Have You Considered Cloth Diapers?
In a time when the economy and environment are all over the news, selling cloth diapers just keeps getting easier. Consider these facts from the Real Diaper Association (http://realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php):
- Americans spend about $7 billion on disposable diapers every year.
- Over 27 billion disposable diapers are sold and then put into landfills in the U.S. annually.
- Each of those diapers could take up to 500 years to decompose.
- Disposable diapers are the third most common consumer product in landfills today.
As you know, parents are faced with so many choices as they prepare for their little one to arrive. As retailers, it is our job to educate parents on all of their options so they can make the best decision for their little one.
With the growing awareness to make "green" choices, new parents are inherently raising a "greener" generation. When parents choose to cloth diaper their baby, they are not only choosing to make the "green" choice, but they will save money in the long run.
According to a Consumer Reports article, a parent using disposable diapers can spend $1,500-$2,000 on diapers (http://www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiapers.php). That price tag just keeps getting higher while the landfills just keep getting bigger. When parents choose cloth diapers, they can spend just a couple hundred dollars to diaper their baby from birth through potty training.
Cloth diapers, when cared for properly, can also be used for more than one child, which means the couple hundred dollars initial investment can last years. Many cloth diaper retailers have buyback programs where cloth diapering families can sell their diapers back to the retailer (if kept in good condition) for up to the same price they initially paid. Have you considered a buyback program?
When a customer comes to you inquiring about cloth diapers, be prepared to educate, educate, educate. With increasing interest in modern cloth diapers, there are sure to be a lot of questions! Everything from "Do people really still use cloth diapers?" to "What do I do with the poop?"
Here are some answers to help you with a few of the most common cloth diapering questions.
Do people really still use cloth diapers?
Yes! As a matter of fact, cloth diapering has become quite the vogue thing to do, especially among environmentally conscious parents. All of the new choices in cloth diapers have made it as easy to use cloth diapers as it is to use disposable diapers.
How many do I need?
A newborn can easily go through twelve cloth diapers in one day so recommend purchasing 12-18 cloth diapers in the newborn or small sizes. An older baby doesn't need quite as many diapers, but parents should still plan for 8 diaper changes and an overnight solution.
What do I do with the poop?
The first question on everyone's mind when it comes to cloth diapers is the poop issue. But it has become so EASY! Modern inventions (like flushable liners and the diaper sprayer) have taken the grossness factor out of this issue.
First of all, babies will go through different stages as they grow. Poop tends to change as the baby grows.
- Breastfed baby poop is water soluble. There is no need to remove breastfed baby poop before washing.
- Around 4-6 months of age, many babies start solids through cereal. At this point, stools transition to a thicker "peanut butter" consistency. For best results, this should be removed (as much as possible) from the diapers prior to washing.
- Formula fed and older babies typically have firmer stools. This should also be removed from diapers prior to washing.
Here are some of the top recommended solutions for the "yuck":
- Flushable diaper liners laid inside the diaper allow the poop to be easily removed from the diaper. Just peel the biodegradable liner out of the diaper and flush the mess away.
- Diaper sprayers are another fantastic solution. This handy little device attaches to the plumbing behind the toilet and allows parents to easily spray the mess off.
- It is easy to shake firmer stools off of the diaper into the toilet (no spray or liner required).
- In a pinch, good old fashioned dunking will get the job done.
My child will be in daycare. Will I be able to cloth diaper?
More and more daycare centers are open to the idea of using cloth diapers. In general, daycares that allow cloth diapers will only allow all-in-one cloth diapers. They will require that parents provide a place to store used diapers and that the parents take the diapers home each night for washing. Be aware that the daycare center may be governed by state regulations related to diapering. An initial discussion with the daycare may be more successful if the parents are educated about laws in their state first. Home-based or private daycare providers are probably going to be more willing to use cloth diapers. Remember that ease of use is going to be an essential bargaining chip!
Adding an assortment of cloth diapers to your store's selection will prove even more beneficial when you are prepared with the resources to help your customers make an educated choice. Cloth diapering can seem very daunting to a parent at first, but with the right information, you can show them how easy, economical and environmentally-friendly the choice to use cloth diapers really is.
Editorial provided by Jennifer Labit, Chairperson of the Real Diaper Industry Association, CEO of Cotton Babies, Inc. and creator of bumGenius product lines.
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