Disposable diapers versus cloth diapers, what nonsense?

Question

I've never before heard such nonsense and rubish when it comes to pitting one against the other. I hear it all the time, "Oh if you use cloth diapers, you use so much water". Or, "All the laundry soap and washing and drying".

People are so small minded. I guess there's no water used whatsoever in the pulp and paper process of manufacturing disposable diapers. (Ya right). Oh and of course, there's no other environmental concerns from big corporations poluting our waterways and water table systems. (Ya right once again).

What about baby's comfort? I wouldn't dream of wearing disposables myself, so why would I put my baby in them? Their scatchy, rough, fit poorly, and look pathetic, never mind the asinine expense of affording them.

I'm not at all against mothers who use disposable diapers, to each their own. But when people throw off the cuff comments around when they don't know what their talking about, it causes me to question people's sanity.

Ignorance is not a virtue.

Answer 1

I have 4 kids and I used cloth diapers on two of them. You're a good mom. Don't let other people try to discredit you because you've made a different choice than they did. To each their own. These mommy debates always used to get on my last nerve too. Circumcise v. no procedure; breast feed v. bottle feed; to stay home v. to work full time.....always got on my last nerve. People who try to hook you into a debate like that usually feel insecure with their own and choice and need to try to make themselves feel better by putting you down with an off the cuff comment. Don't let it get to you. Your baby is probably cuter than theirs....

Answer 2

I have used cloth diapers since the day my son was born, although we do use disposables when we are going on vacation or away for the weekend. -I have found that they are a lot more leak resistant. I have only had poop leak once in the cloth diapers and he was sick with diarrhea at the time... can't count how many times his diapers leaked when we had him in disposables (even when he wasn't sick with diarrhea). As far as wet diapers they have leaked twice and both times it was because we hadn't changed him when we needed to and it had soaked up all it was going to. -In the long run our cloth diapers have cost us much less than disposables even when we count in water and detergent cost. -You do have to wash the diapers, but it is really no big deal once you get used to it. I wash every other day. Do one quick cycle with very little detergent on the cold stain treat cycle. Then one hot wash cycle with an extra rinse and only half the recommended detergent. I either toss them in the dryer or hang them up depending on the day. If it is a nice day I hang them in the sun as it will naturally bleach out any stains. -I also feel better knowing that he isn't soaking up all the chemicals from the disposables into his bottom. -Some also claim that babies in cloth diapers potty train faster and easier because they can feel when they are wet. My son started telling us at 15 months when his diaper was wet and needing changed. Haven't started potty training him yet (he is now 16 months) so can't say from personal experience if this is true or not. -I plan to use cloth diapers on all my future babies!

Answer 3

Hey Nathan'smom, he did ask a question. . . . "What about baby's comfort.? I wouldn't dream of wearing disposables myself, so why would I put my baby in them?" There, you have two questions he asked, and very valid ones at that.

So. . . what about baby's comfort? I think every parent should be made to wear disposable diapers for two weeks 24 / 7 so they can feel what it is like to have to wear paper, plastic and chemicals next to your skin all day. I also think they should not be allowed to change them right away either, just like they will wait to change them on a baby so they don't use so many and cost so much.

Disposables are not comfortable, I know that for a fact, I'm incontinent and wear diapers 24 / 7 so I can tell you from experience what they are like.

In answer to someone who asked about an 85 year old in cloth diapers, well, I'm 60 years old and that is all I wear. The only time, if ever, that I will wear a disposable is if I'm on a trip away from home for an extended period of time and cannot do proper laundry. In that case and that case only, I'll use a disposable, and hate every minute of it.

Cloth is softer against the skin, much more comfortable, cooler, less problems with rash, and when it comes to a baby, they will potty train at a much earlier age. I know, I had my kids in cloth diapers when they were babies.

So, with all this being said, I'm with Frugalmom. I think all disposable diapers should be banned and people should learn how to care for their children. After all, when it comes to your babies, health and comfort should be your primary concern, NOT CONVENIENCE.

Grow up and raise your children healthy.

Answer 4

It is good that you are selective about what your baby wears. However, good moms also have been known to choose disposable diapers. It is not that big a deal when you look at the big picture. I don't think anyone has been made to undergo extensive trauma due to disposables! Don't sweat the small stuff! Raising good and loving human beings is the big stuff...that is hard enough!

Answer 5

What about neither? The United States is one of the most ignorant countries when it comes to natural infant hygiene. In most other civilizations around the world (especially tribal ones), the older women teach the younger new moms how to know when their babies need to eliminate bodily waste through timing and signals in body language so a "chamber pot" so to speak is provided and the babies rarely wear any type of diaper. Potty training, elimination communication (EC), natural hygiene, whatever form or name you call it, this eliminates the debate. I am the mom to 4 and my youngest is only 5 months and I am doing EC with him. I do cover his bottom with cloth pants but mostly he goes in the toilet or baby potty when at home or out in public. Sometimes we go outside by a tree as nature provides the perfect places to pee. Hey if it's good enough for the dog, why not! We do have misses, but a couple of cloth pants to wash with the laundry is no problem and I save lots of money by not being a slave to the diaper companies. This also will provide a natural transition to independent toilet use at about 15 months when he is walking and can get himself to the baby potty provided. No more diaper bags, public changing tables and battles over potty training at 3 years old! I like the way this works!
When did our country throw out such useful information I'll never know but women have done it this way for centuries and I think we should to back to it to save our planet from the pollution we create with disposables. It take 200 years for one to biodegrade!
More info about EC can be found at diaperfreebaby.org, tribalbaby.org and other websites.

Answer 6

Well if you don't want to put your baby in disposable diapers, that's fine, go ahead. But use Yahoo Answers to ask LEGITIMATE questions, not rant and rave about personal problems. There's no question even IN all that crap you just wrote. Try a different message board next time, and stop flooding all the pages with your nonsense.

Answer 7

I used cloth diapers on my first one for two weeks and I just wasn't cut out for it.
My friend on the other hand used them on her first two, but with her third, since they were 4, 1, and newborn, she decided to get the disposables due to lack of time for washing, and the 1yr old was getting into them.
I think cloth are better for the environment, yet some of us, like myself, just cannot handle the messy diapers as it is, much less having to rinse and wash them out, I would rather pay for the convienence of throwing it all away.
(We don't have a diaper service around our area)

Answer 8

I don't think there is a problem either way - using cloth or disposables, it's whatever the mom wants to use. I do know that the diapers they have today are pretty great and I personally would use them over cloth. I would think cloth would be messier, more laundry, etc. But thats just my opinion.

Answer 9

I used cloth diapers. They saved on waste and I can tell you that my kids potty trained sooner because they didn't like it when they got damp. Disposable diapers keep kids from getting wet and as you can see on this site there are numberous questions about how to potty train a 3 yr old and the fact that disposable diapers were involved.
Plus most women don't want to get there hands dirty by rinsing out a diaper and putting it in the wash.

Answer 10

Of all the things in the world to get upset over, this is reduculous.
What does it matter to you if some of us use disposable diapers?
Disposable diapers are not the only thing harming the environment. Comfort? If they were that uncomfortable babies and toddlers would be crying constantly when put in a disposable diaper.

If you want people to jump on your bandwagon, find something of importance to preach about.

I agree, ignorance is not a virtue, but not in the way you are using it.