Did you know that, on average, a newborn baby has 8-10 diaper changes a day? That’s a lot of wiping and changing! Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned veteran, one choice you’ll have to make is cloth diapers vs. disposables.
There are pros and cons of both, so a lot of the decision comes down to your personal preferences. We’re going to lay out some of those for you here to try and help you decide.
Keep reading to learn more!
Cloth Diaper Pros and Cons
Today’s cloth diapers aren’t the cloth diapers of the past. No pins, they come in fun colors like these cloth diapers by GroVia, and no is folding necessary!
Pros
One of the major pros of cloth diapers is the different choices you have. You can buy prefolds to insert into a diaper cover (there are lots of choices of colors and patterns) or all-in-ones that look a lot like a disposable diaper.
While the initial investment in cloth diapers is high, they are cheaper than disposables in the long run. You can also re-use cloth diapers for subsequent children, making them even more economical.
Cloth diapering is also a more natural diapering approach since there are no dyes or gels in the diapers. Diaper rashes are also reduced when using cloth diapers.
Cons
The biggest con to cloth diapers is that they can get messy. You have to clean out any solid waste before you wash them, so a toilet sprayer may be in your future if you choose cloth diapers!
You also have to wash cloth diapers, so that means more laundry (and these should be washed separately, not with other clothing, towels, or linens).
You also are supposed to avoid using any diaper rash creams or ointments as they can impact the absorbency of cloth diapers, so if your child does get a diaper rash, you have limited treatment options.
Disposable Diaper Pros and Cons
Disposable diapers are certainly the most common choice among parents, but they too have their pros and cons.
Pros
Disposable diapers are just that–disposable. You don’t have to wash them and as long as you do a good job disposing of them and containing any odors, you don’t have to worry about them once they are tossed. No washing, no folding, no sanitizing!
They’re also easier to change and less bulky, taking up much less space, especially in your diaper bag for on-the-go changes. They are also more absorbent, so you’ll be doing fewer changes per day.
Cons
If you are environmentally conscious, you know that diapers take a long time to decompose in landfills (about 500 years!). Using disposable diapers is not always the best choice if your;e trying to reduce your carbon footprint.
Cost is also a factor; since they are disposable, you have to continue buying them until your child is potty trained. It’s estimated that you’ll spend about $1500 on diapers throughout the life of each child.
Cloth Diaper vs. Disposable Diapers: Can We Name a Winner?
The cloth diaper vs. disposable diaper debate continues, but it’s nearly impossible to determine a winner. Rather, it depends on many factors, such as how much time you have, how much money you want to spend, and what’s going to be more convenient and feasible for you and your family.
If you found this post useful, be sure to check out some of our other family and baby resources!
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