The environmental impact of cloth diapers

This morning I saw a great post from Daydreaming of Cloth Diapers referring to some articles about the history of cloth vs. disposable diapers from Mothering Magazine.  Thanks for the list!  These are wonderful articles. 

It continues to amaze me how people can even question whether cloth diapers make less of an environmental impact than disposables.  Yes, it takes water and energy to wash the diapers.  The energy and water to wash the diapers after each use is roughly equal to the energy and water it takes to manufacture each disposable diaper.  Then the disposable diaper has the additional impact of the use of raw materials for each diaper, packaging, distribution, and disposal of each diaper and its packaging in a landfill. 

If there were even a real question, there would also be recommendations that people should use paper plates all the time so we didn't have to use the water and energy to run a dishwasher.  And that we should all wear disposable clothing so we didn't have to use energy for the washing machine.  Don't lose sight of common sense! 

Of course, in addition to the environmental benefits of using cloth diapers, you also have the health benefits, and cost savings, and the simple fact that they're softer on that tender skin!