Although most infants are not technically diagnosed with asthma at such a young age, many infants do suffer from asthma-like symptoms. Disposable diapers have been studied to link the chemicals that are released from them to bronchial irritations found in infants, children and asthmatic parents or caregivers.

I have experienced this first hand and have to say that I do believe that young children who are already sensitive can be highly affected by the use of disposable diapers. My son suffered from RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) as a newborn and has had asthma-like symptoms since. His symptoms sometimes require breathing treatments. Recently we had to put him in disposables because he developed a reaction to synthetic fabric. (We were using Fuzzi Bunz which have polyester fleece lining.) The wait for cotton diapers took longer than anticipated and after just a few days of being in disposables he began to have labored breathing which did not subside. Keeping him in the Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers was probably a lesser evil then using the disposable diapers.

Parents with children who have existing breathing problems have a good reason to switch to cloth diapers. There is not a good reason to keep using products that have a large possibility of increasing health risks. Read the complete article about disposable diapers being linked to asthma and find out which disposable diapers did not release the bronchial irritants.

I recently added to my cloth diaper stash. I went all out this time and bought some organic cotton fitted diapers made by Loveybums. I followed them up with some jersey knit wool covers made by Stacinator. Both the organic fitted Loveybums and the Stacinator wool covers have snap closures. I don’t do velcro because it just doesn’t hold up like snaps do.

I did splurge and get a few colored diapers since only the outside is dyed with non-toxic dyes and the inside is unbleached and untouched by dyes. There is also a snap-in organic velour doubler which was an important feature for me because I really wanted the cotton to be able to rinse well. When the doublers are sewn in the cloth doesn’t seem to be able to rinse as well which can lead to build up.

Loveybums have a lot of snaps which is great for a perfect fit. The diapers fit really well and have a lower rise which is good for movement in active little toddlers. The sizing seems to be really accurate in regards to weight which can be a rare truth in some cloth diaper brands. They also dry on the line quickly which is another plus of getting the snap in doubler.

I wash my organic cotton Loveybums on the gentle cycle. The manufacturers website doesn’t recommend to, they actually don’t recommend what wash setting to wash them on except for mentioning the water temp which is warm. I have chosen to wash them on gentle because organic cotton tends to be a bit more sensitive to washing and a gentle cycle can help prolong the life of your diapers. Line drying can help extend the life of the cloth diapers also but if you can’t line dry then I recommend drying on low.

The only place to get new Loveybums online is at Loveybums.com or you can buy them used on sites like DiaperSwappers, the MDC Trading Post, or another used cloth diaper site. I was lucky enough to find mine at a local store called Fresh & Green. They only sell Loveybums in their store but they do offer through the online store another great organic fitted cloth diaper made by ecobaby .

Shopping local is one of the best ways to be green. But what does shopping local really mean? If the store is buying everything from China or it’s your neighborhood Wal-Mart then the level of greenness just got a little dirty.

On the other hand, if you are fortunate to have a locally owned store that is buying U.S. made products and has eco-conscious buyers then you can be a cleaner shade of green.

We happen to live in an area that hasn’t always been too savvy about the environment until recently when two friends opened Fresh & Green in Bakersfield, Ca. Sometimes all it takes is a single movement by a couple of people, like what Jennifer and Sasha at Fresh & Green are doing, to educate the many. (Don’t forget that Google started with only two guys and now the world searches them over.)

Some may find it hard to believe that everyone doesn’t want to or wouldn’t like to shop online but the fact is that a lot of people just don’t. A local store that offers sustainable products makes it easier for local residents to buy products that are healthier and safer for them and the environment. Stores that offer green products can also become a local resource for consumers to learn about the effects that we have on the environment and how we can make productive changes in our lifestyle.

If you have a local store that offers sustainable and organic products shop with them before you shop online, even if you are spending a tad bit more money. It’s worth keeping the convenience of a quick trip to your local green outlet. Chances are you will get better customer service since the people can put a face with your name. If you aren’t sure if there is a local store that supplies sustainable and organic products, keep checking online. I ended up finding Fresh & Green in Bakersfield by a fluke click on a cloth diaper site. In these days of increased environmental concern and green washing, you just never know when a green store might pop up.

Interested in shopping local in more ways than just this one? Learn where to buy local produce.