Bogley

[deathcricket]

denaliguide wrote: i've had 3 boys and we opted for both depending on what we were doing. disposable when traveling and cloth at home.

cost seemed about the same either way.

even tho cloth are reuseable they did require soap and the washing machine, more water consumption, electricity, time, smelly diaper bin, etc...

disposable were way more conveinent, out with the trash, do increase waste in landfills. the new disposables are supposed to degrade more quickly now.

2 of my boys are in their mid 20's and one that just turned 6. don't know how relevant that is .

That's some pearls of wisdom right there. I did a bit of research as well (when my child was born) and when you also factor in the time and "grossness" factor, cloth diapers aren't really worth it IMO. Here is an interesting study I found helpfull. I'll just quote the good stuff.

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Diaper-Not-Clear.htm

Quote: Although disposable diapers pose environmental concerns from a solid waste perspective, cloth diapers raise concerns regarding air and water pollution. The reusable nature of cloth diapers reduces the solid waste problem, but creates other environmental concerns. Laundering of cloth diapers requires water, energy to heat the water and operate equipment, and chemicals in the form of laundry and sanitizing products that contribute to water pollution and additionally tax municipal water treatment systems.

A 1990 study concluded that cloth diapers used twice as much energy and four times as much water as disposables, and created greater air and water pollution than disposables (8). Commercial diaper services pose similar concerns, plus additional fuel use and air pollution created by delivery trucks. Emissions from home and diaper service drying equipment contribute to air pollution. While disposable diapers use more raw materials in the manufacturing process, cloth diapers use greater resources after use or care. Use of disposables raises a concern about solid waste management, while cloth diapers contribute to air and water pollution and possible taxing of municipal water and sewage systems.

So basically, it's not clear which is more "green", but very clear which is more convenient.

[JP]

sparker1 wrote: Now that landfills are being tapped for methane, we should all start using disposable diapers. :2thumbs: :2thumbs:
So true :haha:

[Shan]

I know many friends who cloth diaper their wee ones. It's nothing like the diapers of the past. These new ones are easy, snug, compact and efficient. They even make liners to dispose of the #2 mess.

If I had a kid, I'd go cloth too. They put the used ones in a special plastic zippie if they happen to change the kid when out on the town.

[Brewhaha]

Disposable all the way. The less time I have to spend with baby poop, the better.