Triad Parents Join Global Effort to Set 'Diaper Changing' World Record

Users of cloth diapers have their sights on the Guinness Book of World Records.

Saturday, April 26 is The Great Cloth Diaper Change. It promotes the environmental and economic benefits of using authentic cloth diapers. Triad parents will join others across the country and around the world to set a new world record for simultaneous diaper changing.

Amy McKnight lives in Lexington and her daughter, Amelia, is 1-year-old. She says reusable diapers are a one-time investment that's saving her family a lot of money. “People can spend anywhere between $60-$100 per month on disposable diapers. I've spent $150 total on cloth diapers for one year of diapering my daughter.”

Seventeen countries and more than 275 qualified sites will host the diaper changing event. In Greensboro, All About Babies Boutique is a host site located at 410 Blandwood Avenue. Registration for the event begins at 10:30 a.m. and it's open to anyone.

Priscilla LeCompt owns the store and this is the third year she's holding this event. "We wanted to have a fun event to make people aware of the many benefits of using cloth diapers," she says. LeCompt is also the mother of three; 5-year-old Ansley, 3-year-old Conner and 8-month-old Alexa. "Cloth diapers are designed differently now. You can use the traditional pre-fold style. Or you can use an all-in-one, an adjustable diaper," says LeCompt. My daughter, Ansley, and my son, Conner, potty trained by the time they were 2 years old."

According to LeCompt, children in cloth diapers tend to potty train 1-2 years faster because the child can feel the wetness so they know they need to be changed, as opposed to disposable diapers which have chemicals that absorb much faster. She says the child doesn't feel the wetness and so they don't understand they need to be changed. "Cloth diapers are also better for a baby's skin since there are no chemicals. They get less diaper rash and there are no issues with allergies," explains LeCompt. 

She says the modern design for cloth diapers is also more user friendly. There is an all-in-one style that has water proofing on the outside, built in absorbency and a stay dry top so babies feel dryer. "They have elastic in the back so everything is contained so waste doesn't blow-out up the child's back, says LeCompt. "Also, they do not require safety pins to close."

At 11 a.m., participants in the Triad  and around the world will change babies into clean, cloth diapers all at the same time. McKnight also explains why cloth diapers are planet friendly. "It is a re-usable item and you're going to wash it as opposed to throwing it away," she says. "It's estimated it takes 250-500 years for disposable diapers to biodegrade. So the diapers we're throwing away since disposable diapers began are going to be here when all of us are gone."

The 2013 Guinness World Record is 8,301 babies changed simultaneously in 15 countries at 182 qualified sites.