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Diaper Basics 101 - Cloth or Disposable?
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You will change thousands of diapers in baby's first year alone.
Credit: Sellers Patton, Flickr
When deciding which type of diaper to use, you'll find there are pros and cons to each method. From financial and environmental standpoints, cloth diapers are decidedly cheaper and better for the environment. Around $400 is a conservative estimate of the initial cost for purchasing cloth diapers and coverings, and once you've paid for them, you just need to wash and dry them for the next use and next child.
Cloth diapering has become infinitely more easy to use over the years -- bulky baby pins are a thing of the past. Instead, coverings now wrap snugly around the white cloth diapers using Velcro.
But to many parents, disposable diapers are more convenient than cloth. Simply buy them, use them and throw them away. However, when you might be changing more than 3,000 diapers in your baby's first year, the cost -- 16 to 30 cents per diaper -- can add up quickly.
And parents who want to go green do have options with disposable styles: In recent years, a wider selection of environmentally friendly diapers have appeared on the market.
Your diaper selection will also depend on the size of your child. To prevent accidental leaks, a diaper is sold by its size and, as your child grows more active, by its shape and fitting. When potty training becomes an option, for instance, disposable manufacturers have devised diapers and training pants that make access easier for parents and babies.
No matter which diapering method you use, you will probably run into a case (or two) of diaper rash. For the most part, diaper rash is nothing to worry about. The red rash indicates that the skin is irritated by the diaper, making it particularly sensitive. Generally caused by the irritation of the skin due to dampness or urine. If a rash has moved beyond the diaper region or persists for longer than 24 to 48 hours after treatment, check with your physician.
To rid your baby of diaper rash, there are a number of over-the-counter ointments available. Many provide a protective layer between the baby's skin and the diaper. Do not rub the ointment into the skin -- pat gently. Some recommended products include Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment, Boudreaux's Butt Paste or zinc oxide. Although some parents encourage the use of talcum powder to keep a baby's bottom dry, be aware that the powder could be harmful to a young child's lungs.
Don't worry -- after you changing your first 100 or so diapers, you'll be a pro.
Related: Homemade Diapering Products
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
3-25-2010 @ 1:56PM
Rose said...We have used cloth diapers with our one-year-old since she was born and I have never swished a diaper in the toilet, nor have we ever had a turd in the washing machine! When the baby is only breast-fed, the whole diaper can go into the washer without any prepping and the poo will dissolve and get washed away in the first rinse. Now that her poos are more solid, we shake the solid off into the toilet, or spray it off if it won't come off easily, with a sprayer attached to the toilet (costs about $20-$40). This article is very incomplete, talking about only one type of cloth diaper when there are many available, fitteds, wool covers, all-in-one, pockets, etc. as other posters have mentioned. With all-in-ones, diaper changes are just as convenient as with disposables, the only difference is an extra load of laundry a couple of times a week. And for those using disposables and putting the baby poos straight into the trash, that's actually unsanitary as our trash system is not designed to handle human wastes, but our waste-water system is. I am always disappointed to read articles that mention cloth diapers but leave out many important facts. One last point: I think cloth diapers are more comfortable for my daughter and safer, considering the chemicals present in disposable diapers.
Reply
3-25-2010 @ 2:01PM
Rose said...I just took the poll and saw that more people who have replied use cloth diapers. One poster was surprised by this as well, and I think I know the reason for more respondents using cloth than disposables, even though the percentages in the general population are much different.
I blog about cloth diapers, among other topics, so I subscribe to a google update that lets me know what new articles and news there are about diapers every few days. Many of us who use cloth feel strongly about it and want to get the word out about modern cloth diapers and how great they are, so are more likely to be searching and reading about diapers than those using disposables.