First, disposables of any kind are not great for the planet. We use washable clothing, washable dishes, even washable water bottles to help cut down on resource use and the huge landfill problem we are creating for ourselves. Throwing away 6,000 diapers and an equally massive stack of disposable diaper wipes (plus plastic bags or boxes they come in and then to contain them when they are dirty!) makes very little sense in a world where we are trying to hard to reverse climate change and pollution.

Washing cloth diapers uses about the same amount of water as an adult flushing the toilet 5 times a day, yet no one suggests we all move to using paper underwear to save water. Studies that make resource use for disposable diapers look equal to cloth diapers are often based on silly washing methods (who has their home water heater set to 190 degrees?) and they all ignore the fact that the 18 billion disposable diapers used in the US each year must be disposed of somewhere. Air-drying diapers can be done on a simple clothing rack if you want to do even more to lower your carbon footprint.

Second, chlorine free diapers and wipes will cost you about $2,200 for just two years worth. If your child is in diapers longer than the cost goes up. Cloth diapers, even really nice ones, will cost you from $200-600 for the whole two years. Best of all, if your child takes a little longer to potty train, you can usually keep using the same diapers. If you have a second child, cloth diapering becomes almost free since you can use the same diapers again. If you don’t need them, there are organizations that lend cloth diapers to low-income families that will happily take good second-hand diapers.

Finally, disposable diapers that are chlorine-free are not chemical free. If you choose to use cloth diapers, you can find them in many different fabrics so you can choose what is against your baby’s skin. Choose a stay-dry lining or go for all-natural fibers, you can even choose organic. Add an unscented, biodegradable laundry detergent and you have a simple system for keeping your baby’s bottom chemical free.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author and owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store, founded in 2006. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Author: Julie R. Holland
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Information

Originally posted 2009-08-28 22:53:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Bamboo cloth diapers are super popular with cloth diapering fans around the world. With the softness and absorbency of these eco-friendly cloth diapers, it is no wonder bamboo diapers are finding their way into so many chic diaper bags. This stuff is environmentally friendly because it grows quickly without pesticides or fertilizers. This gorgeous fabric is also very, very soft, making it a great “green” choice for diapering.

A Japanese study of bamboo fabric found that the fiber retains it’s unique antibacterial qualities even after 50 washings. Bacteria simply doesn’t like to grow on it. Scientists found that when they tried to grow bacteria with this fabric after washing it many times, 70 percent of the bacteria died. That makes it a natural choice for cloth diapers where keeping bacteria down may also reduce diaper rash and odors.

Because the plants grows so quickly, it takes far fewer resources to grow than conventionally grown cotton. These green dynamos can grow 12 inches in a day and since they are naturally resistant to disease and pests, it does not require chemicals to grow. Bamboo is also great for the air quality. It absorbs carbon dioxide from the air 40 percent better than trees. Due to their rapid growth and strong root system, they also help reduce soil erosion. While turning the raw materials into usable fabric can still be improved, it is still far easier on the environment than creating synthetics. While there is no perfect environmental choice for any fabric, bamboo is an excellent, eco-friendly fabric for cloth diapering.

This amazing fiber is 60 percent more absorbent than cotton, and can absorb up to 3 times it’s weight in water. Hemp fabrics are 70 percent more absorbent than cotton, but hemp does not always retain that soft feel the way this buttery fabric does. Combining it with cotton makes it much stronger (often you will see it combined with organic cotton) and many manufacturers use a little polyester in the blend to make it more durable. While 100 percent natural fabrics are great, a more durable fabric is often more environmentally friendly than one that wears out too quickly.

The naturally open fiber that makes it very breathable and it can be made into fleece, velour, woven fabrics or soft knits. It is often used next to the skin because it wicks moisture away quickly. This is one of the softest fabrics you will ever feel, in almost any type of fabric it is still silky and has a great feel to it! It retains it’s softness after many washings better than hemp or cotton. Once you feel this incredibly soft fabric you will want to wear it too!

There are dozens of brands of bamboo cloth diapers available. You can find plain or fancy prefolds, adorable fitted diapers, all in one diapers with natural fiber linings, and absorbent diaper inserts. Cloth diaper wipes, changing pads and other cloth diaper accessories are also available. No matter which option you choose, you’ll love the softness and absorbency while you can feel good about using environmentally friendly diapers.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author, owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store and the creative mind behind Little for Now bamboo diapers. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Author: Julie R. Holland
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news

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Originally posted 2009-08-29 10:11:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Cloth diapering on the road does require a bit of planning. However, using cloth diapers requires no more planning than any other aspect of leaving the house with a baby. Even for longer trips of several days, you can successfully cloth diaper on the road.

Obviously, you will want to pack as many diapers as you think your child will use during the time you plan to be away from home. Then add an extra diaper or two for backup. I like to keep an extra couple of diapers and some cloth diaper wipes in the car at all times, just in case we are out longer than I had planned.

What do you do with wet or messy diapers?

I highly recommend getting a cloth diaper wet bag. These waterproof zippered bags look great and do a great job of containing diaper odors. A regular size bag will typically hold 3-6 diapers and a larger bag typically holds 5-8 diapers. Just empty the bag into the washer and wash it along with the diapers when you get home.

What about wipes?

We use cloth diaper wipes and a spray bottle or foaming bottle of wipes solution. Just spritz or foam the solution onto the wipe and clean baby’s behind. Then, wash the wipes along with your diapers. Our favorite wipes are made with a cute flannel print on one side and soft bamboo velour on the other.

What about overnight trips?

If you plan to be gone for more than a day or two, you will want to either bring along some extra diapers or plan to do a wash load while you are away. Since modern cloth diapers wash and dry quickly, you can run a load in a short amount of time. If you are staying somewhere where there is a washer and dryer, doing a quick load of laundry is no big deal. If you won’t have access to a washer, another good option is to purchase some inexpensive flat diapers to allow you to have extras or to allow for handwashing, such as at a camp site. Simply wash and hang dry any wet diapers and save the messy ones for washing when you get home.

Cloth diapering saves you money at home and on the road, and it is easy on the environment. Sure, you do need to bring the diapers home with you, but is it really the right thing to do to leave dirty diapers wherever you visit? Cloth diapering on the road can also be a laundry saver. Most parents tell me they have fewer diaper leaks once they start using good cloth diapers.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author and owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store – where you can learn about cloth diapering and choose from 11 different brands of cloth diapers. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Author: Julie R. Holland
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Netbook, Tablets and Mobile Computing

Originally posted 2009-08-28 22:55:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

What are the pros and cons of one size diapers?

First, the pros. One size cloth diapers are convenient if you have more than one child in cloth diapers. You can use the same diapers on both children. If you plan to diaper only one child, you will typically save money by using mostly one size cloth diapers. You’ll need about 2 dozen diapers in your stash for one child if you wash every other day, more if you have two in diapers or want to go three days between washes. Obviously, using the same diapers as your child grows is less expensive than buying new ones as they change sizes.

Next, the cons. One size diapers are a good option for many parents but they are not always the best option. Diapers, like anything else, will wear out over time. If you wash your diapers about every other day, they will be washed 180 times in a year. So, to last through birth to potty training, a diaper will need to go through over 400 washes. Imagine finding a pair of jeans that would last 400 washes and still look new. Washing diapers does cause a certain amount of wear and tear. Snap diapers will last longer than hook and loop fastening diapers, but no diaper will last forever. If you use a small number of diapers and wash more often, they will wear out more quickly than if you have a large number of diapers and wash less often. If you plan to use the same diapers on more than one child, be prepared to replace some of them for the second child as those same diapers will now be expected to go through hundreds more washes!

Babies come in different shapes and sizes and not all newborns can go straight into one size diapers. I did use some one size diapers on my 6 pound 11 ounce baby, but she fit into them much better at 8-10 pounds. Some kids grow faster, some potty train later. I can get a Wahmies One Size on my 36 pound niece, who is not yet ready to potty train, but there is no way a BumGenius will fit around her substantial thighs.

So, while there is no perfect solution, many parents choose to use about half one size diapers and about half sized diapers. One size cloth diapers are a great option to save you money and storage space, and they are available in several different styles. Sized diapers come in extra small through extra large sizes and different brands fit differently, so you can often find a perfect fit in a sized diaper. Other parents happily use exclusively one size diapers.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author and owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store. Little for Now stocks 11 different brands of cloth diapers with new items stocked weekly. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Author: Julie R. Holland
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Times

Originally posted 2009-08-28 22:53:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

How do you choose the right cloth diaper for your family? Consider what is most important to you.

For some parents the sudden reality of a newborn is overwhelming so they prefer the utmost in convenience for diapering. If convenience is your motivator, all in one or pocket diapers are likely to be your best option. While pricier than some other choices, they are by far the most convenient. You might consider also consider a one size cloth diaper. While a one size diaper stash will cost a bit more in the beginning, they will last from about 8 pounds to 35 pounds so you’ll save in the long run.

For some parents the most important consideration is containment. They want to have the minimum risk of diaper blowouts and leakage – this also helps reduce newborn laundry! Fitted diapers with covers are the best for containing messes. Fitted diapers are easy to use, and having a diaper and a cover means you have two layers of elastic at the legs to prevent messy leaks. Fitted diapers such as the Kissaluvs 0, Heiny Huggers newborn, or the Thirsties Fab Fitted are great choices. Bummis or Thirsties diaper covers are both good choices for covers.

Finally, for a lot of parents, the biggest issue is cost. If you are most concerned about the introductory cost, then prefolds and covers are the most cost-effective choice. Newborn size prefolds are very inexpensive and a few diaper covers and prefolds will last until about 10 pounds, or several weeks for small babies. Infant prefolds are a bit bulky on small newborns, but can easily be folded to fit in a diaper cover. They will last until about 15 pounds, so the minor added cost is more than made up for by the extra usefulness of these slightly larger diapers.

There are many ways to economize if you are not in a position to spend a lot of money on diapers right at the start. Washing every day means you need to buy fewer diapers. You can also buy half of your diaper stash as more convenient diapers and half as less expensive diapers so you can fill in with the less expensive diapers if needed. For instance, if you plan to use one size diapers, you can add a few prefolds or fitteds and covers to help you stretch your dollar.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author and owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store. Register with the Little for Now cloth diaper registry so family and friends can help you build your cloth diaper stash. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Author: Julie R. Holland
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital TV, HDTV

Originally posted 2009-08-28 22:55:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Some styles will need changing a bit less often. For instance, pocket diapers have a moisture resistant barrier between the baby and the absorbent insert. This means you can change baby less often unless the diaper is dirty so you will likely need fewer than for a less absorbent option.

If you have a heavy wetter your baby will be on the high end of the number shown. You can extend the absorbency by using a doubler, using two prefolds or using newborn prefolds as doublers for older babies. With my own daughter, I often use a hemp and micrifiber pocket insert combination so she stays dry all night and during long naps. Since I can’t always predict her naps, I use this combo a lot during the day and it works great for keeping her dry.

While one size diapers are popular right now, many parents prefer the less bulky fit of sized diapers. Since your baby is likely to only need two sizes and will need only a few of the larges if they happen to get that big, sized diapers offer a great option for parents.

Cloth diapering will save you a lot of money, but the up front investment can be intimidating for parents who are unsure if cloth is the best choice for their families. If you can’t afford to invest in all you need all at once, you can start with one day’s worth and then add more the next time you get paid. Just take the amount you are spending now on disposables and save it to purchase more cloth once a month until you have the number you need.

You will want to get a few extras to have on hand while you are washing diapers. Nothing is worse than having a sick baby and no clean diapers.

Up to 6 Mos. 10-12 per day
6-12 Mos. 8-10 per day
12-24 Mos. 6-8 per day
Potty Learning 2-4 per day

You will need one diaper cover for about every 4-6 diapers you have. Most covers can be reused a few times by airing them out between changes unless they are dirty. It is always a good idea to have one more cover than you think you need in case one gets dirty at a bad time!

Wool covers can go even longer between washes if they are properly lanolized when they are washed. PUL diaper covers are easily cleaned and dry quickly if the need to handwash one arises between loads of laundry.

Pockets and all-in-ones do not need covers. You will need to have at least 1 insert for each day time pocket style and 2-3 inserts for each night time diaper. Hemp is a great choice for extra absorbency for heavy wetters or overnight.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author and owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Author: Julie R. Holland
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rate

Originally posted 2009-08-29 10:09:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter