Today is a special Works for me Wednesday. What so special about it? Well it is the What DOESN'T work for me edition, so I get to tell you what doesn't work for me. And I hope that maybe you can help me figure out what will. You can check out the details here.
So with the "going green movement" I have decided to get rid of plastic bags. I have been taking in the same paper bags that I get from the local grocery store until I can collect some canvas bags. My problem is what do I do with the diapers?
For my dd, Olivia, I take her diapers straight outside. I don't mind touching the diaper for the 30 seconds that it takes for me to take it from her changing table to the garbage can. My problem comes with daycare kids. When I am changing 3+ diapers at a time, I feel that it is unsanitary to let them sit on the floor and I honestly don't want to touch them any longer then what I must. No offense, but you would probably do the same with someone else's children. I tried to keep a small trash bin in the room where I change the kids, but it turned into a play thing. (I really don't want Livy sucking on it since she is still in the "put everything in the mouth" phase). I have also tried a diaper genie but it does NOTHING for 2 1/2 yr old stinky diapers.
So what do I do with their diapers without resorting back to the plastic grocery store bags? Man! They were convenient!
11 Classy Comments:
Hi here
Great going on the plastic bags. What about wrapping them in newspaper as you go, then popping them in a nearby bucket until you are ready to go to the bin. Wrapping disposable nappies in plastic makes them much less likely to decompose, so getting rid of the baggies is a big win!
You know I was just thinking the same thing today. I was at the store and they are offering 5 cents for recycling bags and have boxes to bring them back etc. and all I could think of was what would I put my daughter's dirty diapers in?? UGH let me know if you come up with something!
Could you maybe just keep a small, spare former diaper bag with your diaper changing stuff? Use it to corral and dump after each mass changing, and then disinfect it daily by wiping it out. It might fold down small enough you could keep it with or even under the other diaper supplies so the kids wouldn't play with it in between. I'm thinking one of the lined diaper bags, maybe recycled from when Livvy was a bit smaller? (I had a couple that were lined with the same stuff that lines a changing mat, maybe vinyl?) Then at least you don't have to touch them for very long!
We have the same problem... I don't have any other kids to take care of, but going from our apartment to the trash cans downstairs is a long way! If you think of anything, please let me know!
I definetly agree! I am so tired of using plastic bags when I throw diapers away. It would be way too difficult for me to take every dirty diaper to the big garbage can. Mainly because we live in an apartmetn complex! We live on the third floor and it would be a long walk several times a day!
I like the idea that was first given about using a bucket until you are ready to take them to the garbage. Smart thinking.
How about saving the bags your bread comes in?
I agree with roamingjones, maybe try reusing the bags from something else's packaging? Otherwise, maybe something reusable but washable, like an old pillowcase?
Or try out the flushable gDiapers, they are just the coolest things ever! http://www.gdiapers.com/home
I had looked into the gdiapers for Livy and plan on trying them with our next child. But there is no way that I can force daycare parents to use them. But thank you for the great ideas!
Diapers aren't going to break down in the landfill anyway, so it's not any extra harm to use plastic bags to throw them away in. Reusing any type of bag is better than throwing it away.
One thing that I try to teach my Environmental Science students, although they don't seem to care, is that REDUCING our waste products is actually more effective than recycling or reusing. So try to make those diapers last as long as possible. Without causing diaper rash, that is!
PS- I don't sleep very well when the Hubs is away. I try to stay up as late as possible and then talk to him on the phone while I drift off to sleep.
That sounds tough. With our daughter we brought the very rare stinky diaper straight outside, but they were few and far between. With a group of kids.... don't know!
Post a Comment