Far before 21st century, disposable diapers had already defeated washable cloth diapers in ruling our modern society (if not the World)! Since disposable diapers became more popular in the 1970s, they appeared to be first choice amongst mothers for their user-friendliness (mainly for their convenience of disposal). Under years of revolutionary improvements, this industrialized products come in a large variety of choices in pleasing almost every single category of little consumers, and for sure their parents that pay the bills.

Despite all "instantly" granted advantages, there seemed to have stronger voices to retard the rapid growth of disposable diapers. The environmental impact that caused by the excessive usage of disposable diapers has supported the move towards washable cloth diapers in recent years.

In general, one of the key criteria for parents in selecting a proper disposable diaper is to ensure that it could keep their babies’ skin dry, healthy and free from diaper rash. This is further subjected to a few contributing factors. For example, limited air circulation, various skin allergies on chemical contact (soap and dye) and existence of bacterial ammonia and microbes can eventually result rashes. All these are more likely to be happened on those using disposable diapers compared to the natural contact of cloth diapers.

While yet to be statutorily controlled throughout the world, the chemical substances that widely used are believed to bring more adverse effects to the health of babies. Dyes and dioxin is known to cause damage to the central nervous system, kidney and liver. There were also reported elsewhere on the danger of fragrances used in disposable diapers that caused headaches and dizziness. Some earlier studies in US had also discovered that disposable diapers might link to asthma attack apart from the common discomforts of eye, nose and throat irritation. Considering the prolonged contact of the chemicals on babies’ skin, nobody will be willing to put their very preciously babies on such permanent risks.

Apart from internal diseases, there are also reported defects in causing choking hazard to babies. For instance, detachment of plastic, tab papers and lining (baby pulls apart and putting into their mouths and noses), melting of plastic and staining of pre-inked surface onto babies’ skin. These are, however, could have little chance to get happened on washable cloth diapers.

On natural growth of babies, it is commonly known that over-dependant on disposable diapers is hindering the potty training of babies. The highly absorbent materials prevent babies from feeling wet and hence compared to those with cloth diapers. This will delay their "determination" to be potty trained, for almost 6 months or longer.

We ever learnt about the primary advantage of disposable diaper, namely ease of disposal. But the consumers do not realize how long will it take for a disposable diaper to break down after being buried under the land? There is no scientific answer yet and the answer could simply range from decades to century. It means those disposable diapers that we consumed and dump at the landfill site (after its very first introduction to this world) is most probably still around the world. Thinking of annual consumption of 2,500 diapers per each young consumer, this will create a global environmental crisis. Biodegradable diapers are being developed but while the experts felt doubtful on its effectiveness, it will easily take another 20 years in replacing the leading role of conventional disposable diapers which are conquering the market now.

By Ding

FamilyDiaperBag.com