Diaper
From ArticleWorld
A diaper is a garment that is worn by people who do not have control over the bowel or bladder movements. They are typically worn by infants and children as well as the elderly or people with a physical or mental disability.
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Other terminology
In Britain, the word “nappy” is typically used, short for “baby napkin.”
Adult usage
Adults who wear diapers usually do so because they: suffer incontinence, have a diaper fetish, work as guards who cannot leave their posts, are truck drivers who are forced to work long hours, are wearing a diving suit, are astronauts, are a woman who is pregnant and some death row inmates who are about to be executed.
Varieties
Diapers typically come in two varieties:
- Cloth, which are washable and may be reused. They are popular because they put less stress on landfills. Some people believe that children who wear cloth diapers may toilet train easier since the cloth retains moisture and allows the child to feel that she or he is wet or dirty. Originally difficult to use, they have become more user-friendly over recent years and now often come preformed with snaps or other attachments.
- Disposable, which are typically made of a waterproof exterior, a moisture wicking inside and an absorbent middle. They were first mentioned in 1942. Disposable diapers face some criticism because they take up a great deal of space in landfills and it is believed that they may take up to 500 years to biodegrade.
The future of diapers
A hybrid reusable and disposable diaper system has recently been developed: The other plastic part of the diaper may be reused and the inner part is disposed of after changing (and is fully biodegradable).