Dispose of it

Let's talk about DIAPERS

First of all, if you cloth diaper, I have nothing against you. It's your choice and there is nothing harmful or wrong about using cloth diapers. They can even be pretty cute. They also save you some money if you use it for the entirety of your child's diaper-wearing years.

I do have a problem with people who think disposable diapers are wrong and hurt their children and yes, I have to take this personally. These people are saying that for the first 2-3 years of my daughter's life I put harmful chemicals on her skin every day.   And really, if you think it's that bad, why wouldn't you tell me? I knew nothing of these diaper worries when I was diapering my child.

Since I'm so amazed at how many people think disposable diapers actually hurt their child, I decided I would look directly at an argument against disposables and show you why I think it's all a made up fear that can't be proven.  Let's look at why people think disposable diapers are so scary.

I'm the one writing in purple, the rest is the article/blog I'd like to debate.

"Have you ever wondered what makes modern disposable diapers so super-absorbent? It’s a chemical compound called Sodium Polyacrylate. This compound binds to liquids and can hold 200 to 300 times its weight, turning from a powdery substance into a gooey gel. It is also used in some potting soils to help the soil retain water. If you’ve ever changed a diaper and found small gel balls on your child’s skin, it is most likely the Sodium Polyacrylate crystals. Have you ever seen a child who has gone swimming in one of these? It almost look like the child is holding a balloon between his or her legs and the diaper looks ready to burst. Sodium Polyacrylate crystals were once used in tampons until they were later removed due to their relation to Toxic Shock Syndrome."

Ok, I hear this one a lot.  I've changed A LOT of diapers in my life.  All different brands. My mother did daycare in our home growing up, I volunteered in our church nursery starting as a teenager, I babysat neighborhood kids, I've changed my nieces and nephews, and of course my own child got 1000s of diapers changed by me in her life. In all these diaper changes, I have never seen any of this "gooey gel" or "gel balls." I don't know where anyone gets this "gel" idea from.

The bleaching process also leaves many chemicals behind in the fibers of disposable diapers. Chlorine bleach leaves behind toxins called “dioxins.” Dioxins can cause problems in the endocrine systems (hormones) and are also carcinogens. Dioxins are found in many brands of disposable diapers and prolonged exposure to these dioxins may be related to infertility later in life. Certain cloth diapers may also contain trace levels of dioxins due to the bleach used to treat the fibers in the cloth, however these dioxins are washed out during the one to two pre-washes suggested before the baby ever wears the diapers. Babies wearing disposable diapers are exposed to these dioxins up to 24 hours a day.

Ok, so disposables cause infertility?  Alright, I'll consider this. I dug up some percetages from parent ing sites and the U.S. census. The figures I found vary between 5-10% of babies using cloth diapers in 2000. This may be going up now a days, so let's just give cloth diapers the 10 or even 15%.  So, 85- 90% of babies are wearing disposables.  The percentage I'm seeing for infertility in United States couples is 15%---and you may want to add to this since obviously this is not something people shout from the rooftops.  Either way, I'm not seeing the link there are you?  If diapers truly caused infertility problems and 85% of people used them as children, wouldn't there be MORE infertility problems---at least closer to half for those who share that they are having problems.
Ok, ok so you don't think the statistics are good---alright.  Take your own sample, look at the people around you---you know anyone who used cloth diapers who is now an adult?  And then of course you know tons who used disposables. Any correlation found?  Probably not.  There is no connection between diapers and infertility what-so-ever.

Disposable diapers also contain chemicals and compounds that act as respiratory irritants that can cause asthma and asthma-like symptoms. These are toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene and isoproplybenzene. The rise of asthma rates and the introduction of certain chemicals and scents into diapers appear to be linked. Cloth diapers do not out-gas any of these chemicals. What’s more, some diapers also use special dyes that change color to indicate that the diaper is wet and of course, plastics and adhesives are used to make the diaper tabs.

Ok, so I didn't take the time to actually look up anything for this one. What I can tell you is I'm a teacher and asthma rates are rising, but it's the same reason autistic rates rise--- we can find it sooner and know when a child has the symptoms for it. So yea, there's still that huge percentage of people who use disposable diapers and yes, we are getting better at noticing problems in children sooner and are able to help them sooner and that's a great thing! 
Let's also consider all the chemicals via clothes/laundry detergents, etc that are on underwear after diapers and where they touch your body.  You are exposed to a lot more than you may realize. Diapers are probably the least of your worries.  Oh, and if you are a mom on a budget like me you have never gotten special smelling diapers/wipes or ones with fancy wet-indicators either, haha.   I'm not sure why they mention "plastics and adhesives"  I don't think those things are bad and can't be avoided if they are. Car seats are made out of plastic right? Strollers? Should we be freaking out?   Ok, might have taken that too far, but I'm probably not the first.

---On another note, disposable diapers are sold everywhere imaginable.  If there was a true concern for them harming children in these ways, diaper companies would have to reformulate their diapers or certain diaper companies would be stopped.  You don't think they would do this to the big diaper companies?  Well, there was no problem taking all baby Tylenol off the shelves in my town until they fixed whatever problem there was with that and have you seen how many toys/children items they recall monthly?  It is a ridiculous amount just because someone left their kid alone long enough to hurt themselves with a toy and then let the company know about it.  With as much as recalls happen on products of all kinds (even cars) I doubt a children's item that was harmful would last on shelves for long. 

 The most serious health concerns linked to using disposable diapers don’t occur until later in life–such as childhood asthma and male infertility. As for me, my baby is wearing cloth diapers and I’m glad I don’t need to wonder what sort chemicals they are out-gassing or if he is absorbing carcinogenic dioxins through his tush. I feel good about that.  

I'm not sure about you, but I can feel good about my kid who has always been in disposables. Again, cloth diapers--fine, good, great!  What ever makes you happy.  But don't tell me I'm hurting my kid.  

And I'm not trying to win the debate of which is better: cloth or disposable. It really doesn't matter to me.  Let's just respect our decisions as moms to do what we feel is best for our kids and not make each other feel bad for whatever we decide.