Thanks, cloth diaper lady (letters, Aug. 27) for saying what I have thought of saying often but did not, for fear of scorn by everyone younger than… what? Sixty? I am way older than that.

When my first child was born, I didn’t have a washing machine. I did weekly laundry at the home of my mother-in-law and, between times, washed the baby’s clothing, including cloth diapers, by hand in the bathtub. True, it wasn’t fun, but it didn’t kill me.

It is also true that there are distinct benefits to the use of disposable diapers, other than the obvious one of convenience. One of them is the almost disappearance of diaper rash, which was a problem with cloth diapers. My children never had this at all, I just changed them often enough to prevent it.

So for those many who prefer disposable diapers and can afford to pay for them, I say, go for it. But if the rest of society — we who are struggling just to make ends meet during these hard economic times — are being asked to contribute to what would be an almost endless quantity of disposables at their considerable cost, then I agree with the letter writer. Offer to give those who need help a couple of dozen cloth diapers and tell them how to launder them. Even by hand in the bathtub if necessary!

Phyllis Dirks, Federal Way