Maybe you've heard of washable organic diapers, without actually realizing the advantages they have. Here we explain everything, from the cost difference, to how they work, and how to buy them.
How do organic cloth diapers work?
Organic diapers are washable (machine washable) and replace the "traditional" plastic diapers you buy in shops and supermarkets.
Organic diapers are much more modern than the diapers of the past. Now, thanks to the biodegradable fabrics/insert papers that are inserted into the diaper, these are the fabrics we throw away in the toilet. Just like toilet paper. In this way, only the diaper cloth remains to be washed... without the inconvenience of our great-grandmothers' diapers!
Ecological diapers vs Plastic diapers
There are three main advantages to ecological nappies:
- they are more economical
- pollute less
- protect baby's skin better
However, it has one drawback, which is washing. For that, we advise you below how to buy to make only 2 to 3 diaper washers per week.
What to buy?
For your baby's first two years, you have two options:
Buy by size, and change diapers as they grow:
Advantage: size adjusted to the baby's size
Disadvantages: You'll have to wash a lot at first, and buy 2 or 3 different types of diapers
Buy only 1 size that will be worth from the first month to 2 years:
Advantage: We forget to buy once and for all! You have diaper stock right from the start, allowing you to wash more diapers at once.
Disadvantage: It becomes a little bulkier in the baby's first few months. Even so, there is no problem for the child, at an ergonomic level as when he starts crawling or walking.
How many diapers to buy?
For peace of mind and considering that a baby spends an average of 8 diapers a day for the first 2 years of life, we recommend buying between 20 and 25 diapers. This way, you can wash them every 2 days - 2 1/2 days.
How much can you save with organic diapers?
If we consider that the diapers are mainly for the baby's first 2 years, the cost per diaper is 0.16 USD for an eco-friendly cloth diaper, against 0.28 USD on average for a normal plastic diaper. The cost of the organic diaper is equivalent to 0.12 to 0.03 USD for a washable diaper.
Counting the average number of diapers per month, an average of 1350 USD is spent on plastic diapers for the first 2 years (800 USD in the 1st year, 600USD in the 2nd year) against 833 USD in total for the 2 years with the ecological cloth diapers. In addition, more than 550 USD is saved on organic diapers.
The disadvantage that some mothers see when buying these diapers is the main expense because for one-size-fits-all diapers you only buy them once at the beginning. For 2 years of use, 25 one-size-fits-all organic cloth nappies cost around 600 USD, including 18 packs of 200 inner papers, which can be bought gradually. If you choose custom made organic diapers, they cost a total of around 650 USD, which can be spread over around 400 USD up to 18 months, and 130 USD from 18 months to around 2 years.
Do Non-organic diapers pollute less than organic diapers?
Considering that a child needs an average of 5000 disposable diapers for the first two years, waste represents the third-largest item (after newspapers and beverage and food packaging) in the municipal solid waste stream.
Also, thanks to the ecological cloth diapers, you save:
- 130 kilos of plastic (with packaging) per year needed to supply a baby with disposable diapers
- 270 kilos of cotton and other filling materials per year
- 70% more energy than the average disposable diaper
- 37% more water with cloth diapers than with disposables (even if washed in the washing machine)
Where to buy?
Serendipity House has a reputation for bringing you the best organic lifestyle products. Among the reputed brands like The Honest Company, Seventh Generation are praised by the people. For organic diapers, you can rely on our collection. Choose the brand that suits you best from here.