The Environmental Benefits Of Choosing Cloth Diapers

Over eighty percent of American parents use disposables as the diaper of choice. While a wonderful thing for the diaper manufacturers, this may not be such a good thing for the environment. Almost 20 billion disposable diapers are thrown into landfills each year, around 10,000 tons. After several studies, scientists believe it will take about 500 years for the final remains of a single diaper will be gone.


While some say this means disposables are not really "disposable", others are more concerned about environmental costs. Each year, disposable diaper manufacturers use over 75,000 metric tons of plastic and 1 million metric tons of wood pulp. Environmental programs can quite easily point out that's a lot of trees being used up, just to be thrown away.


Many advocates of cloth diapers believe the potential health risks are an even larger concern. Most parents that use disposable diapers just throw the diaper away. Unfortunately, this means that wrapped up in those 20 billion disposable diapers are several tons of fecal matter, urine and any diseases a child may have.

In addition, disposable diapers use chemicals in them that turn to gas as the diaper disintegrates. Tolune, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene and isopropylbenzene are all contained in one disposable diaper, wrapped around the child.

Choosing Cloth Diapers

For all these reasons and more, many parents are moving back to cloth diapers, especially since they've improved and are no longer just a rag and two safety pins. Cloth diapers have gone Velcro, which makes putting them on as convenient as disposables. The environmental benefits of choosing cloth diapers takes care of the chemical issues, and cuts down on the amount of plastic and wood pulp used each year.

While advocates of disposable diapers point out that cotton production and cloth manufacturing use chemicals and treatments as well, advocates for cloth diapers point out that you only have to buy them once. That's a difference of maybe 100 cloth diapers per child, compared to over 5,000 disposable diapers.

Likewise, environmental health concerns are addressed with cloth diapers. Instead of throwing away a soiled diaper and leaving untreated fecal matter exposed to the elements, cloth diapers are washed. The fecal water is then taken to a sanitation treatment facility along with other blackwater and treated before being released back into the environment.

The environmental benefits of choosing cloth diapers over disposable diapers are still in debate, and probably will be for quite some time. It is a matter of controversy, and may end up being a matter of "agreeing to disagree".

By: Roberto Bell

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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7 Of The Best Baby Shower Games - Sneaky Way You Can Decorate Baby`s Nursery At No Cost To You

Best baby shower games and themes What do you have in mind or already have planned for your forthcoming baby shower party. Many mums-to-be planning an occasion as such unintentionally tend to overlook the important things like playing games and putting together a shower theme - would you believe, and all because they busy themselves with other matters i.e. sending out baby shower invitations, ordering the shower cake and pondering over what gifts to give. I am not saying a gathering of friends with the above named mentioned, cake etc will not enjoy the party, but it is after all a celebration to celebrate a new life, so, is this not reasons enough to add some of the best baby shower games to have at your event.

Before we go about finding which are the best baby shower games for you to choose from, let me tell you a secret and sneaky way to save time and money for your new baby`s arrival.

Unique best baby shower gift you can give and receive.

As a rule folks who have been invited along to a baby shower normally come bearing gifts, well this still stands in your case, only in a different way. Instead, ask the people to donate decorating items. Yes you heard right. Items like paint, wall paper, curtains, bed covers, rugs, lampshade and other baby bits and pieces that make up a nursery. These items you should have listed down and, when your guest makes their contribution, mark it off the list. It doesn`t end here, the fun is just about to begin. Each person unbeknown to them will have the task of initiating or adding their own item (gift) themselves to baby`s room, e.g. he who brings the paint "paints the wall," and them that bring the drapes should "hang them," and so on. By doing this baby`s nursery will be perfectly decorated in the colours of your choice (which you will have listed at the start) and furnished at no cost to you. I say perfect because these people will most definitely take extra care in assuring you and your baby has the best. It is good for everyone to muck in because, not everyone is a master of the paint brush etc.

Now back to choosing the best baby shower games for you and your guests. Games have always been the most memorable part of any baby shower, so all the more the reason to select the best fun ones to make this an occasion even more memorable. Choosing games to play can be irritating because of the vast choices to pick from. You need to be selecting games that your guests will not lose interest easily. Whether you`re looking for an activity to allow your guests to get to know each other, or just wanting to have a "fun- tastic" time then not to worry because what you desire is out there.

1. Guess the Mother's Tummy Size - One of the best baby shower games is to ask the guests to guess the size of the expectant mummy`s tummy. Items needed for play are yarn/wool and a pair of scissors. Each party guest snips off a piece of yarn that she thinks will fit around the mother's waist. Rule: No cheating by tying the wool around you to help with estimation. Once everyone has had their turn, the mother-to-be sizes up each piece of string around her tummy and the closest to her waist size wins the game.

2. Baby Food Guessing Game - Remove the labels of jars of baby food after numbering the lids. Make a list of the contents of each jar. All participants are asked to taste the food and guess what is contained in the jars. Players have to write down the number from the jar and what they think is in it. If you do not want to taste the food then guess what is in each jar by looking or sniffing it. The person with the most correct guesses wins the game.

3. Baby Sketch Game - Give a pen and paper to each guest. Have them draw a picture of a baby. Mom-to-be will judge which picture she likes best resulting in the winner.

4. Funny Mommy Quiz - Is one of the most popular of all best baby shower games which includes compiling a list of 20 or less questions about the future mum, of which guests will have to answer to see who knows her the most. The guest with the most correct answers wins.

Sample questions:

Does she want a boy, girl or either?

What is her eye color?

Which nursery did she attend?

Has she had any food cravings, if so what?

What is her favorite movie?

What was her favorite cartoon character as a child?

Did she have any unusual pets and what were their names this will get you extra points?

5. Not To Utter The Word Baby - Give everyone in attendance of the baby shower a diaper pin, and ask them to pin it on their blouse/dress. Tell them they must not utter the word "baby" for the length of time the shower lasts. It is better to set a time limit for this game so that people can relax afterwards. If at any time in-between the allotted time, if a person mentions the word "baby", the first guest who catches them saying it gets to have their diaper pin. Whoever has the most pins at the end of the "not to utter" game wins.

6. The Baby Name Game - Is another all time favorite baby shower game. It`s fun, it`s exciting and most definitely very interesting. It can also be helpful for mom-to-be in naming her new born baby. Simply gather together paper, writing tools, and your friends, set a timer for a minute or two, and see who can come up with the most names in that specific time limit. Whoever has the most complete names when the timer goes off wins? Perhaps the mother would like the name to start with a certain letter of the alphabet (or maybe of the baby`s name she already has in mind for her baby daughter or baby son.) It's your baby shower, so it`s also your choice in what games you play.

7. Baby Handbag Rummage - Lastly, we have the shower game that all your guests can join in with. Ask everyone to look through their handbag and make a list of the entire baby or child related items she finds inside. Remember that some adult products in your purse can relate to babies and children. Tell the guest to be clever in their way of connecting their personal items to youngsters. Other moms and single friends will have a great time seeing the items pulled out of each other`s bag. Each one must give an explanation of why they have those items! Once all of the lists have been tallied and items have been checked, award the winning baby shower guest with a door prize or shower favor.

Best baby shower games come in abundance. If the above are not the type or sort of games you have in mind then not to panic because below you will find a much varied list of fun time humor and shower games for your occasion. Be happy, have fun and laugh because when baby arrives there won`t be much time for you to do these things. Nevertheless this is all compensated when you have a healthy bouncing baby in your arms.

By: kacycarr

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Not 1 but 75 Baby Shower Games sure to excite - Keeping Pregnancy Skin healthy

Can Toys Really Help A Child's Development?

Toys play a vital role in a child's growth - as babies through to young adults.
It is vital that we realize that toys are not only for fun, but many of them have the added benefit of educational value.

As the baby develops, the baby begins to learn to reach out and engage in the world around them. As part of this vital lesson babies will be able to acquire new senses in touch, hearing, sight, smell and taste. Interactive toys like Fisher Price Brilliant Babies First Block can improve and encourage the baby by challenging them to fit different blocks into different places. Musical toys will engage a baby’s sense of hearing as he/she presses various buttons to hear an associated sound. Developing the five senses of a baby at an early age will give them a head start in childhood and further in life.

Upon reaching toddler years, that is where the child's senses will develop and improve dramatically. Symbols and letters can now be recognized by toddlers; therefore different toys are needed to further develop their senses. An educational toy which your toddler will love is the Vtech write and learn letter pad which will entertain as well as educate with its three different games. Toys like these will entertain and engage your children for hours but more importantly, the toddler will desire to learn more.

Further down the track, the child will start school and will most likely interact with different children. The child will learn to realize that developing skills in teamwork, creativity and imagination is important throughout school and life. Kids who play with toys which will engage the children in social activity such as board games; nurture their skills in creativity and imagination through toys like Lego and toy dolls; and games such as trivial pursuit will improve the child's mind. There is a positive advantage for developing these skills early in a child as possessing these types of skills is a great advantage for the child's education as well as future careers.

Once the child has reached adolescence, it is common to assume that there are no toys suitable for them, but in fact there are plenty. With the current trend, there are plenty of game consoles, board games, gadgets, crafts, and other ‘cool’ electronic toys that will stimulate their active minds as well as providing those hours of entertainment.

By: tinhtoy

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com