When it comes to diapering our baby it seems like this should be one of the easy decisions to make but it can often leave parents feeling stumped. With the push to be less wasteful and more environmentally friendly, parents may feel that cloth diapering is more responsible but as the hectic days and nights run together they may feel that disposable diapers are more convenient. What’s a parent to do?
If this is a decision you are struggling with, take a look at the pros and cons of each of these diapers.
Cloth Diapering vs Disposable Diapers
One of the biggest pros of cloth diapering is the cost. It is much less expensive to cloth diaper a child then it is to buy disposable diapers. It is estimated that most parents spend between $1,500 and $2,000 diapering just one child with disposable diapers. The upfront cost of cloth might seem more expensive but over the babies life it will be considerably less expensive since diapers are reused and not thrown away. Even the need to do additional laundry does not make up for the cost of the disposable diapers. Cloth diapers can also be used for subsequent children making your cost even less.
Cloth diapers are also much better for the environment. Since most children will need approximately 6000 to 7000 diaper changes during the time they are in diapers this can add up to a lot of landfill waste.
Potty training is often easier with cloth diapers. This is because the child feels the wetness more in a cloth diaper then they do in a disposable. Cloth diapers also are associated with fewer diaper rashes that are often caused by the chemicals that are used in disposable diapers to absorb the wetness.
Because cloth diapers are washed instead of thrown out and you will have a few more loads of laundry to do each week. There are no additional laundries needed when you use disposable diapers.
Unlike disposable diapers with their strong leak protection, cloth diapers are quite the opposite and leak more frequently since they are not as snug. Diapering your baby in cloth will also make traveling around a little harder since you will have to take the dirty diaper with you instead of just throwing it away.
If you are considering cloth diapering do your research and find the cloth diaper that works best for you. There are many options. Most do not require diaper pins anymore as nowadays they have Velcro or snaps. Different cloth diapers use different fabric to address possible skin irritation concerns. Also remember you don’t have to be 100% cloth or disposable. Many families’ that use cloth diapers as their main diapering source may also use disposable diapers when they travel or take their baby to a relatives or care gives home. Places like Pure And Simple Baby offers a wide selection of styles and types of eco-friendly cloth diapers where parents can choose to try, so that you can pick the one that works best for your family. Giving yourself some time to consider all your options will help you make an educated choice that feels right for you!
43
33
3
0
1
There are so many reasons to cloth diaper! You save money, you help the environment, you save your baby’s bottom from diaper rash, your baby has more awareness of their bodily functions, and so on. There are equally as many kinds of cloth diapers on the market. It is important to try different brands and styles before one makes a big investment. Some prefer prefolds (like old-fashioned cloth diapers), some prefer fitted diapers that require covers and are different sizes so that they can better prevent leaks, some prefer pocket diapers so you can customize absorption levels and some like the ease of all in ones, which go on and off just like a disposable diaper. Another great option are Hybrid diapers like Grovia and Gdiaper. They are cloth outer shells which can have either cloth or disposable interiors depending on your need. There are even fully compostable diapers now, which are a great choice if you don’t want to deal with the soiled laundry but want to be eco-friendly. While I don’t mind the extra laundry with cloth diapers, it isn’t always convenient, and some parents, especially those who work, may want to consider a diaper service if their area has one. Then, they can use cloth diapers but never have to worry about laundering them as the service will pick up the soiled diapers and drop off clean ones once or a few times a week.