Our Story...
My first memories of cloth diapers are of helping my mom change my younger sister’s diapers when I was 6 or 7 years old. Because of these memories, when my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child, I naturally thought of using cloth with our children.

After trying several varieties and feeling frustrated with leaking issues, we discovered AMP Diapers and were thrilled with them!   We've had no leaking problems, the diapers fit well, wash well, and come in fun colours! 

Where to Start
Starting up with cloth diapers can be extremely overwhelming!  Which brand is the best? What style diaper should you use?  Is it really worth the money?  We found it best to try a couple of each different style (pocket diapers, all in ones, etc.) and decide what works best for you.  If you are interested in trying cloth diapers, but aren't sure where to start, I would love to sit with you or chat with you over the phone and discuss some options to help you figure out what will work best for your family. 

Why Choose Cloth?
People choose to use cloth diapers for a variety of reasons, including cost, health considerations, and of course because they are more environmentally friendly.  

The chart below presents some strong arguments for taking the plunge and making your family a cloth diapering family!
 

THE GREAT DIAPER DEBATE

Disposable Diapers                                                 Cloth Diapers 
Environmental Considerations

·         From birth to toilet training, each child will use approx. 5,300 disposable diapers. These diapers do not decompose - they are “mummified” in landfills.

·         Per year, it takes 440-880 lbs of fluff pulp and 286 lbs of plastic to diaper a child in disposables.

·         Disposables use 37% more water than home laundered cloth diapers. The wastewater contains toxic sludge, heavy metals, dioxins (very toxic), etc. that affect plant, aquatic, animal and human life.

·         In Canada and the US, more than 20 BILLION disposable diapers are put into landfills each year!

·         Uses 50-70 gallons of water every 3 days to wash cloth diapers (is equivalent to an adult flushing the toilet 5-6 times per day).

·         Wastewater from laundering cloth diapers is pretty benign (harmless).

·         Cloth diapers have a very long and useful life cycle.  They can be re-used for several children in one family and then passed along for use in another family. Eventually they can be used as cleaning rags.

·         Washing in cold water and line drying saves significant energy costs.

Health Considerations

·         Disposables are made of mostly soft, fluffy pulp from chemically treated and bleached wood fibers.

·         The gel in disposables, sodium polyacrylate, can absorb 100 times its weight in liquid. This substance was associated with toxic shock syndrome and banned from use in feminine tampons. It has also been associated with severe diaper rash and scrotum/perennial bleeding. No long term studies have been done on the effects of this substance on vulnerable genital tissues.

·         Cloth diapers made with natural fibers (organic cotton, hemp or unbleached cotton) do not emit the same chemical by-products in the manufacturing process as disposables.

·         Natural fibers (cotton, hemp) do not irritate the skin or, on their own, cause diaper rashes or bleeding (it’s often soiled diapers left on too long that cause rashes in cloth diapered babies).

·         There are no added perfumes or scents to cloth diapers.

Time & Cost Considerations

·         Time commitment involves purchasing diapers and regular garbage disposal.

·         Cost is approx. $1,800-$2,400 per child.

·         Time commitment involves approx. two to three extra loads of laundry per week.

·         Cost (diapers, laundering, etc.) is approx. $600-$900. Diapers can be re-used and then re-sold.

Used  with permission from Bare Organics Inc. 2010