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The Cloth Diaper Debate
Before my lovely son was born, I fancied using cloth diapers instead of disposables. However, everyone around me, especially the grandmas-to-be, persuaded me not to do so: "You'll be chained to doing laundry all day!" "It's very tedious and messy!"
Fast forward eight months. My son had been wearing Pampers and Huggies since day one, but I switched him to gDiapers. I fully aimed to switch him to cloth later on.
For those haven't heard of gDiapers, it is a system consisting of a cloth cover, a washable waterproof liner which snaps onto the cloth cover, and a disposable pad which holds the moisture. It is a "green" system because the pad is biodegradable, can be flushed into a toilet (even a septic tank) or thrown into composite.
While the gDiapers are more earth-friendly than regular disposable diapers like Pampers, it is also more expensive. Because of the cost factor, some eco-conscious parents opted to use greener disposables like Nature Baby or Seventh Generation instead of going gDiapers.
Actually, the gDiapers system can become cheaper--by switching the disposable pad with a cloth insert. A crafty Mama can sew one with the right fabrics, or they can be purchased online from various fellow gMoms.
I bought the gDiapers just to prove to everyone else (especially grandparents) how easy cloth diapering has become. In their minds, they still associated cloth diapers with a piece of flat fabric fastened together with safety pins. I even bought disposable liners so I don't have to worry (too much) about washing poo off the diapers.
There are still a few obstacles: I probably have to do laundry every other day, cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently, going out can be a PITA, and the daycare centre might not do cloth diapers. I will keep everyone posted on my cloth diaper journey.
Fast forward eight months. My son had been wearing Pampers and Huggies since day one, but I switched him to gDiapers. I fully aimed to switch him to cloth later on.
For those haven't heard of gDiapers, it is a system consisting of a cloth cover, a washable waterproof liner which snaps onto the cloth cover, and a disposable pad which holds the moisture. It is a "green" system because the pad is biodegradable, can be flushed into a toilet (even a septic tank) or thrown into composite.
While the gDiapers are more earth-friendly than regular disposable diapers like Pampers, it is also more expensive. Because of the cost factor, some eco-conscious parents opted to use greener disposables like Nature Baby or Seventh Generation instead of going gDiapers.
Actually, the gDiapers system can become cheaper--by switching the disposable pad with a cloth insert. A crafty Mama can sew one with the right fabrics, or they can be purchased online from various fellow gMoms.
I bought the gDiapers just to prove to everyone else (especially grandparents) how easy cloth diapering has become. In their minds, they still associated cloth diapers with a piece of flat fabric fastened together with safety pins. I even bought disposable liners so I don't have to worry (too much) about washing poo off the diapers.
There are still a few obstacles: I probably have to do laundry every other day, cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently, going out can be a PITA, and the daycare centre might not do cloth diapers. I will keep everyone posted on my cloth diaper journey.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joanna Trusdle on -
All I can say is - whew!! I'm glad I'm done with all of that! :) I did try cloth diapers with my first baby, and ended up with leaks every time, and I hated the laundry aspect of it. Thus, both of my babies were Huggies babies, and in my time, there was no such thing as 'nature friendly' diapers. I probably would have used them if they had been available. Best of luck on your adventure, and oh by the way, I would be surprised if the daycare centre accepted cloth diapers. I think I would use the disposables for those occasions.
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Permalink Reply by Joanna on -
I think gDiaper is a very nice idea! So you have to actually only wash the liner? Is it a lot more work than typical diaper then? Even so, I agree that we should all go an extra mile to contribute to save the environment...
Also, howis it different than Nature Baby or Seventh Generation?
Do keep us updated on your cloth diaper journey!!
Joanna -
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Wong on -
The liner doesn't have to be washed every change (unless, of course, you get number twos, which tend to be messy anyway).
Neither Nature Baby and Seventh Generations are 100% biodegradable and both still contain some petroleum-based plastics. The gDiapers flushies are.
BTW, the cheapest place to order flushies is with Amazon.com's Subscribe and Save program. Not that they ship to Canada... :( -
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Permalink Reply by Kelly Ann Kortright on
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good for you thats great!!!
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