Human beings. We consider ourselves to be the dominant species on this planet. Our ability to think critically, reason, understand our environment, and use it to our advantage, sets us apart from every other animal. You could say we are intelligent creatures, some more than others, but we are quite fortunate that we are, because at infancy, we are one of the most helpless.

A baby giraffe, for instance, is able to stand 30 minutes after being born. Ten hours after birth they are able to run full stride with the “tower” (a group of giraffes… I looked it up). Not even a day old, and they are able to defend themselves from predators by delivering deadly blows with their front legs. Human infants aren’t even able to roll over at ten hours, let alone protect themselves from predators.

Chances are, if you are alive today reading this, you probably had someone who cared enough to keep you alive. You may even be taking care of your own little person these days. If you are, a new shop set to open up in downtown Shreveport is here to offer an alternative way to help you do so.

“…more than 100 different types of viruses are excreted through human feces.”

Hippie Baby, located in the Red River District, is the area’s first retail shop dedicated to cloth diapers. “Cloth diapering is a growing industry,” said owner Courtney Gaston. “We can help new moms and offer something better than disposable diapers.”

But what can be better than disposable diapers? When your little bundle of joy defecates on itself, you just scrape the used diaper off, trash it, and put a new one on, right? Wrong. One of the prominent arguments for choosing disposable diapers over cloth diapers is the repugnance of handling the human waste, feces, poop. Regardless of the type of diaper you are using, the poop should be flushed and not thrown into the landfill. The American Public Health Association states that more than 100 different types of viruses are excreted through human feces. If untreated, these viruses go into the landfill where they can live for months and possibly even affect the safety of the area water supply. In some places it’s even illegal to dump poop in the landfill. It is in everyone’s best interest that the poo be flushed and treated at the proper waste treatment facilities. Even the most prominent diaper manufacturers recommend that human waste be flushed.

“In eight months of using cloth diapers he has never had a diaper rash”

You may be asking yourself, “If I still have to deal with the doo-doo the same way, why does it matter what diaper I use?” According to Gaston “you can save a lot of money by using cloth diapers.” On average you will spend about $2,500 on diapers during your child’s diaper-wearing years. Basic cloth diapers average the cost closer to $400. A significant savings. Not only is there a monetary benefit, but they are said to be more comfortable. “In eight months of using cloth diapers he has never had a diaper rash,” says Gaston of her own son Rory. Moreover, some studies show that toddlers who wore cloth diapers potty train in less time than those who wore disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are also more eco-friendly; they do not create near the volume of waste that disposable diapers do annually.

In addition to offering an alternative to disposable diapers, Gaston also plans to build a community for mothers, fathers, and anyone caring for an infant. There is already a local group of about 200 people who are using cloth diapers with their children. Gaston plans to hold Cloth Diapering 101 classes, teaching people about the benefits. “We want to build a community where a parent can come get answers,” she said. “It’s important to have those relationships.”

Hippie Baby is scheduled to open its doors for business on Saturday, November 15, with a grand opening event that will include face painting, prizes, and a gift for the first 25 purchases. To find out more about all the cloth diaper options available through Hippie Baby, you can visit them online at hippie-baby.com or like them on Facebook.