Cloth Nappies vs Disposables - That Old Debate!

So the whole cloth nappies versus disposables debate has been going on for years! My mother used cloth nappies on me and my sister. You remember those big square bits of material that were folded and pinned?

Although I dont remember the crazy fastener thing on this guy??

Well that isn't the sort of cloth nappy I'm talking about! I'm talking about these!

ARRGGHHHH How cute are these guys?!!

I’d always been interested in the idea of using cloth rather than disposable nappies.  To be honest, my biggest motivator wasn’t about the environment or health concerns – it was about cost.

There, I said it.  It may make me sound like a cold-blooded Scrooge, but if using cloth meant saving money, then I was all for it.  Being kind to the environment was just a bonus, and I’ve seen enough babies live through disposable diapers to realize that they won’t kill you (although I am a bit alarmed by the materials that they’ve found in disposables, but that’s a topic for another day…)

Why use MCN's (Modern Cloth Nappy) you ask? Well there are a number of reasons

1. Environmentally there’s no choice - In NZ we dump 575 million nappies per year in landfills (which are said to take up to 500 years to breakdown) (http://www.zerowaste.co.nz), while cloth nappies can be washed and reused time and time again.
2. Cloth Diapers Are Healthier For Your Baby - Disposable nappies contain the toxic chemical ,Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, skin diseases, and genetic damage, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers.
Trace quantities may even exist in the diapers themselves! Dioxin is listed by the EPA as the most toxic of cancer related chemicals. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals. Disposable diapers also contain sodium polyacrylate. If you have ever seen the gel-like, super absorbant crystals in a disposable, then you have seen this first hand. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons because of its link to toxic shock syndrome. No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years. Studies have also been done to show that the chemical emissions from disposable diapers can cause respiratory problems in children. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are free of the many chemicals contained in disposable diapers.

3. COST - As a general rule, it is almost always cheaper to reuse than to buy new every time, so lets now look at the breakdown...

The cost breakdown based on fulltime cloth nappies.

Cloth nappies for one baby/child

26 Nappies - $710.00

I am using Itti Bittis because I am anal and really like the cute designs but there are cheaper, less effective nappies out there such as the BabyCo ones from baby city. If you used these nappies it would only be $440.70

Wipes

5 pack of re-usable wipes - $12.30

Washing Costs

Many parents will actually wash the babies clothes and nappies all together making their washing process even cheaper.

*Washing $182.50    Detergent $255.50    Dryer $82.50

*Based on Consumer magazines latest findings

• Washing costs are all based on a warm wash every second day using a large top-loading machine.
• Detergent costs based on using one scoop of detergent per wash. (suggested a third to a half of the normal suggested amount on the pack) 
• Drying costs based on using a dryer during autumn and winter and line-drying during spring and summer.  Most parents in NZ line dry most of the year and only tumble dry when absolutely necessary.

Total Re-usable nappies cost = $1,242.80

Disposable Nappy Costing:

273 Packs of Disposables over 3.5 years @ average of $12 ea

Disposable nappy cost = $3276

This total could come from a combination of pull-ups and normal disposable nappies.
No allowance has been made for night nappies that are used after the age of 3.5years. 
A leading disposable brand website stated that it was normal for a child not to be night trained for 2 years after they are trained through the day time. This is based on parents buying budget brands or better brands on special.

Wipes
52 Tubs of Disposable wipes over 3.5years @ $7.15ea - $371.30
39 Refills of wipes over 3.5 years @ $6.89ea - $268.71

Possible Wipes Cost = $640.01

Rubbish collection*112 Rubbish bags @ $3.20 ea = $358.40

*Based on the cost of the Masterton District Council rubbish bags.

Optional Nappy Wrapper

1 Nappy wrapper unit $ 60.00
17 Wrapper refills (to hold up to 6000 disposables) @ $24.50 per refill $416.50 

Nappy Wrapper Cost $476.50

Total possible disposable nappy cost = $4,750.91

So that's $1,242.80 for cloth nappies compared to $4,750.91 for disposables! Now I am no math geek but it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out! Thats a saving of $3,508.11 over 3 years!!!



4. THEY ARE SO DARN CUTE!!!

And because I couldn't resist I ordered this 2 on a whim in the weekend! SSQQQUUUEEEEE

When I mention cloth diapers to my friends and family I was met with SO much skepticism.  A lot of people thought it would be gross, thought that I was crazy, and most certainly thought I would fail.  I have been doing so much research on cloth diapering though, and had found so many moms that loved it for so many reasons.  I tried arguing all of those reasons to the many skeptics... it's greener, it's cheaper, it's healthier, gosh darnit it's cuter.... but skeptics, being who they are, are not easily convinced.

I was meet with "What about the laundry" - I hear having a baby is extra laundry anyway so what a few more items a day to wash in the grand scheme of things?
"How will you deal with the poop?" Guess what... I hear that babies who wear disposable diapers poop too!  And you still have to wipe their bums.  If I'm wrong about that, someone please let me know. 



Now of course our baby isn't here yet - but I have stocked up!  I currently have 36 itti bitti as well as the above 2 baby beehinds (which is well more than is needed!) so I will be sure to give you all a rundown on how I get on with the MCN's.