Adam Cannon long imagined himself the subject of some Norman Rockwell-esque painting: A small businessman sweeping the front stoop of his little neighborhood shop.

Never, though, did he think he would be peddling reusable cloth diapers.

Sure, cloth diapers might have been a widely used product during a bygone era that Rockwell’s paintings depict, but they are not exactly a staple of life in the 21st century.

“No, I never expected this,” Cannon said, smiling, alongside his wife, Lilli, and their four kids — one still in diapers — inside their Happy Baby Co. shop in Robinson. “But less and less people look at you now like you eat roaches when you say you use cloth diapers. It’s gaining acceptance, and there is definitely a market.”

Two weeks after Pampers — disposable diapers created and mass-marketed by Proctor & Gamble Co. — turned 50 years old, advocates of cloth diapers will gather this weekend to try to set a world record for most cloth diapers changed simultaneously around the globe.

The stunt aims not only to set a record but to champion the benefits of cloth diapers.

“Why cloth?” said Jill Bullister, 31, of Bethel Park as she bought diapers at Happy Baby Co. “Why not cloth• It’s earth-conscious, and it’s easy. I have three kids, and I switched during my second.”

Advocates tout cloth diapers as being environmentally friendly, chemical-free and much cheaper than reusable diapers.

The average family spends $2,000 per child using disposable diapers, while cloth diapers cost $300 to $500 and can be reused or resold, said Heather McNamara, executive director of the Real Diaper Association, a nonprofit in Sacramento that promotes cloth diapers. Plus, using cloth cuts a household’s garbage output in half, McNamara said.

“For me and for my children, first of all. it was the environment, keeping this stuff out of the landfill,” said Rachel Aube, a mother of three in Victoria, British Columbia, and an administrator with the Real Diaper Industry Association, a trade group in San Diego. “Then it was safety — there are no chemicals, and it just feels so comfortable and soft and against the baby’s skin — and also because it’s cheaper.”

Disposables still dominate. Cloth diapers account for an estimated 5 percent or less of the market, McNamara and Aube said.

In a sign that more and more parents are choosing reusable diapers, Aube said, membership in the Real Diaper Industry Association has grown 70 percent since 2009, including more than 30 new diaper services joining in the past six months. While cloth diapers have always found fans on the West Coast, the trade group has noted recent growth on the East Coast, Midwest and in the South.

In Western Pennsylvania, the Cannons were not prepared for demand.

They started their business two and half years ago out of their home in Sewickley, seeing customers by appointment only. Word spread online, and within a year, they had eight-week waiting lists.

“It got to the point where we either had to shut it down or dive right in,” Adam Cannon said. They chose the latter, opening their shop in Robinson in March 2010, selling a wide range of cloth diapers from $2 to $25, locally made toys and other goods.

Perhaps most importantly, they offer guidance for would-be parents who often are overwhelmed by all the choices. Cloth diapers have evolved beyond safety pins and a rag. Today they come in bright colors and designs, as well as adjustable sizes, and often include inserts for liners.

The Cannons hold workshops every Saturday to explain the options and show how to use the diapers. At first, only a few people attended. The numbers grew steadily. Then one weekend last summer, more than 40 people showed up. Now parents must register in advance.

Pampers officials, who did not return phone calls, are aware of parents’ concerns for the environment.

“We’re also finding ways to reduce (disposable diapers’) environmental impact — without sacrificing performance or value,” reads a letter signed by “All the Moms at Pampers” posted on the Pampers website. “We’re not 100 percent there yet. But we’re passionate about moving forward.”

Jennifer Russell and Glen Woodard of the Mexican War Streets chose not to wait.

“For him, this has been the best option, no question,” said Russell, 37, moments after changing a cloth diaper on the couple’s son, Aubrey, who is almost 5 months old.

“And I don’t know if it’s just him, but he actually likes having his diaper changed,” Woodard said. “Using cloth is just not as big a deal as some people think it is. It’s easy.”

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)