How to Compare Cloth Diapers to Disposable Diapers

When having a baby, there are many, many things to consider and prepare for. One of the biggest preparations that need to be made is the diapering system that will be used. Cloth, disposable, or both? Here are some helpful comparisons.

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1. Cost. Many people switch to cloth diapers to save money on diapering costs. It is estimated that a child uses 6500 to 7000 diapers from birth to being potty trained. That is a lot of money when you consider that each disposable diaper costs about $0.25. Cloth diapers will save you thousands of dollars in diapers per child by the time they are potty trained. That is including the cost of washing and caring for them. They also are an investment if you have more than one child, because they are already paid for and can be used for the next child while only paying for laundering costs.

2. Diaper rash. Many people think that cloth diapers will create a diaper rash problem. In reality, disposable diapers are more likely to create a rash due to the chemicals in direct contact with baby's skin. Disposables also hold up to 7 lbs of liquid. This means that the baby goes a lot longer before being changed when he's wearing a disposable as compared to cloth. That time difference means that the skin has prolonged contact with bacteria and waste, therefore creating a rash. The secret to a rash free baby is a frequent diaper change and a chemical free diaper.

3. Environmental aspect. Disposable diapers represent 30% of the nation's non-biodegradable waste and are the 3rd largest contributor to the waste in our landfills. In a landfill filled with disposables, the waste is left there to sit and possibly seep into the groundwater. Yum. When washing out a cloth diaper, the urine, fecal material and water all goes to a water treatment plant to be treated.

4. Convenience factor. Disposables are generally considered more convenient because there is no folding, pinning, or washing that goes along with diapering. All you have to do is just throw it away. There are some cloth diapering parents, however, who say that instead of having to run into town during store hours to get diapers, they just head to the laundry room for a full load of clean, convenient cloth diapers.

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on 2/12/2009 Great points to consider...very comprehensive! 5*