[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by TimJFowler

The disposable / reusable diaper question isn't a simple one. - Oh Poop! Part Deux | EcoDaddyo.com. We went with disposable, which fills up the landfill, but is a lower-energy / resource use answer where we live.

Thanks for that article. I've never seen a comparison on that level.
Among the reasons we are going with cloth nappies are:

• We calculated that it comes out cheaper - the break even point is ~6 months (not counting water/energy for washing). Since this is our first little monster, it's hard to guestimate exactly how much water/energy will cost, but I doubt it would add more than 3-4 months to the break even.
• We read that kids brought up in cloth diapers tend to start using the potty at an earlier age, reducing the total laundry loads needed.
• Disposables have more chemicals, both for bleaching and for absorbing moisture. These can cause rashes and other fun things.
• Disposables allow less ventilation, which also leads to rashes. From what we read about reusables, when you use cloth diapers you will hardly need ointments and creams.
• Disposables increase the temperature inside boys' scrotums, which may lead to infertility (link).
• We will need a few disposables since the hospital doesn't allow reusables for sanitary reasons, but we've found some 'eco' diapers. They cost about 60% more, but it'll only be for a few days.
• We have a laundry additive (Bambino Mio Fresh) which kills bacteria in just 30°C, so we won't have to wash in the 60°-95°C that our parents did, or at least not every load.
• Line drying is our only option.
• If we have a second kid, then the diapers will be used again.