Cloth diapers or disposables? Regular baby food or organic? These issues probably run through your mind often as you prepare to bring your new baby into the world. Believe it or not, it takes some thought -- and a few financial calculations -- to figure out what's right for your family budget and for your baby when you'e opting for "environmentally friendly,"organic (pesticide-free) or natural products.
Whether you are in your first trimester or your last, now is the time weigh your options. Of course, you never know: Your baby could be allergic to disposables or, later on, really dislike the organic baby food you purchased by the case over the Internet. Planning helps to set your mind at ease - but it's smart to have alternatives in mind.
Cloth vs. disposables
Today, cloth diapers are priced competitively if you use a
diaper service, though buying a set of diapers and washing them
yourself is much cheaper. Many people use disposables for
convenience. Others use cloth (typically a cotton or
cotton/hemp blend) because they feel it's better for the
environment and for their babies.
Mel Williams of Atlanta, Georgia, uses cloth diapers and wipes not only for the environment's sake but also for financial reasons. "I have always been an avid recycler," says the mom of one. "Part of it is cost. Disposables [are about] $50 a month for an average of three years. That's $1,800 per child! I invested in some one-size-fits-all cloth diapers - they were a bit more expensive than others, and I spent about $600. I intend to use them on all future children. I am saving a huge amount of money!"
Lindsey Osterloh of San Diego agrees that the low cost of cloth diapers is an important factor when you're looking at diapering additional children. "After the initial investment, it is much cheaper in the long run," she says. "A lot of people are put off by cloth diapers like it's a lot of work. We don't even own a washer or dryer. I thought it would be a big pain, but it's no big deal."
The cost differences, however, aren't as significant as you might think. Disposables do indeed cost about $50 per month, estimating five to seven diaper changes per day. (The amount varies with the child's age: Infants need more changes than older babies and toddlers.) The initial one-time investment for cloth diapers, including diaper covers and diaper pail, is about $80, the Ohio State University Extension reports. Home laundry, including depreciation of equipment and washing one load per day, costs about $40 per month. According to the university, commercial diaper services with weekly delivery and pickup of soiled diapers average $10 to $15 per week, or $40 to $60 per month.
Other factors may influence your decision, too. Amy Gault, of Indianapolis, Indiana, started using cloth diapers when her first child was 11 months old. "We thought it might help him potty train earlier," she says, adding that the cost was also a consideration. "In fact, I make my own diapers because we can't really afford to buy the ones I want."
Organic baby food
Whether to use organic (pesticide-free) baby food is a choice
that often comes with a little research. Often, organic baby
foods cost a little more, but experts and some moms agree:
Keeping pesticides out of a baby's diet is best.
"Babies and children need good food because their bodies are developing and growing," says Lizzie Vann, founder of a Great Britain's Baby Organix, and author of the Organic Baby and Toddler Cookbook. "We use fully organic ingredients because young bodies develop very quickly, needing large quantities of food at a time when their eliminative organs - blood, kidneys and liver - are not fully able to excrete complex substances. Clearly, it makes sense to give them food that is pure as possible."
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), infants and children may be especially sensitive to health risks posed by pesticides for several reasons:
- Their internal organs are still developing and maturing;
in relation to their body weight, infants and children eat
and drink more than adults, possibly increasing their
exposure to pesticides in food and water.
- Pesticides may harm a developing child by blocking the
absorption of important food nutrients necessary for normal
healthy growth.
- There are "critical periods" in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual's biological system operates.
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