For those who are interested in CDing...

Kendall13

So, I don't know about the rest of you, but when I tell my friends and family that we are going to cloth diaper our LO they all gawk at how ridiculous it is.  MIL says that she'll give us a month before we give up.  As much as I would like to just tell them to F off, you can't exactly say that to the people you love...

You have to debate them!  So I compiled a list of reasons to CD.  Most of our reasons are environmental, but add on anything that I left out!

**Note: If you don?t want to CD, that?s okay, too.  I certainly don?t think that this is a choice for everyone.  To each their own**

1)       The study that people cite to claim that the extra water used to wash the cloth diapers outweighs any environmental benefits was done by Proctor & Gamble (I believe that they make pampers).  It is a study from 1990 where the parents were told to wash the diapers on a daily basis (most parents wash every 3 to 4 days) that completely disregarded the water contamination caused by throwing fecal matter in the sewage system.  It was found to be biased and riddled with mathematical errors.

2)       Independent studies have found that throwaway diapers use 20 times the raw materials, three times more energy, and twice as much water. In the end, they generate 60 times more waste.

3)       Studies also found that throwaways generate 7 times more solid waste when discarded and more than 3 times more waste in the manufacturing process.

4)       It requires 7 billion gallons of oil each year to manufacture disposable diapers, which is more than 4 times the estimated amount of oil available in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

5)       The absorbent material found in throwaways (Superabsorbent polymer, or SAP) has been shown to aggravate existing skin infections and breathing disorders. Some organizations urge asthmatic mothers to limit their exposure to the chemicals in disposables for this reason. SAP used to be found in tampons before they realized that it was causing toxic shock syndrome.

6)       The average baby uses 8,000 diapers between birth and when they are potty trained.  At 25 cents a diaper, disposables cost $2,000 a baby.  Cloth diapers cost anywhere from $300 to $700 (depending on how fancy you go) and will last for one than one child.

7)   Each baby produces a ton of disposable diaper waste in the few years that they are in diapers.  Disposables aren't biodegradable.

8)       Studies show that babies that are CD?ed potty train faster than babies who use disposables.

9)       Oh, and personally, I think that the covers are just soooo cute!

 I hope that you found some good agruing points you can use to support your choice to CD.

smilelari

Thanks

KB0426

My Sister is doing cloth right now with her daughter.  With her first 2 she did regular.  They have the cutest designs for the covers and her daughter hasnt had diaper rash.  She is also a SAHM, so it is easier for her.

jrnewhook

I love this - thanks! I plan to CD, but don't know a single person who does it, so when the time comes I'm on my own. I haven't told many people yet, but the few I have just look at me like I'm nuts and ask why I would bother with the extra work.

katie6688

Nice post! I have been battling the CD haters too. Even my mom really hurt my feelings when I mentioned it to her. She said, "yeah, right! We'll see how long that lasts." Like we would be totally unable to handle it. To be honest- cd'ing is one of the least things I am worried about.

Kendall13

katie6688:

Nice post! I have been battling the CD haters too. Even my mom really hurt my feelings when I mentioned it to her. She said, "yeah, right! We'll see how long that lasts." Like we would be totally unable to handle it. To be honest- cd'ing is one of the least things I am worried about.

I feel like BFing is harder, and I am still going to try that!

HerHighness

Thanks bunches for the info.

Im willing to give it a try.... at least when Im at home. I may use disposables if Im going to be out anywhere or when the babe goes to my mom's 2x a week (mom buys those diapers... hehe)

jwpbride

Thanks!

My mom CD'ed me and my younger brother, but once the 3rd child came so quickly behind the 2nd, she switched the other bro and the baby to 'sposies. She was talking about it the other day and was like "it wasn't that hard- it does seem like a lot of effort now looking back (she used cloth wipes too), but it wasn't then!" 

I'm planning on trying CDs- I'll be a SAHM so I don't have any day care rules to stop me- I know they'll be more work, but cheaper and better for the environment so we'll see!

johnsoar

sounds like a great list..

I have been CDing DD for a year now and I have not given up like people say.  It's nice to always have diapers and not have to run to the store to get more because you just realized you used the last one.  The cost savings alone is worth it.

I found that lots of people think CDs are prefolds with pins and covers.  While those are still available there are so many other options.

entropy79

I would love to be a CD mom but since I have to go right back to work I don't think I can make it happen. Even if I could convince my mom to do it (she'll be sitting 2-3 days per week), I doubt the day care woman  for the other 2-3 days/week will have any part of that. oh well.

smilelari

entropy79:

I would love to be a CD mom but since I have to go right back to work I don't think I can make it happen. Even if I could convince my mom to do it (she'll be sitting 2-3 days per week), I doubt the day care woman  for the other 2-3 days/week will have any part of that. oh well.

I have had no problem finding daycare providers that are willing to CD.  I found many that already have several children in CD.

Kendall13

smilelari:

entropy79:

I would love to be a CD mom but since I have to go right back to work I don't think I can make it happen. Even if I could convince my mom to do it (she'll be sitting 2-3 days per week), I doubt the day care woman  for the other 2-3 days/week will have any part of that. oh well.

I have had no problem finding daycare providers that are willing to CD.  I found many that already have several children in CD.

I would around.  It's getting more and more popular.  From what I have read/heard a lot of Day Cares are getting on the band wagon.

purpletulip

Thanks for creating this list. Fortunately, I haven't had anyone express anything negative about my decision to CD, but I haven't told many people yet. I'm sure I'll come across them!

I was talking to my neighbor last night about what CDs she uses and she said that that her baby had so many less leaks with CDs than with disposables. She used disposables for about 3 weeks while traveling, so she experienced both.

I don't have any studies to back this up, but I heard that babies that are in CDs experience less diaper rash.