The Bite:
Not the usual junk, we're talkin' chems in disposable diapers that aren't great for babies, baby-daddies, or Mama Earth. Then there's the landfills full of nasty nappies. Junk the junk, and try bio or cloth diapers instead.
Is there more in your baby's diaper than you bargained for?
11.15.2007
Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 1:08am.
The Benefits:
- Big savings. Babies go through about 6,700 diapers before they're potty-trained; cloth diapers washed at home cost $0.03 per use, while disposables costs about $0.22 each.
- Tons less waste. Disposable diapers produce at least 70 times more waste than cloth diapers, and Americans trash 18 bil diapers each year.
- Better for baby. A 1999 study found that lab mice exposed to conventional disposable diapers experienced eye, nose, and throat irritation, and advised asthmatic parents to steer clear.
- Biter options. Not into cloth? New diapers offer convenient inserts that break down in 150 days or fewer (versus 500 years for standard disposable ones).
Personally Speaking:
Heather's always cringed a bit when she's had to change cloth diapers, but when she has kids, she's not putting sodiumpolyacri-something anywhere near their cute, little bums.
Wanna Try:
From most-eco to least-eco:
- Under the Nile Adjustable Velcro Diaper - washable, organic-cotton terrycloth diapers - no pins necessary; great unless you live in an area where water is scarce, in which case the bio ones are a better bet ($13).
- National Association of Diaper Services - find a cloth diaper service in your area.
- gDiapers Starter Kit - easy-to-use kit that comes with refillable, biodegradable diaper liners you can flush, so you don't have to wash them after each use ($27).
- Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Diapers - bleached with hydrogen peroxide (not eco-unfriendly chlorine); for Biters who can't give up disposables ($35).
Jessica Long
Cocktail Fact
Not just for stalker road trips: Astronauts wear diapers called Maximum Absorbency Garments (MAGs) during liftoff and landing.
Bang For The Bite
If 10,000 Biter babies use nondisposable diapers instead of disposable, we'll avert the use of enough diapers to fill 302 dump trucks by the time those babies are potty-trained.
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