Bum wrap

The real dirt on diapers

Kathryn Dorrell,

Originally published in Today's Parent August 2004

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Who knew that diapers could cause a dilemma? From the comeback of cloth to emerging curbside composting for disposables, the range of choices for your baby’s bottom can be boggling. But fear not: We’ve got you covered with a guide to help you figure out the best option for your family.

Do-it-yourself cloth
Definition: Parents buy and launder cloth diapers.
Cost: About $2 each for one-size-fits-all nappies you fold yourself and keep in place with a vinyl cover; $3 each for ready-to-wear prefolds; and up to $12 for top-of-the-line diapers featuring elasticized leg openings and snap closures for a custom fit. Plastic covers are about $10 each and optional cloth liners for added absorbency are roughly $3 a piece. Number of diapers required: 24 to 36.

Pros: At about $500, this option is less than half the cost of disposable diapers (excluding extra laundry expenses). Plus, they can be used on subsequent children. “I’ve never had to throw a cloth diaper out,” marvels Ariana Bradford of Toronto, who’s using cloth diapers she bought for her first son, now five, on her third baby. Another potential bonus: According to Burnaby, BC, pediatrician Cheryl Mutch, cloth may encourage earlier toilet training.

Cons: Expect to do a lot more laundry. Cloth diapers aren’t as absorbent as disposables, so you may change your child more often. You’ll also have to carry soiled diapers home after outings. Your supplies will need updating: Plastic covers and fitted cloth diapers need to be replaced as your baby outgrows them. As well, many daycares will not use cloth diapers. Finally, Mutch says babies in cloth are “susceptible to diaper rashes because their skin is exposed to more wetness.”

Green factors: Environment Canada’s eco-labelling program, Environmental Choice, says cloth reduces the need for more landfill space and takes a fraction of the resources used to produce disposables.

Bottom line: “Most people think cloth diapers are a lot of work,” says Heather Gordon, a Sarnia, Ont., stay-at-home mom of two girls, “but the laundry is not a big deal.” Of course, she concedes, that’s if you have your own washer and dryer. This wasn’t the case when her first daughter was born three years ago, and Gordon quickly tired of hauling dirty cloth diapers down to the laundry facility in her apartment building. “The cost made using cloth as expensive as disposables,” she adds. But for parents who go this route, knowing their babies are wrapped in environment-friendly, soft cotton diapers makes any inconvenience worth the effort.