Cloth v. disposables; what's the best nappy option?

Let's start with the environment
Don’t be in denial, both cloth and disposable nappies have a negative impact on our environment. We'll look at just how that impact differs.

Everyone knows that too much raw material goes into making disposable nappies. Bleaching and chemicals used in the production process are bad for mother earth, and too much of our landfill is made up of soiled nappies – yuk.

Not such a hot topic is the environmental impact of cloth nappies. Depending on the fabrics used, the cloth nappy production process can be just as harmful as most cloth options contain white liners which some parents perfer to bleach clean; and then there is the regular use of water and power to wash them.

So as far as the environment is concerned it really depends on how much effort a parent will commit to buying, maintaining and disposing of their nappies that will make the biggest environmental difference.

Myth busting - biodegradeable
Don’t get duped into thinking biodegradable nappies and/or nappy bags are the answer. Nothing degrades in landfill, not even newspaper so they don’t make a difference. If you want to choose a more environmentally friendly disposable, look for one that is made from recycled material and/or uses less chemicals in its production.

So what’s better for your lifestyle?
Throw away the giant safety pins your mum used. Modern cloth nappies are just as high tech as disposables. With clip fastenings, tailored fit and removable wetting pads, cloth nappies are getting more and more sophisticated. Sure they are a bit bulkier and require more maintenance but they are a viable alternative in the lifestyle stakes these days.

It’s true though; the ease of disposables is very attractive. When there’s so much else going on, the ‘no need to think, just use’ approach works.

Myth busting - disposal
If you dispose of your waste properly, the difference in maintenance between cloth and disposable decreases. Poo belongs down the toilet, not in the bin or in landfill, irrespective of which type of nappy you use. Hate to break the bad news to disposable lovers, but you should really be using a flushable liner in your baby’s nappies as per various state health department guidelines.

What's most cost effective?
With cloth nappies you need to invest your baby dollars up front and then periodically at 6 months and 12 months, depending on the type of cloth nappy you choose. With disposables you need to buy on an ongoing basis. If your baby is pretty average in its growth, cloth tends to work out cheaper over time. If you use your cloth nappies for more than one child reusable is significantly cheaper.

The most worrisome myth of them all - health
I recently read an assertion that disposable nappies may be connected with an increase in the rate of male infertility and testicular cancer. It's true that cloth nappies are made from natural & breathable materials and are likely to keep little testies cooler. However, there is no consistant scientific evidence that suggests disposable nappies increases the risk of infertility or cancer for boys.