Baby Diapers - Cloth vs. Disposable Baby Diapers

Decisions, decisions! Mom always said to use cloth diapers but that's because she never had disposables like we do today.

There is a good argument for both sides when buying baby diapers. Lets look at the pros and cons of cloth baby diapers verses Pampers diapers.

Cloth Diapers:

Cloth diapering can be easy with the right products. They now make them with different features including an "all in one" where the cover and diaper is one unit. They snap or Velcro together very easily and are extremely easy to use.

Traditional cloth diapers need a cover pant over top. Again these can be pull-on, snap or Velcro and come in great patterns and designs. Cloth baby diapers are less expensive than disposables and more environmentally friendly.

Cloth diapers come in bleached or unbleached cotton fabric that is usually folded and pinned in place. There are several qualities of cotton and I suggest a heavyweight 100 % cotton twill diaper.

Pampers diapers (disposables):

Disposable diapers are parents' most popular choice. They are very absorbent and hold messes better. They come in a large variety of sizes from preemie to training pant diapers.

They have special dry liners to keep wetness off babies skin and colorful characters on the band. They Velcro or tape closed and are fitted to perfection.

On the down side, landfills see millions of diapers that take an extremely long time to break down. If cost is an issue, they are quite a bit more expensive than cloth.

Training pants:

Your toddler needs protection that is not bulky and must be easy to slip on and off to make toilet training easy. Most training pants are made from real cotton underwear that have a padding and a waterproof strip in the center. They look and feel like big kid underwear but offer a little more protection.

It is certainly a personal choice and after trying both systems, you are sure to pick one. Always make sure you keep babies skin as dry as possible.

Diaper rash is very unpleasant and can be hard to treat. Good luck with your diapering decision.