Green baby bottoms

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny talks about “green” diaper options. Be forewarned, Jenny doesn’t leave much to the imagination this time around.

Like a lot of environmentally conscious parents, I suffer from “diaper guilt” – the knowledge that whether you choose cloth or disposables, the very act of diapering babies increases your carbon footprint exponentially – and I’m always looking for green alternatives that won’t break the bank.

It’s amazing how much has changed in the last four years. Between the birth of our first daughter and our second, the availability of environmentally sound or “green” options in diapering has positively blossomed! Not only are there a greater number of companies offering reusable diaper services across the GTA, but there are also green choices for those of us who occasionally or always depend on disposables.

I recently took advantage of a sale on baby items at Grassroots to try out Seventh Generation disposable diapers. I’d heard good things about them from other moms, and once our youngest was an appropriate size and weight to fit the smallest size I couldn’t wait to try them out.

I love that they are chlorine free, unbleached (after all, do we really need stark-white diapers to know when baby has wet or soiled a diaper?) and hypoallergenic. And perhaps most importantly, they work like a dream!

I’m happy to report that they are just as easy to put on, and equally absorbent as any other disposable we’ve used. Even after a marathon two-hour car trip, there were no leaks; most remarkably, the diaper even withstood our youngest’s most massive BMs (what we playfully call a “blowout”). My single complaint is that the diaper is a little stiff and not as soft as conventional diapers, which might be an issue for babies with sensitive skin.

Best of all, you can now buy them at Loblaws or at Real Canadian Superstores in the organics section, for a price comparable to that of conventional diapers! So you can have the best of both worlds – a clear, green conscience and financial peace of mind. And of course, a baby with a smaller carbon footprint as well as a dry bottom!