The Diapering Dilemma?

I haven't called paper diapers "disposable" diapers in years.  Now, I think the rest of America may start following me with the newly reported knowledge some mothers reuse diapers.  Paper diapers, that is.  Those of us using modern cloth diapers aren't ashamed to admit what we do.  In fact, we're advertising our cute patterns and blogging about our shopping finds.  Have we not been vocal enough about options?

I think anyone can agree that dumping out a supposedly disposable diaper and putting it back on the child is appalling.  That mothers think they have no alternative, though, is heartbreaking.  Diapers are a need.  The convenience of disposables is not.  Sadly, none of the recent articles addressing the report in Pediatrics mentions modern cloth options.  One report even showed a photograph of diaper pins.  Most cloth diapers have velco or snaps, tight fit and are easy to use.

Not one mention of hybrid diapers appeared, either.  And yet, that's clearly what those moms are yearning for when they reuse a disposable diaper.  Hybrid diapers consist of a cloth cover, with either disposable or cloth liners.  They are even widely available at Big Box chain stores, like Target.  They can be used as disposables when budget permits, but like cloth other times.

But what about the argument regarding washing diapers?  That many of the moms who are struggling financially also don't have washing machines?  I smelled a rat.  According to HUD, 84% of US homes have a washing machine, and 81% have a dryer.  If 30% of US moms are struggling to buy disposables, then about half of those do have the option of washing at home, (and that's assuming the worst from interpreting the statistics.)  Why not pressure laundromats to devote just one machine to high temp washes, as would be appropriate for cloth diapers?  Surely there are more solutions than just assuming that convenience products are the only option.

It's a shame that the mothers most in need of information about their options are the ones not getting it from their pediatricians or the media.  More mothers need to know about cloth options than just the upper middle class moms with time to consider their eco-style.  There is a diaper crisis in the US, but it's a lack of information, not a lack of access to convenience.