The real cost of disposable nappies

• Disposable nappies not only cost more money, they cost the environment. Harsh petrochemicals chemicals are used during the manufacturing processes, they add to a disposable society and end in landfill which take years to break down
• Australians currently use over 1 billion disposable nappies per year. Babies need an average of 6-8 changes per day from birth to toilet training. Disposable nappies cost from 30-60 cents per nappy (not counting the new bedwetting or "pant" pull-up nappies that can cost up to $1.40 each) The average child is in nappies for 2 to 3.5 years
• On average, Australian families will spend a minimum of $2700 per year for just one child using disposable nappies
• Disposable nappies contain up to 200 chemicals, including petrochemicals, such as used to make petroleum. It is still unknown how many are absorbed through a baby's skin. A study in 2000 found that disposable nappies keep babies' testicles at higher than normal temperatures, which may affect future fertility
• Disposable nappies not only cost you a lot more money, they cost the environment through bleaches and chemicals (including petrochemicals) used during the manufacturing processes, they lead to a disposable society and end in landfill which takes years and years to break down
• Disposable nappies require more water, more energy, more raw materials and more land to produce than do cloth nappies
• Cloth nappies are more comfortable. Natural cotton, bamboo and wool allow your baby's skin to breathe, preventing irritation. And because there are many different types and combinations of reusable nappies, you are more likely to find one best suited to your own baby's individual body shape and preference.
• It's a myth that reusable nappies leak. In fact, a well-fitting reusable will give even better protection than a disposable nappy
• Nappy pins have been replaced with Velcro and poppers.
• Disposable nappies contain super-absorbent gel, the effects of which on baby's skin and genitalia have yet to be researched.
• Disposable nappies use three and a half times more energy than real nappies to produce, eight times more non-renewable materials and 90 times more renewable resources.
• For night-time or babies that are heavy wetters you can add booster pads to modern cloth nappies for extra absorbency.

A study conducted by Landbank Consultancy provided the following findings; per Infant per Year

Source: (2003) Disposable nappies: a case study in waste prevention. Women's Environment Network.