Bun in the Oven: Paper or Plastic?

Don't mind me. Nestled in, reading a book.

*The views expressed in Bun in the Oven are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -The Editors

Long ago, when I was a grad student at one of our fair state's universities, I taught freshman English. The bulk of my work consisted of trying to get alcohol- and hormone-soaked brains to focus long enough to do a little critical thinking. Each semester, the department deemed several research paper topics as strictly taboo; abortion, the death penalty, and gun control always made the list. The restriction was mostly dictated by which topics were hottest on the research paper black market.

However, some topics recurred because the little fishies got so hot under the collar even thinking about such things -- civil liberties, personal rights, and so on -- that it was impossible to get well-reasoned papers out of them. Had I been teaching a classroom full of expectant mothers, my number one forbidden topic would have been diapers: cloth versus disposable. This is such a hot-button issue that I hesitate to bring it up, but it's also a subject that has more depth than I ever imagined possible.

First, though, let's clear the air of all those pesky, heated arguments for and against one or the other type o' diapy. On one hand, I could trot out the tired old litany of "facts": 18 billion disposables are put into landfills each year; each disposable requires one cup of crude oil to make; and so on. I could also regurgitate useless data from the flipside: cleaning a cloth diaper during its lifetime takes twice the energy of manufacturing a disposable; the blackwater runoff from daily washing adds mightily to pollution; and more. Lastly, I could attempt a cost comparison, but I won't bother. There are so many factors that change the equation -- type and age of washing machine, diaper service use, frequency of changes, brand of cloth or disposable -- that getting a real idea of the financial difference is impossible.

Instead of adding noise to the great debate, I'll focus on several great resources here in Austin for both types of diapering. Let's start with disposables, since they're the least complicated. Environmentally friendlier brands do exist, such as Seventh Generation, Nature Babycare, and TenderCare. These can be had at Whole Foods, Wheatsville Co-Op, and the like. Whether they work well, I don't know. Nor do I know which of the cornucopia of mainstream disposable brands is best; I get the impression it depends on how, exactly, your baby is shaped, which directly affects where the diaper might gap and leak. I can say that disposables will set you back anywhere from $.19 to $.32 per diaper, and that Costco is apparently the place to get 'em cheapest.

As you might have guessed, I plan to be a crazy cloth mama. The withering responses I've gotten to this news have not deterred me in the slightest. I'm the kind of gal who washes plastic baggies and saves twisty ties. There's no talking me out of cloth diapering, no matter how many times I hear a snide "Yeah...good luck with that" from a friend or family member. Since I've always known this would be my path, I started delving into the cloth world several months ago, and I've picked up some invaluable information along the way. One of my most helpful resources for information and support has been the AustinMama.com listserv, so big kudos to them for creating such a great community.

First of all, not all cloth diapers are created equal. Some are patented. Others are a righteous pain in the ass. The latter are the old-fashioned, white, cotton squares referred to as pre-folds, available locally at Eco-Wise (SoCo: 110 W Elizabeth). They're also the predominant type of diaper provided by diaper services -- our only local options being Debbie Does Diapers out of SA, and the national mega-chain Dy-Dee. You can either use pins to attach 'em to your baby's bum, or you can wrap 'em in a plastic diaper cover. To me, both options sound like way too much work. Recently, KXAN did a story about Austin mom Kirsten Alderson, who got so frustrated with her diaper situation that she started making her own style of cloth diapers. She named them Poppy Pants; nowadays she sells them at Kid to Kid (Lakeline Mall) -- a nifty looking consignment store for all-things-kiddo.

However, the Cadillac of cloth -- fancy, well designed, and attractive -- includes pocket diapers and all-in-ones. Pre-shaped much like a disposable, these little wonders have a fleece or cotton lining that wicks liquid from the baby's skin. The pocket diapers include a super-absorbent microterry liner that fits inside the diaper's "pocket". Both types are as easy to put on a squirmy baby as a disposable, and reportedly simple to wash and dry.

The brand I've chosen is called Fuzzi Bunz. (Other recommended, and similarly silly-named brands are Motherease, Bumkins, and Happy Heinys.) Many Austin mamas diaper with Fuzzi Bunz, and a lot of them use local vendor Andre's Playhouse to buy and exchange them. Plus, for those first-time mamas who are expecting a baby shower, Andre's has a baby registry. Owner Erin Sheppard, who diapered all her kiddos with Fuzzi Bunz, is friendly and helpful, with plenty of suggestions and advice. Plus, she will gift wrap and hand deliver the goods -- saving on shipping costs, and adding a personal touch to the entire process. Cloth diapers do cost a lot up front -- $14-18 per diaper. However, with an average of 12 changes per day, it takes no time at all -- less than a week per diaper -- to catch up to whatever cost would have gone into disposables.

Does the cloth versus disposable debate have a clear winner? Ultimately, no. I found a fabulous article in which archaeologist W.L. Rathje sums things up very nicely: "The decision to bring infants into this chaotic world is a momentous one. Deciding what type of diaper to use is not. Use what fits you best." The source? The Journal for Municipal Solid Waste Management. Who but them would know the very most about where all those dirty diapers really go?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Julie Holden in Other on September 27, 2006 4:30 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

M1EK

We used a diaper service up to about 1 year of age and highly recommend it. (Debbie's in our case). There were actually fewer blowouts than when we attempted disposables (yes, I'm serious). We had to switch primarily because the cloths seemed easier for the boy to get out of once he figured out how...

Julie

Way to go for exposing how easy cloth diapers are to use. I was totally skeptical at first, but have loved them! And we used the pre-folds with diaper covers until Stella started solids and loved them. Now we use the Fuzzi Bunz, although I have had some problems with them, they still beat disposables hands down. We had so many leaks and accidents with disposables, almost every diaper was a mess. Since we started using cloth at 3 weeks old, things were a lot neater. And they aren't "plastic pants", diaper covers are made out of all sorts of space age materials and work awesome. And to answer Jonathon, no I have not had a mess that didn't wash right out of the diaper yet: fuzzi bunz or pre-fold. And we have never used a sprayer, just put them right into the washer.

Jooley Ann

Jub, it's nice to see you're with us again. I was worried? Where ya been?

Tamara, thanks for the excellent suggestions -- based on experience no less. Interesting note about not being smelly. I hadn't heard that before.

Jonathon, see T's advice about a mini-shower. I hear they're a must-have once kiddos move to solid food (and therefore, well, you know). I get the impression that with one of those, cloth can stand up to pretty much anything with minimal fuss for cleaning.

Kat, hmmmm. No washing machine. Honestly, I'd seriously consider disposables, or a service I suppose, though I haven't heard great stories about prefolds. Then again, I don't know anyone who used them with covers -- only pins which are a righteous pain. As you've already concluded, I sure as hell would not try to handle washing on my own at a laundromat unless that was my ONLY option for some reason.

Fay, I've heard this argument, but other than one very old study (from ILEA.org in 1992), I haven't been able to find any solid data to back it up. With new technology such as a High Efficiency washing machines and very durable, highly absorbent cloth diapers (requiring substantially fewer changes than traditional prefolds), I can't help but wonder whether, even in a drought, washing on your own at home will break even with disposables WRT waste and energy consumption. In other words, a new study is warranted now that the washing machine and cloth diaper markets have changed so much.

fay

I was told by an environmental scientist that the decision should vary greatly by region. For example on the east coast, where space is at a premium and water is not, cloth diapers make a lot of sense. However, he said that here (especially in the middle of a drought) the water usage issues that come with cloth diapers mean they aren't the best idea.

Katrina

I have been leaning towards cloth diapers as well. However, because I do not own my own washer/dryer, I am admittedly enticed by the diaper service idea. A friend of mine uses it, and swears it runs about $65 per month. No washing, clean diapers delivered to one's house - what could be better than that? Of course, the price has not yet been personally verified.

Jonathon - my Mom kept all three of her kids in cloth diapers, and the old fashioned kind at that. Yeah there were some messes. I guess it's just part of the package to make a bad pun.

Jonathon

I dunno...cloth does sound better for the environment and all...

But man, I've seen some baby poops that would certainly have destroyed even the most resilient piece of cloth.

Right? Cloth-diaper people, help me out -- have you ever met a mess the cloth couldn't handle?

tamara

sorry naysayers, but fuzzi bunz are VERY GOOD. Only exceeded (esp when your child gets to be over, say, 9 mos) by 'happy heinys'. and you'll be doing tons of washing anyway. like three times, it seems, the amount of washing.

for daytime use I recommend snugtofits. And when they're older (not growing so fast), bumkins are great too.

if, however, you embark on this path there is a big gap in your thinking. you need something called a mini-shower that attaches to your w.c. --it is essential if you are going to keep on the cloth dipe path. otherwise you're likely to get fed up and give up.

remember: esp in early days, you cannot 'smell' your own child. they smell just like you so whatever their smells are...you're likely to have smelled them and are probably not so bothered by them.

after a couple years of this i have been through the sites and the homework. try thestorkwearhouse.com for supplies.