Disposable Diapers Linked To Diaper Rash, Cloth Diapers Help Prevent Many Concerns over Disposable Diaper Materials
Deciding to use baby cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers is a personal choice between parents and it may not be for every parent, even the staunchest environmentalist because working with cloth diapers is a lot of hard work.
Disposable diapers were made for their convenience, however they are not without problems and one of those is diaper rash. Many parents are concerned over the components that make disposable diapers, some that have adverse reactions to their baby’s skin. Sodium polyacrylate, which is the super absorbent gel and dioxin, a byproduct of bleaching paper, has many parents concerned for their babies. In the past, sodium polyacrylate has been linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome, allergic reactions and very harmful and potentially lethal to pets. According to the EPA – Environmental Protection Agency – some of the dioxin and dyes is known to cause damage to the central nervous system, the liver and kidneys. The Food and Drug Administration or FDA has received numerous reports that the fragrance in disposable diapers causes headaches, rashes and dizziness. Problems reported to the Consumer Protection Agency include chemical burns and noxious chemicals, babies pulling disposable diapers apart and putting the pieces in their mouth or nose, choking on tabs, paper and linings, plastic melting on to skin and ink stains on skin.
Many of the cotton cloth diapers come with a plastic outer coating known as a diaper cover which helps to keep everything around the baby dry; however it keeps moisture in, therefore parents must be extra diligent and change their baby’s wet diapers as often as possible. Baby diaper covers also come in a rubber or plastic pants that go over the cloth diapers and perform the same task – to keep everything outside the diaper dry.
Some of the new cloth diapers come with Velcro fastening and appear in a wide variety of colorful cartoon characters to liven up the baby’s outfits instead of the plain white cotton. Several parents choose to stick with the traditional white cloth diapers that use large safety pins because they are cheaper than the fancier, Velcro fastening cloth diapers.
Choosing cloth diapers over disposable diapers is a personal choice and one that is not to be made lightly; however, a parent can always switch back to what works best for them and their child.