Organic Cotton Diaper Duty Is It Really The Right Choice For Baby's Best Health?
Babies are sensitive.
Lets face it - their little bums are covered almost 24 hours a day for 2-3 years. Did you know that unlike disposables, an organic cotton diaper is free of toxic chemicals that touch your baby's skin?
How Dangerous Are Disposables?
There may always be a debate over disposables versus cloth diapers. It really boils down to your values as a parent. Your choices depend on your desires - health, comfort, cost, convenience and environmental friendliness. But knowledge is power. The bottom line is that parents want the best for their babies.
There's no question that disposable diapers are convenient and hassle-free but at what risk?
They are severely damaging to your child's health and their environment. The materials used to make disposables go through rigorous chemical processing before these diapers ever hit baby's bottom. That involves not only the outer waterproof layer, but highly toxic chemicals are used to create the super-absorbent padding that touches baby's tender skin.
These chemicals are used to create the wonder material that turns wetness into gel, leaving baby to feel drier. Having said that, babies wearing disposables are often left sitting in their own urine for longer periods than if they wore cloth.
Chemicals also lead to diaper rash and soreness, especially for babies with extra sensitive skin. The harsh texture and tightness can leave marks on babies; a sign that they are ill-fitting and obviously uncomfortable.
The harsh chemicals including heavy metals, solvents and dioxins are next to your baby's delicate skin. Those toxins are absorbed into your infant's body every single day. And, it's expensive to keep your baby's bottom enclosed in such unhealthy packaging.
Baby's Health Risks
There are numerous possible health risks associated with the use of chemicals in disposable diapers; all of which are shocking. Here are only a few:
Because disposable diapers lock in heat, urinary tract infection and infertility have been linked their use.
may also cause anal bleeding
Dioxin is a by-product of bleaching paper
most toxic of all cancer linked chemicals
causes immune system suppression, liver disease, genetic damage, birth defects
Sodium polyarcylate, which absorbs and holds fluid, is linked to toxic shock syndrome, but used in disposable diapers
causes allergic reactions
lethal to cats if inhaled
ingestion of 5 grams can cause death
Tribulytin (TBT) is a chemical compound of carbon, hydrogen and tin used in wood preservatives, textile disinfectants, pulp pesticide and as an additive in plastics
one of the most toxic substances ever made by man
absorbed through the skin
harmful to immune system
impairs hormonal system
Dyes and fragrances
dyes are known to damage liver, kidneys and central nervous system
fragrances reportedly cause headache, dizziness and rash (including chemical burns)
Adults who work with these chemicals suffer from mild to severe health issues including respiratory problems, fatigue, weight loss, fever, vomiting, infections, infertility, athsma and cancer, to name a few. An infant's immune system is still developing - so what is happening to their little bodies???
Organic Cotton Diaper - The Solution You're Looking For?
Organic diapers are infinitely better for babies, and are quickly becoming the preferred diaper. Why?
Aside from the severe health and environmental risks, they are actually more convenient now than in the days of our mothers and grandmothers.
Innovative designs have created a better, softer, more comfortable fit for baby. They provide a more natural environment by being hypoallergenic, fragrance free and chemical free. The softness and absorbency of organic cloth prevents chaffing and irritation.
Many mothers agree that cloth diapers keep their babies drier with fewer rashes and infections. That's because organic cotton diapers "breathe" so baby's body heat is not locked in, causing bacteria growth.
There are several convincing "pros" for organic cloth diapering:
provide a safer diapering solution for your infant
no chlorinated, bleached and other harmful chemicals touch baby's skin
allow for a more natural immune system development
accurately monitor baby's urine output
provide excellent softness, absorbency and comfort
durable and long-lasting
create far less waste
substantially save you money
have become more convenient
waste doesn't clog landfills and tax the environment
made from renewable resources
Switching to organic cotton diapers can be easy and convenient, even with the busiest lifestyle. They're even trendy and cute. Modernized cloth diapers makes it easier for any parent to find a style they love to wear on baby. Several have built-in snaps or fasteners and come in a range of style and sizes and fabrics, including organic cotton,
bamboo
and hemp.
Cloth diapers are durable, lasting through from infancy to potty training. Cloth diaper fans believe that the transition to training pants is easier for toddlers since cloth doesn't mask the sensation of wetness.
Organic cotton diapers are more comfortable. Adults don't keep their bottoms enclosed in paper and plastic. Feel the difference for yourself - rub an organic cotton diaper and a disposable against your cheek. Which softness would you prefer for your infant?
Diaper Liners
Liners are not a necessity, but supplementing organic cotton diapers with soft diaper liners helps make cleanup a breeze.
Diaper liners allow moisture to pass through into the diaper but keep solids from being soaked in. Just pull the liner up, flush the poop, and discard. instead. Several Moms have reported that they wash and reuse liners that just been wet and not soiled, saving even more money.
Liners don't add much in the way of extra absorbency, so choose doublers made from organic cotton or hemp for heavy wetters or nighttime.
Some parents opt for washable organic cotton liners, while others prefer 100% flushable and biodegradable. These are usually made from paper pulp,which does make them a good compromise between cloth and disposables.
Organic Diaper Covers
Organic diaper covers add extra protection against leaks by providing a lightweight waterproof barrier. Daytime provide a slim fit under clothing and are usually lighter than nighttime covers.
Diaper rash and discomfort is often caused by lack of air circulation. As opposed to disposable diapers or plastic pants, organic diaper covers provide breathability.
To complete your diaper ensemble, use organic cotton and organic wool diaper covers, which provide natural waterproofing.
Save Money!
Doing diaper duty can be expensive.
Consumer Reports have estimated that the average baby requires $2000-$2500 in disposable diapers over 3 years. Depending on where you live, diaper services may cost around $1800-$2000 during that time.
Buying organic cotton diapers would require about $300 to get started with a total of about $600 by the time you potty train. Newborn babies require an average of 10-12 diapers per day, so buying two dozen would be and ample amount, allowing you to launder every second day. Children require less diapers as they get older, which saves you money compared to disposables.
Laundering
Remember to always wash your diapers in hot water before the first use to make them soft, plush and fluffy.
Don't use bleach or whiteners of any kind. Instead, hang in the sunshine - it really works!
Add 3/4 cup of white vinegar to your diaper pail to soak and deodorize soiled diapers.
Rinse well or run them through a cold wash cycle first to prevent stains.
Use the hot water (not super-heated on new washer models) and the highest water level.
Don't overload your washer; fewer diapers at a time results in better cleaning.
Detergent is very important and you may have to do a little research. Use environmentally friendly detergents and avoid anything that "brightens or whitens."
Fabric softeners are not necessary, adding 3/4 cup vinegar to final rinse helps reduce diaper rash.
Know when your diapers are clean, cause there should be no smell.
Diaper services most often use chemicals, so if you want to be chemical-free, be sure to ask.
Baby's Environment
The environment may not be the first thing you think of when you're considering diapers for your baby, but protecting it for your children's future is worthy of attention. There are few things more wasteful and devastating than disposable diapers.
The world environment is severely threatened by the use of millions of tons of trees used to produce disposable diapers. Dangerous chemicals and billions of gallons of oil are used to process the pulp and thousands of tons of plastic into an unhealthy product of convenience.
Babies will use about 5000 diapers by the time they are potty trained. Multiply that by the number of babies, and the result is billions of tons of disposable diapers dumped into our land fills each year. Chemicals contained in the diapers leach into the environment and have lingering effects.
That is aside from the raw fecal matter that breeds viruses and threatens all life, including human.
Disposables are not biodegradable and will take hundreds of years to break down, if ever. Is that the world we want to leave our babies and their children?
Organic diapers are no doubt the most environmentally friendly, but even using a combination of organic diapers and disposables is a huge step in the right direction.
Care What You Wear...
So Where Do You Get Started?
Here's some great places to go for all your organic diaper needs:
Aside from the severe health and environmental risks, they are actually more convenient now than in the days of our mothers and grandmothers.
Diaper rash and discomfort is often caused by lack of air circulation. As opposed to disposable diapers or plastic pants, organic diaper covers provide breathability.