Disposable Diapers are Inconvenient

I hear this all the time: "Cloth diapers are an extra hassle." or "Disposables are too convenient."  Honestly though, it is all about how you look at it.  Let's face it, if you were really wanting a convenient life, then having a baby wouldn't be at the top of it.  They are full of inconveniences no matter how you diaper them.

If you are considering using cloth diapers?  Do you  have a friend or family member who gives you a hard time about using cloth diapers?  Here's some great information to know, when you are comparing cloth diapers to disposable ones.

Top 10 Reasons Why Disposable Diapers are Inconvenient:

-It sneaks up on you that you are using your last couple diapers in the pack late one evening.  Late night runs to the store to purchase disposable diapers when you've run out is inconvenient.

-Experiencing the common "up the back blow out" when you baby has been sitting, especially in a car seat is inconvenient (and messy too!).  Note: This does type of blow out rarely happens in a cloth diaper.

-Just took out the trash the day before but that lingering poopy diaper and wipes you put in the new liner is causing a stench? Having to take a partially full trash bag outside to your garbage bin to get rid of that smell is inconvenient.

-Having to throw away a poopy diaper outside in a separate plastic bag when you are visiting someone's house is inconvenient.

-Allergic reactions and heat related diaper rashes are common with disposable diapers.  Having to make an extra trip(s) to your pediatrician for a disposable diaper related rash is very inconvenient.

-Using disposable diapers will cost you about an extra $1,200 and more with subsequent children.  Having to work harder or hours to afford trashable diapers (and other disposable items like wipes) is inconvenient.

-Your baby just had a growth spurt and no longer fits in his/her size in disposable diapers but you are not even close to using up that huge case you recently purchased at CostCo. Having to give away or sell disposable diapers that your baby couldn't use because they grew out of that size is inconvenient compared to using a cloth diaper that fits a range from 8-35lbs.

-Do you have 2 small children both in diapers? Having to carry 2 different sized disposable diapers in your diaper bag is inconvenient compared to having 1 cloth diaper that fits both of your children (one-size) .

-Having to take a pet to the vet after he/she consumes a disposable diaper is inconvenient (and expensive).  (This came from a recent story where a dog actually died after doing this.)

Some Scary Facts About Disposable Diapers

Most people underestimate the ability of the skin to absorb all with which it comes in contact. There is a reason pharmacologists created a birth control patch that adheres to your skin and releases chemicals that alter the hormonal functions of your internal system: Your skin is like a sponge. Consider what you will be putting against your baby's vulnerable skin for the next 2 - 3 years, 24 hours a day.
With the exception of the pricy natural disposables with extremely limited availability (we only know of the Tushies brand at this time), disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate which absorbs liquid and turns it into gel. Many parents who use disposable diapers will recognize the polymer as the shiny gel-like crystals that often make their way onto your baby’s bum. It was banned from use in tampons in 1985 after it was linked to toxic shock syndrome*. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals.** Cloth diapers are inexpensive and gel free! In May 2000, the Archives of Disease in Childhood published research showing that scrotal temperature is increased in boys wearing disposable diapers, and that prolonged use of disposable diapers will blunt or completely abolish the physiological testicular cooling mechanism important for normal spermatogenesis.***
In addition, the dangerous chemical dioxin is reported by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals, and is a byproduct of the paper bleaching that is used in most disposable diapers. Whitening through the use of dioxin has been banned in most countries…but not in the U.S.****

With the toxic chemical exposure of disposable diapers, it is no shock that a study by a major disposable diaper manufacturer shows that the incidence of diaper rash rose from 7.1% to 61% between 1970 & 1995, coinciding with the increase in disposable diaper use.
Have you ever read the following warning on a package of disposable diapers? IMPORTANT: When disposing of soiled diaper, empty contents into toilet. I did not realize myself that disposable diapers should be emptied into the toilet before being discarded…but as inconvenient as it may seem it does makes sense. The diapers end up at the landfill, containing viruses from human feces (including live vaccines from routine childhood immunizations) that can leak into the Earth and pollute underground water supplies. In addition to the potential of groundwater contamination, air-borne viruses carried by flies and other insects contribute to an unhealthy and unsanitary situation. One way or another, the waste caught by cloth diapers is likely to enter our sewer systems and is properly treated before re-entering our water.
The solution saturating most disposable wipes can be very harsh and contain questionable chemicals that we don't often recognize. In contrast, reusable cloth wipes can be used and laundered alongside cloth diapers and are a great alternative to disposable wipes. Cloth wipes allow the flexibility for you to use plain water to cleanse your baby’s bum or for you to mix up your own chemical-free brew or use a premade solution whose ingredients you trust.

Disposable Diapers or Cloth?

There is a quite fierce debate between parents – both long-term ones and new ones – over which type of diaper is better for babies. The two main types of diaper are disposable ones and cloth ones, and both types inevitably have their plus sides and their minus sides. In truth, neither kind is better per se than the other. But depending on your personal outlook on such things, you are likely to lean one way or the other, and make your decision based on that instinct. It then comes down to whether you feel comfortable with your choice after a month or two of putting it into practice.

Disposable diapers have in their favor that they are disposable (obviously). On changing the diaper, you will simply have to put it in the trash and say no more about it. However, as any parent will tell you, children are very productive sources of waste matter, so keeping them in clean diapers can add up to a lot of expense. Cloth diapers are invariably cheaper – although clearly you need to have quite a few if you don’t want to be washing them almost constantly. They also mess up the environment a lot less.

It is up to you to decide which kind of diaper is the best for your purposes and for your purse. Either way, there is work involved and there is expense to take into account. The health of your baby’s skin plays a major part in considerations as well, but at the final analysis you and your baby will be fine as long as you keep on top of things – and if you go with cloth diapers, it is worth still having some disposables around in case of emergencies or when you are on the go.

Biodegrading Mushrooms Do not Make Disposable Diapers Environmentally Friendly

You may have heard of oyster mushrooms being used to break down the cellulose in disposable diapers reducing their time in the landfill from about five hundred years to about four months. While we can all agree that this is a huge advance in dealing with the waste that has already been accumulated from disposable diaper use, we should not disillusion ourselves into thinking that we can give up any eco-guilt about using throw away diapers because these magical biodegrading mushrooms are here to save the day.

Source: shop.earthycrunchymama.com via Anona on Pinterest

An important thing to take into account is natural resources. While disposable products that are more easily biodegradable are a better option than disposable products that take hundreds of years to decompose, they are not better than or equal to a reusable version of that product. We need to take into account the natural resources required to produce these products. With cloth diapers, you purchase them once and you reuse, reuse, reuse. You use a lot less resources compared to the resources that are required to manufacture and distribute disposable diapers that you will use, throw away, use more resources to manufacture and distribute and so on. We live on a finite planet with limited resources so any way that we can cut down on the amount of resources we use for things we need, the better for the health of our planet.

We have ingredients like wood pulp (poor trees!), plastic, toxic chemicals, water, etc. required to produce disposable diapers, in addition to the oil required to transport them. Did you know that more water is used to manufacture disposable diapers than is used to wash cloth diapers? According to the New Parents Guide, " It takes around 80,000 pounds of plastic and over 200,000 trees a year to manufacture the disposable diapers for American babies alone" 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown away each year. I hope those mushrooms are ready to work hard!


Let's talk about poop. As a cloth diapering parent, I can assure you that my baby's waste ends up in the sewage system where it belongs. I always shake the poo into the toilet before the diapers get washed and I spray them over the toilet if necessary. Parents using disposable diapers are supposed to be doing the same, but I've never met anyone who flushes the poo before tossing a disposable diaper in the trash. Have you? 


The chemicals in disposable diapers that make them absorbent aren't good for babies and they aren't good for the planet. When sposie's are thrown away, they leach their toxic cocktail of urine, feces, plastic (b.p.a., p.v.c., and phthalates), dioxin, etc. which contaminates ground water all before oyster mushrooms can have a chance to do their work breaking them down.

5 Harmful Effects of Disposable Diapers and Training Pants

Because we are eco-friendly and sustainable we feel that it is necessary to help people make an educated decision when it comes to choosing which products to use for their children. This is for the benefit of you and your child, as well as the environment.
It still amazes us how many people out there give no thought or regard to how the products they use are destroying the very Earth that we all call home, even after being educated and shown the truth about harmful products. Unfortunately, a lot of people want to sweep these problems under the rug and forget about them. However, I think we can all agree that we need Earth in order to survive and give future generations the basic necessities of clean air, clean water, and healthy food. Simple right?
Take a look at some of the information we found about disposable diapers and training pants:

• 18 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills every year in the U.S. alone, adding 5 million tons of untreated human waste to the soil. And did you know that it is illegal to put human fecal matter in your household garbage? The American Public Health Association and American Academy of Pediatrics have advised parents that "fecal material and urine should not be allowed to be co-mingled and disposed of as regular trash. This contaminates ground water and spreads disease." Yes, you must remove all of the fecal matter from disposables before you throw them out. ( Click here for information on disposing of disposable diapers)
• Sodium polyacrylate is a chemical that makes disposable diapers so absorbent that it can absorb up to 100 times its weight in water. However, it can stick to children's genitals and cause allergic reactions. In the U.S., this chemical was removed from tampons in 1985 when it was linked to toxic shock syndrome. And when this chemical was tested and injected into rats, it caused hemorrhaging, cardiovascular failure, and ultimately death.
• 500 years! This is how long it can take each disposable diaper and training pant to decompose in a landfill. That means that every disposable diaper and training pant ever used in the world is still decomposing in a landfill somewhere. And almost 30 percent of each disposable diaper and training pant consists of non biodegradable products such as absorbent vinyl layers, Velcro, absorbent gelling material, and plastic packaging that will never break down.
• Dioxin is a by product of the paper bleaching process used in the manufacturing of disposable diapers and training pants. It is the most toxic of all the cancer causing chemicals and causes birth defects as well as liver disease in laboratory animals.
• As many as 100 viruses can survive in soiled disposable diapers or training pants for months. This includes the live polio virus and hepatitis excreted by recently vaccinated babies. These viruses constitute a potential hazard to sanitation workers and garbage handlers. No to mention the critters that will crawl into the landfill to find a meal and the birds that will pick through this garbage and fly to who knows where.

This is obviously not an exhaustive list of harmful effects. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

Happy potty learning!
Steph Evans

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6808560

How to Change a Baby's Diaper

You don't have to be intimidated about how to change a baby's diaper. With a little guidance and a few practice runs, you'll be able to do a diaper change with two hands tied behind your back. Ok, well maybe now that easily, but you get my drift.

Time Required: 5 minutes tops

Here's How:

1. Gather your supplies and have them in arms reach. Remember never to leave your baby unattended on a changing table or raised surface.
2. Unfold your baby's disposable diaper. Run your fingers along the elastic leg casing so that you can better prevent leaks.
3. Place your baby on your changing surface. Pull back the diaper tabs and fold each one over on to itself so that they don't wind up sticking to your baby. If you have a boy, be sure to cover his penis so that you don't get an unwanted shower. If your baby has had a bowel movement, use the front edge of the diaper to clean off his skin as much as you can. Then fold the soiled diaper in half and rest his bottom on the clean front part of the diaper.
4. Use your baby wipes to clean your baby's bottom. Always wipe from front to back and be sure to clean all the folds and rolls of your baby's skin. Lift your baby's legs and be sure to clean his behind and back.
5. Once your baby is spic-and-span, remove the dirty diaper and place well away from his reach. If your baby has a diaper rash, apply the right diaper cream for the type of rash.
6. Place the clean diaper under your baby's bum, keeping the top of the diaper in line with his belly button. Bring the front part of the diaper up between his legs, be sure that little boy's have their penis is pointing down to prevent leaking. Pull the adhesive tabs up and around to secure. You'll want to be sure that you have the tabs evenly spaced to create a comfortable fit for your baby.
7. Check to be sure that you have a good fit on the diaper. You don't want the diaper to be so snug that it cuts into him, nor too loose and leaks will occur. Be sure that the leg gussets are sufficently creating a "seal" around his legs.
8. Wrap the diaper into a ball and use the tabs to keep the ball intact. Dispose of soiled diaper and wipes properly and wash your hands thoroughly.

What You Need

• A disposable diaper
• Plenty of clean wipes
• Diaper cream (if needed)
• A changing table or changing pad placed on a stable surface

What To Do If You Wash a Disposable Diaper

You don't have to be intimidated about how to change a baby's diaper. With a little guidance and a few practice runs, you'll be able to do a diaper change with two hands tied behind your back. Ok, well maybe now that easily, but you get my drift.

Time Required: 5 minutes tops

Here's How:

1. Gather your supplies and have them in arms reach. Remember never to leave your baby unattended on a changing table or raised surface.
2. Unfold your baby's disposable diaper. Run your fingers along the elastic leg casing so that you can better prevent leaks.
3. Place your baby on your changing surface. Pull back the diaper tabs and fold each one over on to itself so that they don't wind up sticking to your baby. If you have a boy, be sure to cover his penis so that you don't get an unwanted shower. If your baby has had a bowel movement, use the front edge of the diaper to clean off his skin as much as you can. Then fold the soiled diaper in half and rest his bottom on the clean front part of the diaper.
4. Use your baby wipes to clean your baby's bottom. Always wipe from front to back and be sure to clean all the folds and rolls of your baby's skin. Lift your baby's legs and be sure to clean his behind and back.
5. Once your baby is spic-and-span, remove the dirty diaper and place well away from his reach. If your baby has a diaper rash, apply the right diaper cream for the type of rash.
6. Place the clean diaper under your baby's bum, keeping the top of the diaper in line with his belly button. Bring the front part of the diaper up between his legs, be sure that little boy's have their penis is pointing down to prevent leaking. Pull the adhesive tabs up and around to secure. You'll want to be sure that you have the tabs evenly spaced to create a comfortable fit for your baby.
7. Check to be sure that you have a good fit on the diaper. You don't want the diaper to be so snug that it cuts into him, nor too loose and leaks will occur. Be sure that the leg gussets are sufficently creating a "seal" around his legs.
8. Wrap the diaper into a ball and use the tabs to keep the ball intact. Dispose of soiled diaper and wipes properly and wash your hands thoroughly.

What You Need

• A disposable diaper
• Plenty of clean wipes
• Diaper cream (if needed)
• A changing table or changing pad placed on a stable surface

How to Clean Disposable Diaper Disaster in the Washing Machine

Diapers were NOT meant to be washed! No, I’m not talking about cloth diapering. In fact, you cloth-diapering Mommies are my heroes at the moment, in which case this post might be the article you want to read to encourage yourself on why you made the right decision in cloth diapering. The diapers I am talking about are the plastic type that appear flat, lifeless, and ordinary UNTIL the day arrives when that disposable diaper meanders its merry way into the washing machine for a joy ride where it can finally take that gluttonous deep drink of fresh water until it explodes millions of jelly beads into every nook and cranny, wrinkle and crevice, pocket and fold of your entire load of laundry! And then that blobby jelly monster, who you never knew was inhabitating your child’s diaper, finally manifests and waits there to behold mommy’s look of horror and shock when she lifts open the washing machine lid.

SO the question is how do we clean such a disaster?

Let me tell you what NOT to do:
1.) Do NOT try to rewash the load, as I did. Those resilient jelly beads aren’t going anywhere no matter how hot you try to melt them.
2.) Do NOT try shaking out the laundry in the laundry room. One seemingly innocent white sock might just be hosting tons of microscopic diaper beads. You won’t notice this until you shake it out and later discover jelly in your hair, shoulders, shirt, slippers … and you look like it rained caviar in your hair.
3.) Do NOT Scream! You’ll wake the babies. Besides, there is a solution.

Let me tell you what I did which WORKED!
1.) Went outside, shook each individual piece of laundry out, both inside out and on both sides, rewashed it, dried it and it turned out fine. As a warning, shaking the laundry will result in little beads going everywhere. You may want to wear a mask. I am only thinking that diaper beads that are flying everywhere cannot be healthy to inhale. Thus, the mask idea. Yes, I error on being psychotically careful. Yes, this was extremely time consuming and I hope to NEVER make this mistake again.

Let’s ask the Experts!
But, now I am curious, do the diaper companies have any advice to give? After all they are the ones who have created those beads in the first place. Let’s see what they have to say. Well, I just contacted the two big diaper dogs out there: Pampers and Huggies. Both were kind and reassuring that this type of disaster happens very often. Phew, breathe. So I’m not a total freak. But, they both gave slightly DIFFERENT advice.

According to Pampers Customer Service: (800-726-7377)
1.) Put load of laundry into the dryer as is (with the jelly beads).
2.) Drying laundry will cause gel to bead up and fall off clothing; most beads will collect in lint filter.
3.) You may need to dry laundry longer than usual to collect beads
4.) When laundry is dry shake it outside
5.) To clean the washing machine, simply use rinse cycle and wipe inside of washing machine

According to Huggies Diapers customer service: (888-525-8388)
The Huggies representative said that this happens so often she usually gets at least one call a day with this question. She also reassured me that this should not hurt the machine in any way. I asked her if this information was on the company website, because I had trouble finding it. She said there was information under the Pull-ups section, and that she would put in a request to have it under the diaper section as well.

1.) Take wet load outside and shake it out
2.) Break up laundry into smaller loads and rewash.
3.) Dry as usual.

Well, I hope this information helps other parents out there who have made the same mistake. Collectively, we will defeat that jelly monster and have clean clothes and dry diapers once again. This is all the more reason why I am looking forward to having both kids potty trained! Then we can put the Mr. Poopies, Jelly Monsters, Mr. Gummy Bears, and Mr. Boogers to rest; ironically, by that time the kids will be off in college and I would do anything to relive any one of these day all over again.

If you share this experience, or found this advice helpful, OR have any better solutions, please let me know.

Diaper buying guide

Getting started

Disposable or cloth diapers? That's your first decision. Disposable diapers are undeniably more convenient, but they're costly. You can expect to spend around $2,500 or more by the time your baby is potty-trained. If you use "eco-friendly" disposable diapers, which are biodegradable and/or not bleached with chlorine, you'll pay about $1,000 more depending on the number of diaper changes per day and the brand you use.

Cloth diapers can be much less expensive than disposables, especially if you wash them yourself. (Some parents use a diaper service, which picks up dirty diapers and delivers clean ones.) After paying the initial cost, you'll save hundreds of dollars by reusing cloth diapers again and again. If you wash them yourself, you might even be able to use them for more than one baby.

Many companies offer starter packs of cloth diapers that come with accessories. The accessories vary with the type of diaper you choose, but in general you'll need diaper inserts (cloth pads added to increase absorbency), waterproof covers to lock in moisture, and/or flushable liners that help to contain the mess. Liners eliminate the need to rinse cloth diapers before depositing them in a diaper pail. They do create waste, although less than disposable diapers. And some are biodegradable, like the Kushies brand.

"People still think of cloth diapers as being messy and involving pins and plastic pants," says Betsy Thomas, co-owner of Bummis, a Montreal-based company that makes cloth diapers. "But in actual fact, today's cloth diapers are as easy to use as their disposable counterparts. Snap and Velcro-type closures, high-tech comfort fabrics, and flushable liners have revolutionized cloth diapers, making them an increasingly attractive choice for many parents, especially in times of economic hardships. Although single-use (so-called disposable) diapers still control most of the market, the percentage of parents using cloth diapers is rising steadily."

The Real Diaper Industry Association, a group that represents makers of cloth diapers, says a survey it did found a 30 percent increase in cloth diaper sales between 2000 and 2007.

Despite a growing interest in cloth diapers, disposable ones continue to be the first choice for many parents and a preferred choice at many day-care centers and hospitals.

Recommendations

With disposables, plan on using plenty for your newborn, but don't load up on the newborn size. Unless you're the parent of multiples, it's overkill to buy economy packs at the beginning, some of which contain up to 160 diapers. Your baby is likely to outgrow the newborn size before you use that many. In fact, some babies are too big at birth to ever wear a newborn size. Start with one package of 40-count newborn diapers if your baby weighs about 8 pounds at birth. If sheweighs more, start with a package of size 1, then buy in volume after you find the brand you like best. Don't be afraid to experiment; you'll find a favorite brand in time.

Once you know what you need, purchasing the largest-count package you can find is the way to go. Choosing a box of 216 Pampers Swaddlers in size 1, for example, will cost you about $42 (19 cents a diaper), while a pack of 54 will cost almost $18 (33 cents a diaper). You'll save the most money if you buy store-brand diapers in economy-size boxes, which come in counts that range from 92 to 252. You can also find competitive deals on name-brand diapers on sale in packages of various sizes. Browse online to find the most competitive prices and bulk discounts.

Don't be too quick to jump to the next size diaper, either. Selecting the smallest diaper your baby can wear comfortably will save you money in the long run because a larger diaper costs more. Manufacturers usually charge the same amount per package regardless of the actual size of the diapers, but they put fewer diapers in the package as the size gets larger. In addition, a diaper that's too roomy could allow leaks.

Diaper sizes vary from brand to brand. One version's size 1 might fit children from 8 to 14 pounds, while another's will fit those from 8 to 18 pounds, combining sizes 1 and 2 into one package. A brand's weight range usually overlaps: size 2 in one brand will cover kids weighing 12 to 18 pounds; size 3, 16 to 28 pounds; and so on.

With cloth diapers, the type of cloth you choose (as well as whether you go with cloth at all) is a matter of personal preference. They can be a significant money saver, but don't be a slave to the laundry room. Buy enough so that you don't have to wash diapers more frequently than every two to three days.

If you choose unfolded, pre-folded, or fitted cloth diapers, you'll need two to three dozen to begin with, plus six to 10 waterproof covers. If you go the pocket diaper route, having 12 to 16 should be adequate in the beginning. If you purchase a start-up kit you'll get all the diapers, diaper covers, and flushable liners you'll need for that diaper's weight limit. Pay close attention to washing instructions until you come up with your own system. "People are afraid of the washing, but once they do it they realize that it's no big deal," Thomas says. If you choose cloth, don't think it's all or nothing. Feel free to use disposables when you need or want to, such as when you're traveling with your baby.

Some parents think their children get fewer rashes with cloth diapers. Laura Jana, a pediatrician and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, says there isn't a big difference in the frequency of rashes with cloth vs. disposable diapers. Jana has done consulting work with Procter & Gamble, which makes of Pampers.

Disposable Diaper Process

A disposable diaper consists of an absorbent pad sandwiched between two sheets of nonwoven fabric. The pad is specially designed to absorb and retain body fluids, and the nonwoven fabric gives the diaper a comfortable shape and helps prevent leakage. These diapers are made by a multi-step process in which the absorbent pad is first vacuum-formed, then attached to a permeable top sheet and impermeable bottom sheet. The components are sealed together by application of heat or ultrasonic vibrations. Elastic fibers are attached to the sheets to gather the edges of the diaper into the proper shape so it fits snugly around a baby's legs and crotch. When properly fitted, the disposable diaper will retain body fluids which pass through the permeable top sheet and are absorbed into the pad.

Disposable diapers are a relatively recent invention. In fact, until the early 1970s mothers had no real alternative to classic cloth diapers. Cotton diapers have the advantage of being soft, comfortable, and made of natural materials. Their disadvantages include their relatively poor absorbency and the fact that they have to be laundered. Disposable diapers were developed to overcome these problems. The earliest disposables used wood pulp fluff, cellulose wadding, fluff cellulose, or cotton fibers as the absorbent material. These materials did not absorb very much moisture for their weight, however. Consequently, diapers made from these materials were extremely bulky. More efficient absorbent polymers were developed to address this issue.

Since the 1970s, disposable diaper technology has continued to evolve. In fact, nearly 1,000 patents related to diaper design and construction have been issued in the last 25 years. Today's diapers are not only highly functional, they include advanced features such as special sizing and coloring for specific gender and age, color change indicators to show when the child is wet, and reattachable VelcroTM-type closures. These innovations have enabled disposables to capture a large share of the diaper market. In 1996, disposable diaper sales exceeded $4 billion in the United States alone. Proctor and Gamble and Kimberly Clark are the two largest brand name manufacturers, and their sales account for nearly 80% of the market. Private label manufacturers that produce store brands and generic diapers account for most of the remaining 20%.

Raw Materials

Absorbent pad

The single most important property of a diaper, cloth or disposable, is its ability to absorb and retain moisture. Cotton material used in cloth diapers is reasonably absorbent, but synthetic polymers far exceed the capacity of natural fibers. Today's state-of-the-art disposable diaper will absorb 15 times its weight in water. This phenomenal absorption capacity is due to the absorbent pad found in the core of the diaper. This pad is composed of two essential elements, a hydrophilic, or water-loving, polymer and a fibrous material such as wood pulp. The polymer is made of fine particles of an acrylic acid derivative, such as sodium acrylate, potassium acrylate, or an alkyl acrylate. These polymeric particles act as tiny sponges that retain many times their weight in water. Microscopically these polymer molecules resemble long chains or ropes. Portions of these chemical "ropes" are designed to interact with water molecules. Other parts of the polymer have the ability to chemically link with different polymer molecules in a process known as cross linking. When a large number of these polymeric chains are cross linked, they form a gel network that is not water soluble but that can absorb vast amounts of water. Polymers with this ability are referred to as hydrogels, superabsorbents, or hydrocolloids. Depending on the degree of cross linking, the strength of the gel network can be varied. This is an important property because gel strength is related to the tendency of the polymer to deform or flow under stress. If the strength is too high the polymer will not retain enough water. If it too low the polymer will deform too easily, and the outermost particles in the pad will absorb water too quickly, forming a gel that blocks water from reaching the inner pad particles. This problem, known as gel blocking, can be overcome by dispersing wood pulp fibers throughout the polymer matrix. These wood fibers act as thousands of tiny straws which suck up water faster and disperse it through the matrix more efficiently to avoid gel blocking. Manufacturers have optimized the combinations of polymer and fibrous material to yield the most efficient absorbency possible.

Nonwoven fabric

The absorbent pad is at the core of the diaper. It is held in place by nonwoven fabric sheets that form the body of the diaper. Nonwoven fabrics are different from traditional fabrics because of the way they are made. Traditional fabrics are made by weaving together fibers of silk, cotton, polyester, wool, etc. to create an interlocking network of fiber loops. Nonwovens are typically made from plastic resins, such as nylon, polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene, and are assembled by mechanically, chemically, or thermally interlocking the plastic fibers. There are two primary methods of assembling nonwovens, the wet laid process and the dry laid process. A dry laid process, such as the "meltblown" method, is typically used to make nonwoven diaper fabrics. In this method the plastic resin is melted and extruded, or forced, through tiny holes by air pressure. As the air-blown stream of fibers cools, the fibers condense onto a sheet. Heated rollers are then used to flatten the fibers and bond them together. Polypropylene is typically the material used for the permeable top sheet, while polyethylene is the resin of choice for the non-permeable back sheet.

Other components

There are a variety of other ancillary components, such as elastic threads, hot melt adhesives, strips of tape or other closures, and inks used for printing decorations.

The Manufacturing
Process

Formation of the absorbent pad

• 1 The absorbent pad is formed on a movable conveyer belt that passes through a long "forming chamber." At various points in the chamber, pressurized nozzles spray either polymer particles or fibrous material onto the conveyor surface. The bottom of the conveyor is perforated, and as the pad material is sprayed onto the belt, a vacuum is applied from below so that the fibers are pulled down to form a flat pad.
  At least two methods have been employed to incorporate absorbent polymers into the pad. In one method the polymer is injected into the same feed stock that supplies the fibers. This method produces a pad that has absorbent polymer dispersed evenly throughout its entire length, width, and thickness. The problems associated with method are that loss of absorbent may occur because the fine particles are pulled through the perforations in the conveyor by the vacuum. It is therefore expensive and messy. This method also causes the pad to absorb unevenly since absorbent is lost from only one side and not the other.
  A second method of applying polymer and fiber involves application of the absorbent material onto the top surface of the pad after it has been formed. This method produces a pad which has absorbent material concentrated on its top side and does not have much absorbency throughout the pad. Another disadvantage is that a pad made in
  
  
  this way may lose some of the polymer applied to its surface. Furthermore, this approach tends to cause gel blocking, since all the absorbent is on the outside of the pad. The moisture gets trapped in this outer layer and does not have a chance to diffuse to the center. This blockage holds moisture against the skin and can lead to discomfort for the wearer. These problems are solved by controlling the mixture polymer and fibrous material. Multiple spray dispensers are used to apply several layers of polymer and fiber. As the fiber is drawn into the chamber and the bottom of the pad is formed, a portion of the polymer is added to the mix to form a layer of combined polymer and fiber. Then more pure fiber is pulled on top to give a sandwich effect. This formation creates a pad with the absorbent polymer confined to its center, surrounded by fibrous material. Gel blockage is not a problem because the polymer is concentrated at core of pad. It also solves the problem of particle loss since all the absorbent is surrounded by fibrous material. Finally, this process is more cost effective because it distributes the polymer just where it is needed.
  
• 2 After the pad has received a full dose of fiber and polymer, it proceeds down the conveyor path to a leveling roller near the outlet of the forming chamber. This roller removes a portion of the fiber at the top of the pad to make it a uniform thickness. The pad then moves by the conveyor through the outlet for subsequent operations to form the competed diaper.

Preparation of the nonwoven

• 3 Sheets of nonwoven fabric are formed from plastic resin using the meltblown process as described above. These sheets are produced as a wide roll known as a "web," which is then cut to the appropriate width for use in diapers. There is a web for the top sheet and another for the bottom sheet. It should be noted that this step does not necessarily occur in sequence after pad formation because the nonwoven fabrics are often made in a separate location. When the manufacturer is ready to initiate diaper production these large bolts of fabric are connected to special roller equipment that feeds fabric to the assembly line.
  
  
  
• 4 At some point in the process, stretched elastic bands are attached to the backing sheet with adhesive. After the diaper is assembled, these elastic bands contract and gather the diaper together to ensure a snug fit and limit leakage.

Assembly of the components

• 5 At this point in the process there are still three separate components, the absorbent pad, the top sheet, and the backing sheet. These three components are in long strips and must be joined together and cut into diaper-sized units. This is accomplished by feeding the absorbent pad onto a conveyor with the polyethylene bottom sheet. The polypropylene top sheet is then fed into place, and the compiled sheets are joined by gluing, heating, or ultrasonic welding. The assembled diaper may have other attachments, such as strips of tape or Velcro ^™ , which act as closures.
• 6 The long roll is then cut into individual diapers, folded, and packaged for shipping.

Byproducts/Waste

Diaper production does not produce significant byproducts; in fact the diaper industry uses the byproducts of other industries. The absorbent polymers used in diaper production are often left over from production lines of other chemical industries. The polymer particles are too small for other applications, but they are well suited for use in diapers. In diaper production, however, considerable amounts of both nonwoven material and polymer particles are wasted. To minimize this waste, the industry tries to optimize the number of diapers obtained from every square yard (meter) of material. Furthermore, every attempt is made to recover the excess fiber and polymer material used in the forming chamber. However, this is not always possible due to clogging of filters and other losses.

Quality Control

There are several methods used to control the quality of disposable diapers, and most of these relate to the product's absorbency. One key is to make sure the polymer/fiber ratio in the absorbent pad is correct. Too much variation will impact the diaper's ability to soak up moisture. Industry trial and error has shown that for optimal performance and cost, the fiber to particle ratio should be about 75:25 to 90:10. Even more critical than this ratio are the size and distribution of these particles. It has been established that particles with mass median particle size greater than or equal to about 400 microns work very well with the fibers to enhance the rate at which the fluid is transported away from the body. If the particles vary much outside this range, gel blocking may occur.

There are several standard tests the industry uses to establish diaper absorbency. One is referred to as Demand Wettability or Gravimetric Absorbance. These tests evaluate what is are commonly referred to as Absorbance Under Load (AUL). AUL is defined as the amount of 0.9% saline solution absorbed by the polymers while being subjected to pressure equivalent to 21,000 dynes, or about 0.30 lb/sq in (0.021 kg/sq cm). This test simulates the effect of a baby sitting on a wet diaper. If the diaper has an absorbency of at least 24 ml/g after one hour, the quality is considered acceptable.

Other quality control factors besides absorbency are related to the diaper's fit and comfort. Particular attention must be paid to the melt characteristics of the nonwoven fabrics used to form the diaper's shell. If materials with different melting points are used, the material that melts the quickest may become too soft and stick to the assembly apparatus. When the fabric is pulled off it may be left with a rough surface that is uncomfortable to the user. Finally, the alignment of the components must be carefully checked or leakage may result.

The Future

Disposable diaper manufacture is a high technology field which has consistently shown innovation over the last few decades. Nonetheless, there are still a number of areas which require additional improvement. One such area is that of leakage reduction. It is likely that manufacturers will develop improved elastic bands to hold the waist more tightly without causing chafing or discomfort. It is also likely that current concern regarding the role of disposable diapers in landfills will impact manufacturing and formulation. This concern may to lead to the development of diapers which are less bulky and more biodegradable.

Where to Learn More

Periodicals

"Dueling diapers." The Edell Health Letter, August 1993, p. 6.
McAloney, Regina. "Thin is in." Nonwovens Industry, November 1994 p.52.
Lenzner, Robert, and Carrie Shooc. "The Battle of the Bottoms." Forbes, March 24, 1997, p. 98.
Ohmura, Kin. "Superabsorbent Polymers in Japan." Nonwovens Industry, January 1995, p. 32.

— Randy Schueller

Read more: How disposable diaper is made - material, manufacture, used, parts, components, product, industry, Raw Materials, The Manufacturing Process, Byproducts/Waste, Quality Control http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Disposable-Diaper.html#ixzz1mpkIRkYc

Why choose cloth diapers? There are so many reasons

Why choose cloth diapers?  There are so many reasons.  Cloth diapers are soft against your baby’s skin.  Cloth diapers are also free of the many chemicals contained in disposable diapers. Our common sense tells us that cloth diapers are the ultimate in recycling because they are used again and again, not entering a landfill until they are nothing but rags. Of course, some people want more than this common sense approach--they want facts. Here are a few well-documented facts to help inform your choice. We will add more information as we gather it. Stay tuned.

Please note that the text posted below is copyrighted, and as such, is not available for publication on other websites. However, we do welcome a link to the Real Diaper Facts page from your website. Since we update this page anytime we find new and updated facts, it is more beneficial to link directly to the page so that the latest information is always available.

Want to print out these facts to hand out? Click here to download a copy. The PDF version of this document may be freely distributed through electronic or print forms provided that it is the latest version available at the time, unedited and distributed in its entirety, including this notice.

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Health

Disposable diapers contain traces of Dioxin, an extremely toxic by-product of the paper-bleaching process.  It is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals.  It is banned in most countries, but not the U.S..¹

Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals.²

Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP), which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. A similar substance had been used in super-absorbency tampons until the early 1980s when it was revealed that the material increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome by increasing absorbency and improving the environment for the growth of toxin-producing bacteria.³

In May 2000, the Archives of Disease in Childhood published research showing that scrotal temperature is increased in boys wearing disposable diapers, and that prolonged use of disposable diapers will blunt or completely abolish the physiological testicular cooling mechanism important for normal spermatogenesis.¹⁸

Environment

In 1988, over 18 billion diapers were sold and consumed in the United States that year.⁴  Based on our calculations (listed below under "Cost: National Costs"), we estimate that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the U.S.¹³

The instructions on a disposable diaper package advice that all fecal matter should be deposited in the toilet before discarding, yet less than one half of one percent of all waste from single-use diapers goes into the sewage system.⁴

Over 92% of all single-use diapers end up in a landfill.⁴

In 1988, nearly $300 million dollars were spent annually just to discard disposable diapers, whereas cotton diapers are reused 50 to 200 times before being turned into rags.⁴

No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years, long after your children, grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren will be gone.⁵

Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste.  In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste.⁵

Disposable diapers generate sixty times more solid waste and use twenty times more raw materials, like crude oil and wood pulp.³

The manufacture and use of disposable diapers amounts to 2.3 times more water wasted than cloth.³

Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feedstocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR.⁶

In 1991, an attempt towards recycling disposable diapers was made in the city of Seattle, involving 800 families, 30 day care centers, a hospital and a Seattle-based recycler for a period of one year. The conclusion made by Procter & Gamble was that recycling disposable diapers was not an economically feasible task on any scale.¹⁷

Dryness and Rash

The most common reason for diaper rash is excessive moisture against the skin.¹⁹

Newborns should be changed every hour and older babies every 3-4 hours, no matter what kind of diaper they are wearing.²⁰

At least half of all babies will exhibit rash at least once during their diapering years.²⁰

Diaper rash was almost unheard of before the use of rubber or plastic pants in the 1940s.²¹

There is no significant difference between cloth and disposables when it comes to diaper rash.²²

There are many reasons for rash, such as food allergies, yeast infections, skin sensitivity, chafing, and chemical irritation. Diaper rash can result from the introduction of new foods in older babies. Some foods raise the frequency of bowel movements which also can irritate. Changes in a breastfeeding mother's diet may alter the baby's stool, causing rash.¹⁹

Cost

We estimate that each baby will need about 6,000 diapers⁷ during the first two⁸ years of life.  The following estimates are based on prices in San Francisco, California.

Disposables.  For these calculations, let's assume that a family needs about 60 diapers a week.  In the San Francisco Bay area, disposable diapers cost roughly 23¢ per store-brand diaper and 28¢ for name-brand.  This averages to 25.5¢ per diaper.  Thus the average child will cost about $1,600 to diaper for two years in disposable diapers, or about $66 a month⁹.

Diaper Services.  Subscribing to a diaper services costs between $13 and $17 each week depending on how many diapers a family decides to order.  Let's assume the family spends roughly $15 a week for 60 diapers a week.  This equals $780 annually and averages to $65 a month.  Over the course of two years, the family will spend about $1500 per baby, roughly the same cost as disposables, depending on what type of covers are purchased and what type of wipes are used.  If one adds in the cost of disposable wipes for either diapering system, the costs increase.

Cloth Diapers.  For cloth diapering, each family will probably need about 6 dozen diapers¹⁰.  The cost of cloth diapering can vary considerably, from as low as $300 for a basic set-up of prefolds and covers¹¹, to $1000 or more for organic cotton fitted diapers and wool covers.  Despite this large price range, it should be possible to buy a generous mix of prefolds and diaper covers for about $300, most of which will probably last for two children.  This means the cost of cloth diapering is about one tenth the cost of disposables¹², and you can spend even less by using found objects (old towels & T-shirts).

National Costs.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were about 19 million children under four in 2000.  We could probably assume that there are about 9.5 million children under two and therefore in diapers at any one time.  Based on previous studies, we estimate that 5-10% of babies wear cloth diapers at least part time.  We will average these figures to 7.5% of babies in cloth diapers and 92.5% in disposables.  This means that about 8.8 million babies in the U.S. are using 27.4 billion disposable diapers every year¹³.

Based on these calculations, if we multiply the 8.8 million babies in disposable diapers by an average cost of $800 a year, we find that Americans spend about 7 billion dollars on disposable diapers every year.  If every one of those families switched to home-laundered cloth prefold diapers, they would save more than $6 billion¹⁴, enough to feed about 2.5 million American children for an entire year¹⁵.  Coincidentally, the 2002 U.S. Census reveals that 2.3 million children under 6 live in poverty¹⁶.

Tax Savings.  In some specific circumstances, when cloth diapers have been prescribed for the treatment of a disease, tax savings may be available through the use of flexible spending accounts and medical expense deductions. This could represent a 10% - 35% savings on the cost of diapers depending on the family's tax rate.²³

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Sources

¹ Allsopp, Michelle.  Achieving Zero Dioxin: An emergency strategy for dioxin elimination.  September 1994.  Greenpeace.  http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/reports/azd/azd.html

² Greenpeace.  New Tests Confirm TBT Poison in Procter & Gamble's Pampers: Greenpeace Demands World-Wide Ban of Organotins in All Products. 15 May 2000.
http://archive.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/toxics/2000may152.html

³ Armstrong, Liz and Adrienne Scott   Whitewash: Exposing the Health and Environmental Dangers of Women's Sanitary Products and Disposable Diapers, What You Can Do About It. 1993. HarperCollins.

⁴ Lehrburger, Carl. 1988. Diapers in the Waste Stream: A review of waste management and public policy issues. 1988. Sheffield, MA: self-published.

⁵ Link, Ann.  Disposable nappies: a case study in waste prevention.  April 2003.  Women's Environmental Network.

⁶ Lehrburger, C., J. Mullen and C.V. Jones. 1991.  Diapers: Environmental Impacts and Lifecycle Analysis.  Philadelphia, PA: Report to The National Association of Diaper Services (NADS). 

⁷ Average of 8 changes per day over 2 years (8x365x2=5,840)

⁸ We are using 2 as the average age of transition from diapers to toilet use.

 ⁹ 60x52x$0.255=$795.60, or $800.  $800x2years=$1,600.  $1,600÷24=$66 per month.

¹⁰ 3 dozen each in two sizes accommodates most babies

¹¹ 6 dozen prefolds at an average of $2.16 each and 16 covers at $8.50 each ((72x$2.16)+(12x$8.50)=$292)

¹² $300÷2 children = $150 per child.  Compare to $1,600 per child for disposables

¹³ 8.8 million x 60 x 52 = 27.4 billion

¹⁴ Cloth diapering is 90% cheaper.  90% of $7 billion is $6.3 billion.

¹⁵ Food costs calculated at $2,475 per child per year or $6.78 per child per day for 3 meals and 2 snacks.  Costs based on U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, Child and Adult Care Food Program.  Figures current as of July 2003.  http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/CACFP/cacfpfaqs.htm

¹⁶ Percent of People in Poverty by Definition of Income and Selected Characteristics: 2002 (Revised).  http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/poverty02/r&dtable5.html

¹⁷Stone, Janis and Sternweis, Laura. Consumer Choice -- Diaper Dilemma. Iowa Sate University - University Extension. ID.# 1401. 1994.
http://www.rockwellcollins.com/daycare/pdf/pm1401.pdf

¹⁸C-J Partsch, M Aukamp, W G Sippell Scrotal temperature is increased in disposable plastic lined nappies. Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Christian-Albrechts- University of Kiel, Schwanenweg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. Arch Dis Child 2000;83:364-368.
Click here or go to http://adc.bmjjournals.com and search by the title of the study.

¹⁹ Boiko, S. 1997. Diapers and diaper rashes. February 1, 1997. Dermatology Nursing.

²⁰ Shin, H.T. 2005. Diaper dermatitis that does not quit. Dermatologic Therapy, 18: 124-135.

²¹ Weiner, F. 1979. The relationship of diapers to diaper rashes in the one-month-old infant. The Journal of Pediatrics, 95: 422-424.

²² Stein, H. 1982. Incidence of diaper rash when using cloth and disposable diapers The Journal of Pediatrics, 101: 721-723.

²³Internal Revenue Service. December 9, 2008. Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses