Diaper Debate: Disposable VS. Cloth, Best Green Choice for Environment?

In the great diaper debate, there are two main contenders: those who favor disposable diapers and those who favor cloth diapers. There is a minor third group who favor diaper-free babies, obviously that group is making the best green choice for the environment, but this article is about the best green choice between disposable and cloth diapers.

Disposable diapers have the convenience factor going for them, they are the choice for most busy mom's. Use them and toss them, no mountain of smelly diapers waiting to be washed. However, those disposable diapers that are so convenient also contain chemicals and materials that pull the moisture away from Baby's bottom, chemicals that can irritate Baby's bottom and the impact of disposable diapers on the environment lasts for years.

The green debate against the disposable diaper and the environment is that it can take generations for the disposable diaper to break down in a landfill. The green debate for disposable diapers is that using them helps the environment by saving on water and electrical power since disposable diapers do not have to be laundered.

Cloth diaper advocates debate their choice of diapers by saying there are no chemicals in cloth diapers to irritate Baby's bottom, Baby is easier and quicker to potty train since Baby feels the wetness in a cloth diaper, no additional waste products going to the landfills since they are reusable, and the amount of energy resources used for laundering the cloth diapers is minimal, making them the best green choice for the environment.

In the great diaper debate, there really is no right way and wrong way, no clear choice winner. Both disposable diapers and cloth diapers have their advantages and disadvantages.

The trend among new mom's seems to be a 'meet in the middle' approach with the two kind of diapers. New mom's are using cloth diapers from birth until the time when Baby becomes active, or mom returns to work, then they make the switch to disposable diapers.

Cloth diapers are making a comeback, parents feel that natural fiber cloth diapers are the best green choice.