes. Cloth diapers do not contain chemicals or heavy
bleaches and perfumes that can irritate sensitive skin. You know those
super absorbing gel beads that are in disposable diapers? They are
Sodium Polyacrylate Crystals.
They used to be used in women's tampons, but had to be removed because
they were found to cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. And yet, we put those on
our babies? Then there are the super bleaching agents used in
disposable diapers. One of the by-products of that bleaching is
dioxins. The archives of Disease in Childhood reports that trace
amounts of dioxin are present on disposables. Dioxin is a strong
carcinogen and an endocrine disruptor.
"Need more information? Not entirely convinced? Here ya go:
Study: Disposable Diapers Could Cause Male Infertility
By Anthony Browne London Observer Service September 26, 2000 Disposable
diapers could be the cause of the sharp rise in male infertility over
the past 25 years, according to an authoritative scientific study to be
published this week. It is thought that disposable diapers heat up baby
boys' testicles to such a degree that it stops them developing
normally. Diapers lined with plastic raise the temperature of the
scrotum far above body temperature and can lead to a total breakdown of
normal cooling mechanisms, according to the study published in the
Archives of Disease in Childhood. Doctors in Kiel, Germany, started the
study after being alarmed at the temperature of the testicles of infant
boys who were brought into hospitals with infections. The cells
supporting sperm production are laid down in the first two years of
life. However, their development and sperm production in later life is
very dependent on temperature. Testicles need to be cooler than the
rest of the body, which is why they are external. Boys whose
testicles descend too late in adolescence are often infertile because
they have been kept warm for too long. In adults, exposure to high
temperatures, during a fever or while in a sauna, can dramatically
reduce sperm count. Tight jeans can also lead to higher testicular
temperatures, possibly causing a reduction in sperm count. Dr. Wolfgang Sippell,
professor of pediatrics at the University of Kiel, monitored the
scrotal temperature of 48 healthy boys, from birth up to 4 years old,
using a tiny thermal probe. His team tested the temperatures when boys
wore disposable diapers and when they wore re-usable cotton diapers,
both during waking and sleeping hours. The temperature was consistently
higher when the disposable diapers were worn, with the highest
temperatures recorded in the youngest babies. Scrotal temperatures were
the same as rectal temperatures when cotton diapers were worn, but far
higher when disposable diapers were worn.
They
concluded that the insulation properties of the disposable diapers
impaired the normal cooling mechanisms of the testicles. They found
that in 13 boys, the cooling mechanism failed altogether. Sippell
concluded: "A prolonged increase in scrotal temperature in early
childhood may have an important role in subsequent testicular health
and function, with implications for male fertility." Repeated studies
have shown that average sperm counts have fallen by almost half from
1938 levels, and are continuing to decline as fast as 2 percent a
year. The Absorbent Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association, which
represents makers of disposable diapers, said the study had dubious
methodology. Association spokesman Peter Stephenson said: "There is no
evidence to support the assertions made by this study, which would
appear to be implausible. The safety of our products is of paramount
importance. Disposable diapers are, and remain, safe."
New Tests Confirm TBT Poison in Proctor & Gamble Pampers
Greenpeace Demands Worldwide Ban of Organotins in All Products May 15, 2000 HAMBURG -- New tests carried out by Greenpeace found the hormone pollutant TBT (tributyl tin) in "Pampers Baby
Dry Mini" babies' nappies (diapers) sold in Germany by the company
Procter & Gamble. Last Friday, Greenpeace uncovered that TBT and other organotin compounds were found in Procter & Gamble's Pampers "Baby Dry", in the Paul Hartmann company's "Fixies Ultra Dry", and in Ledysan Spa's "United Colours of Benetton Junior unisex". All tests were proven by scientific analyses made on Greenpeace's behalf. The new test, during which several parts of "Pampers Baby Dry Mini" were analyzed, found the highest contamination in the belt section of these nappies. "Pampers Baby Dry Mini" contained up to 38.4 micrograms of TBT per kilogram,
a much higher level then in the first tests of a pool sample. (1)
Furthermore the inner and outer layer were found to be contaminated.
Greenpeace also found other organotin compounds in the Pampers, including DBT and MBT. If all discovered organotin compounds were added, a total of 53.2 micrograms per kilogram were found. Greenpeace'sscientific
test results contradict a statement by Procter & Gamble, in which
the company denied that its nappies were contaminated with organotin compounds. Greenpeace toxics expert Thilo Maack said:"The reaction
of Procter & Gamble is a scandal. The company is downplaying the
danger instead of actively searching for the source of TBT in Pampers. It is absolutely irresponsible to expose babies to these extremely toxic substances".
"Fact is that TBT is one of the most
toxic substances ever made, and it is being spread through the skin and
contaminates the environment as well as people," he noted. This
environmental pollutant, which has been in the headlines for months
because of its extremely high toxicity, has a hormone-like effect. The
smallest concentrations of TBT can harm people's
immune systems and impair their hormonal system. "The German government
must ban this toxin in all areas of use immediately," says Thilo Maack.Greenpeace last January found TBT in fish for human consumption, and in March detected TBT in football shirts despite textile manufacturers declaring them safe again. TBT has furthermore recently been found in plastic PVC floorings. Witco, a company in Bergkamen/Germany, produces 80 per cent of the TBT used in the world. The smallest quantities of TBT kill algae and mussels and for that reason it is used in ships' paints to stop their growth on hulls.
Greenpeace
has been calling on the chemical and ship industries to ban it
production or application. There are less harmful alternatives to TBT
in all the spheres in which organotin compounds are used. Greenpeace is at present analyzing other brands of nappies on sale in Germany.
Chemicals In Diapers Cited As Possible Asthma Trigger
Penny Stern, MD October 6, 1999 NEWYORK,
Oct 06 (Reuters Health) -- Childhood respiratory problems, including
asthma, may be linked to inhaling the mixture of chemicals emitted from
disposable diapers, researchers write in the September/October issue of
Archives of Environmental Health.
Lead author Dr. Rosalind C.
Anderson, of Anderson Laboratories in West Hartford, Vermont, told
Reuters Health that chemical emissions of some disposable diapers have
immediate health effects in animals breathing the diluted chemical
mixtures. ''Upon analysis, the diaper emissions were found to include
several chemicals with documented respiratory toxicity,'' according to
the paper.
"Mice were used in this study because of their
general physiological and biochemical similarity to humans", Anderson
explained, "adding that both humans and mice develop bronchoconstriction as a response to certain (odors and substances)". Bronchoconstriction refers to a narrowing of air passages in the lungs that is associated with respiratory difficulties.
"Upon
exposing the mice to various brands of disposable diapers, a decrease
was observed in the ability of the animals to move air during
exhalation", Anderson said. Noting that this finding accurately
describes asthma or an asthma-like reaction, she added "that if mice
and humans respond in a similar manner to diaper emissions, disposable
diapers could be important with respect to the worldwide asthma
epidemic.''
In contrast to the results obtained with
disposables, new cloth diapers produced very little respiratory effects
and appeared to be the least toxic choice for a consumer, the
researchers write.
"Though the disposable effect was noted even
when the emissions of a single diaper are diluted in the air of a small
room,'' Anderson said, she cautions that it is too early to indict
diaper chemicals. "Whether the diaper chemicals initiate clinical
disease, simply trigger an asthma-like response or are not implicated
(at all) in human disease will not be known until after a vast amount
of human data has been accumulated,'' she commented.
Therefore,
Anderson believes that formal epidemiological investigations must be
extended to infant products in order to evaluate these items' possible
role in triggering or aggravating asthmatic conditions. She and
herco-author, Dr. Julius Anderson, have (previously) published similar
findings associated with other products used in infants' environments."
A number of these manufactured materials -- air fresheners, mattress
covers, fabric softeners -- have many rapid-onset toxic effects in
common,'' she pointed out.
In Anderson's view, the current
epidemic in childhood asthma cannot be explained solely on the basis of
what she termed, ''the usual suspects: dust mites, cockroaches,
maternal smoking". Maybe child-care products such as plastic diapers...
plastic baby bottles, and plastic toys are important factors through
the release of chemicals with toxic effects.''
Until such time
as this asthma-inducing effect can be confirmed in humans, Anderson
reminds parents and health care professionals that precaution costs
nothing. When you are dealing with a toxic chemical or chemicals,
avoidance is the only proper action. ''She suggests that parents and
doctors... believe themselves if they think a product is harming the
breathing of the mother or the baby.''
SOURCE: Archives of Environmental Medicine September/October 1999.
Disposable Diapers Linked to Asthma
January/February 2000 Harsh
perfumes and chemical emissions have long been known to induce
asthma-like symptoms in children and adults. Now, researchers have
found that disposable diapers might be a trigger for asthma.
A
study published in the October, 1999 issue of the Archives of
Environmental Health found that laboratory mice exposed to various
brands of disposable diapers suffered increased eye, nose, and throat
irritation, including bronchoconstriction similar to that of an asthma
attack. Six leading cotton and disposable diaper brands were tested;
cloth diapers were not found to cause respiratory problems among the
lab mice.
Dr. Rosalind C. Anderson, lead author of the report,
"Acute Respiratory Effects of Diaper Emissions," explains that the
diapers were tested right out of the package, and one at a time. Even
in a mid-sized room, the emissions from one diaper were high enough to
produce asthma-like symptoms. Solvents and other substances are
typically added to products during the manufacturing process in order
to affect malleability and other properties, Dr. Anderson
explains."Even if you don't want these chemicals in the final product,
it's hard to take them out. We are finding chemical off-gasses in all
sorts of baby products besides diapers, including baby mattresses and
mattress covers," she says.
What chemicals were released from the
diapers? Tolune, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and
isopropylbenzene,among others. Dr. Anderson says these, like certain
scents, are bronchial irritants. "It's similar to when asthmatics smell
perfume and all of a sudden their chests get tight." Although mice are
much smaller than humans, they were chosen for the study because their
physiology and biochemistry are similar to that of humans. Of the
brands tested, three diaper brands were found not to affect the
breathing of the lab mice: American Fiber and Finishing Co., Gladrags
organic cottondiapers, and Tender Care disposable diapers.
Further
study is needed to determine what level of diaper chemical emission
triggers infant respiratory distress. In the meantime, Dr. Anderson
advises asthmatic mothers to avoid exposure to these chemicals, and to
be mindful of the fact that their children may be sensitive to these
and other asthma antagonists such as dust mites, roaches, and smoking.
Asthma rates are on a sharp incline in the US and worldwide,
particularly among poor and inner-city children.
Anderson,Rosalind,
and Julius Anderson. Acute Respiratory Effects of Diaper Emissions,
Archives of Environmental Health, 54, October 1999.
1)Characterization
of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1990Update. (1990). U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 530SW-90-042. Washington D.C.:
U.S. Government Printing Office.
2)Lehrburger, C. (1988).
Diapers in the Waste Stream: A Review of WasteManagement and Public
Issues, P. O. Box 580, Sheffield, MA.
3) Rathje, W. L. (1989). "Rubbish" The Atlantic Monthly, 264 (6), 99-109.
4) Hollis, R. W. (1989). "The ethics of diapering"; Mothering (Fall), 29.
5)Little,
A. D. Disposable Versus Reusable (Cloth) Diapers:Environmental, Health
and Economic Considerations. Cambridge, MA:Arthur D. Little, Inc.
6) Lyman, F. (1990) "Diaper hype" Garbage: the Practical Journal for the Environment, 2 (1), 36-40.
7)Clark.
G.S., et. al. (1974). Incidence of viral infections among
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OH:University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
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and Environmental Profile Analysis of Children's Disposable and
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9)Dallas,
M. J. and Wilson, P. A. (1989). "Diaper performance:maintenance of
healthy skin" Proceedings: Association of College Professors of Textiles
and Clothing Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
10)Bartlett, L. K.,
Moore, M., Gary, W., et. al. (1985). "Diarrhea illness among infants and
toddlers in daycare centers" Journal of Pediatrics(107), 495.
11)
Berg, R. W. (1990). The effect of diaper type on the potential for fecal
contamination in group daycare settings. The Procter and Gamble Company,
Cincinnati, OH.
12) Stone, J.(1990). Groundwater quality: the
diaper dilemma. Iowa Cooperative Extension Service Publication No.
Pm-1401, Iowa State University, Ames,IA.
13) Joseph, L. E. (1990). "The Bottom Line on Disposables" The New York Times Magazine (September 23), 26 ff.
14)King,
L. W. (1990). A Study of Municipal Solid Waste Composting on theImpact
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What other things can I do to help the environment?
Each
person/family has their own level of contribution to helping our
environment. There are many small steps you can take. A few examples: Buy energy saving light bulbs.
Change
your household cleaners to simple and natural. You can look up online
how to make your own cleaners using mostly baking soda, vinegar, borax,
lemon, and salt. It's much better for the air in your house as well.
When
you wash your hands, don't sit and wait for the water to get hot...
just wash in cold. You are not going to get the water hot enough to
kill germs anyway, and it wastes a lot of water to run it until the hot
comes out.
Don't keep water running while you are brushing your teeth.
Try using your bath water to water the garden.
Turn off the lights when you aren't in the room. (and use all energy saving light bulbs)
Shut down the computer when it's not in use.
Turn off any game systems when they are not in use.
Turn down the water heater, and take shorter showers.
Try
hanging your clothes to dry. We purchased a drying rack at Ikea and
hang our clothes on it. On a rainy or muggy day, we hang them on it indoors, and they dry nicely. It takes as much energy to run
most clothes dryers as it does to run an air conditioner.
Don't hold the refrigerator open, as this takes an enormous amount of energy.
Try not to drive when you don't have to. We try to run all errands in the same day, once a week. Carpool.
If
possible, try to use renewable energy, or go with an electric company
that supports renewable energy. I use Green Mountain so that I am
supporting renewable energy.
Try bringing your own re-usable
bags to the grocery store, instead of using their plastic bags.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags.html
You
can make a HUGE difference in many things by supporting small business
whenever possible. Many small businesses are more conscious of their
impact on the environment, not to mention the focus on quality and
customer service.
If
you have any further questions that you feel should be added to this
FAQ, please email me. I am happy to spend time doing research and
answering as many questions as possible. This is a work in progress!
