Cloth Diapering Carnival VI - Operation Fluffy

This month's Cloth Diaper Carnival topic is Get Cloth Diapers on The Ellen Show.  Why, you may ask. Because not many people know about the modern cloth diaper options. When you mention cloth diapers, most people automatically think pins, plastic pants, and poop. Well, it's not like that anymore...unless you choose that way. And who better to get the word out than Ellen?!

So, we cloth diapering bloggers are doing our best to get Ellen's attention using all of the social media options available. This social media blitz is taking place in phases. Check out Dirty Diaper Laundry for more information. It's going to be fun! I've been doing my share of tweeting cute "fluffy butt" pictures to @TheEllenShow and took some video of the Bubby dancing in nothing but a cloth diaper. And now, my open letter to Ellen.

Dear Ellen,

I am writing you in hopes that you will consider doing a feature on cloth diapers on your show. Most people do not know about the great cloth diaper options that are available, and thus, don't even consider cloth as an option. The truth is, modern cloth diapers are very similar to disposables, except you wash and reuse them. Gone are the days of pins and plastic pants.

Why should people even consider cloth diapers?
Here are a few reasons:
1. They are better for our children.
2. They will save money.
3.They are better for the environment.
4. They are cute as can be!

Did you know that disposable diapers contain dioxin, tributyl-tin, and sodium polyacrylate? Dioxin is a carcinogenic chemical listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. Tributyl-tin (TBT) is a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals. And sodium polyacrylate, the super absorbent stuff, used to be in tampons until it was revealed that it increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome.* Would you want those chemicals wrapped around you 24 hours a day for 2-3 years?

I started cloth diapering for one reason; to save money. I will have saved over $1500 by the time my son is potty trained. That's nothing to shake a stick at! In these tough economic times, wouldn't it be great to show people how to save money by using cloth diapers?!

After using cloth for a while, I began to learn about the environmental impact of disposable diapers versus cloth. There are naysayers that want to claim that cloth isn't any better for the environment (because of the water used to wash them) than disposables, but that's just not true. The manufacture and use of disposable diapers amounts to 2.3 times more water wasted than cloth. In addition, an estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used every year in the U.S. and 92% of them end up in landfills.* Just sitting there. Full of chemicals and human waste, which leaches into our water systems. Just sitting there, for the next who knows how many years. No one knows how long because one has yet to decompose! Do you think most people consider that when choosing to use disposables? I know I didn't know any of this when I (regretfully) used disposables on my first child. Shouldn't people be informed of this?

And lastly, how can you resist this cuteness?!

It's about time cloth diapers are exposed for how great they are. Us cloth diapering moms (and dads) know how easy they are, how much better they are for our kiddos and the environment, and how much money you can save by using them. Unfortunately, we are in the minority. Hopefully, if we can get you to showcase the modern cloth diapers on your show, we can change that! There are so many options and we want to share them with anyone that will listen.

Can you help us get the word out about a better option?

Do it for the kids, do it for the earth, do it because if people know better, they do better!

Sincerely,



*Thanks to Real Diaper Association for the helpful facts!