Why Choose Cloth Diapers

What you need to know about Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diapering

If you haven’t used cloth diapers recently, you probably wouldn’t recognize them. Long gone are the days of sticking yourself with a diaper pin, or folding stacks of white cotton diapers. The cloth diapers of your grandmother’s day have been replaced with a cloth diapering system that is much more convenient and reliable.

Today, reusable diapers come in a variety of styles and colors. You can get two piece diapering sets, which consists of a pre-folded cotton diaper and a leak-proof cover. Additional inserts are available for heavy wetters or nighttime use. There are all-in-one diapers, which as the name implies incorporates the diaper and cover into one piece. And, there’s the pocket diaper, which is similar; they have a water-proof outer layer with an absorbent cotton or hemp insert.

The Convenience and Benefits of Cloth Diapers

These modern cloth diapers are also pinless! Most use a system of adjustable snap settings at the waist and legs; these small plastic snaps last for years and make adjusting the diaper for a snug fit incredibly easy. I’ve seen some diapers and wraps, or covers, which have Velcro closures, while this might seem like a great feature, I definitely prefer the snaps. Velcro is fast and easy, but there’s always that rough edge around the Velcro that I didn’t want touching my baby’s tummy. My other complaint with Velcro was it picked up bits of fuzz and string in the wash. I know you can fasten them closed for washing, but I always felt like I would get a better wash if they were open and allowed to move freely through the wash and rinse cycles. Also, be prepared … cloth diapers can take some time to dry. If you have it closed up, good luck!

With the renewed interest in cloth diapering, many companies have developed cotton diapers and diaper covers that are remarkably convenient and cute. Fuzzibunz, BumGenius and the gDiaper are three popular companies that make exceptional cotton diapers and cloth diaper covers.

Many parents turn to cloth diapering as a way of “going green.” However, it’s becoming increasingly popular for both health and financial reasons. The average child will go through approximately 7,500 diapers before they are potty trained. If you have ever purchased disposable diapers, you know they aren’t cheap! The estimated cost to diaper a child in single-use diapers is about $2,700. Cloth diapering is considerably cheaper, you can get started with cloth diapering with an initial investment as low as $200. There is the additional expense of water and detergent to clean cloth diapers, but this cost is negligible in comparison to the ongoing expense of disposables. And, if you plan on having more than one child, the cost of cloth diapering goes down even more. Your initial investment can cover the cost of diapering multiple children and cloth diapers can be used over-and-over again, significantly reducing the overall cost.

Another big concern among parents switching to cloth diapering is the desire to keep harmful chemicals away from their baby. Disposable diaper companies consistently refuse to disclose exactly what is in the diaper and the reason for secrecy is abundantly clear. Disposable diapers contain a host of toxic chemicals including dioxin, which is an extremely toxic by-product of the bleaching process. They also contain sodium polyacrylate, this is the same clear gel-like material often found on your baby’s bottom and genitals during a diaper change. This substance was banned for use in tampons in 1985 because it was linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Recent studies have also linked disposable diapers and their harsh toxic substances and perfumes to an increased incidence of asthma.

One of the common concerns regarding cloth diapering is that it is inconvenient, but that usually comes from those who haven’t tried it. Cloth diapering is not any more inconvenient than using disposables. If the diaper is soiled, it needs to be rinsed in the toilet to remove any excrement; this should be done with disposables as well as cloth diapers. Read your package of diapers and you’ll see this stated clearly. Disposing of human excrement in the trash is illegal, granted most people skip this part, but that’s all the more reason to worry. Improper disposal of human waste is a breeding ground for disease and bacteria.

Now the real difference is whether you want to throw that dirty diaper in your trash or drop it in a diaper pail. Throw it in the trash and you’ll need to run to the store and spend more money and buy more diapers. Drop in the diaper pail and you will need to wash them. Personally, I would rather dump the pail into my washing machine than run to the store and shell out more money. And, unless you are still doing laundry by hand, your washing machine is going to do all the work.

Why would someone choose to use cloth diapers? Maybe the question should be why wouldn’t they?

A cotton diaper is soft and gentle against your baby’s skin. Have you felt a disposable diaper? No matter what these diapers company’s try to make you believe, would you want to sleep with it? They are hard, there is no air circulation making them hot and irritating, they smell and make weird plastic noise. Cotton is free of chemicals, soft, cuddly and comfortable, why do you think they are called fuzzi bunz? Cloth diapers are reusable diapers, so they are also the ultimate in “green”, no more disposable diapers being dumped into the landfill. Even when a cloth diapers out lives it’s usefulness for covering your baby’s bottom, it can be turned into an excellent rag!

If you want soft diapers cloth is definitely the way to go.