Baby Bottoms and the Environment
Choose the best diaper for baby and help the earth.
Given the current challenges of the environment, choosing the right diaper for your baby has never been as often debated as it has been than in present history. A baby is always an adorable addition to any family, but one thing’s for sure: ever since the 1960’s when disposable diapers were first available, baby bottoms have annually contributed to the increased consumption of plastic, wood, and paper significantly.
Cloth diapers are cheap, and require washing and drying. Cloth diapers come in different substances including cotton diapers, wool diapers, and the more expensive organic cotton diapers. Wool diapers and organic diapers contain fewer pesticides which incur during diaper production.
Keeping cloth diapers clean is easy; all that is needed is for it to be washed and dried. Through time, the cost of cloth diapers is greatly worth it. One downside to using cloth diapers is that it can add to water and electricity usage. To help prevent this, wash cloth diapers in a container instead of using running water, and use a tablespoon of vinegar for every 3 litres of water used.
Disposable diapers significantly add to plastic and paper usage, but there are still environmentally friendly options for parents who use them. One is using brands that indicate the diapers are “flushable” and another is choosing brands that indicate they use lower amounts of paper/wood pulp or are lower water consuming during production. Brands that use biodegradable plastics are more favorable, but even biodegradable plastics harm the earth, because the process itself creates and releases methane gas into the air, which is a leading contributor to global warming. Plastic use can also be harmful for babies: a study in theArchives of Disease in Childhood* have shown a link to babies’ scrotum and testicles being at abnormally high temperatures if staying in plastic diapers for extended periods of time; this might cause infertility.
Product consumption of cellulose tree fibers, which prevent leaks by holding urine, is also high. This process not only involves cutting down trees, but also invades the natural habitat of numerous animal species. A number of chemicals used in creating diapers include chlorine, which is involved with bleaching the fibers. This process creates and causes toxins to be released into the air. Another chemical is sodium polyacrylate crystals which help increase a diapers absorbency limit. When wet, the crystals turn into gel, and if it leaks it could get into contact with baby’s skin and possibly be ingested.
In conclusion, choosing diapers for a baby’s bottom requires some thought, but is worth it. It is important to note, when using diapers of any kind, it is important to discard any excess urine or fecal matter in the toilet because it will get to be sanitized at a sewage treatment facility.
(* May 2000 by Partsch, Aukamp and Sippell.)
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