Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/353537
to decompose, using the required water for a load of laundry does not compare, especially with an energy-efficient machine. Cost Even if the impact on the environment isn't enough to convince you, maybe the impact of disposable diapers on your budget might. No one needs to tell you how much you spend every week on diapers. If you have more than one child, it becomes a major expense. With a one-time purchase of a reusable diaper set, you'll be shocked at how quickly you'll make back your money. Parents estimate savings of at least $1000 per year using cloth diapers. That figure is just taking into account for your first child. A good brand of diapers will be just as good for your second and third child, and even have resale value after your kids have been potty-trained. T hink cloth diaper. Are you picturing a mass of white fabric folded up around a baby and fastened with a safety pin? If so, know that we've come a long way since the 1950's. Non-disposable diapers are as easy to put on as a pair of pants and come in lots of cute colors and designs. There's no washboard and tub in this equation. Reusable diapers are all machine-washable. Disposables were certainly a liberating and time-saving innovation for mothers before the washing machine, but certainly aren't the only sensible choice for today. When I started asking around on the issue, I heard a lot of new information that said reusable diapers are better for health, the environment, and your budget. I spoke with Carrie, a mother of two from Walden, who says she loves cloth diapers and uses them 90% of the time. "When he's with our parents, they use flushable inserts. They are hybrids, good for babysitters, daycare" anytime and anywhere you don't want to have to hold on to the soiled diapers. Environmental Just like paper plates, diapers you use once and throw away are of lower quality than something you use for years. It makes sense for every family to invest in a set of plates. You buy them once, you take care of them, and they last your whole life. Yes, we still have paper plates to use at barbecues, so why not use paper diapers with the same frequency? Some skeptics say that washing cloth diapers uses so much water and energy that they have just as negative an impact on the environment as the diapers sitting in landfills. But when you think about the volume of synthetic material sitting in landfills never 22 Hudson Valley Parent Q 2013 Baby Guide THE DIRTY ON DIAPERS: Cloth vs. Disposable BY LAURA LAMICA