ecoLIVING London

According to Environment Canada, over 4 million disposable (i.e. single use) diapers are thrown away every day in Canada. Diaper waste accounts for 3% or 250,000 tonnes of residential waste each year! Reusable cloth diapers are an environmentally conscious alternative to disposable diapers - they cut down on waste sent to landfills but also have a less environmentally damaging manufacturing process. Cloth diapers come in a wide variety of styles and many are made from organic materials such as cotton, bamboo and hemp. Because cloth diapers are made with natural, breathable fibers, they decrease the likelihood of diaper rash. Cloth is much gentler to skin compared to materials found in disposable diapers like papers and plastics, which are likely covered in chemicals that can be irritating to the skin, causing much discomfort to baby’s delicate skin.

In addition to keeping waste from ending up in landfills, cloth diapers will also keep more green in your wallet. On average, a baby will require 5000 to 7000 diaper changes in the first two years of life. Depending on the cost of each disposable diaper, this can add up to almost $3000. The initial investment for cloth diapers can be a few hundred dollars, but because one-size cloth diapers are designed to fit newborns through toddlers, they can last through until potty training begins, saving you money throughout baby's first years. Another cost-saving benefit is once your buy a set of cloth diapers you can reuse them with all of your children. Once you are done with diapering years, keep the life cycle of your cloth diapers going by giving them to a new-mom friend or donate them to a local charity.

Cloth diapers can also save you time and add convenience to your busy schedule. Having a stash of cloth diapers means no more rushed trips to the store when you realize you're out of diapers. Simply put on a load of laundry and you've got more diapers. If you have more than one child in diapers, cloth diapers make packing your diaper bag easier. You don't have to worry about packing the appropriate diaper size for each child because cloth diapers will fit either child.

Cloth diapers have come a long way in recent years. If you would like to learn more about different varieties of cloth diapers, Diapering Decisions can help you find the best solution for you. With more than 20 years in the cloth diaper business and evaluations of over 75 cloth diaper designs, Diapering Decisions offers only the best.

Erin Jóhannson lives, works and plays in London, Ontario. A full-time planet lover who is passionate about vegetarian cuisine, repurposing and finding ways to make living in The Forest City greener.