How are you Diapering? An Intro to Cloth Diapers

Cloth vs. Disposable

Parents know that having a baby means making a lot of decisions: decisions about feeding, schooling, sleeping, and of course, diapering. Yes, decisions about diapering! While disposable diapers are used by 95% of new parents, cloth diapers are also a valid – and increasingly popular – option for many people, whether it be for environmental, personal, or financial reasons. Some people choose to start with disposable and then transition into cloth as the child gets to be a few months old. Forget what you know about the old cloth diapers – cloth diapers are different now and can be cute and stylish in a ton of cute colors and patterns, to boot!

If you’re thinking about cloth versus disposable diapers, doing research is always beneficial. Here are some introductory things to keep in mind.

One style does not fit all.

One thing’s for sure – these are not your mama’s diapers! Right now, there are plenty of options from diaper covers with the traditional absorbent material, to hybrid types that have a reusable, washable outside cover and disposable inserts, and one-piece ones that have the absorbent insert sewn into the cover. There are multiple styles of cloth diapers (not to mention various materials), and it comes down to what you want to deal with regarding changing, laundry, and convenience, and what works best for your baby’s needs. It’s not all or nothing.

One of my favorite mottos is “Love with confidence”. Do what works for you, and be confident about it. Things don’t have to be all or nothing – there are no absolutes in parenting. Many mums start out with disposables in the early weeks, then switch to cloth diapers, or use disposables at night and cloth during the day – find what works for you, and go from there.

Long-term, they are cheaper than disposables.

While it may be more expensive to build your stash of cloth diapers (and special detergents free of fabric softener, oil, or stain guards, all of which decrease a diaper’s absorbency), compared to buying a few boxes of disposables (especially if you’re buying new ones), the estimated cost of disposable diapers for the first two years is more than $1,400, whereas cloth diapers are roughly a third of that. If you’re looking to save even more money consider joining a cloth diapering group. Some women stock up on one brand, only to find their baby does better with another brand, leaving them with a bunch of unused diapers.

Bottom line is that as parent’s today we have a lot of choices (sometimes too many). If cloth diapering seems like it might be something you are interested in, ask yourself why. What about it interests you?  Once you have figured that out you can decide which type or what combination of things will work for you and your baby. But remember, what is right for you is not necessarily right for someone else. So diaper with love, however you choose to do it!

Tags: baby accessories, cloth diapers, diapering, disposable diapers