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Cloth Diapers: A Sustainable Choice for Babies and the Planet

Many Americans are seeking ways to be more environmentally friendly. They are also teaching their children to be more conscious of what types of materials they use and what contributions they make to the country's landfills. One of the earliest ways to teach children to be eco-friendly is by cloth diapering babies. Once a tradition, many families turned to the convenient disposable diaper instead. As people are becoming more aware of the benefits of reusable over plastic disposables, they are teaching their babies to be green before they can walk and talk. Cloth diapers are washable at home and can be reused over and over from newborn to potty training, depending on the material and how frequently they are used. There are different blends of materials used in cloth diapering. Some are more durable, while others are made from purely organic materials.

Organics
There are many different levels of cotton and other eco-friendly materials. Organic cloth diapers are certified as made from chemical-free and pesticide-free natural materials. Most organic cotton is softer than cotton grown conventionally. It is also helpful for those who have certain chemical allergies.

Hybrids
Hybrids are specially designed for those who cannot cloth diaper all of the time. Some daycare providers do not participate in cloth diapering. Rather than using disposable diapers, the alternative is to use disposable soakers. They are typically made from biodegradable fabric that can be composted. It has a fraction of the chemical compounds and none of the fragrances, dye and plastic and that disposables do. Some brands are also chlorine-free. The bio soakers are placed in a compatible diaper shell before putting them on the baby.

Liners
Diaper liners are often used to keep a diaper fresher longer. The liner is placed inside the diaper. When it is soiled, the flushable liner is disposed of through the toilet, similar to a diaper wipe. The diaper lasts longer, which means fewer diapers need washing. This, in turn, saves water and energy.

Durability
Some baby cloth diapers are more durable than others. One reason is the sturdiness of the material. Some organic cloth diapers do not last as long as some blended diapers. Another factor is how often they are laundered and how. Those that are run through the washing machine on a long cycle and then the dryer frequently at high heat will wear out faster than those washed on a less vigorous cycle and dried on a line or less frequently or on lower heat. The line-dried diaper saves more energy, although it may not be as soft when air-dried as one in a machine. Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about href="http://www.diaperjunction.com/organic-cloth-diapers.html">organic cloth diapers, please visit http://www.diaperjunction.com/.