Everyday is earth at The Diaper
Jungle and we are firmly committed to the theory that cloth diapers
help conserve environmental resources. You can help our planet by
doing something as simple as choosing how to diaper your baby. The
best part about choosing cloth diapers is that you do not need to
feel as though you are compromising. Cloth diapers are super cute
and super comfy for your baby so why in world not?
Diapers, the Welfare of
Tiny Tushies, and the Environment
During the seventies, I raised my
children on books that criticized the notions of rigid childcare,
and if I remember correctly, one authority of those days warned that
the mother could scar the child forever if she pushed a child's
toilet training. These books also alerted their readers to the fact
that those mothers who boasted of their early successes were the
ones who fooled themselves, because they were the ones aware of
their babies' elimination needs at their onset and reacted
accordingly while their babies remained untrained.
In those times, Pampers became the
way to go and they overtook their soft cloth counterparts like
wildfire. Soon, a few more disposable diaper companies followed
Pampers. Since the first one of my children developed a skin rash
with the disposables, we used cloth diapers with diaper pins.
Remember, we didn't have Velcro in those days. With my second child,
we graduated to disposables.
So much has changed since then. More
mothers are pushing toilet training to a much earlier time, some as
soon as the first couple of months of infancy. I bet they are not
scarring anybody, since the generations before mine observed the
same guidelines of these young mothers. It also seems like cloth
diapers are proven to be better for the tiny tushies according to
the most recent studies.
Yes, cloth diapers and diaper panties
are in the vogue again, after the realization that disposables crowd
the landfills the most and are not truly biodegradable; plus, more
than two decades ago, a Canadian pediatrician advised that
disposables, according to his studies, caused more frequent and
severe diaper rashes. Companies that produced disposables have
conducted their own studies and they claimed that disposables are
safe and eco-friendly. The studies done by the environmental
agencies and public health offices, however, have pointed to some
very different conclusions compared to those studies done by the
companies. Most parents, therefore, have become proponents of cloth
diapers, today.
Opposed to the long rectangle or
large square of the soft cloth diapers of the sixties and the
seventies, cloth diapers of today come in different fabrics and
styles.
First, there are pre-fold diapers
that can be placed inside waterproof covers to hold the diaper in
place. Then, there are contoured diapers that fold to a baby's shape
and fit inside a cover. There are also fitted diapers that are held
in place at the waist with Velcro over which the baby wears a
waterproof panty.
Then, the best option is probably
those diapers with beautiful and entertaining designs where the
diaper and the cover are sewn together. The soft cloth, printed
diapers with matching waterproof fleece covers look very chic,
especially when their print is the same as the receiving blanket and
other clothing articles of the infant.
If you do not hesitate to use your
washing machine at home for the baby's diapers, probably cloth
diapers are the best for your budget, your baby's skin, and the
environment. Ideally, all soil on the diaper should be rinsed off
into the toilet first and the diapers should be stored in a covered
pail with some mild detergent in warm water until the next wash.
Then, you can put the diapers in the washing machine with no
misgivings, and if you feel you need to take extra measures, you can
run the washing machine empty after washing the baby's diapers.
On the other hand, you might consider
using a diaper service, which could be too costly for the typical
family. On the average, a diaper service costs 40 to 70 dollars a
month, based on two diapers a day. Yes, there is a count and an
average baby will need to be changed a lot more often than twice a
day.
While we are at the subject of the
diapers, let's not forget the importance of the diaper bag most
mothers and baby care-givers would be lost without. Nowadays, the
modern diaper bags can be attached to a stroller with clips and they
are much fancier than their plastic predecessors of the seventies.
Not only do they look trendy on the outside, but also they are
functional inside with pockets for cell phones, wallets, and keys,
plus changing pads, cases for wipes, and nylon linings to prevent
spills.
Caring for a baby's elimination needs
may be deemed a selfless act, but it is still a chore. It can,
however, be turned into a productive and loving task that is safe
for the baby and is also environment friendly.
This article has been submitted by
Joy Cagil in affiliation with
http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for
Baby Names.
