Giggle Tidbit

Before we switched from disposable diapers to cloth diapers, my daughter would go through roughly 6 diapers per day. This ends up being about 42 diapers per week which makes 2,184 diapers per year. Lets say that she is potty trained at three years old; therefore, the 2,184 diapers per year times 3 years equals 6,552 diapers. That is just mind boggling! And just think, that is the total diapers used for one child for 3 years. Imagine calculating up the number of disposable diapers used on the millions of babies all over the world for 3 years per child! These numbers alone is a huge reason to switch from disposable to cloth; however, if I still have not convinced you, then maybe the next few reasons will.

Disposable diapers are so much more expensive than cloth. You can purchase a package of Huggies disposables 192 count (size 1-2) for $37.00. Based on my daughters needs, this package would only last a little over one month. $37.00 times 12 months is $444.00. $444.00 times three years is $1332.00. Wow! That is just the cost of one child to go through disposable diapers until they are potty trained. This is just the estimated cost on the low end! Think, if you had four children going through disposables, it would cost you $5,328.00 or more. The cost to start up with cloth diapers on the other hand is only about $550.00. What a difference! $550.00 will not only get you through one child for 3 years, but it will also get you through multiple children. Have I convinced you yet?

If not, here is another bit of information to chew on. Did you know that disposable diapers contain Dioxin? Dioxin is an extremely toxic by-product of the paper bleaching process. It is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals! Do you want your baby exposed to that? Not only do disposables have traces of Dioxin, but they also contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) which is a toxic pollutant that can cause hormonal problems in humans and animals. They also contain sodium polyacrylate which is the substance that is similar to the substance that used to be found in tampons that caused toxic shock syndrome. Might I remind you that while disposables have a lot of harmful chemicals, cloth diapers are so much more softer and chemical free! Had enough? Well, I have one more point!

Disposable diapers are horrible for the environment! They make up the third largest single consumer item in landfills. If a family has one child in diapers, the disposable diapers alone make up 50 % of that household waste. That is insane! The estimated time for one disposable diaper to decompose is roughly 250 - 500 years. The child that was in those diapers won't even be alive when his / her diapers decompose - Gross! Can't you just imagine all of those nasty diapers pilling and pilling and pilling over years and years and years.

Wow, now that is a lot to soak in. Convinced yet?