Cloth vs. Disposable

Which is Best?
The debate between which type of nappy is best is not an easy question to answer. The reusable cloth nappy isn’t what it used to be. Some cloth nappies now have double or triple layers and a multiply, fibre-filled strip, making them more absorbent than older styles. Some styles of cloth nappies now come with Velcro strips, eliminating the need for those large safety pins. You can launder them at home or turn the job over to a nappy service.

There are also various types and styles of disposable nappies, ranging from simple plastic covered paper nappies to the newest high-tech, cartoon covered, absorbent gel material filled, elastic legged disposables.

With so many different choices, here are some things to take into consideration.

Skin Care & Health concerns:
The greatest concern for parents is to keep their baby’s skin dry, healthy and free from nappy rash. Many things can cause nappy rash. Prolonged wetness, lack of air circulation, soap, chemical and dye allergies, ammonia formed by bacteria that interacts with urine left sitting against the skin and the growth of microbes in the nappy area can all be irritating and cause rashes.

Some concerns about disposable nappies have been about dyes, sodium polyacrylate (the super absorbent gel), and dioxin, which is a by-product of bleaching paper. Some dyes and dioxin according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the USA, is known to cause damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver. Sodium polyacrylate has been linked in the past to toxic shock syndrome, allergic reactions and is very harmful and potentially lethal to pets. The (FDA) Food & Drug Administration in the USA, has received reports that fragrances in disposables caused headaches, dizziness and rashes. Problems reported to the Consumer Protection Agency in the USA, regarding disposables include, chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odours, babies pulling disposables apart and putting pieces of plastic into their noses and mouth, choking on tab papers and linings, plastic melting onto the skin, and ink staining the skin. Plastic tabs can also tear skin if the nappy is not properly put on the baby.

According to the Journal of Paediatrics in the USA, 54 % of one-month old babies using disposable nappies had rashes, 16 % having severe rashes. A study done by a disposable nappies manufacturing company (we won’t name the company, but its one of the largest manufacturers) shows that the incidence of nappy rash increased from 7.1% to 61% with the increased use of throwaway disposable nappies.

Keep in mind that each baby is different; some parents will find their baby does perfectly fine with disposables while other parents may find their baby has some type of reaction to disposables.

On the other hand cloth nappies can cause rashes by not being changed enough or properly cleaned and sanitized after becoming soiled.

It is all a matter of personal preference, how your baby is reacting to a particular nappy and how you feel about other factors that come into play when deciding between cloth and disposables.

The best way to prevent nappy rash is to change nappies, cloth or disposable, frequently. While disposable nappies can hold large quantities of urine, this slight wetness is still against your baby’s skin, which can lead to rashes. Cloth nappies should be changed every time your baby wets and then the nappy should be properly cleaned so all bacteria that may be in the cloth is killed.

Cost:
The cost of nappies is usually a great concern for most parents. However, as most parents find out, cost becomes less important since studies show using disposables, home laundered cloth nappies or using a nappy service usually all cost about the same. Based on cost comparisons done in the USA show you will spend approximately $75 a month for disposables (with wipes), $75 a month for a nappy service and $60 a month for washing your own cloth nappies. But since your time is valuable and when you take into consideration the cost of electricity, soap, water, and wear on your washing machine, all the choices mentioned above usually equal out to cost about the same. As a final note, if you compare the cost of the fanciest high tech disposable nappies to the cost of laundering your own cloth nappies, you will save money by using cloth nappies.

Environment:
There has been much debate over the impact of disposable nappies and cloth nappies on the environment. The pro-disposable nappy advocates say that the extra water used to wash cloth nappies is just as much of an abuse to the environment as the production and disposal of disposable nappies. But taking into consideration the following estimates you will probably agree that disposable nappies are much more harmful to the environment than cloth nappies.

It is estimated that roughly 5 million tons of untreated waste and a total of 2 billion tons of urine, faeces, plastic and paper are added to landfills annually. It takes around 36,000 Kg of plastic and over 200,000 trees a year to manufacture the disposable nappies for American babies alone. Although some disposables are said to be biodegradable; in order for these nappies to decompose, they must be exposed to air (oxygen) and sun. Since this is highly unlikely, it can take several hundred years for the decomposition of disposables to take place, with some of the plastic material never decomposing.

The untreated waste placed in landfills by dirty disposable nappies is also a possible danger to contaminating ground water. Pro-disposable advocates say that cleaning cloth nappies uses more energy, and contributes to the load on sanitary sewer systems and potential water pollution. This view really makes no sense if you think about it. The amount of water used per week to wash disposable nappies at home is about the same amount consumed by an adult flushing the toilet four or five times daily for a week. Also, the greater amount of water and energy being used by nappy service companies to wash large amounts of cloth nappies multiple times; the per nappy impact on energy and water supplies is actually less than home washing.

Finally, when flushing solids from a cloth nappy down the toilet and washing the nappies in a washing machine, the contaminated, dirty water from both toilet and washing machine go into the sewer systems where they are properly treated at wastewater plants. This treated wastewater is much more environmentally friendly than dumping untreated soiled disposable nappies into a landfill.

Convenience:
With the newer style of cloth nappies that are on the market, disposable nappies are not much more convenient that cloth nappies. The new multiple layer, Velcro fastening cloth nappies are just as easy to put on and take off as disposables. Cloth nappies do not really need to be pre-soaked, or even rinsed out. Flushable liners can be used with cloth nappies that let you lift the soiled liner off the cloth and flush the liner and the poop down the toilet. If you don’t use liners, you can just dump the older baby’s solids down the toilet. Cloth nappies usually only add about 2 extra loads of laundry a week to your schedule.

Disposable nappies are more convenient when travelling because you can just throw the dirty nappies away without carrying them around for washing. Disposables also require fewer changes because of the super absorbent materials; but taking into consideration the increased risks of rash and the extra impact on the environment, your decision should be made with much thought.

Summary:
The choice between the different types of nappies available is a matter of personal preference while taking into consideration all of the topics discussed above. There really is no one best type of nappy that is good for every baby. Deciding to use cloth or disposable nappies depends on your lifestyle, personal preference, finances and your concern for the environment. Some parents combine the two, using cloth at home and disposable when they are going to be out all day. The choice that is right for you and your baby may be different from the one that's right for your friend and her baby. The best thing to do is know the advantages and disadvantages between cloth and disposable nappies, talk with your doctor, discuss it with your partner and make a decision on what you think is best for your baby. Whichever nappy you decide on now, you may find that your baby develops nappy rash more frequently later or has some type of allergic reaction. This could be sensitivity to your choice. If this occurs, don't fight it, just switch. Try a different type of nappy, a different brand or go from cloth to paper or vice versa. If your baby ever shows signs of having a reaction to a nappy you should always notify your doctor. The reaction you might be seeing could just be a small rash, but it could be a more severe allergic reaction. Your doctor can tell you exactly what it is and what you should do.