by C.L. Hendricks
The pros and cons of cloth diapers have come into debate with the economy in the shape it is in. Probably one of the easiest ways for new parents to cut corners is with their baby’s diapers. With a 16 count package of disposable diapers running anywhere from $6 to $12, depending on the brand and the store, some parents might consider cloth diapers a better deal.
Consumers Reports recently stated that disposable diapers for one child will cost anywhere from $1500 to $2000 by the time the child leaves diapers behind. Cloth diapers on the other hand average anywhere from $12 to $24 a dozen. A newborn uses approximately 12 diapers per day. An initial investment of $50 to $100 would provide enough diapers to last until the child is weaned.
Aside from price, another one of the advantages of cloth diapers is that diaper rash is less of a problem than with disposables. This is because they must be changed more frequently to avoid leakage. Whereas disposables tend to be left on longer because they can hold almost a quart of water before they leak. Unfortunately this leaves the poor babies’ bums soaking in urine, resulting in skin irritation.
Just as disposable diapers have improved in effectiveness and design since they were first invented, cloth diapers have also improved. The development of organic cotton diapers and hemp diapers has resulted in cloth that is more absorbent and less bulky. They have also replaced diaper pins with Velcro and snaps making it much easier to diaper a baby without sticking you or the baby with a pin.
Years ago one of the problems with cloth diapers was the plastic pants that had to be worn over the diapers to prevent leakage. Unfortunately those old style plastic pants would tear or crack which would then hurt the babies’ tender skin. Now there are leak-proof diaper covers that don’t have elastic around the legs, yet fit comfortably and still prevent leaks.
Convenience is probably the main reason why disposable diapers have become so popular. Busy working mothers simply don’t have time to deal with the loads of laundry generated by cloth diapers. However, for a small price, cloth diapers can be just as convenient due to the various diaper services available in most towns.
When my sister-in-law had her baby, she decided to use cloth diapers provided by a diaper service. Once or twice a week the service would come by and pick up the dirty diapers and leave a large package of clean diapers. Since the company provided a container system for the dirty diapers there was never a problem with odor or mess.
As you can see the pros and cons of cloth diapers put them in the position of being a viable alternative to disposable diapers. However, there is another pro that anyone concerned about the environment should be aware of: disposable diapers do not break down in the landfills.
This country is burying itself in mountains of disposable diapers. That’s not a problem with cloth diapers. When they are no longer needed for the baby, they turn into great dust clothes and rags for dad.
Consumers Reports recently stated that disposable diapers for one child will cost anywhere from $1500 to $2000 by the time the child leaves diapers behind. Cloth diapers on the other hand average anywhere from $12 to $24 a dozen. A newborn uses approximately 12 diapers per day. An initial investment of $50 to $100 would provide enough diapers to last until the child is weaned.
Aside from price, another one of the advantages of cloth diapers is that diaper rash is less of a problem than with disposables. This is because they must be changed more frequently to avoid leakage. Whereas disposables tend to be left on longer because they can hold almost a quart of water before they leak. Unfortunately this leaves the poor babies’ bums soaking in urine, resulting in skin irritation.
Just as disposable diapers have improved in effectiveness and design since they were first invented, cloth diapers have also improved. The development of organic cotton diapers and hemp diapers has resulted in cloth that is more absorbent and less bulky. They have also replaced diaper pins with Velcro and snaps making it much easier to diaper a baby without sticking you or the baby with a pin.
Years ago one of the problems with cloth diapers was the plastic pants that had to be worn over the diapers to prevent leakage. Unfortunately those old style plastic pants would tear or crack which would then hurt the babies’ tender skin. Now there are leak-proof diaper covers that don’t have elastic around the legs, yet fit comfortably and still prevent leaks.
Convenience is probably the main reason why disposable diapers have become so popular. Busy working mothers simply don’t have time to deal with the loads of laundry generated by cloth diapers. However, for a small price, cloth diapers can be just as convenient due to the various diaper services available in most towns.
When my sister-in-law had her baby, she decided to use cloth diapers provided by a diaper service. Once or twice a week the service would come by and pick up the dirty diapers and leave a large package of clean diapers. Since the company provided a container system for the dirty diapers there was never a problem with odor or mess.
As you can see the pros and cons of cloth diapers put them in the position of being a viable alternative to disposable diapers. However, there is another pro that anyone concerned about the environment should be aware of: disposable diapers do not break down in the landfills.
This country is burying itself in mountains of disposable diapers. That’s not a problem with cloth diapers. When they are no longer needed for the baby, they turn into great dust clothes and rags for dad.
About the Author:
C.L. Hendricks is a "jill-of-all-trades" and an expert in some. She writes on a variety of subjects for several websites, including InvitingSmiles and Survival Homestead, to name a few.
C.L. Hendricks is a "jill-of-all-trades" and an expert in some. She writes on a variety of subjects for several websites, including InvitingSmiles and Survival Homestead, to name a few.
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