Brian Lewis' Diaper Duty
Brian Lewis' Diaper-Duty
The 20th Century brought us a whirl of technological advancement and industrial growth. The quality of our lives has kept the same pace of improvement, no less than leaps & bounds. We have grown accustom to abundance & convenience. With all this rapid change, we have only recently begun to question the real cost. Research has begun to show how the chemistry responsible for most of our progress may be having some unintended consequences. This has led to rapid growth in businesses which cater to these concerns. Demand for organic foods, homeopathic medicines, filtered water, and natural fabrics has skyrocketed. Opinions about the benefits of these products is varied, but study after study continue to show where exposure to pesticides, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and plastics are harming us, our children, our communities, and our planet.
When it comes to our children, we always want only the best. Often times the volume of information is overwhelming and can leave new parents very confused. Children's medicines have been pulled from shelves, the safety of mercury laced vaccinations has been put in doubt, chemicals used to soften infant plastic toys has been found to make babies ill, and toys imported from less stringent countries have been found to contain lead. To avoid unwanted exposure many parents when weening their babies from breastmilk, choose organic foods, buy American made toys, decorate nurseries with safer paints, choose natural materials for crib bedding and clothing, and are using cloth diapers. Yes, cloth diapers.
Obvious are the consequences of plastic diapers in landfills, but awareness is growing about the health concerns regarding the plastics and absorbents that make up a disposable diaper. Researchers have found that disposable diapers may be a trigger for asthma. Dr. Rosalind C. Anderson, lead author of the report, "Acute Respiratory Effects of Diaper Emissions," explains "We are finding chemical off-gasses in all sorts of baby products besides diapers, including baby mattresses and mattress covers." What chemicals were released from the diapers=3D3F Tolune, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and isopropylbenzene, as well as other bronchial irritants.
The substance in absorbent diapers, sodium polyacrylate, is the same substance that was removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome. It's long term effects on infants has never been tested.
Tried and true, cotton diapers have been around for thousands of years. They are softer, cooler, and more comfortable on the skin. Some Moms wax nostalgic for the many diapers they handled for you and your siblings. Our Moms can all tell stories about rinsing soiled diapers, folding yards of cloth, safety pins, and of course the laundry, but today's cloth diapers are quite evolved from then, and if you use a service, the only question is who takes the diapers away, the diaper service or the garbage man. Cloth diapers have come a long way since the days of plastic pants and stick pins. There are many methods of cloth diapering today and many cute covers, patterns, and prints.
Cloth diapers give you peace of mind. They do not pose the risks associated with disposables. Incidence of diaper rash & irritation is less. Toilet training is 12 months sooner in cloth diapers as disposables prevent the cause & effect of wetting & wet. It saves you a ton of effort & money.
Since far less energy is used, cloth diapering helps reduce the demand for imported petroleum and are best for the environment. The disposables manufacturers have spent a lot of money spreading the idea that when you take everything into account, there is little difference environmentally between cotton & plastic. Don't you believe it. The only independent study, conducted by the Women's Environmental Network, says cotton diapers are far easier on the environment in every respect, even water use. When it comes to doing the best for your baby, cotton diapers are best.
Of course the most affordable diapering method is to buy and launder your own diapers, but if you are concerned about the time and effort, you should consider a diaper service. A cloth diaper service will provide you diapers. You use them and then set them in a bag outside for pick up and laundering. When they pick up your dirty load they leave a fresh batch. The cost of diaper service is quite comparable to plastic diapers, but of course with the convenience of doorstep delivery. Currently there is only one diaper service in the South Florida area, Brian Lewis' Diaper Duty, in Plantation. They service all of Broward county and neighboring areas. About the founding of his family business, many people saw my children's diapers and told me they would use cloth if there were only a service to wash them, when you hear that so many times it becomes obvious says Brian Lewis, owner of the company, this is exactly what parents needed.
For more information on cloth diapers and cloth diaper service, contact Brian Lewis at Diaper-Duty.com.
1 - Anderson, Rosalind, and Julius Anderson. Respiratory Effects of Diaper Emissions Archives of Environmental Health, 54, October 1999.
2 - Information was taken from Mothering magazine, May/June 2003.
3 - wen.org.uk/nappies/index.htm
