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Zen Kid Diaper Page
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Contact: ![zenseeker [at] hotmail [dot] com](EmailImage.gif)
Diaper Page
Diaper (AKA nappy in English speaking countries other than the US) come in a couple of different forms:
Disposable
Cloth/Reusable
Diaper Service
Rectangle of cloth
One Piece
Stuffable
Hybrid Cloth/Disposable - use disposable liner
Disposable
These are commonly used in the US. They are affordable in the short term (as well as long term unless you are hand washing and line drying cloth diapers) and easy on moms as there is no washing involved. They do fill out landfills and many feel that "organic" fabrics are better for baby. The generally use incorporate of superabsorbent polymers, resealable tapes (adhesive or velcro), and elasticized waist bands.
Basic layers include:
outer shell of breathable polyethylene film or a nonwoven and film composite which prevents wetness and soil transfer
inner absorbent layer of a mixture of cellulose pulp and superabsorbent polymers for wetness
layer nearest the skin of nonwoven material with a distribution layer directly beneath which transfers wetness to the absorbent layer
may also include an inner fabric designed to hold moisture against the skin for a brief period before absorption to alert a toilet training
Elasticized fabric around the leg and waist areas aid in fitting and in containing urine or stool which has not been absorbed.
Environmental Impact
One child goes through about 6,000 diaper changes. That's a lot of diapers in the landfill. Plus, it takes about 3.5 billion gallons of oil a year to make the diapers in the first place. Add the effluents from the manufacturing process, and you have a whole lot of hazardous waste.
But if environmental impact is a major consideration in your diaper choice decision making process - read about the environmental concerns of cloth diapers below.
Cost
it cost around $1,600-$2,300 for disposable diapers over childhood. Compared to cloth diapers - you are looking at easily over $200 for diapers (more if you go for fancy organic ones in different sizes) and a surge in water and electric (as well as gas if you use this for heating water) costs for washing. Some estimate that cloth diapers will cost $800-$1,100 - but this is highly dependent on which ones you buy (one size, "organic", etc), how you wash them (partial load, hot water, double wash) and how you dry them (tumble, heat or line).
http://www.diaperdecisions.com/cost_of_cloth_diapers.htm
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/5-diap/45-diaper-cost.htm
Cloth Diapers
Materials
made from natural fibers
cotton
bleached white
natural color
Types
flannel (similar to the material used in flannel sheets and pajamas, but denser and thicker) - softest
terry (like towels, but softer)
against the skin and most absorbent.
bird's-eye (similar to old-fashioned tea towels)
gauze (thin and lightweight)
wool
bamboo
unbleached hemp
or manmade materials
microfiber toweling
Polyester fleece or faux suedecloth - "stay-dry" wicking line
external waterproof layer of polyurethane laminate (PUL)
or a combination of both natural and synthetic materials
Shape
rectangle of cloth, fastened with safety pins
preformed cloth diapers
All-in-one diapers with waterproof exteriors
superior to plain diapers for absorbency, fit, and leak control and spare you the hassle of safety pins
Bum Genius (www.bumgenius.com)
Bumkins (www.bumkins.com)
Dundee (www.buybuybaby.com)
Fuzzi Bunz (www.fuzzibunz.com)
Gerber (www.gerberchildrenswear.com)
Kushies (www.kushiesonline.com)
and Swaddlebees (www.swaddlebees.com)
pocket or "stuffable" diapers, which consist of a water-resistant outer shell sewn with an opening for insertion of absorbent material inserts
Closure Methods
Safety Pins
snap closures
hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro)
Plastic "Safety Pins"
How many do I need?
According to consumer reports:
two to three dozen to begin with, plus six to ten waterproof outer pants
all-in-one - 8 to 10 on hand should be adequate. Buy two or three dozen diaper inserts for the system
Environmentally Friendly?
Cloth diapers don't fill up our landfills with solid waste, but you more than make up the environmental impact by using huge amounts of water (50 to 70 gallons of processed water every three days) and electricity (from fossil fuels) to wash them and you send tons of extra detergent into our waters. In fact, depending on how cloth diapers are dried and washed, they can actually cause more damage to the environment than disposable diapers (October 2008, "An updated lifecycle assessment study for disposable and reusable nappies" by the UK Environment Agency and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
If you line dry diapers, use energy efficient washers, wash with cold water and recycle cloth diapers for use with other children - you can cut green house emissions by 40 percent over disposables. Folks also complain about cotton, which is apparently a highly and one of the most chemically-dependent crops.
So before you go bragging about how you saved the world with cloth diapers - know your facts so you won't be blindsided by a disposable user who wants to knock you off of your high horse.
Washing
This is the main drawback of cloth diapers. You need to rinse off the diapers in the toilet (get a diaper sprayer to make life easier) and throw them in the washer. Sun bleaching can help with sanitation and stain bleaching. Or - you can use a diaper service to deliver nice clean diapers at your convenience - it just costs money.
bumGenius! wash instructions:
bumGenius! 3.0 One-Size Cloth Diaper
 Zinnia |
 Blossom |
 Clementine |
 Butternut |
 Ribbit |
 Grasshopper |
 Moonbeam |
 Twilight |
 White |
| 1 | $17.95 | $17.95 |
| 6 | $104.70 | $17.45 |
| 12 | $203.40 | $16.95 |
| 18 | $305.10 | $16.95 |
Free shipping $150 of more
| 1 | $17.95 | $17.95 |
| 3 | $53.10 | $17.70 |
| 6 | $104.70 | $17.45 |
| 12 | $203.40 | $16.95 |
Free infant insert
on orders $74.95 and up
| 20 | $339.00 | $16.95 |
FREE bumGenius BabyLegs with this pack
$15.95 - out of stock
17.95 with infant insert
$17.88
| Quantity Discounts | |
| Quantity | Price |
| 3-5 | $17.75 |
| 6-11 | $17.50 |
| 12-999 | $16.95 |
Bundled with newborn insert
Some colors 16.95
http://www.bellablumaternity.com/bu30on12pa.html
12 204.00
newborn insert
$17.95
3/$53.10
6/$104.70
12/$203.40
Nice diaper color images
doubler/newborn insert
told they have them, but not on site
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