Baby diapers: Disposable vs. cloth

One of the first decisions you’ll make in caring for your baby will be what kind of baby diapers to use. You have two choices: disposable and cloth. Here’s are features and benefits of each:

Disposable baby diapers

• Types: Disposable baby diapers come in different sizes based on the baby’s weight and age.
• How they stay on: Disposable baby diapers are fastened with tape or Velcro strips attached to the back panel that fasten in the front.
• Cleaning and disposal: Solid waste can be disposed of in the toilet. Wet disposable baby diapers should be folded in on themselves and disposed of in your trash.
• Day care use: Most day care centers require disposable baby diapers because they’re more convenient to use and dispose of.
• Diaper rash prevention: The diaper has an inner liner to keep wetness away from the skin, keeping the baby’s bottom drier and less susceptible to irritation.
• Travel convenience: Soiled baby diapers can be disposed of in the appropriate trash receptacles.
• Price: Using disposable baby diapers is more expensive than laundering cloth baby diapers at home. They’re roughly equal, however, to the average cloth diaper service.

Cloth baby diapers

• Types: Cloth baby diapers come in woven cotton, terry cloth, or flannel and can be bought unfolded or pre-folded in different thicknesses. Recent cloth diapers have similar shapes to disposables.
• How they stay on: With recent cloth diapers, there’s no need for covers or pins. Traditional cloth baby diapers are fastened with safety pins, although you also can buy Velcro-fastening cloth diapers or diaper covers designed to hold the diaper in place.
• Cleaning and disposal: Soiled cloth baby diapers need to be rinsed in your toilet and should be machine-washed in hot water separately from other items. Between launderings, soiled diapers can be kept in a diaper pail. Flushable liners are available for cloth diapers and can make cleanup much easier.
• Day care use: Discuss the option of using cloth diapers at your day care center. In-home care providers may be more agreeable than centers to using cloth.
• Diaper rash prevention: Many cloth baby diapers have stay-dry liners similar to disposables.
• Travel convenience: Soiled diapers can be placed in resealable plastic bags and laundered when it’s convenient.
• Price: Cloth diapers you launder yourself are the least expensive choice. A diaper service is a more costly option.

Environmental considerations

There are environmental pros and cons on both sides of the diaper debate. Self-laundering and diaper services use water and electricity to clean diapers. Disposable diapers add to the garbage that’s deposited in our landfills.