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I'm thinking about cloth diapers but...:
Are cloth diapers really better for the environment?
Yes! There are several old stories on the internet that were sponsored by disposable diaper companies that lead people to question the validity of using cloth diapers. Many people worry about the amount of water used to clean disposables, however laundering cloth diapers uses far less water per diaper then disposables. In addition to the water used to manufacture disposables there is also the wood pulp, chlorine and petroleum that go into each disposable diaper thrown away. The largest environmental problem with disposable products is our shrinking landfill space and the huge cost to taxpayers of disposable and throw-away items. More than 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown away each year in the United States!
My partner is not interested in using cloth diapers, how can I convince them?
We hear this all the time. When most people think of cloth diapers they are envisioning the flat, white diaper, fastened with pins and that look leaky and prone to messes. Today's cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables and much healthier for your baby.
One way to approach the subject is to have an actual example of what a modern cloth diaper looks like or take them to a baby boutique and let them see for themselves the array of cloth diapers and how easy they can be. Many partners's actually become cloth diaper advocates (Click here for a story about one such father).
Other talking points that people have used to successfully convince their significant other revolve around the Do Good Diapers 4 C's of cloth diapering:
Convenient: Faster potty training, less trips to the store, no more lugging around bulky boxes of disposables.
Cost Effective: 2 years of cloth diapers vs. 3 years of disposables (average) due to faster potty training.
Comfortable: Soft, breathable cotton on your baby's skin vs. cold plastic diapers filled with chemicals
Conservation: Helping the environment by keeping diapers out of landfills.
Do day-cares let me use cloth diapers?
More and more daycares and Montessori schools understand the benefits of cloth diapers and are allowing parents to use cloth diapers. Usually they require that you provide your own wet bag so they can return your diapers to parents at the end of the day. It never hurts to ask! Some parents also choose to use cloth diapers at home and disposables at daycare. Everything we can do helps.
Can I use them when I go out?
Today's cloth diapers are so easy to use that anyone can put one on. Just bring a waterproof wet bag out or provide one for your caregiver. All they have to do is toss the diaper in the wet bag, and store until you get it home and can throw it in your diaper pail.
Are they easy for babysitters and grandparents to use?
Most people are surprised to find out just how easy cloth diapers are to put on. It is more of a mindset most people have to get over. Give them a quick tutorial on how to fold and flap and away they go!
Do I have to use them everywhere, all the time?
While it would be best to say ?yes,' with our modern lifestyles there is a place for disposables. Traveling on plane, long vacations, etc. are great examples. Some people use cloth all day and a disposable at night, others use disposables at day care and cloth the rest of the time. It's all a personal choice. At the end of the day cloth diapers help keep your baby healthy and our landfills from filling up!
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