An Absorbing Discussion

As a spokesperson for Dy-Dee Diaper Service, I was shocked to read “Top of the Heap,” (Palm Latitudes, Jan. 8). I do not disagree that using cloth diapers has an impact on the environment. What doesn’t? However, common sense tells us that reusing products, including cotton diapers, prevents waste and conserves natural resources.

Although our customer count has dropped in recent years, we concede no loss in the diapering war. In fact, we expect a trend back toward cloth diapers as our lawmakers react to closing landfills and the rising individual trash costs.

Regarding convenience: One does not have to rinse or soak our soiled cotton diapers. However, to properly dispatch a disposable diaper, their manufacturers say, rinse or shake baby soil into the toilet and wrap the diaper securely inside its plastic sheet before discarding in a waste receptacle. That’s convenient?

All diapers get icky. But if you were a baby, would you prefer the soft comfort of a cotton diaper or the paper, plastic and chemical gels of a disposable?

Lisa Ann Ganguin

Pasadena

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“Green” arguments aside, our kids have been more comfortable in cotton diapers than disposables, and the service costs less. But our loyalty really hinges on Dy-Dee’s dependability. The one time our diaper count was short, they responded by sending extras on a special next-day delivery. And they even deliver on Christmas.

J. Galen Eby

Sierra Madre

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In stating that “neither disposable nor cotton diapers are much of a gift to the environment, the article may be discounting the thousands of responsible cloth-diaper users who launder their own offspring’s diapers. I’ll stick to using nice, soft, “breathable” reusable cotton diapers next to my baby and cheerfully wash them with non-chlorine bleach and a biodegradable detergent.

Laura Childers

Costa Mesa