POP QUIZ QUESTION:

1) Which of the following statements are true?
a) An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, which equates to about 3.4 million tons of used diapers in the landfills.
b) Disposable diapers produce seven times more solid waste when discarded and three times more waste in the manufacturing process than cloth diapers.
c) 3.5 billion gallons of oil are used to produce disposable diapers
d) Washing cloth diapers at home uses 50 to 70 gallons of water every three days, which is roughly equivalent to flushing the toilet five times a day, unless the user has a high-efficiency washing machine.
e) All of the above
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When I first started my ‘natural lifestyle’ I was focused on keeping stuff out of the landfill through reducing and reusing. Therefore when it was time to start thinking about diapering our newborn, we immediately chose reusable cloth diapers. When our daughter began waking up three or four times throughout the night because her diaper was wet, we followed some advice and got her Seventh Generation Bleach-Free diapers just for night time use.

What I wasn’t so aware of was how the products we were choosing were contaminating and toxifying our personal and global environments. Yes, we have prevented about 6,000 diapers from entering the landfill by using cloth, but now I know that neither cotton nor bleach-free disposables are what I would consider safe for our daughter or for our environment.

Why wouldn’t I use cotton diapers again?

Cotton diapers, unless they are organic and bleach free are potentially exposing our children and our planet to excessive pesticides (cotton crops use more pesticides than any other crop in the world). And now, scientists are genetically modifying cotton seeds so that they are more resistant to pests. (source) What does that do to our ecosystems?

Cotton diapers are also bleached so they can be bright and white. That bleaching process produces dioxins, which, as you may know and have read in previous articles in this series, are highly toxic and bio-accumulate in all life forms creating health problems and disease.

Disposable Diapers, whether bleach free or bleached (most brands are bleached) contain a host of toxic chemicals (and produce even more through the manufacturing process). A study published in the Archives of Environmental Health found that disposable diapers release volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), including toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and dipentene. (source)

Some other chemicals found in disposables that are concerning are:

Sodium Polyacrylate is a clear absorbent gel that absorbs moisture. This polymer was removed from tampons as it was linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Although many experts say that we don’t need to be concerned about Sodium Polyacrlate, as it was not what caused TSS, I’ve read enough to state that Sodium Polyacrylate has the potential to be grouped with Phthlates and BPA.

Tributyltin TBTs, a chemical compound (algaecide and pesticide) which is known to disrupt sex hormones, has been found in disposable diapers, namely: Huggies and Pampers. This chemical has been listed as toxic by the EPA and many countries including Canada are looking to ban the use of it. If you want to read about how highly toxic and dangerous TBT is, read the following report from Environment Canada: (source)

So, what are your alternatives?

Biodegradable? Most environmentalists agree, biodegradable diapers will not biodegrade in a landfill. In order to biodegrade, diapers (or any other biodegradable product) need light and air to break down. An airtight landfill does not allow that to happen properly to any garbage.

Natural fibre diapers (bamboo, hemp, cotton, wool) – there are many vendors on the web that offer natural fibre diapers. I didn’t find many that are organic and certified. Better for Babies had a variety of options for diapers and liners.

Recycle disposable diapers Believe it or not, someone is collecting used disposable diapers and reclaiming the plastics and pulp and processing the waste. It’s actually fascinating how the process works. And some of the materials reclaimed are being used to create renewable energy. Read more here: (source)

Make your own Buy organic cotton, use old flannel sheets, or find a fabric that works for you and your baby (you can even be trendy!). Looking for patterns and guides on how to make your own diapers? (source)

Elimination Communication What if you could identify when your baby needs to pee or poop at as early as three months and he or she no longer needed diapers? Supposedly it’s possible: (source)

gDiapers This multi-part diaper includes an cotton outer shell and a plastic-free flushable or compostable liner. I’ve heard a little about it but haven’t run across anyone first-hand who can share their experiences. (source)

Oh by the way, how safe are talcum powder, moisturizing lotions, and baby wipes?

Talc is a known carcinogen. It can be highly toxic especially if it is breathed in and gets in the lungs. Want a safer alternative? Cornstarch or just let your baby air dry and crawl/walk around natural for a while. Sometimes our skin just wants to breathe.

Baby lotions, moisturizers or diaper rash lotions are potentially full of phthalates, fragrances, and other known toxins. Even Lanolin has been scrutinized for containing pesticides which are used when sheep are dipped to prevent parasites. (Lanolin is extracted from sheep wool fat). (source)

Looking for a safer product? Olive oil works fantastic as a moisturizer. And, if your baby happens to get a yeast infection, plain yogurt seems to be incredibly soothing (apply cool) and treats the yeast right away. Another good way to combat yeast, sit your baby on a blanket in the sun without anything on… it works!
(source)

Most baby wipes contain alcohol, fragrances, perfumes and dioxins. What else can you use? Grab a wet washcloth or if things get messy, clean up the mess with olive oil. Worst case scenario, the kitchen spray faucet or a bath will work too.

I hope that this information has been useful. Once again, this is not meant to scare anyone. My personal belief it is our job as parents and caregivers to protect our children. Now that I know how potentially dangerous some products are, I am much more selective and aware of what I expose our daughter to. If you have any other suggestions or alternatives, or have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly by email, or post on our discussion board.