It's standard practice for infants to be placed in diapers to contain and control their urination and bowel movements. Many diapers sold in department stores are of a plastic variety, which are disposable but a bit more costly than cloth diapers. Plastic diapers require less maintenance work by parents, which has led to their popularity. Some parents, though, prefer an organic cloth option to diaper their children. These cloth options are almost always made out of cotton, and this offers several benefits to both parent and child.
Diaper Cost
Plastic diapers are convenient, but that convenience is expensive--according to BabeeGreens.com, the average family spends $2,500 to $3,000 on plastic diapers over the first two to three years of a child's life. Organic cloth diapers are much cheaper, coming out to just a few hundred dollars in the same time span. These savings are made through reusing cloth diapers, which can be washed repeatedly--according to GNMParents.com, a cloth diaper lasts a minimum of 75 to 100 washings before needing to be replaced..
Less Irritating to the Baby
Plastic diapers can often become uncomfortable for a child. The plastic on most diapers doesn't breathe well, and the chemicals present in a diaper can cause reactions on your child's skin, depending on his sensitivity. Sodium polyacrylate is a chemical used in the manufacturing of these diapers, but some babies may develop an allergy to the chemical. Dioxin is another chemical used in manufacturing, and this chemical has been connected to an increased risk of cancer. According to BabeeGreens.com, more than half of babies in plastic diapers develop rashes or allergic reactions at some point while wearing diapers.
Better for the Environment
Plastic diapers are built to be thrown away after one use, and this has a significant effect on the environment. According to BabeeGreens.com, the United States disposes of approximately 27.4 billion diapers every year. This creates 3.4 million tons of diapers taking up space in landfills. Even if the plastic in the diapers is able to break down, the chemicals used in the diapers can throw the ecological balance of local ecosystems out of balance and may be toxic to the soil and its organisms when present in high doses.
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