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The diaper debate was mentioned briefly in this column in the November 1990 issue of Exchange. Since then, what type of diapers are best has become a charged issue. At the annual meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the two sides squared off only one aisle apart in the exhibit area. The diaper service industry and the disposable diaper industry have both invested in a public relations campaign aimed at child care and health professionals. So what are the facts?

The gel-filled disposable diapers have been shown to reduce the incidence of diaper rash. They also contain urine and stool better than cloth with plastic overpants. Better containment reduces contamination of the child care environment and lessens the spread of diarrhea.

Well-intended environmentalists have argued that disposable diapers are a burden in landfills and pose risks to sanitation workers who work at ...