Why use cloth?

I'm no expert, and I can't put it any better than these articles have, so I'm just going to link you to them:

http://clothdiapers.thefunnyemu.com/why.html
http://www.diapersafari.com/diaperinfo/whyclothdiapers/ http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/joy-of-cloth.html
http://www.ecobaby.com/cloth.htm
http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_diaperdrama3.asp


In case you aren't the link clicking kind, I'll tell you why *I* do it.

It started because I didn't see money in our budget for diapers every week, just to be thrown out. I saw a blurb online somewhere about using PFs and CDing for less than $150. I thought that sounded like a great idea- so I looked into it more. When I came upon pockets and AIOs it really felt do-able. And fun! You can see "Sposie Math" for more about the savings. I decided then that CDing is what I was going to do.

As I did more research, I saw how many chemicals were in disposables, and how dangerous they could be. The toxin "Dioxin" is what really got me. It causes liver disease, and suppresses the immune system. It's banned in most other countries (which is why sposies are more expensive in other countries) but allowed in the United States. The toxins in disposables cause many problems, from diaper rash and asthma, to cancer, TSS, UTIs, and suppressed immune systems (causing your child to get sick more often, and slowing the natural healing process).

Now, CDing has made me more environmentally smart. I've reduced the chemicals and toxins in our home dramatically. We have switched to organic foods and products whenever we can. We also support fair trade and sustainable resources whenever possible. The average child adds 6500 disposables to landfills every year (much of which does not biodegrade). Also think about the paper, petroleum, and other resources used. Also, people throw away the poop with the sposie. That raw fecal matter leaks into the areas around landfills, threatening the wildlife.

So, I always say, I came for the money, but stayed for the chemicals.