Here at Growing a Green Family we’re looking at how to save $50,000 by going green. In case you’re curious, so far we’ve managed to save $13,761.00, just by taking some basic green actions. That does leave us $36,239 left to go, but cloth diapers should cut a nice big chunk off of this figure.

Image by Flickr User simplyla

How many disposable diapers will you need?

The average newborn baby can speed through 12 diapers in a single day. Older babies and toddlers use less, but still average around 6 to 10 diaper changes a day. That’s a whopping total of 7,500-8,000 disposable diapers over 2.5 years. However, many babies are in diapers longer. Still, for the purpose of this post, we’ll assume you toilet train one of your children super fast.

How much will all these disposable diapers cost you?

It sort of depends on which diapers you use. This being a green blog, I suggest you use the least toxic disposable diapers possible. I’ll be using Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers because they’re probably the most popular less toxic disposable diaper around.

Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers

Below are typical diaper prices, if you buy in bulk, along with the sizes you’ll need for various baby ages – although note, the sizes are only average estimates. Some babies run bigger or smaller of course.

• Newborn diapers – up to 10 lbs – 25 cent per diaper (1 mos to 1.5 mos) – 12 diapers a day – 540 diapers = $135
• Stage 1 diapers – 8-14 lbs – 20 cent per diaper (1.5 mos to 4 mos) – 10 diapers a day – 750 diapers = $150
• Stage 2 diapers – 12-18 lbs – 25 cent per diaper (5 mos to 7 mos) – 8 diapers a day – 480 diapers = $120
• Stage 3 diapers – 16-28 lbs – 18 cent per diaper (8 mos to 23 mos) – 8 diapers a day – 3,600 diapers = $648
• Stage 4 diapers – 22-37 lbs – 32 cent per diaper (2 years+) or Stage 5 diapers – 27+ lbs – 37 cent per diaper (2 years+) depending on your kid – 5 diapers a day – 750 diapers = $255

Total diapers needed – 6,120 for one kid, 12,240 for two kids.

Total cost = $1,308 for one kid, $2,616 for two kids.

You’ll also need some Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Training Pants (55 cent per pant). We’ll assume one of your kids potty trains fast, by age 2.5 and the other not until 4. For the first child you’ll need about 5 months of training pants, along with regular diapers, or about $247 worth of training pants. For the second child, you’ll need about $1,133 worth of training pants. That’s a total of $1,380.

Total diapers + training pants for two kids = 14,749

Total costs for two kids = $3,996

Keep in mind that research shows that the average family, with two kids will go through 16,000 diapers, so there’s a good chance I underestimated price.

How many cloth diapers will you need?

Again it depends on what sort of cloth diaper you use. In this case, I’m going with ease of use, which for me, means you use all-in-one-cloth diapers or a hybrid, which are a little more expensive, but also easier than traditional pre-fold cloth diapers. Some choices include:

• GroVia
• gDiapers
• Kushies
• FuzziBunz
• Charlie Banana

Once you choose a brand, you’ll need to choose sizes and amounts. I suggest going with real sizes, not one-size-fits-all, mainly because fit can be iffy. To read more about how to choose the best cloth diapers, I suggest reading Eco-nomical Baby Guide, which has an excellent cloth diaper section, or you can simply read Cloth Diapering Myths to get started.

gBaby Bundle

Overall, say you use gDiapers with reusable inserts. You’ll need about 6-8 little gPants per size (small, medium and large). You can get the gBaby Bundle which comes with 12 tiny gPants, 6 small gPants, 80 gRefills and a swishstick for just $125. Then you’ll also need 8 gDiapers Little gPant Diaper Covers Medium ($136), gDiapers Little gPant Diaper Covers Large ($79) and 3 or so packs of reusable gDiapers Cloth Diaper Inserts ($79). Plus probably an extra 6 or so diapers along the way ($79). Total cost for the gDiaper system = $498.00.

Now, if you go with another brand, like FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper, you’ll need about 12 small, 12 medium and 12 large diapers. That’s a total cost of $577.

If you don’t want to work too hard, you could also go with a mega set, such as the GroVia Live Package ($349), which pretty much allows you to cloth diaper your baby for his entire childhood so long as you add 24 extra shells ($196). Charlie Banana is also easy, as they offer quick sets with 6 reusable diapers + 12 reusable inserts. Once you buy all the sets you need, it’ll be about $600.

You won’t need training pants, as larger size cloth diapers double up as both diapers and trainers.

Charlie Banana cloth diapers

Other supplies you’ll need for cloth diapering:

• A few wet bags, which hold wet cloth diapers and inserts on the go, such as Itzy Ritzy Zippered Wet Bag – $36 for two.
• A bin for wet and icky diapers – same cost as the garbage can you’re using for disposables.
• Disposable inserts some of the time (maybe) when out and about or on a trip. $34+ depending on how often you use them.
• A book about how to use and care for cloth diapers. Again, I suggest Eco-nomical Baby Guide – $14.
• Water for washing and laundry soap. You can use basic, natural laundry soap and cold water. You’ll wash maybe every two days or so. I’m not figuring in this cost because you’ll also spend money on gas to go and get disposables, plus extra garbage fees to toss those disposables, so I’m guessing it all evens out.

Total diapers needed for cloth diapering – about 36, although most people collect a few more. Plus you’ll need reusable inserts – about 24 to 30. If you use disposable inserts, you’ll need more and it’ll cost more, but I suggest reusable inserts on most occasions.

Total cost of cloth diapers – it varies depending on brand, but on average about $556 plus supplies = $636.

Note that this is a high estimate in my opinion. You can easily pick up gently used all-in-ones at your local thrift store or baby consignment shop. Seriously, we’re talking $1 to $2 diapers, which would bring your costs down considerably. You can also register for cloth diapers for your baby shower.

Plus, don’t forget, cloth diapers will last through both kids. Assuming you need to replace some diapers and inserts, which you will, your total cloth diaper costs should only be around $700-$800 if you splurge and $120 – $300 if you really shop around at consignment stores. If you use basic pre-fold diapers, you’ll save too.

Here are some more cost comparisons of cloth diapers – what real parents spend, cost of cloth diapers and cost savings of cloth diapers.

Comparing costs

Overall, if you have two children, you’ll spend $3,996+ on disposable diapers. If you go with cloth you’ll spend about $300 to $636 for both kids that’s a savings of $3,360 for two kids. Even if you totally go nuts and splurge on all sorts of adorable reusable cloth diapers, plus buy brand new for both kids you’ll still save around $2,724.

Image by Flickr User IngaMun

PLUS…

Beyond cost benefits you’ll be helping the planet. Most research suggest that 250 to 500 years is a conservative guess as to how long disposable diapers will sit in the landfill after you toss them and most conventional disposable diapers are 100% gross. They’re stuffed with icky SAP, pesticides, perfume, latex, chemicals and plastic (made with non-renewable oil) and other junk.

Where we’re at right now…

• Save $3,360 by using cloth diapers
• Save $835 per kid by using to reusable baby wipes
• Save $1,612 by using homemade green cleaners
• Save $2,960 by having a less consumer Christmas
• Save $1,000 by ditching paper towels
• Save $1,354 by using cloth napkins
• Save $6,000 by switching to reusable water bottles

TOTAL SAVINGS SO FAR: $17,121.00

$ left to save: $32,879

There’s a new baby food in town, and it’s not only organic, but affordable. Baby Gourmet Organic Baby Food is a new line of USDA certified organic baby food created by mama and Baby Gourmet company founder, Jennifer Broe.

*Note – stay tuned to Growing a Green Family, if you’d like to win some of this tasty organic baby food. A cool giveaway is coming up!

Each and every Baby Gourmet product begins right at home, in Jennifer’s kitchen, not in a factory or lab, so we’re talking homemade baby food goodness, only without the pots, pans and blenders or time commitment. Baby Gourmet comes in BPA-free re-sealable packaging that’s easy to serve. Squeeze some into a bowl or let your baby go pouch wild.

All Baby Gourmet baby food products have some healthy features in common, such as…

• USDA Organic certified
• No thickeners or fillers
• No added sugar
• No added salt
• Kosher

Simple Purées: for 6+ Months

Simple Pureés are the perfect first baby food and are made with the youngest babies in mind, focusing on food allergy avoidance and simple, yet healthy ingredients, plus a consistency that’s just right for young babies.

Yummy Combos: for 7+ months

More experienced eaters can move on to stage two’s exciting flavor palate, such as wholesome fruits and veggies paired with cinnamon and vanilla. All Yummy Combos include multiple ingredients, gently cooked and puréed to a perfect consistency.

Tasty Textures: for 8+ Months

By eight months, your baby is ready for different textures, so all the Tasty Texture stage baby foods are based on more substantial family recipes, adapted for your baby, with zero sugar or salt added.

Where to buy:

Baby Gourmet is now available at Walmart stores nationwide and retails for an affordable $1.74 per pouch. That’s a killer deal on organic baby food!

Learn more:

• Visit the Baby Gourmet website
• Join Baby Gourmet on Facebook
• Friend Baby Gourmet on Twitter

Lat week the nonprofit Ecology Center at the consumer-friendly site, www.HealthyStuff.org released the latest findings on toxic chemicals in children’s car seats, and the news is way less than good. May car seats were found to be safe, which is a perk, because it shows that car seat manufacturers can make non-toxic car seats. However, of all the 2011 car seats tested, a full 60% tested positive for one or more of the following substances: bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC and plasticizers); lead; other heavy metals and allergens.

It’s hard to be picky as a parent, because you simply cannot slack on car seats. If you’ve got a child who is riding around in your car, then you 100% need a car seat. Still, this is frustrating, because you also don’t want your child exposed to more toxins than necessary. According to this new research, car seat chemicals are particularly bad because your child spends so much time in his seat, plus, kids are hot little pumpkins. As your child heats up, his body heat may help speed up the time in which dangerous substances heat up, which then releases the substances, exposing your child to them in a more extensive way.

What would be best is if car seat manufactuers and the govenrment would hop on board the chemical safety train. As Andy Igrejas, Director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, puts it:

“This study is yet another example of how our country’s major chemicals law — the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 — is flawed and fails to protect children from hazardous chemicals. Databases such as HealthyStuff.org can provide consumers with valuable information, but reforming our federal regulatory system so that harmful chemicals don’t end up on the market in the first place is long overdue.”

But, what can parents do until then? Well, buy a more safely rated car seat of course. The HealthyStuff car seat ratings make it easier to find a safer, less toxic car seat. The best car seat list on the HealthyStuff contains plenty of seats which do not contain PVC or Lead and do not use brominated flame retardants. What I’d also do, is cross-check car seats on the less toxic list with a consumer site that tests car seat function and all-around quality, such as Consumer Reports. You want a less toxic car seat that’s also got the features and ease-of-use you require. Oh, and when you use the car seat ratings, pay attention to little things like color. I noticed that many of the car seats listed as safe, for the most part, aren’t in rainbow bright colors – I’m guessing certain colors need chemicals to make them more colorful, hence the rating.

Below is a list of some of the safest, least toxic seats tested at HealthyStuff…

• Graco Turbo Booster Seat in Anders

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Graco-Turbo-Booster-Seat-in-Anders.jpg
  la

• Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat - Laguna Bay

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Graco-SnugRide-35-Infant-Car-Seat-Laguna-Bay.jpg
  la

• Chicco KeyFit Infant Car Seat - Limonata

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chicco-KeyFit-Infant-Car-Seat-Limonata.jpg
  la

• Combi Shuttle 33 Infant Car Seat - Cranberry Noche

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Combi-Shuttle-33-Infant-Car-Seat-Cranberry-Noche.jpg
  la

• Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat in flint, or gray

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Graco-Snugride-35-Infant-Car-Seat-in-flint-or-gray.jpg
  la

• Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat - Cubes

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chicco-KeyFit-30-Infant-Car-Seat-Cubes.jpg
  la

• Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat - Mirabella

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Graco-SnugRide-30-Infant-Car-Seat-Mirabella.jpg
  la

• Flex-Loc Infant Car Seat - All Star

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Flex-Loc-Infant-Car-Seat-All-Star.jpg
  la

• Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat - Extreme

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chicco-KeyFit-30-Infant-Car-Seat-Extreme.jpg
  la

• S1 by Safety 1st onBoard35 Air Infant Car Seat - McKenna

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/S1-by-Safety-1st-onBoard35-Air-Infant-Car-Seat-McKenna.jpg
  la

• Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat in Cowmooflage

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Britax-Chaperone-Infant-Car-Seat-in-Cowmooflage.jpg
  la

• Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat - Hathaway

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Graco-SnugRide-35-Infant-Car-Seat-Hathaway.jpg
  la

• Graco Turbo Booster Seat in Anders
• Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat in Laguna Bay
• Chicco KeyFit Infant Car Seat – Limonata
• Combi Shuttle 33 Infant Car Seat – Cranberry Noche
• Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat in Gray
• Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat – Cubes
• Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat – Mirabella
• Baby Trend Flex-Loc Infant Car Seat – All Star
• Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat – Extreme
• S1 by Safety 1st onBoard35 Air Infant Car Seat – McKenna
• Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat in Cowmooflage
• Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat – Hathaway

+ See the entire HealthyStuff safe and not-so-safe car seat listings.

Lead image via www.HealthyStuff.org.

It’s been a while since we’ve tried to save any money around this blog. Too bad since we’ve got a lot to save if we’re going to save $50,000 just by going green.

Today, baby wipes. How much can you save if you make safe, non-toxic baby wipes vs. buying disposable baby wipes? Let’s find out.

HOW MANY DISPOSABLE DIAPER WIPES WILL YOU NEED?

First of all, we’re just going to look at 2.5 years not 5. On average, folks like to assume that babies are out of diapers by two and a half years (many aren’t) but for the sake of this post, we’ll say 2.5 sounds fine.

The average newborn can speed through 12 diapers a day. Older babies and toddlers typically use about 6-10 diapers a day. If your baby is out of diapers entirely by the time she’s two and a half years old that’s still about 7,500-8,000 diaper changes over those 2.5 years.

If we’re being VERY prudent, the typical diaper change requires two cloth baby wipes or two or three disposable wipes. I’ve used both reusable and disposable wipes and for large messes, you can end up using a ton of disposable wipes. BUT we’ll say oh, two wipes per change.

So, 7,500-8,000 times two wipes per change is about 15,500 disposable wipes in 2.5 years. Imagine that pile!

HOW MANY CLOTH BABY WIPES WILL YOU NEED?

If you’re making a reusable baby wipe kit, here’s what you’ll need at bare minimum.

1. 20-30 baby sized washcloths and 20-40 regular sized washcloths – this is literally all the cloth wipes I needed the entire time Cedar was a baby.
2. A cloth wipe bucket – small, with an easy to remove lid.
3. A couple reusable wipe bags for when you’re out and about. Alternatively, you can use disposable wipes when out, but let’s pretend you want to go totally reusable.

Natural soap and organic essential oils are nice additions but not necessary, so I won’t be adding in these costs.

HOW MUCH WILL DISPOSABLE WIPES COST?

For disposable baby wipes I picked an eco-friendly brand, because I personally cannot, and will not recommend that you buy conventional baby wipes. You might save more buying conventional vs. less toxic baby wipes, but since they’re not safe for kids, and since this is a green space, there’s no way I’m using them for a comparison.

Personally I’ve tested, liked and can recommend the following eco-friendly baby wipes:

• $34.99 – TushiesWipes Refills, Unscented Natural Formula with Aloe – Wipe Refill Packs (960 Wipes).
• Elements Naturals – $5.95 – 80 count at Drugstore.com.
• $13.99 – Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Baby Wipes, 350-count Box.
• You can browse other safe baby wipes at Skin Deep.

For this calculation, we’ll use my favorite, and likely the cheapest eco-wipes first – TushiesWipes. You’ll need 15,500 wipes, or about 16 cases in bulk. That’s $560 over 2.5 years.

We’ll also use what I most commonly see – what I usually see among friends, and when I’m sneaking peeks at carts at the store are those Seventh Generation baby wipe tubs. Many people do not buy in bulk. Those tubs and single refill packs are about $4.50 – $5.50 for 70 wipes or around $1,107 over 2.5 years. If you shop this way, a reusable baby wipe kit will save you around $1,107 per child.

If you split the difference between buying in bulk and not, you’ll pay around $835 for 2.5 years of disposable wipes.

HOW MUCH WILL REUSABLE WIPES COST?

You’ll need 20-30 baby sized washcloths and 20-40 regular sized washcloths. We bought on the low end; maybe 25 baby sized and 25 big ones. It’ll depend on how often you do laundry. I suggest you buy organic cotton, bamboo, or some other sustainable fabric. Some ideas…

• $9.00 – Under The Nile Organic Cotton Baby Wipes – 6 Pack
• $24.00 – Kissaluvs Soft Organic Wipes, 12 Pack
• $14.50 – Babykicks Baby Wipes – 10 Pack
• $9.57 – 100% Organic Cotton Oversized Washcloth Set of 4
• $12.00 – Kate Quinn Organic Baby Washcloths (10-Pack)

You’ll also need a BPA-free container to hold your wipes. I like the $16.99 – Oxo Good Grips POP Big Square 4-Quart Storage Container, but any container will do, just make sure the lid is easy to get off with one hand.

Lastly, you’ll need an on-the-go solution like $10.99 – Kushies on-the-go wet bag (set of 2); also available in girl prints or in different sizes.

That’s a total of about $100. If you went with thrift store goods you’d make a killing though and could likely build a kit for less than half of this. Used washcloths aren’t as good as organic IMO, but still a greener choice. Also, you’ll have to pay to wash your wipes. However, as noted in the cloth napkin costs post, it’s only about $8 per year to wash a ton of napkins. When compared to gas costs to get disposables, it pretty much evens out.

Money saved over 2.5 years if you use reusable vs. disposable baby wipes…

$835.00 on average – Now, if you use wipes longer you’ll save more. One reusable baby wipes kit will last forever. For sure it would see you through two or three babies. For example, I’m STILL using old washcloths from Cedar’s reusable baby wipe kit now, to clean with. It’s been almost ten years and the wipes are just now starting to die off. Cloth lasts forever.

IF you have two kids you’d save almost $1,700. A nice college fund starter or a ton of organic apples. Plus, let’s not forget all those resources you’ll save due to NOT buying over-packaged toss-away baby wipes.

Learn exactly how to make your own reusable baby wipe kit.

END RESULT: We’re trying to save $50,000 and so far we’ve saved…

• $1,000+ by switching from paper towels to cloth.
• $1,354 by switching from paper napkins to cloth napkins.
• $6,180 by switching to tap water vs. bottled.
• $835 by switching to reusable baby wipes.

So far a total savings of $9,369. That leaves $40,631.00 left to save. Saving $9,000+ isn’t bad but we’re going to have to break out the big guns of green living to save $50,000.

So, I got a reader question a while back, then promptly forgot about it (busy). Luckily, reader Viviane emailed me back to remind me. Good thing, because it’s an excellent question.

The question: “My daughter has been sleeping on the same non-organic crib mattress now for 2.5 years. I have crib sheet over it and a non-organic Ultimate Crib Sheet over that (that has a vinyl backing). Does the mattress still release fumes now (two years later)? It’s not in our budget to get an organic crib mattress now but perhaps for the next baby. What can I do for now to lessen the fumes if there is anything off-gassing after this long? Is it worth it to get an organic mattress pad? Also, would it be effective to get an organic Ultimate Crib Sheet?”

Sadly, as I’ve found out, there’s not one easy answer to the questions above. In the past I wrote a post about safer crib mattresses. In that post I noted:

Research shows that most of the toxins and fumes released by mattresses are released early on, soon after unwrapping. Your baby’s exposure to these fumes will be limited if you take the plastic off well before your baby is due. This should release many of the fumes created by standard crib mattress baddies like PVC plastic polyurethane foam, and flame retardants.

What I said was based on info I found back then. However, since then I’ve found some other research that says even very old mattresses can off-gas, not cool. Here’s a run down of the situation.

What are flame retardants?

Many mattresses along with other items (carpet padding, foam cushions, polyester bedding and clothing, wallpaper, plastic housings for computers, faxes and other electronics, couches, chairs, etc) are treated with flame-retardants. Flame retardant use has been very widespread in the U.S. for years and continues to be a problem.

Most flame retardants are variations of the chemical PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether). You may also hear the term Brominated Flame Retardants (pdf) which is simply a broad term for many flame retardants including PBDEs, TPPBA and HBCD.

PBDEs do not go away!

PBDEs are “persistent” which means they don’t break down in our bodies or in the environment. Instead PBDEs remain active in our air, water, soil and food, and yes even in our bodies long after exposure. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology (WSDE) via Treehugger, “PDBEs are building up in animals throughout the food chain, even turning up in orca whales in Puget Sound in Washington and in the bodies of polar bears in the Arctic.”

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, PBDEs have been found in human breast milk, wild salmon and even sticks to common household dust. The U.S. Green Building Council also points out that it’s not just PBDEs we should be worried about but the entire organophosphate family of flame-retardants. Any and all flame retardants may be “Potentially toxic even if the compounds are not bioaccumulative, brominated or chlorinated.”

PBDEs stay in our bodies for a very long time, accumulating in our fatty tissue and have been shown in various studies to cause multiple health problems like thyroid hormone imbalance, cancer, depressed fertility in women, lower IQ and developmental delays. They’ve also been linked to hyperactivity (ADD & ADHD), obesity, diabetes and permanent behavioral changes.

Getting back to that Treehugger/Earthtalk piece linked above, it’s noted that, “The U.S. is the world’s largest maker and user of PBDEs, and levels found in Americans are as much as 100 times higher than in Europe, where most PDBEs were banned in 2001. North American levels, say scientists, are doubling every two to five years.”

Research also shows that toddlers have higher levels of flame retardants in their blood than older children, who have higher levels than adults.

PBDEs have been banned in Washington State, Europe and some other U.S. states.

Are there benefits to using flame retardants?

Technically yes. Fire kills many, many people each year in US and causes massive property damage – some reports note $11 billion annually. Retardants do officially reduce risk of fire and thus also reduce the risk of death. injury and property damage. For example, TV sets without PBDEs are a primary cause of domestic fires in Germany where PBDEs have been banned.

However, there are other ways to prevent fires and while the short term effects of flame retardants may seem beneficial, how long do you have to pay for these benefits? There are no massive long term effect studies on flame retardants but of course we know they cause damage, as noted above. How much damage remains to be seen as time passes.

So, should you buy a newer, non-flame-treated mattress?

According to most experts, yes. That’s the one and only way to avoid sleeping right next to flame retardants. The U.S. Green Building Council notes:

• Limit or stop all purchases of any furniture, carpet padding or any other interior items made from polyurethane foam and Dacron. (Dacron is “extruded” polyurethane foam.)
• Ask before purchasing fabrics if they are treated with ANY flame-retardant chemicals, and purchase only 100% “permanent treatment-free” fabrics and textiles.

That said, it’s hard to find a safe mattress – even ones treated with so called eco-flame retardants aren’t safe…

Mattress manufacturers don’t have to disclose chemicals in mattresses and according to one decent source, one of the only ways to get an actual chemical-free and safe mattress is “To have a doctor or chiropractor write you a prescription for a chemical-free mattress, and then find a manufacturer to make one for you.” This same source also recommends looking for 100 percent wool, toxin-free mattresses, putting your mattress into a waterproof mattress cover which might help reduce your may exposure to chemicals or to look for a mattress made with Kevlar instead of flame retardant chemicals.

Will covering older flame retardant treated objects help?

Not so much. According to all the new research I found it says you should replace older polyurethane foam furnishings not simply recover them as the new fabric, sheet or other cover will not magically trap the contaminants.

What if you really can’t afford a new organic baby mattress?

The U.S. Green Building Council notes you can help limit the effects of exposure to flame retardant chemicals by doing the following:

• “Vacuum your home frequently, including all furnishings, with a HEPA vacuum cleaner that meets current standards for air tightness.
• Use HEPA air cleaners, particularly in the bedroom. Make sure to purchase TRUE HEPA. And get one with a good, large carbon filter. The best HEPA filters also contain up to 18 lbs. of carbon for filtering out both contaminated dust and VOCs.”

To sum up – it’s all very confusing for the average consumer:

• Flame retardants and other chemical treatments used for mattress are harmful and super persistent; even so called greener treatments may not be safe.
• It’s difficult to find a chemical-free mattress, but it’s smart to try.
• Covering an old mattress won’t help according to most sources, but a few sources note that maybe a waterproof cover can help.
• Cleaning your home well is a must, since dust is a major carrier of flame retardant chemicals.

Whew. All in all, not the best answer ever, but sadly there’s a ton of mix-mashed info out there. I’d suggest looking for the safest mattress you can find and keep up with your dusting. If you can’t afford a new mattress, or find one, I’d also note that panicking about it seems kind of fruitless, considering how abundant flame retardant chemicals are in the environment AND because of how difficult it seems to be to find a safe mattress.

Basically, if you’re in the USA, you’re going to be exposed to off-gassing. Yes, you should try to limit exposure, but the U.S. government along with mattress, and other home supply manufacturers sure aren’t making it easy.

Later I’ll be back with some info on safer mattresses (hopefully). I’m going to look around and see what I can find out.

• See toxic sleep for more info.

We’re in the middle of our Green Diapers 101 series. Next up on the list are old school prefold & flat cloth diapers. I’m grouping flat diapers and prefolds together, although they’re not entirely the same thing. Prefold and flat diapers are argued to be the most common types of cloth diaper used by parents around the world.

Cloth diapers can be somewhat bulky.

Facts about prefold diapers:

• Prefolds have three panels and are made with multiple layers of lightweight, woven fabric, usually with extra layers in the center panel for absorbency.
• Prefolds come in Indian prefolds which are soft and textured or Chinese prefolds which weigh less and are smoother than Indian prefolds.
• All prefolds offer a custom fit – because you do the folding. You fold the prefold up and can hold the diaper on with a cover, pins or Snappi.
• Prefolds come in bleached or unbleached fabric (unbleached are more eco-friendly and safer).
• All prefolds need to be washed a few times before use.

Facts about flat diapers:

• A flat diaper consists of just one layer of fabric that you fold into a triangle shape, bringing the front flap up. You’ll need pins or a Snappi to close the diaper and a diaper cover.
• Flat diapers are made of just one-layer of absorbent cotton or organic cotton.
• Flat diapers are likely the least expensive diapering option (overall, not just in cloth) because you never need new sizes. They also wash fast and dry fast due the one layer of fabric.
• Flats need to be washed once before use.

Traditional cloth diapers (flat or prefold) are as basic as you can get BUT it’s a little overwhelming to choose the best cloth diaper for you. You’ll also need to consider diaper covers, closures (i.e. pins) and inserts in most cases. Plus you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to use a diaper service or wash yourself. One major downside of prefolds and flats is the bulk factor. As seen in the image above, often flats and prefolds, even other cloth diapers can be a bit bulky. Because of the leak issue many parents do a little stuffing with extra flats or inserts or get the best, but often most bulky diaper covers around. Bulky is easier if you think of it as kind of cute vs. annoying. Also, later we’ll look at some less bulky all-in-ones.

For comprehensive user reviews of both cloth diapers and cloth diaper retailers, check out Diaper Pin. To find a diaper service near you (meaning someone who’ll pick those icky diapers up and wash them), visit the National Association of Diaper Services who recently merged with the Real Diaper Industry Association.

Fabric considerations:

Prefolds and flats are available in conventional cotton and organic cotton. Organic is the way to go if you’d like to limit the amount of chemicals and pesticides exposed to the planet. Prefolds and flats also come in hemp fabric, bamboo and more.

The debate against cloth prefolds and flats:

Line drying cloth diapers can save money and energy.

The debate against cloth prefolds (actually all cloth diapers) is the washing. Some think it takes more energy and water than it’s worth. I don’t agree. You can wash on cold and line dry – although it can leave diapers a little stiff; it won’t kill your baby. I think the problem with disposables in our landfills is a much larger problem. But that’s the argument against them – just so you have the facts.

Below I’m posting some diapering options – however, I’m posting diapers made with eco-friendly materials. Note that you can get prefolds and flats in conventional cotton. I don’t recommend conventional cotton though, being that there are better, more eco-friendly materials available. That said, conventional will cost less so if that’s your intention check around at ClothDiapers.com or Green Mountain Diapers for other options.

Prefold diaper choices:

• Bummis Organic Cloth Diapering Kit – this is a great kit if you know you’re ready to use prefold diapers. This value packed box of cloth diapering essentials comes with everything you need to start using cloth diapers right now. Comes with organic cotton prefold diapers, sturdy and great looking waterproof covers, flushable AND reusable liners, and an excellent wet bag. There’s also a sample of Bum Bum Balm in every box and a handy cloth diapers user guide.
• OsoCozy Organic Cotton Prefold Diapers – 100% certified unbleached organic prefold diapers made with absorbent, durable birdseye weave material. Cotton for these diapers is grown and harvested according to SKAL and the diapers are sewn in the USA.
• Polar Babies Hemp Diapers – hemp is a naturally absorbent material.
• Cloth-eez Prefold Diapers – choose chlorine-free white or unbleached cotton.
• Willowsprouts Organic Cotton/Hemp Prefolds.
• Dandelion Certified Organic Cotton Prefold Diapers.
• Under The Nile Prefold Diaper – Fair Trade, 100% organic diapers.
• Swaddlebees Bamboo Prefolds – 70% viscose from bamboo, 28% organic cotton, 2% polyester.

Flat diaper choices:

• OsoCozy Organic Flat Diaper – Made of 100% organic birdseye weave cotton and sewn to dimensions of 29×27 inches. After washing these diapers are approximately 26×26 inches. Easy to clean and line dry; even in humid climates.
• Organic Hemp/Cotton Jersey Flat diapers.
• Firefly flat diapers – soft, knit diapers made with two layers of organic cotton French terry with 100% organic cotton stitching.
• Hemp Babies, Hemp Flats – 55% Hemp, 45% Certified Organic Cotton

Cloth diaper covers:

If you decide to use diaper covers you’ve got almost as many choices as you do in diapers. You can go with those old-school plastic waterproof pant covers or popular waterproof cloth covers or covers made with eco-friendly materials. You can find plain covers all the way up to snazzy designer covers. Really covers could be an entire post of their own but here are a few decent options.

• Imse Vimse Organic Cotton Cover – super cute cover that eliminates the use of pins. Inner polyester PUL and outside material is organic cotton.
• Happy Heinys Wool Covers – 100% wool, stretchy. Made in the USA.
  Disana Wool Pull-On Diaper Cover – Lovely Merino wool covers made by a family company.
• Little Beetle Little-to-Big (One Size) Organic Wool Diaper Cover with Snap Closure – 100% organic merino wool jersey; available in natural color (un-dyed, untreated)

Prefold and flat diaper supplies (some anyhow):

• Snappi Diaper Fasteners are a pinless way to fasten your baby’s cloth diapers. These easy to use fastener replace the diaper pin and come in a variety of colors. Made from a stretchable non-toxic material, which is T-shaped with grips on each end. These grips hook into the diaper fabric to ensure a snug-fitting diaper. Of course you can also go with traditional diaper pins too. Regardless of what folks say, pins are pretty safe unless you have a baby who really rolls about during changes.
• Hemp Diaper Doublers – these are made from hemp fleece composed of 55% Hemp, 45% Certified organic cotton and the two extra layers of hemp add extra absorbency to your cloth diapers – good for say nighttime.
• OsoCozy Organic Diaper Doublers – like the hemp doublers above but 100% organic cotton.

You can also… Make your own cloth diapers.

BEFORE YOU BUY!!!

People have some major opinions about the best fabrics and styles of basic cloth diapers. Before you choose a style, I’d do some research and some test drives. Visit new to cloth diaper info. Visit green parenting forums and see what other mamas and dads like. Ask your pals. I also highly recommend you read Eco-nomical Baby Guide if you’re interested in cloth diapers. This book has everything you need to know about cloth diapering – from choosing a style to using, washing and care.

[images: Baby in sun via here - diapers & trees via here]

Non-biodegradable disposable green diapers are our first stop for Green Diapers 101. And they’re not much better than conventional disposables.

I hesitate to even call these diapers green. I wouldn’t go so far as to say these are greenwashing diapers, but really what you should call them are less toxic disposables not green. Less toxic disposable diapers are only a very slender notch up from regular conventional disposable diapers and include choices like…

• Natural Choice Environmentally-Sensitive Diapers
• Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Baby Diapers
• Earth’s Best TenderCare Chlorine Free Diapers
• Nature babycare Eco-Friendly Chlorine-Free Diapers
• Tushies Gel Free Diapers

These non-toxic disposables sometimes have some perks such as…

• They’re usually made with chlorine-free tree pulp vs. chlorine. Some are even made with tree pulp from sustainable forests.
• The backsheet, topsheet, or other parts may be made with renewable resources; however, that doesn’t mean the whole diaper is renewable friendly, just parts. Part of this perk is that the diaper overall may take up to 30% less petroleum to make than conventional disposable brands.
• Some have zero oil-based plastic parts that could touch your baby’s skin.
• Made without fragrances or latex.
• Sometimes the diapers are packaged in packaging made with some or a lot of recycled content.
• Often the companies behind these diapers do much more (on a large scale) for the environment than big conventional diaper companies. For example would you rather buy diapers like Pampers, made by Procter & Gamble, a company who also makes a ton of icky, pollution causing, earth-harming products and who tests on animals? OR would you rather buy diapers from Seventh Generation who make very few earth-harming products beyond these diapers? Your money does speak for you. It’s always nice to buy from a greener company.

And the downside of less toxic disposable diapers…

• Not that different from regular conventional diapers. BUT usually cost a lot more. In fact the lack of perks vs. costs has driven many an official green mama to buy normal old conventional diapers, and it’s hard to argue that you shouldn’t.
• They still have Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP); a gel found in almost all disposables and is known to be toxic (although that’s a debate right now). Tushies Gel Free Diapers are the ONE exception and are 100% SAP free.
• Less toxic disposables sit in a landfill just like regular disposables and are a sad choice compared to biodegradable or cloth reusable diapers.

So should you buy less toxic diapers?

I think it’s a personal choice based on budget and how concerned you are about corporate lameness. Less toxic disposables just aren’t all that much better than conventional disposables. There’s a part of me that does suggest you choose a less toxic disposables vs. conventional brand based on your research into a company.

Supporting Seventh Generation who does mostly carry eco-friendly products and who is independently owned vs. mass corporate owned is a better choice to me than supporting a big bad eco-NOT friendly company. If you can research less toxic disposables, choose a company you like and then get natural diaper coupons or buy in bulk, that’s a good choice but there are way better choices out there, such as reusable diapers and soon we’ll look at some of those reusables here.

Reusable and other eco-minded baby diapers are a healthier choice than disposable diapers. However all your choices can be confusing. Below is a little round-up that should help you easily sort out all your green diaper dramas.

FIRST DO YOUR RESEARCH:

ClothDiapers.com offers excellent advice about reusable diapers. From traditional prefold cloth diapers to tiny newborn cloth diapers to cloth diaper covers; you’ll get useful info on all of them. The ClothDiapers.com website also includes a great general guide to cloth diapering, tips about how to wash cloth diapers and more, all perfect for a new user of cloth diapers.

Our friends at Green Baby Guide don’t only blog about diapers, but they do often enough making their blog a great place for newbies to reusable diaper options and other green baby issues. In fact, the mamas at Green Baby Guide even wrote an entire book about green baby care – Eco-nomical Baby Guide; a book I highly recommend if you’re interested in cloth diapers.

GREEN DIAPER KNOW HOW: Over the next week or so I’ll post about the green diaper choices below, linking them here as I go.

• Non-biodegradable “green” disposable diapers
• Traditional prefold baby diapers & flat diapers
• Hybrid baby diaper
• All-in-one-cloth diapers
• Reusable swim diapers
• The greenest reusable diaper is…

A FEW WORDS ABOUT BABY WIPES:

• DIY Green Baby Project: Make Your Own Reusable Baby Wipes Kit
• Bottoms Up Washable Cloth Baby Wipes Kit

BIG BAD DIAPER ISSUES:

• Greenwashing fun with disposable diapers

[image via Anita Patterson]

Traditional disposable baby diapers create plenty of problems for parents, babies and the planet, such as…

• Disposable diapers cost you more money in the long run than reusable diapers. Depending on the type of disposables you purchase, using reusable diapers can save you anywhere from $600-$2,000+.
• Most research suggest that 250 to 500 years is a conservative guess as to how long disposable diapers will sit in the landfill after you toss them.
• Disposable diapers are 100% gross. They’re stuffed with icky SAP. Check out all the safety procedures kids are advised to use when around a SAP science experiment.
• Pesticides, perfume, latex, chemicals and plastic (made with non-renewable oil) are all present in disposable diapers. Of course you can’t stick this stuff on your baby and not see some negative health effects.
• See an entire page of resourced facts regarding the benefits of reusable diapers over disposable.

The ongoing debate – cloth vs. disposable:

Some people seem confused about the life-cycle of cloth vs. disposable diapers – for example, both Jeffrey Hollender, CEO of Seventh Generation and WebMD (among others) have said that disposables and cloth diapers are the same in terms of how they cause harm to the environment. Really, though that’s just not true.

Thus far the most comprehensive study to date comparing disposables and cloth is a study by the UK Environment Agency and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (pdf). The study notes that “The average 2006 disposable nappy would result in a global warming impact of approximately 550kg of carbon dioxide equivalents used” while a child is in diapers and that reusable diapers will result in either 370-570kg of carbon dioxide depending on how you wash them and if you reuse them for a second child.

In the end, this study notes that cloth diapers are more eco-friendly than disposables but only if you wash them correctly – i.e. not tumble drying, washing on warm not hot, washing fuller loads and so on. If you wash cloth diapers incorrectly the study notes that disposables are a better eco-choice.

I think this study is missing some major points though. For example…

• The study assumes you wash on warm. You can wash cloth diapers in cold water – so forget the whole, “BUT cloth diapers use up too much energy because of hot / warm water!“
• This study assumes that all kids are in diapers for just 2.5 years. Many little ones in the United States are in some form of diapers for longer than this.
• This study bases its findings on the assumption that the average baby goes through about 4 diapers a day. FOUR!? I WISH my son had only gone through four diapers a day. I’m sorry, but I’ve been around kids forever and I’ve never ever met a baby who has, on average 4 diaper changes a day. It’s always far more.
• The study doesn’t take organic reusable diapers into consideration. Organic cotton reduces the footprint of reusable diapers by cutting down on chemicals and pesticides leeched into the soil, air and water.
• The study assumes cloth diapers have a short life. The study notes that your reusable footprint with reusable diapers is lowered if you reuse the diapers for a second child. However, most cloth diapers rock so hard that you can use them for a lot longer than two kids. I’ve seen families use the same cloth diapers for three kids. I myself have cloth diapers from when Cedar was a baby (8 years ago) that I still use for cleaning which also means I don’t use paper towels thus lowering the cloth diaper footprint even more. Honestly, these cleaning diapers are still going strong – that’s 8+ years of use.

What do you think about the reusable vs. disposable debate – which do you think is a more eco-friendly choice?

Greenwashing efforts are nothing new. However, the greenwashing campaigns that irk me most are the campaigns aimed at green parents and kids specifically. Disposable diapers are an excellent example of greenwashing targeted at parents. Diaper companies are pros at creating products that are 100% NOT eco-friendly then convincing parents to buy them based on the fake green qualities.

RIGHT UP FRONT:

Do I think parents who use disposable diapers suck? NO. I think reusable is a smarter green choice but I also can’t walk in every parent’s shoes. You can be concerned about the earth and be an excellent green parent even if you never use disposable diapers. Not all green choices fit all families. Trust me, I do things that aren’t perfectly green too. If you don’t use reusable diapers don’t beat yourself up, just know that you do have the option to try them AND don’t trust conventional diaper companies when they say they have a greener disposable – all you’re doing is paying more money for a basic non-green diaper.

Do I think it’s lame to try and trick parents by saying a diaper is eco-friendly when it’s not? YES. It’s one thing to have your own reasons as a parent to use disposable diapers. It’s another issue entirely to try to sell parents on a green diaper that’s not green at all. Especially when said diapers cost more, presumably because they’re “eco” – so lame.

Pampers save landfill space!

This year right before Earth Day, Pampers from the maker Procter & Gamble officially debuted their new Pampers Dry Max. The company notes, “The new design also helps families reduce their impact on the environment by containing 9 percent less material weight which helps ensure fewer resources are used. If every Pampers Swaddlers/Cruisers mom switched to Pampers with Dry Max, together they could save approximately 20 million pounds of trash ever year.” Of course Americans alone toss 18 billion disposable diapers a year, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), so thinner diapers, when stacked up in a landfill, still aren’t green, no matter how freaking thin.

Consider this – the average newborn can use 12 diapers a day! Older babies and toddlers typically use 6-10 diapers a day. If your baby is out of diapers by the time she’s two and a half years old (many aren’t) that’s still about 7,500-8,000 disposable diapers over those 2.5 years. Imagine if your baby is in diapers longer than 2.5 years. Compared to reusable cloth diapers there’s no contest which is greener when it comes to trash.

Of course, as you’ve likely heard, Pampers with Dry Max technology is creating quite a scene right now due to some complaints about rashes and burns. This could be true, it could not. Right now the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has launched an investigation into Pampers diapers with Dry Max but that’s ongoing. What I will say is that Pampers, like all disposable diapers contains contain Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP); a gel that’s a chemical water absorber and is known to be toxic.

To date, no extensive studies exist as to whether sodium polyacrylate is dangerous to babies when absorbed through the skin. However, some smaller studies citing health problems related to SAP do exist and it’s smart to note that this same chemical was removed by the FDA from tampons because of its link to toxic shock syndrome. So, it’s not safe enough for women (in tampons anyhow) but babies get a green light? Um – does anyone else find this odd?

Huggies are totally green!

Right around Earth Day 2009 Huggies Pure & Natural diapers from maker Kimberly Clark, arrived on the scene and these are a perfect example of greenwashing to the max.

In their press release last year, Kimberly-Clark Corporation said that Huggies Pure & Natural diapers are, “A super premium diaper that includes natural, organic materials and ingredients to provide gentle protection for new babies, as well as initial steps toward environmental improvements, without sacrificing performance.”

The so called eco-improvements included:

• Hypoallergenic, latex and fragrance free.
• Features a breathable outer cover that includes organic cotton.
• The liner includes natural Aloe & Vitamin E and materials from renewable sources.
• The product’s outer packaging is sourced from 20% post-consumer recycled materials.

Kimberly Clark wasn’t all that sneaky in the press though, which I will give them props for. After taking a survey and seeing that moms want diapers with organic and natural materials, Kimberly Clark decided to make these diapers. They said that they expect that, “Huggies Pure & Natural diapers will help the brand build inroads with those moms who are most interested in products that include natural materials to provide the best care for their babies.”

President of Kimberly-Clark’s North American Infant, Baby & Child Care business also said, “Based on the preliminary response we’ve received thus far, we expect the unique attributes this diaper offers will be well-received by moms and our retail customers, and will help drive incremental dollar growth in the category.” At least they admit that the bottom line is driving dollar growth.

That said, parents don’t tend to see press releases and Huggies was being super sneaky in that respect. The eco-aspects Huggies is selling to consumers are lame little aspects that help trick parents but don’t add up to a whole lot of green. For example, if you take a closer look at their attributes…

• Hypoallergenic, latex and fragrance free – so are other much greener diapers.
• Features a breathable outer cover that includes organic cotton – Is it certified organic? Huggies won’t tell us on the package or if you call (see below) so you’ll need to make up your own answer.
• The liner includes natural Aloe & Vitamin E and materials from renewable sources – those renewable sources would be? Also, so what about the aloe (is it organic?)
• The product’s outer packaging is sourced from 20% post-consumer recycled materials – 20% is laughable. All kinds of companies make products with 100% recycled packaging.

Here’s what they don’t say:

• The diapers still contain SAP.
• The ink used on the diaper: Is it soy or water based? Who knows?
• It’s still disposable. “95% of diaper changes are disposable diapers and most of them end up in landfills” says executive director of the National Association of Diaper Services.”
• These diapers are not biodegradable.

I called and emailed Huggies:

I called up Huggies and asked who certified the organic cotton used in these diapers. One individual told me that the organic cotton is certified but they weren’t sure who by. I asked about chlorine and bleach (I mean, the diapers are white so they must do something to them) and was told that a chlorine dioxide Elemental Chlorine Free process was used. If true, this is a more eco-friendly process than a true chlorine process, but is not recommended as an eco-friendly practice because there are better methods.

I called back and was told by another person that these diapers were made with certified organic cotton. Again, they couldn’t tell me by who. I emailed the same question about the organic cotton, got a form email back saying Huggies would get back to me, but they never did. Overall, every attempt to ask questions about the organic cotton in these diapers failed. Total waste of my time. Oh, and since they’re not certified I’d question if there’s any sustainably managed organic cotton in these at all. Plus the cotton isn’t touching your baby’s skin anyhow; even if it is organic so what?

Greenwashing champs!

The Huggies campaign for this particular brand is marketing these diapers as earth-friendly– the packaging is green and natural looking, the wording is sketchy and many parents fall for it. This is what makes this product the perfect greenwashing product. For example if you look around the web, here’s what parents and sadly some blogger reviewers are saying about these diapers…

• Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers are a great green diaper choice.
• Fits and looks just like a non-eco conscious diaper.
• These diapers are a good way to go green.
• These are so eco-friendly.
• These are the best natural diaper available!
• My new favorite green diaper.

The fact that parents believe that these diapers are a green or even natural choice shows you how well Huggies plans their marketing techniques. Not everyone is tricked, but plenty of parents are tricked into thinking Huggies are a smart green choice. That’s greenwashing perfection I tell you.

Coming up we’ll be looking at some real green diaper choices.

Have any of your friends fallen for fake “green” diapers?