Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

Every day conveniences from cars to light bulbs come in environmentally friendly models, and parents now have a barrage of "green" baby products to choose from.

In addition to organic baby foods, cleansers and clothing, the trend back to the use of cloth diapers is well under way.

Diaper services are popping up again and baby registries are beginning to cater to the environmentally conscious.

Amid the debate of possible health issues related to the use of disposable diapers, companies have revamped cloth diapers, eliminating the need for safety pins and plastic covers.

"There are a lot of life issues to consider like what is most comfortable and what you can afford," said Mary Ann Swank, neonatal nurse and perinatal education coordinator for Children's Hospital in Dayton.

Swank suggests parents look into the cost of a diaper service if they are considering using cloth diapers.

"Cloth diapers are great, but you have to wash them twice," she said. "Be careful what detergent you use because of your baby's tender skin."

For stain removal, Swank suggests baking soda as an alternative to bleach and to avoid fabric softener because it reduces absorbency.

PJ and Amy Hruschak of Liberty Twp. own Good Natured Baby, an infant cloth diaper service for the Dayton and Cincinnati areas.

"We were having a child, and I wanted to use cloth," PJ Hruschak said. "We needed a service, so we decided to start one."

Good Natured Baby supplies new parents with 80 prefold cotton diapers and picks them up for cleaning once a week.

"People will do it if it's not that much work for them," said Amy Hruschak, who hopes to eventually offer BPA-free bottles and cloth baby wipes to their customers.

Amy Hruschak said her company would consider serving the Springfield area if enough customers were interested.

The Hruschaks, like many other parents, were concerned about the health risks of using disposable diapers on their now 14-month-old son.

"You're expected to put your kid in disposables. Nobody tells you about the chemicals," Amy Hruschak said.

Dioxin, she explained, a byproduct of the bleaching process of disposable diapers, has been linked to cancer and birth defects. It is banned in several countries.

"It's nasty stuff," she said.

According to the Real Diaper Association, 8.8 million babies in the United States are using 27.4 billion disposable diapers annually, and more than 92 percent are disposed of in landfills.

Health Foods Unlimited in Dayton offers gDiapers, a new kind of disposable that uses a flushable insert.

"They are gaining popularity," said Christine Miller, who's family owns Health Foods Unlimited.

"We have to reorder them (gDiapers) at least two times a month."

Miller explained that gDiapers have a washable, cotton outer shell and the absorbent inserts break down in landfills much faster than traditional disposable diapers.

The cost of gDiapers is also comparable to that of standard disposables; a starter kit costs $25.89 and includes two cloth pants and 10 refills. The insert refills are $14.59 for 40.

"Everybody is going green. There is more of an awareness now," Miller said.

When bringing home a newborn, Swank recommends not purchasing a lot of the same kind of diaper.

"They (babies) go through a lot of diapers, figure out what is best for you."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0356 or dmjordan@coxohio.com.

What are you doing to help your family become environmentally conscious?

Vote for this story!