Follow up on reusable vs disposable nappies

It's been a while, and as I have two kids, writing a blog isn't going to be a regular thing. But I thought I'd write a follow up on the disposable vs reusable nappies blog. This time with some pro and cons on both, so you can make up your own mind.

Disposable

• More convenient, especially when your out and about.
• Overall more expensive. Based on a baby who's in nappies for two and half years, £703 for the cheapest brand and £1104 for the more expensive brands. But wait a minute, not only for you, but for the council tax payer as well who pays 10p to dispose of every £1 worth of disposable nappies. This amounts to £40,000,000 each year nationally.
• The always full and smelly bin!
• A child in disposables for two and a half years will use approximately 6000 nappies based on the recommended (6-7 changes per day).
• 3 billion thrown out every year in the UK, the vast majority (around 90%) end up in landfills. If it's incinerated than harmful gases including CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere.
• Are not biodegradable and can take upto several hundred of years to decompose.
• Are often made from man-made material including plastic and adhesives and contain chemicals for absorbancy. Which isn't very good for baby or the environment.
• In a study by Dr W G Sippell, using disposable nappies increased the temperature of the scrotal area in male babies. This can lead to infertility.
• Use 90 times the amount of renewable resources (e.g. wood pulp) and 8 times the non-regenerable resources (e.g. 1 cup of crude oil to make 1 disposable nappy).
• And for those 'tree-huggers', four and a half trees are needed to make nappies for one baby.

Reusable

• Made from natural fabrics, no chemicals. Better for your baby's bottom and for the environment.
• Less waste, as it doesn't get thrown away but rather get's washed over and over agin, so less nappies being sent to the landfill.
• Cheaper! It can save you around £500 according to WEN (Women's Environmental Network). If you pay around £50 worth of material nappies, thats 7 weeks worth of disposable nappies.
• No more terry nappies and pins, there are new funky, more versatile nappies, that are shaped like disposables for convenience. With velcro straps or poppers so you don't poke yourself or the baby with the pin.
• Solids can be thrown straight into the toilet, no mess!
• More time will be taken up washing and drying the nappies, line dry them in the warmer months, and radiators in the colder months.

I tried to find some balanced sources, but I'm definetly biased and those who write up pro's and con's on disposbale vs reusable seem to be biased too.

There are more options now than before, such as biodegradable disposable nappies or compostable nappies. But they have been critisised too. I just ask of you to do your research and to think of your duty as a Muslim or as a citizen of this Earth.

"There is not an animal in the earth, nor a creature flying on two wings, but they are nations like you." (6:38)

Information taken from:

http://www.babykind.co.uk/whychoosereusables.htm

http://www.energysavingsecrets.co.uk/ReusableNappiesVsDisposable.html

http://adc.bmj.com/content/83/4/364.abstract

For further reading:

http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/HealthConcerns.php

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/buyingforbaby/nappies/ecofriendly/