Washable Diaper Barriers

I wrote my doctoral dissertation, in part, on seeing if I could get New Yorkers to switch from disposables to diaper services. (My dissertation is online: http://geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~mclarke/DissertationChapter1.htm )

As I recall, at the time (in the 1990s) diaper services were on a par with buying disposable diapers, cost-wise, and they'd provide pick up and delivery in the bucket you'd use to deposit used ones. And as I recall, washing diapers at home was quite a bit cheaper.


Maggie Clarke
Maggie Clarke Environmental
United States
www.maggieclarkeenvironmental.com

I used washable, cloth diapers with both my children.

It is difficult to use cloth diapers if you are a mother/father who travels to different places with their children. With proper planning though you can still do it. Sustainable practices require planning ahead (example; reusable cups, reusable dishes for going out to restaurants for leftovers, puchasing organic milk, produce and meat).

Make sure you have a way to store the dirty cloth diaper when changing your child, a ziplock bag or a container, so the diaper doesn't emit any offending smells.

Once home, soak and rinse soiled diapers in a bucket prior to washing them in the washing machine at home. Vinegar and baby detergent are great for washing the cloth diapers at home.

The quality of fabric that the cloth diapers are made of is another important factor. I noticed when I purchased the cheaper cloth diapers, they fell apart more often when washed verses the pricer cloth brands. I ended up purchasing more cloth diapers when I purchased the cheaper brands, which didn't save me money in the long run.

Children's skin conditions are also a consideration when using cloth diapers. If a child has sensitive skin, cloth diapers need to be checked more often. You may need to use disposable diapers during times of diaper rashes, etc... to control the skin condition.

Another cost is the purchase of rubber pants which are worn over the cloth diaper. As your child grows, you will need to buy different sized pants. The elastic legs need to be snug to keep the diaper from leaking. Rubber pants need to be washed too. Plan ahead to have enough rubber pants on the go and make sure the elastic on the leg holes is durable.

Thought I would share my experience with cloth diapers with you.

Lisa Perschke
Business Recycle Coordinator
Recycle Ann Arbor
United States
www.recycleannarbor.org

The short answer is I don't know of any research. I would imagine there are annual conventions/trade shows in Toronto similar to the ones we have in Calgary for Parents and Children, which might be a good place to set up a booth and get some survey information from visitors.

Like Lisa from Ann Arbor, we chose washable diapers for our first child and plan to use them for our second. From experience I would say the 'yuck factor' of packing dirty diapers in ziplocks and washing them (even if you are just tossing them into the washing machine from a bucket and not pre-hand washing) may be too much for some people in this day and age. As well, as a water conservationist I found myself flushing the toilet a few extra times a day for baby's diaper deposits before filling the washing machine and washing a load of diapers every day (on extra rinse to reduce any chance of biofouling the washer). I would guess each diaper stage child would increase home water use by about 100 litres per day for the average home in Canada. I guess I won't be watering my yard again this year!

As well, now that there are a few more options for disposable diapers (eg. President's Choice Green Diapers) - this industry reaction to a washable diaper resurgence may be a barrier as well. That is, the perception of most people may be that they are still trying to 'do their part' even if their diapers are going to landfill.

A side by side comparison of the water and energy employed in creating, delivering, using (re-using) and washing or landfilling various types of diapers (disposable and washable) would be interesting and I think would help address some mis-conceptions either way.

Good luck!



Aaron Boulton-Chaykowski
Water Management Analyst
City of Calgary, Water Resources
Canada

There are resources available at both:

http://realdiaperindustry.org
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/

MaryEllen  Etienne
Executive Director
Reuse Alliance
United States
www.reusealliance.org

When I was growing up we only used cloth diapers as there was not another choice. My mother made form fitting ones. I do remember that there were diaper liners that you could get most of the solids out and flush them without a full wash. It also helped to keep the moisture away from the baby's bottom.
With our own kids we used cloth at home and disposable while traveling. It seemed to be a good compromise.

Bear Slothower
HSE Superintendent
Kennecott Land
United States

A side-by-side comparison conducted by Franklin Associates in 1993 is discussed in the Union of Concerned Scientists' book "The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices" (authors Michael Brower and Warren Leon. They also discuss some earlier studies of the question. (The conculstion UCS came to after reviewing it all is that the environmental difference is too close to call so you can use which ever works for you.)

Kate Melby
Emmet County Recycling
United States

In the debate, unfortunately people seem to lose sight of the better answer...toilet training earlier/putting babies over potties. Yes, it's more effort but (trying not to be smug) no poo in the cloth nappies for my bub before she was even 1! I don't understand why people don't use potties earlier; we don't think "kids don't talk in sentences til they're 2 so we will only talk in baby words to them til then"...the typical thinking and resultant behavioural outcomes for potty training just mean more nappies for longer. Unfortunately so many sustainability debates lose sight of the broader issues and more desirable outcomes!

Pen Somers
Australia

If the Union of Concerned Scientists conclusion after reviewing it all is that the environmental difference is too close to call so you can use which ever works for you was based on data from 1993, it might be time to do another study. In the US washing machines have become much more efficient in terms of both hot water, and electricity to power the motor. Disposable diaper technology has evolved into a world of new products not available in 93.



Mel Tremper
United States

And there are some nasty materials in the disposable diapers that won't decompose in landfills or make some nasty emissions in incinerators.

Maggie Clarke
Maggie Clarke Environmental
United States
www.maggieclarkeenvironmental.com

Thank you very much for all of your comments! I think I am ready to start writing my paper.

Eteri Rustamova
University of Toronto
Canada

Hi Eteri - if you want a UK view check out "the Nappy Lady" website.
From personal experience, I used washable all the time with my first child, but used disposables some of the time with my second, as I keep running out of washing machine time, am generally more tired and take the easier option more often. Plus didn't help that the UK Environment Agency life cycle analysis came down against, based on energy used washing and drying. Although as with other studies this was based on cotton nappies and didn't take into account fleece and other newer materials now commonly in use.

Claire Herring
Ms
Claire Herring Associates
United Kingdom

Hi,
It might help you to know that in New Zealand and many other countries diapers are known as nappies. Here are some links to websites and articles about composting nappies.
http://www.envirocomp.co.nz/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/334581
http://www.greenchoices.org/index.php/baby-nappies

Cheers
Frances Forsyth


Frances Forsyth
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Canada

Hi again!!!
Thank you all for all of the tips and contributions. All of the information that i have recieved here was very helpfull. I have another question.
Which strategies wouldbe most effective to promote new parents to switch from disposable diapers to cloth?
In my opinion some brochures in doctor's office would have been helpful for me, with facts and cost and places where these cloth diapers are available. Any ideas?
Thank you very much!

Eteri Rustamova
University of Toronto
Canada

This is a tough one. I didn't manage to persuade any of my disposable using friends to use cloth, even though I raved about how easy it was, fun designs, money saved etc. Everyone I know who used cloth was already environmentally conscious and would have done it anyway.

Maybe midwives / antenatal support are key - once you have started using a system it is hard to get people to change course.

Claire Herring
Ms
Claire Herring Associates
United Kingdom

Hi. I recommend starting with the hospitals. 10-15 years ago in Australia the midwives would show you how to fold and put on a cloth nappy while you were still in hospital with your new-born. Now they give you a pack of Huggies. Much less washing for them but it doesn't equip a new parent to try anything different. The fitted washable nappies are also reasonably expensive to buy if you then decide it's not going to work in your family.

I would also recommend making the book 'The Diaper Free Baby' available as a resource in child health clinics etc. Until I read this book (with my second child)it didn't occur to me that babies could be out of nappies at such a young age.

Lisa Stockwell
HR Manager
Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers
Australia