Comparison of Alternatives
Cost (over 2 1/2 years)
Home-laundered $550 to $950 (2)
Diaper service $1,500 to $2,000 (3)
Disposable diapers $1,750 (4) to $2,400 (5)
Convenience
Home-laundered:
One load of laundry every three days. No folding or stacking necessary
if contoured or fitted diapers are used. No rinsing of messy diapers
if disposable liners are used.
Diaper Service:
Soiled diapers picked up and clean ones delivered weekly. No rinsing
or soaking.
Disposable Diapers:
Purchase regularly; take out garbage daily. No waterproof pants
or diaper covers needed.
Environment
Cloth Diapers:
Compared to single-use disposable
diapers, reusable cloth diapers reduce solid waste produced and
make more efficient use of raw materials and the managed land
needed to produce them.
Home-laundered reusable diapers reduce
transportation impacts compared to disposable diapers or diaper
service.
Properly operated diaper services can
reduce energy consumption (and, therefore, reduce production of
air emissions) compared to hot water washing and heated drying
at home.
Disposable Diapers:
Using disposable diapers produces less sewage for treatment at
municipal sewage treatment plants and reduces local water use.
Actual over all water use may or may not be reduced as pulp mills
also use water.
Effectiveness
With appropriate products and practices, either cloth or disposable
diapers can be used to contain urine and feces and maintain skin
health.
According to one study, which monitored
diaper changes, if a baby's diapers were changed frequently, diaper
rash seldom occurred with either cloth or disposable diaper use.
(6)
If a baby is left in a wet or soiled
diaper, disposable diapers with Absorbent Gelling Material (AGM)
have been shown to reduce skin wetness and pH levels. Also, in
some, but not all study findings, disposable diapers have shown
some advantage in preventing mild diaper rash, compared to cloth
diapers used with plastic pants. (6)
No significant advantage has been shown
for disposable diapers in preventing severe diaper rash.
There are no studies available comparing
disposable diapers containg AGM to cloth diapers used with breathable
waterproof pants and/or non-absorbent inner liners, nor to diapers
rented from a diaper service.
1. Discount prices and taxes not accounted
for.
2. Based on an average of 7-8 diaper changes per day (10-11 for
newborns, 5-6 for 2-year-olds), includes cost of diapers, accessories
laundry supplies, utilities, and depreciation on washer and dryer.
3. Average 7-8 diaper changes per day; includes diapers and accessories.
4. Average 5-6 diaper changes per day.
5. Average 7-8 diaper changes per day.
6. Studies funded by Procter & Gamble, Inc. (manufacturers
of disposable diapers) and published in peer-reviewed journals.