Eco-friendly diapers
I would like to congratulate Lisa W for winning
• The Big Picture, by David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor
• Ecoholic, by Adria Vasil
• The 100-Mile Diet, by Alisa Smith and J.B. MackKinnon
They are all such great reads! Lisa W said, "I don’t think I could choose just one or two people as my green heroes. I would have to say that my green heroes are everyone who not only talks about doing something but actually goes out and does something and encourages others to be green as well. This includes my daughters as well. One is in her school’s enviromental club and the other is always trying to find ways to save electricity as well as recycling and reusing."
I have to admit I agree with Lisa. We all need to pat each other (and ourselves) on the back every once in a while for doing out part. You all had such great, inspirational answers. It was very hard to pick a winner.
My boyfriend's sister-in-law just had a baby, so diapers have been on my mind. I overheard her saying that the amount of waste her home produces has at least tripled. It got me wondering what would be better to use - disposable or reusable diapers. Of course, disposable diapers cause a lot of waste, but reusable diapers require a heck of a lot of hot water, some serious detergent and bleach.
It's great to know that today, many disposposable diapers manufactured with the environment in mind. Take Seventh Generation or President's Choice Green diapers, which both are chlorine, dye and fragrance free.
As for reusable diapers, I hear that using baking soda and vinegar to clean them works just fine, though I wouldn't know.
Do you have any success stories when it comes to using reusable diapers? What's your faveourite brand of eco-friendly diapers?
May 11th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Diapers, ah, I know these well! I have two in them now - and I use a mix of cloth and disposable.
I like the cloth all-in-one diapers as they are easy to use. But I also use some that were handed over to me that require a wrap on them, too. I also use those silly little baby washclothes as washable wipes. they were too small for me as washclothes but I found a use for them! I only use Seventh Generation laundry soap in a hot wash (the only hot wash I do) but I hang them to dry, giving them a few minute tumble in the drier on air to soften them up when they are dry.
Bleach is tough on baby's bottoms, and I also am on septic - so it's a no-no. Besides, the sun is best diaper bleacher out there, anyway.
I use regular disposables and am not brand loyal as they seem to work well whatever the name. I have used Seventh Generation and found them good, but not able to absorb as much as some so they were best used in the day.
There is one really great hybrid out there - a cloth/disposable diaper. They are called g-diapers and they have a cloth outer with a snap in liner that holds a disposable insert. A great invention - but you do have to ensure you get the right size. I found they fit a little large, so I'm waiting for my son to grow into them. The insert is flushable if you are on city sewer - but should not be flushed if you are on septic. You can compost the wet only ones, too.
I sympathize with your boyfriend's sister-in-law. My garbage is greater because of diapers and wipes, too. I try to use cloth as much as possible, but it's not always easy and my baby has very sensitive skin so there are times I have to use disposables when he has sore skin.
Cloth diapers take a lot of energy to make - so if you take good care of them, they will make up for that if you pass them along to the next baby or to a friend.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Diapers?! Thank goodness I'm past that stage!
May 19th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Like Jackie, I love the all-in-one reusable diapers and have had great success with Fuzzi Bunz and Green Acre Designs. I think people would be amazed at how easy they truly are to use.
My son is now 2 and we still rely on the reusables - it does save so much waste. When I do use disposables I use the 7th Generation ones - they are awesome.
Besides...cloth diapers really do just look so cute on a baby's tush!
May 23rd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
There is some great info on Parenting By Nature's site that might be helpful. I'm just starting to learn about these, too.
Actually if you like you can enter to win a cloth diaper from Snugs Boutique on my blog (well actually any item up to $15 but they have cloth diapers along with other stuff). I have a bamboo pocket diaper from them. Yes just one cloth diaper so far, I am building my stash. Snugs has really amazing prices on cloth diapers (like a third what you'd pay for the 'brand name' cloth diapers). Plus it's Canadian!
The giveaway is here if you are interested
http://emilyisland.blogspot.com/2009/05/snugs-boutique-giveaway.html
May 27th, 2009 at 12:42 am
I liked the Happy Heiney's one size pocket diaper (all microfibre) and the Canadian made Bummis super whisper wraps with the chinese cotton prefold diapers ( economical choice).
In four years of diaper washing I have rarely used detergent (figure there's enough residue in the washer) and have never used bleach.
I'd toss solid poo in the toilet and put the dirty diaper in a pail with NO WATER IN IT ( soaks in the stink). Every other day, I'd toss the diapers in the machine and run a short cold wash to rinse them, followed by a hot wash with some vinegar and then hang them up to dry.
I really wish magazines like these would show all these great products. Any time there is a mention of cloth diapers all we see is gerber vinyl pants over a flat diaper with pins.
Sewing diapers is easy--I made lots of soaker pads out of old towels and t-shirts. Cost practically nothing.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
[... read more] Eco-friendly diapers | Green LivingI would like to congratulate Lisa W for winning • The Big Picture, by David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor • Ecoholic, by Adria Vasil • The [... read more]
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:19 am
[... read more] Eco-friendly diapers | Green LivingI would like to congratulate Lisa W for winning • The Big Picture, by David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor • Ecoholic, by Adria Vasil • The [... read more]
July 29th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
[... read more] Eco-friendly diapers | Green LivingI would like to congratulate Lisa W for winning • The Big Picture, by David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor • Ecoholic, by Adria Vasil • The [... read more]