Choosing a comfortable diaper for your child is one of the most important decisions.
Children wear them for up to two years (and in some cases up to four years), so picking the right one is important.
Eco-friendly ones are easier to dispose of, better for baby and contain no harsh chemicals or additives.
But before you head out and buy any eco-friendly variety, learn what makes a quality diaper environmentally-friendly.
The Facts on Diapers
According to the National Association of Diaper services, the average baby will go through about 5,000 diapers before he or she is potty trained. As of 2013, 95 percent of those 5,000 per baby are disposable and they’re filling up landfills around the country quick. In fact, 3.4 million tons of waste in landfills by 1998 was from disposable diapers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If they aren’t disposed of properly, which is common in underdeveloped areas, the excrement can leak out and contaminate local water supplies. Even biodegradable ones don’t breakdown in landfills properly.
Why Not Just Go Cloth?
A lot of parents assume that using cloth diapers is the eco-friendly alternative. After all, they don’t go into landfills and there’s no excrement to contaminate ground water.
While this is true, it has significant drawbacks and there are even some environmental organizations stating that cloth diapers are in fact not eco-friendly at all. They must be sanitized after each use, which means extreme amounts of hot water and a sanitizing solution, like bleach.
If you’re using a diaper delivery service, then a large vehicle must pick up, transport and deliver them to you on a weekly basis. All three of these things are not environmentally friendly.
Babies with sensitive skin may have a reaction to bleached cloth diapers. Some parents will rewash their cloth diapers after receiving them back from the diaper delivery service, which is an additional waste of water and detergent.
They are the cheaper baby diaper, but the initial investment and the cost of up-keep for those diapers often outweighs the savings. Since cloth diapers must be washed and sanitized following use, they don’t travel well for parents either.
The Issue with Conventional Diapers (Disposables)
Conventional, disposable ones are those readily available in grocery stores. They are made by big manufacturing brands of baby wipe and baby diaper, and while deemed safe, they still contain harsh, irritating chemicals.
The chemical gel core in traditional baby diapers—the core that locks in wetness and keeps baby dry for hours—is made from an absorbent chemical known as sodium polyacrylate or SAP. SAP has been known to cause irritation, skin rashes, and cause respiratory issues in high doses—much higher doses than the average baby diaper has.
Conventional diaper is costly and cannot be reused, but they don’t require parents to wash and sanitize them at home, they don’t need excessive amounts of bleach and they come sanitized and ready to use—without the need for a special service.
These disposable ones are, however, a cause for concern when it comes to the environment. They don’t degrade in landfills and contribute to the endless amounts of waste in landfills around the country.
Properties of Good Eco-Friendly Baby Diapers
There are eco-friendly ones out there that are biodegradable and still disposable. They combine the best of cloth, traditional disposable and biodegradable diapers in one package. These types are still ultra-absorbent, soft and hypoallergenic. They don’t contain harsh chemicals or additives that might irritate your baby’s skin, eyes or lungs either.
Not all eco-friendly baby diapers are created the same, however. A lot of companies call their diapers eco-friendly, but only do so because the diaper is chemical or chlorine-free. When shopping for eco-friendly ones diapers, look for diapers that are:
Made from plant-based inner and outer layers. These don’t irritate your baby’s skin and degrade better than traditional diapers.
Free from chlorine and harsh bleach chemicals.
Use natural odor-inhibitors like citrus or plant chlorophyll.
Use an absorbent core made from bio-based wheat or corn and avoid the use of SAP.
Free of fragrances, lotions, latexes and other perfumes or dyes.
Eco-friendly baby ones are just as stylish and functional as traditional ones, but they’re better for the environment and baby. These types of baby diapers do cost more than conventional diapers, but most parents can find eco-friendly ones on a subscription base service, which helps them save tremendously on their purchases. And with more retailers and brands turning to the all-natural approach, parents can expect to start seeing sales and coupons for eco-friendly ones soon enough.
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