Tina Darr believes in saving the environment one cloth diaper at a time. Well, actually two cloth diapers at a time for the mother of 13-month-old twins.
“There has been a cloth diaper revolution,” she said. “Cloth diapers are not like they used to be.”
Like breastfeeding, glass bottle usage and organic baby foods, an increasing percentage of the 12 million U.S. households with children younger than 3 are choosing cloth diapers over single-use disposables because of the environmental, health and cost-saving benefits.A small but growing number of ecologically conscious parents like Darr and her husband, Bruce, are taking parenting back to the basics. It’s not shunning the conventional, but a movement to make natural practices and organic, toxic-free products more mainstream, they said.
Eco-consciousness gained more attention with Al Gore, the lead toy recalls and the local food movement, said Karen Deerwester, parenting author, online parenting advice expert and owner of Family Time Coaching and Consulting.
“It just touches too close to home for mothers not to respond,” she said. “These are well-educated, well-informed mothers … and they know how to have their voices heard in the marketplace.”
Darr experienced diaper changing the “old-fashioned” way at 15, helping out her mom wrap her sibling’s bum with an old white cloth with pins. They eventually started sewing their own diapers out of flannel and cotton.
When the 26-year-old became pregnant with twins, Darr researched cloth diapers online and found more options than she bargained for.
“I couldn’t believe all the different types,” Darr said. “There’s no folding or pinning involved. There are options on colors, snap or Velcro fasteners, separate covers or attached, and many other variations.”
She was so impressed with cloth diapering her twins, Daisy and Beatty, Darr recently opened an in-home cloth diaper store called Cloth Diapers Today. It’s basically a kitchen-table business.
“I just want people to see and feel them,” Darr said. “Many still think it’s old sheets you have to fold.”
She carries diapers from online retailers like gDiaper, Mother-ease, Tiny Tush and Starbunz — products she’s tested and know will hold a messy job.
The reusable fitted diapers have thicker elastic and thicker layers of materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, micro fleece and polyester. Some are basic organic “prefolds,” similar to the old-fashioned sheets grandma used. Some are called “pocket diapers,” where a biodegradable or cotton liner is inserted inside. Others are “all-in-one,” just as the name implies.
Her diapers cost the same as online retailers, but come with free advice.
Image from Stock.xchng.
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