Everyone loves disposable diapers, right? They are so easy
to use, you put one on, you take it off, you throw it away. It is a simple
affordable solution to diapering. Or is
it? Lately I have seen very controversial information on the cost effectiveness
of disposables and even their safety on your children.
Pros to Disposables:
- Quick and easy!
- Great to travel with.
- They rarely leak! (Great for kids with diarrhea)
Cons To Disposables:
- The waste, they just take up space in landfills because most do not decompose,
- Price- expect to spend at least $1,600 dollars on disposables versus the $300 you would spend on cloth.
- Chemicals- Some babies really have problems with this and others don't.
Now let's go a little more in depth on the chemicals and
then talk about more natural disposable diapers.
Has your child had a diaper rash that will just not go away?
This could be due to the chlorine bleach used on disposable diapers.
Disposables diapers also contain trace amounts of Dioxin.
This is released when the diapers are bleached and is listed as one of the most
toxic of all cancer linked chemicals. It is banned in most countries just not
here in the U.S.
Other Chemicals in Disposable Diapers
- Tributyltin – This is toxic to humans and environment, is a persistent organic pollutant, causes irreversible damage to aquatic life, and is linked to obesity in humans (triggers genes that cause the growth of fat cells).
- Xylene
– This is toxic to the respiratory and central nervous systems. Breathing
high concentrations in an enclosed space can cause irregular heartbeats which can cause death. - Ethylbenzene – This chemical is listed as possibly cancer-causing. It is mutagenic (capable of causing mutation). The substance may be toxic to the central nervous system. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. It may cause central nervous system depression, is an aspiration hazard if swallowed and can enter the lungs and cause damage. It causes eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation.
- Styrene- This substance is cancer-causing and is toxic to the nervous system and upper respiratory tract. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. It is very hazardous to the eyes.
- Propylene – This chemical is an anesthetic at high concentrations. Inhalation may cause central nervous system depression producing dizziness, drowsiness, headache and similar narcotic symptoms. Extremely high concentrations can cause asphyxiation and death by displacing oxygen from the breathing atmosphere.
- Toluene – The substance may be toxic to blood, kidneys, the nervous system, liver, brain, and central nervous system (CNS). Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.
But these chemicals are just in your generic disposable
diapers. Lucky for us, we have many green companies producing diapers without
all these chemicals and that are compostable.
These brands are:
There are also always cloth diapers (these are my favorite
option), which I will talk about another time.
What is your thought on disposable diapers? Ever had a really bad or really good experience with them? What is your favorite brand and why? Please post answers bellow along with any questions you may have.
Sources:
Allsopp,
Michelle. Achieving Zero Dioxin: An emergency strategy for dioxin
elimination. September 1994. Greenpeace. http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/reports/azd/azd.html
http://awesomebeginnings4children.com/the-harmful-chemicals-in-disposable-diapers/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/111348-chemicals-disposable-diapers/
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