by the City of Toronto, Department of Public Health
(May be reproduced for free distribution)
]
Parents today have the chance to choose diapers that are good
for baby . . . and for the environment. Think of the five C's as
you make your diaper choice: Conservation, Cleanliness,
Convenience, Comfort and Cost.
This guide highlights the benefits and drawbacks to the
different choices in diapers. But the bottom line is you want
your baby to be as clean and comfortable as possible.
Do-It-Yourself Diapering - Cotton diapers are a
renewable resource. When they have served their purpose they are
great for washing your bicycle, stuffing cushions or using as
household rags.
Diaper Service - When they wear out, the diaper
services sell them for use as industrial rags. There is no extra
load on landfill and the extra cost of laundering them is far
less than the energy used in making "disposable"
diapers.
"Disposable" Diapers
- It's hard to think of anything that is more wasteful of our
resources than "disposable" diapers. Every
year, Toronto babies account for a million green garbage bags of
soiled diapers, which cost $500,000 to pick up and take to
landfill sites. It takes 30,000 trees and 450 tonnes of
plastic each year to make "disposable" diapers
for these Toronto babies.
Do-It-Yourself Diapering - Home-washed diapers
are perfectly clean and safe for your baby. Our laundry tips
below will show you how.
Diaper Service - Cloth diapers are washed in
accredited and inspected laundries.
"Disposable" Diapers
- Every diaper is brand new, so cleanliness is assured. But you
must shake soiled diapers into the toilet. Nobody wants soiled
diapers in their garbage or landfill sites.
Do-It-Yourself Diapering - Cloth diapers are not
what they used to be. Today there are many styles to choose from.
Many are easy to use because they have Velcro® or tie
strips instead of pins.
Diaper Service - Diaper services will call once
or twice a week. All you have to do is shake stool into the
toilet and store wet diapers in a disinfected container provided
by the diaper service. Many take credit cards.
"Disposable" Diapers
- You may never need to worry about clean laundry, but you DO
have to buy and lug home heavy packages every week.
Do-It-Yourself Diapering - Babies are
comfortable if they are changed when they need to be. Cotton is a
soft natural material. Numerous studies have failed to show that
diaper rash is any more common in healthy babies using cotton
diapers. It appears that good hygiene is the best way to prevent
diaper rash. If you use pins, keep them in a bar of soap (out
of baby's reach) to make it easier to push the pins through
the cloth. You might find it helpful to double-diaper at night to
prevent leakage.
Diaper Service - See the section above on
do-it-yourself diapering.
"Disposable" Diapers
- There is no fear of sticking pins in baby. Babies do tend to
wear disposable diapers for longer times between changes, perhaps
because the new ones are extra-absorbent. Babies may get a rash
from the perfumes in some diapers.
Do-It-Yourself Diapering - The cost of buying
and laundering enough diapers during your baby's diaper days can
range from $600 up, depending on the diaper design and whether
you have your own washing machine, or need to use a laundry room
or laundromat.
Diaper Service - An average of $1,600 over the 2
1/2 years a typical child is in diapers. This varies, depending
on what diapers you choose and how often you change your baby.
"Disposable" Diapers
- An average of $1,600 over 2 1/2 years a typical child is in
diapers.
Check your baby often for wetness and change diapers whenever
wet.
Wash a newborn baby's bottom with warm water at every diaper
change. You can use the inside front of the diaper to wipe stool
off baby's skin. Wipe girls from front to back to avoid
infections. Use mild soap and rinse baby well. Older babies don't
need such frequent washing.
Shake soiled diapers into the toilet.
Pat baby's bottom dry, or allow to air-dry before diapering.
Do not use powder. Baby may inhale it. A cream is a good
moisture barrier - - but don't share diaper cream or lotion among
babies.
Nylon pants worn over cloth diapers will reduce leakage and
allow baby's skin to breathe. Plastic pants don't let in air.
Wash your hands after every diaper change. Whether you use
cloth or "disposable" diapers,
washing your hands prevents the spread of infection.
Fill diaper pail 3/4 full of water for soaking soiled diapers.
Add 3/4 cup of white vinegar to "deodorize"
the pail.
Wash no more than 24 diapers at a time, in the highest
water level and hottest water. Use detergent, and an extra rinse
cycle if your baby is prone to diaper rashes.
You don't need to bleach as long as you soak soiled diapers.
Bleach cuts down the life of diapers. You could choose
chlorine-free bleach or washing soda.
A 3/4 cup of white vinegar in the final rinse will help reduce
diaper rash. Fabric softeners should not be necessary.
There is no doubt that using cloth diapers is the most
environmentally-friendly diapering choice. Keep in mind that
using a combination of cloth and "disposable"
diapers is a step in the right direction.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Call the
Environmental Protection Office at (416)392-6788 or call your local health unit.
This article compliments of Born to Love
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