AS CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO say, noting the cost of disposables can a reusable diaper manufacturer based in
count their pennies, there’s one category be upwards of $3,000. Regardless, cloth Montreal. “They are a cost-effective choice
children’s retailers should consider if they advocates say converting to reusables can for parents who want to save money—and
haven’t already: reusable diapers. In the save families big money—depending on save the planet.” She noted that each baby
last few years, cloth diapers have been the system used, cloth versions can cost wearing disposables adds approximately
making a comeback as parents look for as little as a couple hundred dollars for one ton of garbage to landfills.
ways to save cash. “You are literally throw- pre-folds during a child’s diaper-wearing Retailers point out that today’s reus-
ing your money in the trash when you use years to $1,000 for the most expensive all- ables aren’t the same as those from earlier
disposable diapers,” noted Serena Barnett in-one brands. Going the reusable route times. “People think that cloth diapers are
of Kelly’s Closet, an online cloth diaper will save even more if multiple children still pins and plastic pants,” said Summer
retailer founded in South Paris, Maine, are involved, as the diapers can be passed Johnston, owner of No Sugar Added, a
in 2001. “The times we’re in right now, down to siblings. natural children’s boutique in Claremont,
buying a $40 box of diapers every month But it’s not just cautious spenders Calif., who noted some parents still view
might not be [financially] possible.” stocking up on reusables; green-mind- reusables as “gross.” But they’ve come
According to The Rea l Diaper ed individuals are also giving them a go. a long way. For instance, before recent
Association, a San Francisco-based non- The Real Diaper Association indicates advancements, cloth diapers needed to be
profit that provides support and educa- Americans throw away approximately dunked in water before they were washed;
tion to parents nationwide about reusable 27.4 billion disposable diapers each year. nowadays, they’re thrown in a reusable
diapers, it costs approximately $1,600 to “In a time when sales are down in many “wet bag” and laundered. Today, options
outfit a child in disposable diapers for two sectors, cloth diaper sales are up,” reported are endless in terms of fab-
years. That estimate is conservative, many Shirley Murdock, co-owner of Bummis, rics, colors, fit and cost.
Retailers have found reusables keep both
eco-and cost-conscious consumers happy.
BY MELISSA KNIFIC
DIAPERDUTY
ER_09_Cloth_Diaper_feature_03.in26 26 8/14/09 9:25:55 AM
Kelly’s Closet offers nearly 40 brands, shock at first, GreenPea
providing shoppers with a wide variety Nursery staffers encour- THE
to fit their every need.
To better educate consumers—and
age customers to buy an
assortment at first to determine which
POOP
dispel myths—GreenPea Nursery,
an organic baby store in Apex, N.C.,
kind they prefer rather than commit-
ting to one at the onset. “Each brand
SCOOP AppleCheeks
• Babies require approxi-
recently began offering free classes on fits babies differently, depending on