Cloth-Diapering 101 by BabyLeaf
WHY USE BABY LEAF CLOTH DIAPERS ?
Cloth Diapers Are Healthier For Your Baby...
Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate. If you have ever seen the gel-like, super absorbent 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.
Baby Leaf One Size Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are free of the many chemicals contained in disposable diapers.
Cloth Diapers Are Better For The Environment...
Disposable diapers require thousands of tons of plastic and hundreds of thousands of trees to manufacture. After a few hours of usage, these used diapers are trucked away, primarily to landfills. When you consider the huge volume of garbage created, the toxic air and water pollution, and the potential health risks to children, it is very difficult to comprehend how washing and reusing cloth diapers could ever be considered an inconvenience. They are a rewarding investment all around - a financial investment, an investment in our children’s health and an investment in our planet.
Cloth diapers are more economical...
The initial investment for Baby Leaf One Size Cloth diapers is more economical because the All-in-one size feature allows you to adjust the diapers’ size as your baby grows. This translates into more savings, since you don’t need to keep buying new sizes as your baby grows. Even after factoring in the water, detergent and energy used in laundering cloth diapers, it still comes out as the more economical choice.
Cloth diapers are convenient.
Baby Leaf One Size Cloth diapers are just as easy to put on as disposables. There is no need to fumble with pins, as snaps have replaced them. There is also no need for rubber or plastic pants like those you see in department stores, which are hot and do not breathe. Our covers are breathable and waterproof.
Cloth diapers are fun!
Baby Leaf One size cloth diapers come in fabulous colors and prints. Shopping for cloth diapers is like shopping for clothes. You pick out the cutest ones and cannot wait to put them on your baby! As your child gets older, he or she can also join in the fun and assert independence by choosing which print or color to wear.
Potty-training is easier.
Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see 4 or even 5-year-olds still in diapers. This is because wearing disposable diapers makes toilet-training more difficult. When a disposable diapered-child urinates, the diaper still feels dry, and the child is unable to make the connection that peeing will result in getting wet and feeling uncomfortable. This also translates into more expenses, since parents have to buy disposable diapers for a longer period of time.
Cloth-diapered children, on the other hand, learn quickly that it is better to pee in the toilet than in their pants.
5 REASONS TO USE ONE-SIZE CLOTH DIAPERS
We've got even more reasons for you to use cloth diapers for your baby! Have you ever considered making the switch?
1. It's better for your baby's health.
Baby Leaf One-Size Cloth Diapers are completely safe for your baby, unlike many conventional disposable diapers which use sodium polyacrylate to absorb moisture. This chemical substance is found in nearly all single-use diapers, and has even been observed to leave a residue on baby's genitals after a diaper change. According to the National Association of Cloth Diapers (U.S.A) dioxin, a by-product of the paper-bleaching process, poses another risk factor among wearers of disposables. This was the same chemical by-product found in a variety of toiletries, which has been linked to cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and skin diseases. With Baby Leaf One-Size Cloth Diapers, you can be sure none of these harmful chemicals will ever touch your baby's delicate skin.
2. It's environmentally-friendly.
It's no mystery that disposable diapers are an environmental risk. Just check out these statistics:
In 1988, over 18 billion diapers were sold and consumed in the United States that year.4 Based on our calculations (listed below under "Cost: National Costs"), we estimate that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the U.S.1
The instructions on a disposable diaper package advice that all fecal matter should be deposited in the toilet before discarding, yet less than one half of one percent of all waste from single-use diapers goes into the sewage system. Over 92% of all single-use diapers end up in a landfill.
No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years, long after your children, grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren will be gone.
These statistics prove that disposables are creating a growing problem in terms of waste and pollution. By using cloth diapers such as Baby Leaf's One-Size Cloth Diapers, you help minimize these environmental risk factors, and you also protect our Earth.
3. It'll be easier to potty train your baby.
According to an article published in the New York Times in 1999, 90 percent of babies in 1957 who used cloth diapers were potty trained as early as 18 months. Since the advent of disposable diapers, the average baby that uses single-use diapers daily is expected to only be potty-trained between his 36th to 42nd month. That's your average 3 to 4 year old! This is mainly due to the fact that disposable diapers “exempts” a baby or child wearing it from the feeling of discomfort after he urinates.
When you use cloth diapers, such as Baby Leaf's One Size Cloth Diapers, your baby feels the wetness whenever he pees or poops. This is actually beneficial for potty-training, since your baby will learn to communicate his discomfort and promote his toilet training habit. This is why cloth diapering encourages your child to develop an increased sense of communication and self-awareness, which is essential to his development.
4. Cloth-diapering actually is convenient, unlike many choose to believe.
Modern cloth diaper makers have considered how multinational producers of disposables have marketed single-use diapers, and have learned how to combine the convenience of using disposables with the eco-friendliness of using cloth. Today, cloth diapers no longer need to be folded, ironed and pinned. You can get cloth diapers with disposable inserts, washable covers, Velcro straps or snaps, organic cloth diapers, and other options.
With Baby Leaf One Size Cloth diapers, for example, you get a cost-effective, one-size diaper made of child-friendly materials that grows with your baby, and comes in a variety of styles and colors. Snap buttons adjust the sizing to fit small, medium and large babies, while providing a snug and comfortable custom fit. It's got a waterproof, outer layer that prevents leaking, an inner layer of custom micro fleece that keeps baby dry, and a pocket insert function.
5. It's more cost-effective in the long run.
While it's true that you will spend a large amount when you get your first bulk supply of cloth diapers, the overall cost-effectiveness of cloth diapers far outweigh what you'll end up spending on disposables. First of all, the Baby Leaf One Size Cloth diapers are more economical because it enables you to adjust the diapers’ size as your baby grows – no need to buy another batch of diapers when your baby shoots up after a growth spurt. Secondly, cloth diapers – as we previously mentioned – encourage early potty training. This means that your baby will be in diapers for less time, which translates to more savings. Thirdly, you'll save on waste production and spending on non-biodegradable disposables, because you can include your cloth diapers in your regular wash loads.
The Baby Leaf Mission
Baby Leaf was founded upon a mission to provide hard-to-find, award-winning and environmentally-friendly baby products to discerning moms and dad. Born out of a working mom’s desire to provide only the best, safest and baby-friendliest for her newborn, Baby Leaf is committed to helping parents do the same: conveniently, affordably, and most of all, naturally.
Baby Leaf brings you a comprehensive, top-of-the-line selection of eco-friendly products. Over the years, our natural parenting and baby products has grown: Now, we offer you a full range of one size cloth diapers, bath and body products, apparel, feeding ware, health & hygiene products, toys & books, baby gear, and fabulous nursing and breastfeeding aids. By making these certified, award-winning products available to you, we hope to help you find the right solutions for your baby care needs.
When you shop at Baby Leaf, you can be sure that you are making conscious choices for your children and our planet.
About the Mompreneur – Trisha Lim
Trisha Lim began Baby Leaf out of a desire to get high-quality, all-natural and eco-friendly items for her baby. When she realized the limited availability of these items in the Philippines, she utilized the power of the Internet so she could cater to many other like-minded moms who wanted the convenience of online shopping for premium baby products. Trisha then established Baby Leaf in 2010 as the online haven for premium, award-winning and eco-friendly products for moms and babies. Today, she maintains a positive and warm relationship with her clients as she manages the operations of Baby Leaf while balancing parenting and marriage. She and her husband, Stuart, have three beautiful little girls.
See all Babyleaf products here.