The Stink Factor and Other Reasons to Use Cloth

I've been waiting on two things to happen before posting about using cloth diapers: mobility and solid food. Well, folks, the results are in!

First, let me say that the only reason that a lot of our lifestyle choices align with the "green," "hippie," "granola" movement is pure coincidence. We actually make most of those choices because research shows that they are truly better for us and our health--call us self-centered hippies. It just so happens that most of the choices that are better for our human health just happen to also be better for animals and land. Now I am not saying that maybe God had a plan in His design so that we could all live harmoniously while progressing, but...well, maybe He did!

Ok, so this brings us to cloth. While we were really turned off to the idea of disposable diapers sitting in a landfill for literally over one hundred years, to be honest, it's not like we ever see the landfill so we didn't think that much about it. (See? Self-centered hippies. I told you.)

But cloth kept nagging at me. And then I found this. Actually, the article I found was different but told the same story. "The new polyacrylate gel (found in disposable diapers) has been linked to some side effects, including allergic reactions such as skin irritations, and to toxic shock syndrome. In addition, the dyes in the diapers have been linked to damage of the central nervous system, and disposable diapers may contain low concentrations of dioxin, a by-product of the bleaching process used in the production of the paper pulp found in the absorbent layer. Dioxin has been linked to liver damage and immune system suppression."

According to the World Health Organization:

"Short-term exposure of humans to high levels of dioxins may result in skin lesions, such as chloracne and patchy darkening of the skin, and altered liver function. Long-term exposure is linked to impairment of the immune system, the developing nervous system, the endocrine system and reproductive functions. Chronic exposure of animals to dioxins has resulted in several types of cancer. TCDD was evaluated by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1997. Based on animal data and on human epidemiology data, TCDD was classified by IARC as a "known human carcinogen”.

WHAT?! Ok, first of all, Toxic Shock Syndrome has been like a monster hiding under my bed since the first time I used a tampon in junior high. But in a diaper? Is that even legal to expose babies, the most vulnerable of us all, to such a risk? Not only is it legal, it is the accepted NORM.

You can find "green" disposables, but according to my (limited) research, while they don't contain dioxin because they aren't bleached, they do use polymers to absorb the moisture. Not to mention that the super-absorbent diapers, while a seemingly smart solution for the diaper-changers, leaves baby feeling dry and yet sitting in their own uric acid for far too long.

In this issue of Mothering Magazine (one of the reasons I love the U.S. Postal Service--they hand-deliver this gem to me every other month), there is a huge spread on diapers and one writer explains that upon calling Proctor and Gamble (the makers of Pampers and Luvs), she was not able to get a list of the ingredients used in diapers. Apparently, this information is "sensitive and proprietary" and not all of the ingredients can "be disclosed." (Mothering Magzine, "The Diaper Dilemma," p. 58)

Suffice to say, after discovering all of this, we felt "disposables be darned!" We were gonna use cloth if it killed us.



Turns out, we love it.

So does it stink? Does it leak out of the side when she crawls?

No sir!

And here's why if you are trying to avoid stink, cloth diapers are actually the better choice: the Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer. I have baby-sat, nannied, lived with two younger sisters who were once babies and had many a friend who used disposables. And while not one of them went to the outside trash every single time they changed a diaper, many had diaper genies and other such products to eliminate stinky diapers, but they still stunk! The waste just sits on the diaper in the trash in your house and, well, putrifies everything! With cloth, you get a little poo, you use a little spray and then voila! Poo flushes down the toilet like all human waste should (that's right--throwing human waste "away" aka sending your poo-filled disposables to sit in a landfill for literally one-hundred years until they begin to decompose is disgusting and yes, this is where I get all "Sierra Club" on you, seeps into our land and waterways).

So while the solid food certainly has added an "air" of awareness to Dia's diaper situation, after cleaning her off, I simply take the diaper to the toilet, shake it into the toilet and if need be, reach for the handy sprayer that is attached to the back water pipes and sits nicely on the side of the toilet. It's small, hardly noticeable and super easy to operate. No stink, no stench, no smell, no problem!

As far as mobility, we did have a hard time at one point with "leaking," but went to Wildflower Diapers here in town and they showed me that I wasn't fastening the diaper tight enough. A couple of re-tries and now we are old pros. That isn't to say that a blow-out couldn't one day catch us off-guard, but I'll never forget holding my infant-charge while nannying and feeling that warm gooey sensation run down my leg as his disposable diaper got a little too full (I hate to think it may have been from my inadequate changing!).

But so far, it's been a blast--oops, bad lingo. I mean, it's been great.

Plus, she only just got her first diaper rash when we started solids--thinking maybe from the acid change in her diet/waste. Plus plus, these diapers are CUTE! Have you seen all the super adorable designs? Animal print, bright colors, pastels, you name it.


We use the wool covers which aren't quite as fashion-forward, but you have to admit that bottom is cute in purple!

As far as laundry, I do about a load every three days or so. And the cost? Well, put it this way--we went to the cloth diaper store once and got everything we will ever need for Dia AND every child to come after. We didn't spend much because Grandma and Oma helped out and that was one of their big gifts for their granddaughter. You can also get pre-loved diapers at great discounts, not to mention that once you're done with the baby years, you can actually sell your used diapers and make some extra cash yourself!

The big sell for me: no late night diaper runs to the store. Just think, husbands--your wife will never turn to you at 4am with the plea of desperation, "Honey....? We're out of diapers....." I don't like shopping and really dislike being dependent on stores for survival and let's face it, diapers are a survival item!

I know that cloth is not for everyone, but there is a very reasonable, rational, health-conscious reason we use it and if it just so happens that it's better for the earth our daughter will soon inherit, then so be it.