There’s also no question that diapers are essential in modern American life. So which kind should you choose, cellulose (more often called disposable) or cloth? We’ve racked up the pros and cons. You make the final call.

by Ruth A. Wilson, Ph.D.

The year was 1992. The New York Times published an article indicating that the diaper wars were over. The announcement seemed without ambivalence: “The war over how to cover American baby bottoms has ended in a rout. […] Even the Environmental Protection Agency seems to have run up the (reusable) white flag.”

It didn’t take long, however, before a wave of protests suggested that the debate was far from done. The Times published several op-ed pieces arguing that laundering cloth diapers was healthier and more energy-efficient than dumping disposables in landfills. An op-ed piece in the Seattle Times shot back:  “The obituary on the diaper debate is premature.”

Now—two decades later—the debate still rages on. Paper or cloth? Disposable or reusable?

The issue was already complex in 1992; with changes in the industry it has become increasingly so. This is due, in part, to the fact that both cloth and paper diapers have gotten better. Both types are now easier to use, have less negative impact on the environment, and are gentler on the skin.

So what are parents to do?

Carol, the mother of a toddler living near Chicago, commented that the choices for bagging your groceries are easier than for diapering your baby. When asked, “Paper, plastic, or none?” she has the option of saying, “None.” That won’t work when it comes to diapering her baby.

The issues

The four major issues that usually surface as parents and others debate the diaper question focus on babies’ skin, cost, convenience, and the environment.

1. Skin. A person’s skin is softer and smoother as an infant than it will ever be again. While beautiful to touch, such skin is also super-sensitive to wetness and chemicals, including the chemicals and moisture of urine and stools. A diaper that rubs back and forth is also an irritant to a baby’s soft skin. Diaper rash is painful for the infant and can lead to the invasion of bacteria and yeast, which can make the rash even worse.

Diaper rash can’t be entirely avoided—every baby will have it at some time. But it can be minimized. Using the right diaper can be an important step in keeping your baby more comfortable. What type of diaper you should use will therefore depend, in part, on what type works best for your baby.

Keep in mind that if you use cloth diapers, chances are there will be fewer chemicals touching your baby’s bottom than if you use disposable diapers. Standard disposable diapers often contain dyes, solvents, and other chemical substances known to be skin irritants. Most of the chemicals in the diapers are in the form of chemical crystals that can absorb up to 800 times their weight in liquid and hold it in gel form.

2. Cost. Diapers, whether reusable or disposable, aren’t cheap. The initial investment in cloth diapers and diaper covers is considerable. The cost of disposable diapers varies due to the wide range of disposables on the market. Overall, though, the use of disposable diapers is more expensive than reusable diapers. According to ConsumerReports.org, you can expect to spend $2,000 or more on disposables by the time your baby outgrows them. By contrast, cloth diapers will save you hundreds of dollars over time.

3. Convenience. Convenience is, of course, the primary reason that disposable diapers were invented. It’s simply easier and more convenient to throw things away (especially messy diapers) than to clean them.

When disposable diapers were first invented around 1950, cloth diapers had other inconveniences. At that time, cloth diapers required special folding and pinning. They also required “rubber pants” to contain diaper wetness. The pants used to cover the cloth diaper were not easy to keep clean, nor were they pleasant for either the baby or the person holding the baby.

Today’s cloth diapers have come a long way. Some special features that make cloth diapers attractive include pre-folded diapers, fitted diapers, super-absorbent inserts, Velcro tab fasteners, snap covers, even patterns and colors.

4. Environment. When it comes to the disposable/reusable question, the most heated discussion usually focuses on the environment.

Advocates for disposable diapers argue that the extra water and energy used to wash cloth diapers are just as bad for the environment as the production and disposal of paper diapers. Advocates for these disposable diapers also point out that when diaper services are used for cloth diapers, the diaper delivery trucks burn gas, which wastes energy and causes pollution.

Advocates for reusable diapers point to a number of environmental problems associated with both the production and disposable of throwaway diapers. First, there’s the issue of what’s used to make disposable diapers. About two-thirds of a disposable diaper consists of cellulose, a wood product from trees. Then there’s the plastic in a disposable diaper. While some disposables are advertised as being biodegradable, they really can’t decompose unless they are exposed to air and sun. Such exposure is highly unlikely, as most disposable diapers are dumped in landfills and buried.

There’s also the issue of limited landfill space—where does all the garbage go? Disposable diapers certainly add to the enormous amount of unnecessary garbage generated each year.

Resolution?

The decision for many parents—including Carol in Chicago—is to use both disposable and cloth diapers based on their child rearing style and needs. Cloth diapers are used at home, while disposables are used when traveling and while the baby is at daycare.

As the debate continues, new studies are done and others soon appear to contest their findings. Parents must consider their finances, lifestyle, and personal preference. Ultimately, the choice about the type of diaper to use is a matter of what works best for baby and you.

Helpful resources:

• Green Guide, “Diapers Buying Guide”
• Consumer Reports, “Diaper Buying Guide”

 

Dr. Ruth Wilson is an educational consultant and curriculum writer. Her primary areas of expertise are early childhood environmental education and peace education.