What Are the Side Effects of Cloth Diapers?

Cloth diapers have long been touted as a natural, environmentally friendly and healthy choice for your baby. However, additional information points to a more balanced truth about cloth diapers; while they do have benefits, they are not as perfect an option as some may make them sound. Not often discussed are the ramifications involved with using cloth diapers.

Health Effects

• Cloth diapers are often chosen over disposable diapers due to their natural material. The idea they will be less irritating to a baby is appealing. This can be somewhat deceiving, as the diaper cloth itself is often bleached to a white cotton fiber. In addition, rubber or plastic pants need to be used over the diaper, and this can cause moisture buildup against the skin. Cloth diapers don't wick away the urine the same way disposable diapers do, allowing the liquid to stay against the skin for longer periods. The heavy sanitizing process necessary to wash cloth diapers often uses bleach and other detergents to clean them for re-use. Cloth diapers are a natural choice, but there are still plenty of opportunities for diaper rash, skin irritation and allergic reactions with their use.

Artificial Materials

• It's assumed that cloth diapers are natural. Take into consideration that some diaper materials are made from polyester blends, sprayed with chemical fabric treatments and enclosed in vinyl outer pants. There are a large number of chemical components riding next to the baby's skin. Some of these have been tested as cancer-causing agents; however, in the small concentrations used in diaper products, enough tests have not been done to determine the effects of these on the baby. However, considering the diapers are collecting moisture and worn directly on the skin, it should be considered a possible side effect of using cloth diapers.

Production

• There is a heavy environmental cost in producing the material for cloth diapers. Cotton producers are a heavy insecticide use industry. In addition, the fertilizer, water usage and processing of the crops using heavy machinery has a high environmental impact. Petroleum usage for the processing of the cloth equates nearly the same carbon footprint as processing disposable diapers.

Continued Use Impact

• The idea behind cloth diapers is to wash and re-use them, thus not disposing of anything. While this does save landfill space, it doesn't necessarily save the environment. Use of water, detergents, the power to run the washing machine and the environmental cost to generate that power equals a heavy carbon footprint. Considering the number of diapers used each day. Cloth diapers need to be changed more often; the amount of hot water generally required to wash and disinfect those diapers, as well as dry them with a dryer in colder or wetter climates, can build up to heavy energy use.

Cost

• Calculating the cost of cloth diaper use against disposables can have a surprising result. You would expect to save money, as you purchase cloth diapers one time, followed by smaller purchases over time to replace a few worn or outgrown cloths. The initial cost for cloth diapers, if you have enough on hand to handle a high volume of diaper changes, can be quite high.

  In addition, the costs associated with the heavy volume of washing the number of cloth diapers needed each day can add to the energy bill. Cloth diapers, once wet, need to be changed as soon as possible, so using more diapers means washing more diapers, thus consuming more energy. A time cost for processing these diapers also needs to be considered, especially for an already fatigued family with a new baby. In the end, all of these factors can be considered side effects of using a cloth diaper system.