Parents, especially, are working hard to build a greener life for their children, but the question of whether to choose cloth diapering for baby or using disposable is controversial when associated to the environment alone. Some believe that it is environmentally better to invest in cloth diapers, while others feel that disposable diapers, although not environmentally friendly, offer up no worse consequence to the planet as do their longer lasting counter parts.

The following offer up opposing opinions, including scientific findings. 1001 Petals offers a discussion on how one cloth diaper doesn’t fit every occasion. She gives an example of which cloth diapers to use at night versus the day, as well as a brief on how to launder cloth diapers. As for disposable, she admits there is a time and a place, “they work in a pinch, or if you don't have your own washer and dryer,” she reasons, ‘or if you need to go somewhere for a long time (a day or more) where it would be inconvenient to bring a stack of cloth diapers. For the most part, however, she relies on the cloth diaper.

It's not just paper or plastic these days. Being green includes many options on products, including, "baby cloth diapers for baby or the disposable diaper ?" The desire to be green is spreading, and not just among exteme environmentalists. Plus the diapers cloth is thought better for baby than the disposable materials. From homes, to schools, to the workplace, people are striving to live green by using green products and following green methods. 

Sustainer.org features an article by Donella H. Meadows that discusses studies implemented by Allen Hershkowitz of the Natural Resources Defense Council on the affect disposable diapers have on the environment compared to cloth diapers and then injects her opinion regarding the findings, although this is not a scientific analysis. ‘I haven't done the analysis either,” Meadows admits, “but I know enough about cotton growing, petrochemicals and pulp mills to suspect that 1000 changes with disposable diapers add up to much more environmental hazard than 1000 uses of cloth diapers. But I can't be sure.”

An ABC News article evaluates a British study by an environmental group that compared the environmentally friendly aspects of both cloth and disposable, stating that they had equal negative affect on the environment, since the former’s laundering requirements are equally hazardous to nature. However, other groups such as The Women's Environmental Network considered the study flawed for a number of reasons, including that “the study also assumes parents are not using energy-efficient washer/dryers and that they're washing clothes at a high temperature setting.”

A 2009 Fox News article also discusses the study conducted by the Britain's Environment Agency, focusing the carbon footprints of both cloth and disposable diapers. “According to agency spokesman Farooq Mulla, it all depends on how you wash and dry the reusable diapers,” the article states, and then goes on to add some of the findings.

Mamashares on the cloth diapers for baby or disposable debate

After much debate, Mamashares agrees that there is a time and a place for both cloth diapers for baby and disposable. If disposable diapers are used responsibly and cloth diapers are maintained in an environmentally friendly manner, both can be utilized for more convenience, while still looking out for the planet.

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