Diapers
"Natural" Disposable Diapers
Conventional brands of disposable diapers contain nasty chemicals, chlorine residue, perfumes, and the very same silicate gel that was outlawed from use in tampons for causing toxic shock syndrome. There are a few manufacturers who make disposable diapers without using some of the more noxious materials. And some are using corn or wheat based gels instead of the silicate gel.
Tushies & TenderCare
The only completely gel-free disposable diaper (that I've been able to find).
Seventh Generation
Nature Boy & Girl
http://www.norseanatural.com/index.html
Whole Foods Store Brand
Little known fact: In the USA it is illegal to put human feces in the municipal garbage system. That's right, if you put a poop-filled disposable diaper in your trash, you are breaking the law! Who knew this? And guess what, it says that right on the diaper packaging. Okay, so I've mostly been a cloth diaperer, but still, this came as a huge shock when I found out. So yes, even when using a disposable diaper you are legally obliged to scoop your poop into the toilet before putting it in the trash can. So why not just use cloth and let the washing machine do the poop disposal?
Cloth Diapers
Ah, cloth. Breathable, reusable, resalable, natural. And when using the best materials.... organic. The advantage of disposable diapering has always been convenience. It's simple, there's only one piece to the diaper, you put it on, then you throw it away. But that's also the down side. Since it's so simple you aren't required to learn about what they're made of, what is put in them, how healthy (or not) they are for your baby, and the environmental impact of their ubiquitous use in our society. Cloth diapering is very customizable. There are a lot of choices about the kind of diapering system you use. There are things to learn about the fabric used in the diaper, in the cover, the fit and the cleaning. Yes, you have to think. And that's a good thing. Dip a toe in the cloth diapering world and you find a billion and one reasons why cloth diapering is far superior (easier, cheaper, healthier, more responsible) to disposable diapering.
So there's stuff to learn about cloth diapering, let's get to it.
The way I see it, there are two different ways of approaching your choice about what kind of diapering system to use. You can start from the perspective of what materials you want to use or what kind of components you want in your system. When I started out I focused on the components issue, but now that I'm a "pro" (two kids later) I think that material is a more important decision, so we'll start with that.
The most basic Material choices are natural materials or synthetic materials. This is mainly an issue of the covers; the layer which will keep the pee and poop inside the diaper instead of on the clothes, sheets or your lap. There are also some choices between synthetics and natural fabrics when it comes to pre-folds and inserts. (But I'm getting ahead of myself!)
Synthetic Materials
Synthetic diaper covers are generally made out of either polyester microfiber fabric, a conventional fabric laminated with polyurethane (PUL), polar fleece (also polyester), nylon or vinyl. It's important to note that synthetic fabrics are useful for diaper covers, but are not suitable for actual diapers or inserts. Polyester fibers included in a diaper actually makes it less absorbent than it would be with cotton alone. Amazingly, Gerber brand cloth diapers and training pants include a polyester fill... which because it doesn't actually absorb any liquid I must conclude that it is present because it makes the diaper appear more "fluffy".
Microfiber fabrics are woven from very very very small diameter threads of some man-made material; usually polyester, nylon or acrylic. Microfiber fabrics are strong, soft, durable, water repellant, breathable, stain resistant and quick to dry. Mircofiber fabrics are used for covers, all-in-ones and pockets (most notably, Fuzzi Bunz), and diaper inserts. They are very good at holding in liquid. Leaking usually only occurs with microfiber covers when there is a fit problem. I have not encountered any degradation of the waterproofing of the fabric of my microfiber covers which have sustained several years of heavy use. There are leak issues with microfiber fabric that is overstitched (if you can see stitches on the outside of the cover) because the initial treatment with waterproofing chemical on the stitches wears off over time and needs to be repeated periodically. Especially troublesome is tendency of the very liquid poop of breastfed babies to wick out of the overstitched seems of old microfiber covers. If the outside of the cover or the absorbent lining is wet or soiled, it must be washed before reuse. Microfiber inserts are very absorbent (better than cotton, not as good a hemp, in my opinion), soft and fluffy. Microfiber products are very durable and can stand up to many years of washing. They are a bit heat sensitive, so for the longest life they should be dried on a cool setting.
PUL is a fabric treated on one side with polyurethane, making it waterproof. PUL fabrics retain most of the qualities of the original material (be it cotton, poly/cotton, poly or other) with the addition of not quite permanent waterproofing. PUL fabric is generally thin, a bit stiff, very waterproof while the coating is in good condition, and is not breathable. The lack of breathability is an issue with diaper covers because it keeps the baby's bottom hot and moist, which is an ideal bacterial and fungal environment. This problem can be mediated to some degree by the design of the cover and the inclusion of other fabrics such as polar fleece. I have not yet experienced degradation of the waterproofing of my PUL covers, but I only used them for a short time (less than a year). I do hear that the waterproof coating does eventually wear out and then they leak. If the PUL cover has no absorbent lining, and only the waterproofed surface is wet or poopy, it can be wiped clean with a baby wipe and reused between washings. PUL covers with absorbent linings or piping must be washed if wet or soiled. PUL fabric is very commonly used in cloth training pant products. PUL products are sensitive to heat and should be washed and cool tumbled dry separate from the diapers themselves, but are otherwise quite durable.
Polar Fleece was originally developed as an alternative to wool, and therefore was designed to mimic many of the qualities of wool. It is made from polyester fibers, is notably breathable, light-weight and soft, and wicks moisture away from its surface into the heart of fabric. Polar fleece is water resistant, not waterproof, so some moisture may transfer to nearby fabrics via compression. Compression leaking and wicking with fleece can be prevented by using "enough" absorbent padding within the cover. I've used polar fleece covers most successfully in summer, when baby can go unclothed on the bottom. Fleece is often touted as a good cover for overnight, but I have not found it so because of its tendency to become damp on the outside if the absorbent material inside the cover becomes overloaded. Unlike wool, polar fleece covers must be fully washed once they are peed in. Polar fleece fabric is also popularly used for lining mircofiber and PUL diaper covers because of its "stay dry" qualities. Polar fleece products are very durable and hold up well to regular washing and drying.
Nylon (mostly notably used in the Bummis & Bumkins diaper covers) was originally developed as a cheap substitute for silk fiber. There are several types of nylon, the kinds used for diaper covers are durable, heat resistant and waterproof. If wet or soiled it can be wiped clean with a baby wipe and reused between washings. Nylon fabrics are durable enough to be washed and dried normally, but because of their waterproof nature, they air dry quickly and do not need to be run through the dryer.
Vinyl & PVC products are highly toxic! They are very reactive, releasing copious amounts of poisonous and carcinogenic compounds when exposed to heat. Despite these well documented qualities, these materials are still used in common baby products such as toys and diaper covers. Do not use vinyl diapering products!
Cautions!!! Yes, synthetic materials have many good qualities, but never forget that they are all petroleum products. They are made from a non-renewable resource and their manufacture produces toxic waste products which are then dumped into the environment. Once manufacture is complete, polyesters, polyurethanes and nylons are mostly inert, but they do become volatile when exposed to heat and moisture. When heated (from an extra hot wash or dry cycle perhaps?) they release toxic compounds. When abraded (such as in the dryer) they shed irritating dust fibers. And over time they naturally degrade, releasing substances such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and hydrogen cyanide. Yipeee! That's what I want in my nursery! Not.
Natural Materials
Cotton
Hemp
Wool
Many people who think they are allergic to wool are actually sensitive, not to the wool or wool oil (lanolin) itself, but to the chemicals used in the processing of conventional wool products.
Components
Cover/Diaper
Pocket/Insert
All-in-One
Diaper Pails
diaper champ --
http://store.babycenter.com/product/nursery/necessities/diaper_genie_and_disposal/3612
diaper dekor --
http://www.babyuniverse.com/pro.asp?id=18976&rc=00385724235647146974
Diapering Supplies Checklist
Organic Cotton Cloth Diapers
Organic Wool Diaper Covers
Natural Disposable Diapers
Organic Cotton Wipes
Weleda's Diaper-Care Cream
BacOut Stain & Odor Eliminator
Charlie's Soap Laundry Detergent
Bi-O-Kleen Laundry Detergent
Oxygen Bleach
Diaper Champ
Plastic Garbage Bags
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