Not Your Grandma’s Cloth Diapers!Jennifer WaldonENMT 365

IntroductionCloth Diaper Misconceptions

Rubber pants, safety pins, bucket of soaking diapers

“That is way too much work for a busy mom!” “Disposables are just so convenient.”

Environmental Impact: Disposables

Take up about 2% of landfill space 18 billion diapers Or 3.4 million tons of waste 60 times more solid waste Take 500 years to break down Can build 4,610 Washington Monuments a year

Potentially spread disease 20 times more raw materials

300 lbs wood pulp 50 lbs petroleum 20 lbs chlorine

2.3 times more water Secondary impacts

Plastic and cardboard packaging Pollutant emissions to produce and deliver

Components of a Disposable Diaper

Polypropylene: • Added to liner to give cloth-like

appearance• Made of plastic

Composite Fiber• Commonly pine wood pulp

Polyacrylate• Improves absorption• Becomes a gel when wet

Polyethylene • Thin liner on outside to prevent

leaking• Decreases breathability

Contain:Dioxin: known carcinogenTBT: toxic; causes hormonal problemsPolyacrylate: taken out of tampons, caused Toxic Shock Syndrome

Social Impact: Disposables

Produced with potentially harmful chemicals Skin irritant Respiratory irritant

Longer time to potty trainPossible fertility issues in boys

Economical Impact: Disposables

More expensive than cloth Americans spend $7 billion a year $1600 per child for two years $66 a month

Environmental Impact: Cloth

Produced once and used multiple times before lifetime is over. Used 50-100 times Fewer resources needed Less waste in landfill Disintegrate in 1 to six months Makes diapering a cycle

Reduce global warming impact By 40 % if hand-me-down By 24 % alone Live more sustainably

Social Impacts: Cloth

Gaining popularity again Sales are increasing $200 million a year market

Don’t irritate asthmatics like disposables.Earlier potty training

6 months earlier

Who else is using them?

Celebrities Sarah Jessica Parker Jennifer Garner Jessica Alba Gwen Stefani Halle Berry

FriendsAcquaintancesCloth diaper community anywhere and everywhere

Economical Impacts: Cloth

Less expensive over the life of the child Collectively save $6 billion dollars a year Cost about $300 Costs one tenth disposables

Cloth diapered baby not in diapers as long, so less wear on diapers Additional savings

Potential Downsides: Cloth

Requires more work for busy mom Could require more energy and water for cleaning Larger environmental impact for cleaning More upfront costBUT… Busy? Use a cloth diaper service Decrease laundering expense

Use energy efficient washer and dryer One mom experienced only a $3 increase in electric bill Opt to line dry

Choose renewable energy supplier Look for reduced cost in long-run

Getting Started

1. Choose a diaper2. Purchase items3. Prep4. Changing5. Folding6. Laundering

Choose a Diaper

If you want the convenience of disposables Use pocket diapers:

cover and insert washed after one use

Use all-in-one diaper: no separating insert from cover

Choose a Diaper (cont.)

If you want a more economical diaper Use prefolds with

diaper cover Traditional diaper

Choose covers that are one size fits all Snaps adjust size No need to purchase

different sizes Snap or Velcro closure

Purchase Items Diapers (about 18-20) Covers (about six for prefolds and 20 for pocket) Snappi’s, or other fasteners if desired Laundry bin 2 laundry bags Wet bag for storing dirty diapers on the go Laundry detergent (free and clear)

Normal detergents inhibit absorbency For recommendations see:

http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm http://www.bummis.com/media/detergent-information.pdf

Wipes (can use washcloths or burp cloths) and holder (disposable wipe container) Sprayer to moisten cloth wipes (squirt bottle)

Prep

Wash everything! Removes natural oils from fabrics Prefolds and liners

Wash 5 to 7 times to make absorbent Hot water, and dry in between washes

Polyester fabrics and covers Wash once separately from natural fiber items Line dry covers May tumble dry inserts

Changing Prefolds

Remove prefold and place in laundry bag Wipe baby bum with moistened wipe, place in laundry bag Fold clean prefold and place in cover

All-in-one or pocket For pocket diapers remove insert from cover and place both in laundry

bag Place all-in-one in laundry bag Wipe baby bum with moistened wipe, place in laundry bag Place new diaper on baby

Don’t use diaper rash cream No need to soak diapers Only have to remove solid bowel movements

Folding

NewspaperAngel wing

Folding (cont.)

Bikini Twist

Jelly roll

Laundering Wash diapers and laundry bag every 2 to 3 days Two loads

Cold removes residue Hot with extra rinse Small amount of detergent in each

Dry diapers, covers and bags Don’t use fabric softeners or other additives Sanitize with bleach once a month Remove stains –place in sun

ConclusionThe Truth about Cloth Diapers

Simplicity of useReduce impacts

Environmental Social Economical

Address disadvantages of disposablesGaining popularity

References The American Women’s Club of Hamburg (2000, November). Hidden dangers of

disposable diapers. Retrieved from http://www.awchamburg.org/health-and-home-articles/childrens-family-health/26-hidden-dangers-of-disposable-diapers.html

Anderson, R. C., & Anderson, J. H. (1999). Acute Respiratory Effects of Diaper Emissions. Archives Of Environmental Health, 54(5), 353-358. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0c8dd455-e42f-4e89-9a7f-8ede2a8c1b44%40sessionmgr11&vid=7&hid=1

Barlow, T. (2010, April 22). 10 old-time products that make green and healthy sense today. Daily Finance. Retrieved from http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/04/22/10-old-time-products-that-make-green-and-healthy-sense-todayhold/

Booroi (2008). How to use Booroi cloth nappies. Retrieved from http://www.booroi.com.au/how_to_use

Cotton Babies, Inc. ( 2007). Cloth diapers – Just the basics. Retrieved from http://www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiapers.php#detergent

Diffin, E. (2009, April 30). Cloth diapers benefit baby health and the environment, advocates say. Retrieved from http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=127835 

Green Mountain Diapers (2012). Using prefold diapers. Retrieved from http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/howto.htm

References (cont.) Just Add Cloth (2012, January 2). The jelly roll fold with prefolds and flats. Retrieved from

http://www.justaddcloth.com/2012/01/the-jelly-roll-fold-with-prefolds-and-flats/ MSNBC.com (2009, April 21). Frugal moms use cloth diapers to save money. Retrieved from

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30330852/ns/business-retail/t/frugal-moms-use-cloth-diapers-save-money/#.T3IFuXi_GK0

Onion, A. (2005, May 26). “The diaper debate: Are disposables as green as cloth?” ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=789465&page=1#.T24sP3i_GK0

People Magazine (2009, October 20). Celebs love Smartipants reuseable cloth diapers. Retrieved from http://celebritybabies.people.com/2009/10/20/smartipants-reusable-cloth-diapers/

Real Diaper Association (2012). Real diaper facts. Retrieved from http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php

Richer Investment Diaper Consulting Services (2011). What are the components of a typical disposable diaper? Retrieved from http://disposablediaper.net/faq/what-are-the-components-of-a-typical-disposable-diaper/

Rodriguez, K. (2012, February 27). Personal communication. Sutton, M. (1991). Baby Bottoms and Environmental Conundrums: Disposable Diapers and the

Pediatrician. Pediatrics, 88(2), 386. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=0c8dd455-e42f-4e89-9a7f-8ede2a8c1b44%40sessionmgr11&vid=7&hid=1