Have you thought about what kind of diapers to use yet? Or already using one but not satisfied? Perhaps, if you are like me, you are doing some research on which diaper(s) have less impact on the environment. Well, when people talked about eco friendly diapers in the past, the debate was “cloth diapers vs. disposable.” But today, with so many different types of cloth diapers, hybrids, and environmentally friendly disposable diapers on the market, “going green” with your diaper choice has never been easier.

Let’s take a look at cloth diapers first. There are all-in-one cloth diapers, liners that don’t require pre-soaking, flushable liners that you can just toss in the toilet with your tots’ poo poos, etc. etc., they make it easier to wash them at home. It may produce one or two extra loads of laundry each week, but it may be the most cost effective kind of diapers, if you wash them yourself. The only thing is that it costs a lot more up front, to buy enough number of diapers for you not to be washing diapers all day long, every day.

If you prefer not to wash cloth diapers yourself, you can most likely find a few diaper services in your area. Because they use commercial grade washers/sanitizing methods/dryers, environmental impact of each diaper may be the least among cloth diapers. The service cost is about the same as using the disposable diapers. Personally, I loved the service we had when our daughter was born. The delivery guy was very helpful and friendly, and their customer service was excellent. But we still liked using disposable when we were out and about, since we didn’t have to change diapers as often. The combined usage of cloth and disposable was costing us more than just using one or the other, so we switched to a hybrid.

Hybrid diapers are the cross between cloth and disposable. They have reusable diaper covers and disposable inserts. The kind we used had the inserts that are flushable, compostable, and biodegradable, so we didn’t have to worry too much about tossing in the garbage when we couldn’t flush them down the toilet. I felt pretty good about the impact on the earth, and loved them for a long time, but it might have been the most expensive among what we’ve used. Besides, as a working mom, I got tired of washing the liners with messy poo every day. It was time for us to switch to disposable.

The number of eco friendly disposable diapers sure increased in the last few years. Some are using sustainable materials, no plastic, no chlorine, biodegradable, compostable, etc., etc. Although they are usually more expensive than non-eco diapers, it has become more affordable with variety to choose from. Oh, and they are no longer stiff and rough like those kind once used to be!

So I actually tried all three kinds: cloth, hybrid, and disposable. I compared numbers of products, and calculated the cost. Each time, I thought I was making the best decision, for the environment, my situation, and the budget. But situations change, and my “best” changes with it. If you are a busy person, you may want to opt for eco friendly disposable even if you like the idea of cloth diapering better, so you can make your life a little easier. If you are a stay-home mom, washing the cloth diapers at home may not be too much of a task. The important thing is for you and your baby to be happy, while doing the best in the situation to be green.