Local business touts benefits of cloth diapers

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SALT LAKE CITY -- Advocates say the cloth diaper movement is growing in Utah. An event this week will try to showcase what they say could be the better way for many families.

Anita Palmer loves cloth diapers for several reasons. First, the cost.

"For about $300 you could diaper all the way from newborn to potty-training," she claims.

Second, health.

"There's a lot of chemicals in disposable diapers," Palmer says.

And third, the environment.

"I've not thrown away a diaper in four years, and that's diapering three kids," she says.

She says information about cost, health and environment are backed up at the Real Diaper Association website.

Palmer founded Cloth Diaper Utah to show others the alternatives available. She even makes her own cloth diapers out of everything from T-shirts to flannel. She says things have come a long way from the days of plastic pants and pins.

"There's still that level there, and that is the least expensive. But they have all-in-one, where the outer part is water-proof, and absorbent material is in there. You have Velcro or snaps, and you just put it on the baby just like you would a disposable," she explains.

Palmer acknowledges that the extra laundry or other factors may turn some people away.

"There are people where cloth diapering won't work for them at all because of their laundry situation or a stigma behind it," she says. "I think everyone should try it, but I'm not going to say ‘Oh your kids have to be in cloth diapers.' You're not going to get ostracized because your baby is in disposables," she says.

She will show off the many different types at Cloth Diaper Utah's kickoff event Wednesday morning at West Valley's Cross Point Church. Palmer also did a presentation for a refugee group, and will return to show them how to sew their own.

"Once of the things that I will teach in the class is that it's important to clean your diapers, and how to clean them. Once you have good diapers, and just cleaning, there's not much more to it," she says.

E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com