Why cloth diapers can be the first step to sustainable living

These nature-conscious mothers definitely deserve a salute. After realising the amount of waste generated while taking care of a baby, many new-age mothers in the city have shifted from synthetic pads to modern cloth diapers. The heap of garbage of single-use wipes and disposable nappy pads is increasing at an alarming rate. Interestingly, there is a community of mothers who meet up and create awareness among other parents about cloth diapers. When the world is embracing eco-friendly alternatives to menstrual pads and tampons, these mothers haven’t lagged behind in finding healthier alternatives for their babies — modern cloth diapers (MCD).

Disposable diapers and pads are one of the items choking our landfills and they take many years to break down. Here’s some food for thought — a baby goes through 8,000 (approximately) diaper changes between the ages of zero and three. Now, you can imagine the amount of bio-waste disposed on a daily basis across the globe.

For those uninitiated, MCDs are pre-stitched layers of absorbent material with waterproof exteriors, which can be washed and reused.

Madhumitha, mother of two, shares, “I first started cloth diapering my son three years ago, just out of curiosity. After a little bit of research and trying a few brands and figuring out what worked for us, there was no going back. I love them because they are chemical-free and cause almost no damage to the environment. They are a one-time investment and can be reused or handed down to another infant provided they’re well-maintained. Most diapers come in different colours, have cute prints and are pocket-friendly in the long run.”

The biggest issue she faced with cloth diapering was figuring out a combination that worked for the babies. “My son was a heavy wetter, but once we switched to natural fibres, this too was dealt with easily. I learned about cloth diapers through social media; there’s a pan-India cloth diapering group on Facebook from where I learned the basics, got to know about brands, etc. Further research online helped me a whole lot. In these three years and after cloth diapering two kids (one still on diapers), apart from being a social media influencer for a US-based cloth diapering brand, I can safely say that this has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. This also led me to take another green step and switch to menstrual cups, which I absolutely love too,” Madhumitha quips.

Seetha Gopalakrishnan, who works with a bio-diversity conservation organisation in the city, chanced upon MCD when her daughter was three weeks old.

“Using cloth nappies was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my daughter, who is 13 months old now. I’ve not used a single disposable diaper for her. Initially, like any other mother, I too was petrified to try MCDs on her. With support from like-minded parents, who discuss topics like how to use cloth diapers, what’s the right fit, how to maintain the cloth diapers, etc. on an online forum, I was able to clear all my doubts. I am happy to know that many parents are moving towards a healthy future for kids and the planet.” 

If you don’t follow the conventional, everyone tends to question your choices and Seetha also had to face the music! “The amount of waste generated by disposable pads is crazy. Moreover, they are not really safe for the baby. Studies suggest that diapers often contain chemicals linked to long-term health issues and may cause asthma and other problems for children,” she shares.

Gone are the days of traditional cloth langots . Many new-age mothers prefer to use disposable diapers for their babies. “We cannot blame anyone here. Most of the parents are working and don’t find time to wash the cloth diapers, so they prefer disposable ones. That said, many adopt eco-friendly lifestyles and I truly feel that cloth diapers are the best sustainable option available. Another aspect is, cloth is more economical — the initial investment would be high, but these diapers last long, almost up to three years,” says Sneha Thakkar, who runs the initiative Fig-O-Honey Diapers.

A mother of two, she feels that there should be awareness programmes when it comes to matters like this. “Like how there are workshops on sustainable practices and greener lifestyles, expecting mothers should be given classes on the benefits (both environmental and economical) of modern cloth diapering,” she says.

Charanya Rangaprasad, the founder of Eco Green Baby Cloth Diapers, helps mothers to select the right kind of cloth diapers for their young ones. “Apart from the usual cloth diapers, we’ve got bamboo and hemp varieties too. Hemp is an eco-friendly fabric which has high absorbant fibres that are longer, stronger and more mildew-resistant compared to cotton. It has inherent antifungal and antibacterial properties.  Most fabrics of this kind are 55 per cent hemp and 45 per cent cotton because the combination makes the fabric stronger and durable.

“Another eco-friendly option is bamboo and its fibre is super soft and highly absorbent.  It has natural antibacterial properties, prevents foul odours and is silky and lustrous in texture,” she says, adding, “It’s all about comfort of the baby and that matters the most, right?”