Information About the Pros & Cons of Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers may not be as prevalent as they used to be, but they remain a viable option for many new parents. Like anything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to their use, and it simply boils down to what works best for you and your baby.
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Carbon Footprint
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Even if the disposable diaper company claims to have an environmentally friendly product, the fact remains that using cloth diapers leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Even the most biodegradable diapers are not capable of decomposing completely. Cloth diapers are not only used and reused, they are much more biodegradable when you eventually dispose of them.
Savings
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The cost may seem steep to begin with, but money is saved down the road as cloth diapers eventually pay for themselves since they are reusable. Disposable diapers may be more convenient, but you must constantly purchase more. According to Fuzzi Bunz, a popular manufacturer, the use of cloth diapers can save a family up to $2,000 over the course of the typical pre-potty trained infancy.
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Maintenance
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Cloth diapers are less convenient in that they need to be washed, dried and sometimes stuffed. A simple trip to the trash can takes a lot less time than an afternoon doing laundry. Plus, many cloth diapers have prolonged drying times. Using cloth diapers when travelling can also be an issue, depending on the availability of washing facilities.
Learning Curve
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The use and maintenance of cloth diapers can take longer to learn than their disposable counterparts. While you the parent are presumably prepared to do so, your easily distracted baby sitter may not be (see: reference 1). Plus, there is the issue of whether or not your daycare center workers are skilled with them.
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References
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