Going Cloth
The “Poop” on Cloth Diapers
With so many different cloth diapers on the market, trying to figure out which one is right for you and your baby can be difficult. With so many options available, the thought of picking one is enough to make any new parent run for the nearest supermarket disposables isle. You have enough to worry about with a new baby. Who needs to worry about diapers?
The answer is ...NO ONE! With a little knowledge and forethought, your cloth diapering experience can be just as easy as using disposables. Not to mention a whole lot more fun! Bet you never thought to see the words “fun” and “diaper” in the same sentence?
Why do I want to cloth diaper?
The Price of Cloth Diapers
If the answer is economy, while most any cloth diaper system will save you some money over disposables, you just can't beat prefolds and a few good covers when trying to cloth diaper on the cheap. Prefolds are the old-fashioned, rectangular pieces of cloth many people think of when envisioning cloth diapers. They are made from a variety of materials, including cotton, hemp, and bamboo. With three-dozen infant-sized prefolds, two-dozen regular-sized prefolds, and three to six covers per size in small, medium, and large you can diaper your baby for a small fraction of the cost of disposables. You can get this type of diapering system for about $400-$500 versus the roughly $2000 for disposables. And don’t forget, cloth diapers can be used for multiple children. That’s when savings really begin!
Diaper Rash
If the diaper rash on your baby's bottom is the answer, but you're not really sure about messing with different pieces or folding; a good pocket or all-in-one (AIO) system maybe right for you. Don't get me wrong, all cloth diapers will decrease, if not eliminate, diaper rash on many babies. But pockets and AIOs are the most like disposables when it comes to convenience. Pocket and many AIO diapers also have a stay-dry layer to help keep your baby’s bottom away from the wetness that can cause rashes.
There are many choices with pocket and AIO diapers. Both Velcro and snap closures are popular. Some come sized, meaning you must purchase the next size as your baby outgrows them. Others are one-sized so they adjust to become bigger as your baby grows. There is a wide variance in total price, depending on what options you choose, but figure on spending between $450 and $1500.
The Environment
If you have environmental concerns, any cloth system is a good alternative to disposables. According to the Real Diaper Association, it takes an estimated 250 to 500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose. With cloth, you can usually get 300 or more washes per diaper. That makes cloth diaper’s impact on the landfill a fraction of that of disposables. There are, however, some cloth diapers that are even more earth-friendly than others. Some come in unbleached varieties. Choosing them eliminates the harmful byproducts created in the bleaching process. There are also organic varieties made from organically grown cotton or wool from organically raised sheep. Hemp and bamboo are two materials that are very absorbent, yet very renewable and earth-friendly to grow.
The most important thing to remember when choosing a cloth diaper system is to feel free to experiment. Don't feel like you have to pick just one type and stick with it, even if it's not working for you. Half the fun of cloth diapering is being able to try new styles and brands. The other half is choosing all the fun colors and prints!
Whatever your reason for considering cloth, you aren’t alone. More and more parents are choosing this option. Cloth diapers are back… and better than ever!
