Cloth diapers are a great way to help the environment and save money. I used them exclusively for both my kids until I went back to work. However, I found that babysitters will not use them. Everyone I interviewed for child care required disposable diapers or they would not take me on as a client. So, back to disposables I went. Day care providers seem to think that cloth diapers are too much work, I guess.

Too bad. They are better for baby too.

Good post Pyderi, thanks.

Disposable diapers are the best not only because of their convenience but because they are not washed they will collect no harsh detergents and other chemicals that can irritate the babies skin. Of course, washing diapers uses a lot of energy and then more energy to dry them. Yup, disposable nappies seem the best to me.

could someone speak to the energy that is put into making disposable diapers, transporting the diapers, and to the ethics of the large corporations that are manufacturing these diapers? PS. anyone ever attempt to go diaper free? :)

I am a childcare provider and us not "willing" to use cloth diapers vs disposable is not even an option for us. Health regulations do not allow it, I would be willing to use the cloth if it were the parents choice. I've even offered to, but been told I couldn't.

We aren't even allowed to wash out underpants if a trained child has an accident.

Here's another reason cloth is better... Once baby is out of diapers, toilet trained, you can reuse them for other things. Ever try dusting the furniture with a disposable? ICK I have all my cloth diapers and use them for various things around the house, and have for the many years my youngest has been out of them.

The best diapers are flannel. I made them myself, and they lasted a long time. It's pretty easy to make them. Ask for diaper flannel at the fabric store and cut and hem them to the perfect size. It's a lot cheaper than buying pre-made cloth diapers too.

I washed my diapers in Dreft detergent (made for babies) and hung them on the clothes line to dry, which disinfects them even further because of the UV rays from the sun.