Babies wear diapers that's a fact of life. In fact, the average baby has 6,000 to 10,000 diaper changes before becoming toilet trained.
But the question that has generated a lot of interest and debate in recent years is: What kind of diapers should babies wear?Some mothers look upon disposable diapers as the greatest invention since the automobile - in terms of both time and mess that they save. These mothers also point out that day-care centers and many baby sitters won't allow cloth diapers because of sanitary and convenience considerations.
Others point out that not only do disposables cost more, but they never go away - and are clogging our landfills at amazing rates.
Karen Broadhead is a mother of three, two of whom are still in diapers. She uses cloth diapers provided by a diaper service, and she sees lots of advantages. "I used disposables for six months, and this is not that much more inconvenient. Cloth is cheaper, and my kids don't get diaper rash. I think it's easier to potty train them with cloth diapers, too."
She also finds the cloth diapers convenient for other uses - burping cloths, changing pads, washcloths, etc.
The diaper service picks up the soiled diapers once a week and drops off 80 clean ones. It also provides deodorants for the diaper pail. The charge is $36 a month, which she finds very reasonable.
But she admits one of the main reasons she went to cloth is because of concern for the environment. "If we don't do something now, we won't have anything to leave our kids."
However, Joy Erekson, mother of five, refuses to feel guilty for using disposable diapers. "I used cloth diapers for the first four, but now that they are older, my time is not my own. I just don't have time to deal with the hassles.
"I recycle newspapers, glass bottles, plastic jugs, carry groceries home in papers sacks and economize in enough other ways that I feel I'm doing my best for the environment."
Besides, she says, disposable-diaper companies are scrambling to make their products more environment-friendly. "I read recently about a new process that will recycle diapers into park benches. And Procter and Gamble is developing diapers that can be used for accelerated composting."
There are a lot of different considerations in the diaper question, says Marilyn Noyes, associate dean of the College of Family Life at Utah State University. "The diapering choice should be made by each family based on income, preference, lifestyle and values. If money is limited, cloth diapers with occasional use of disposables are a good choice. If time is very limited, no laundry equipment is available or there are strong personal reasons for not using cloth diapers, then disposables are a good choice."
Cloth diapers have become much easier to use in recent years, she points out. There are plastic covers with Velcro closings that eliminate the need for pins.
You do have to take care of the cloth. But the actual time involved may be deceptive, she says. According to a study she conducted where she asked women to keep records of the actual hands-on time spent caring for the diapers, it was an average of 40.5 minutes a week. (This does not include the diaper changing or cleaning the baby, which would have to be done anyway, nor does it take into account washer or dryer operation time.) "Until we asked them to start keeping track, several of the women said they would have sworn they spent all their time doing diapers." Care of cloth diapers also averaged one extra load of laundry per week.
Many women, she says, object to the unpleasantness of dealing with dirty diapers. And that is certainly understandable. "But there is a lot involved with the care of others that is not real pleasant, whether it's swishing a dirty diaper in the toilet or cleaning up after a sick child. And there is no reason that the mother should have to do it all."
Still, the convenience of disposable diapers makes them extremely popular. A recent survey conducted by Glamour magazine found that 81 percent of the respondents with children used, or currently use, disposable diapers.
Of the 19 percent who had never used disposables, 82 percent say they are concerned about the environment, 9 percent believe cloth diapers are more comfortable for their child, and another 9 percent say disposables are too expensive.
The consumer group, Environmental Action, estimates the cost of using disposables over the diaper period of a baby is approximately $1,500; diaper services are about $1,000; and buying cloth diapers and laundering them at home is about $275.
The group also estimates 18 billion disposable diapers (3 million tons) are discarded each year. Disposable diapers are the third largest single source of garbage in landfills (2 percent), behind newspapers (6.3 percent) and beverage containers (5.5 percent).
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Most babies get rash
Diaper rash is a broad term used to describe any rash that occurs in the diaper area. It may vary from mild redness to painful, open sores.
Researchers believe that diaper rash may be cause by too much moisture, chaffing and prolonged contact with the contents of urine and stool.
Diaper rash happens to most babies at one time or another. More than 60 percent of babies between 4- and 15-months get a diaper rash at least once in a two-month period. Usually, mild cases will clear up within three to four days.
The following suggestions may help reduce the chance of diaper rash:
- Change soiled diapers promptly to reduce the skin's exposure to harmful substances.
- Gently cleanse the diaper area with mild soap and warm water, using a soft cloth. A warm, shallow bath without soap or with a half-teaspoon of baking soda can keep the baby's bottom clean.
- Avoid excessive cleansing with harsh soap and/-or commercial wipes containing alcohol, which can dry and irritate the skin.
- Cloth diapers tend to reduce chances of diaper rash, but they must be rinsed thoroughly to prevent ammonia buildup. Eliminate the use of harsh detergents.
- Your baby's skin will probably do just as well without baby powder and other toiletries, since they may increase skin irritation. If you use a baby powder, use a cornstarch-based powder; talcum powder has been linked with development of pneumonia. To reduce dust, apply powder to your hands, rather than directly to your baby.
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Choosing your cover
Cloth diapers come in three basic forms: regular flat, regular prefolded and prefolded with sponge. Chief features to consider include:
- absorbency
- strength
- wicking (the ability to transfer moisture away from the baby)
- thickness
- comfort and fit
Test results at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff show that prefolded diapers with the sponge were the most absorbent. Prefolded diapers were stronger than flat diapers. Flat diapers adjust more easily to fit baby's changing size and can be used for other things besides diapers.
DISPOSABLE
Disposable diapers come in a wide variety, ranging from well-advertised name brands to often less expensive store brands. They are often found in thick or thin styles. (Generally the thinner the diaper, the less bulk and more comfort for your baby.) Features to consider include:
- absorbency
- strength
- wicking
- comfort and fit
- fabric weight
- thickness
- elongation
University of Arkansas tests show thin, store-brand diapers to be equal to or better than the name-brand diapers in all characteristics except strength and weight.
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Guide to use and care of cloth diapers
You'll need to have on hand 4 to 6 dozen diapers. A baby will use about a dozen a day.
In addition to diaper pins and plastic pants, new wraparound covers with Velcro closures and covers made of natual fibers are available.
Use a diaper pail. To prevent odors and soak diapers at the same time, fill the diaper pail with 1/8 cup liquid chlorine bleach and 2 gallons of water.
When baby soils a diaper, rinse it out in the toliet, and then soak it in the diaper pail. The bleach solution helps kill odors from bacteria present in baby diapers.
NOTE: Among bleach choices only chlorine bleach disinfects. Color safe bleaches do not.
Wash diapers in hot water with your regular detergent and 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach (per standard load) to kill bacteria and yeasts that may contribute to diaper rash. Yeasts are known to produce long-lasting, severe episodes of diaper rash. Bleach also helps eliminate laundry detergent residue which can irritate baby's skin. Use washing machine's bleach dispense. Or fill machine with water and add detergent and bleach before loading.
The regular rinse cycle will effectively remove all chlorine residue from diapers. A second rinsing is not required.
Dry diapers in automatic dryer for softest results. Fold diapers and store.
Several medical studies show babies diapered in cloth have lower incidence of diaper rash and skin irritation. The key: change diapers often and wash properly with detergent and liquid chlorine bleach to ensure fresh, bacteria-free diapers that are soft, gentle and breathable on baby's skin.