Disposable Vs Cloth Diapers – The Best Choice For Your Baby!

The ultimate diaper debate between disposable diapers and cloth diapers seems to be gaining momentum this decade! Choosing the right diaper for your baby is one of the many responsibilities of a new parent. The conflicting information and opinions on cloth and disposable diapers makes the choice harder for you.

Let us help you make the decision!

Disposable diapers Vs Cloth diapers - Know the Pros and Cons  

Cloth Diapers

Cloth Diapers are the first to come to your mind when you imagine your baby's soft and sensitive skin. This comes close to the practice of yesteryear mothers using homemade cotton nappies. It gives the comfort your baby deserves. Today, reusable cloth diapers come in a variety of styles.Forget the folds and pins moms had to deal with in the past. Now cloth diapers come with Velcro or snap closures making changing time just as quick and easy as with a disposable.

With the number of times your baby wets the diapers, maintaining cloth diapers becomes a monumental task! Make sure you wash them separately in a combination of cold water for stains and hot water for cleansing. Lots of rinsing will work best for your diapers. Always follow the diaper manufacturer's instructions for proper maintenance.

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Pros of Cloth Diapers:

• They are super comfy for your babies.

• Allow for more breathability.

• They are very cost effective; a one time investment.

• Using a cloth diaper allows your infant to feel the wet sensation against their skin and become more aware of when they have gone potty. This helps in easy toilet training of your baby.

• It doesn’t hurt that modern cloth diapers also come in great variety.

Cons of Cloth Diapers:

Cloth Diapers do not come without any cons.

• They are messy and cumbersome to change.  

• Cloth diapers aren’t quite as absorbent, so you’ll have to change them more often.

• They are inconvenient for working parents, as well as when outdoors.

• With the absorbance being less than disposable diapers, moisture retention becomes a concern. It requires constant monitoring to avoid diaper rashes in your baby.

• They may not cause landfill like the disposable diapers, but still impact the environment indirectly. Reusable diapers use significantly more water from the manufacture till the disposal. You can minimize this by switching to washing using electricity. Waste water disposal is again a concern for the environment.

Disposable Diapers

In today's world, disposable diapers serve to be undeniably convenient for the parents. You’ll be changing fewer diapers on a daily basis since disposable baby diapers are ultra-absorbent. They have an inner liner that keeps wetness away from the skin and don’t tend to leak. Therefore, reduces the risk of rashes due to moisture retention. Single-use diapers save you from the laundry task; just wrap them off and throw them away! Sadly, it takes an obvious toll on the environment. Various brands like Pampers, Huggies and MamyPoco Pants have made their mark in the diaper industry.

Pros of Disposable Diapers:

• You may not have to worry about the leakage as their absorbance capacity is good; which reduces your frequency of changing them.

• Go to choice if both of you are working parents as it will be the best solution for your lifestyle.

• Makes taking your baby out easier as you don't have to cart the full diaper back home.

Cons of Disposable Diapers:

• Disposable diapers are more breathable, but their moisturizing, absorbent chemicals irritate some babies.

• Diaper dumps- Mounds and mounds of them cause landfills and have a dire impact on the environment.  They aren't the greenest ways to manage your baby's poop.

Did you know? Disposable diapers take more than 500 years to break down, which means that the diapers that you wore as a baby are likely still intact, sitting in a landfill. 

• The ultra absorbency makes potty training tough. It becomes difficult to say good-bye to them.

• As convenient as they are, they are too pricey! It is un affordable by the majority of the population.

Biodegradable Disposal Diapers:

In an attempt to reduce the environmental impact, a few companies have started production of completely biodegradable diapers. They use plant based materials instead of poly-acrylate stuffing artificial dyes, toxic materials and plastics.  There is a higher price attached to these diapers due to the higher manufacturing cost. But you also get the comfort of knowing your child is not exposed to harsh chemicals.

Most diapers marketed as either biodegradable or eco-friendly can be composted — typically, only in commercial or industrial compost settings, and not in home or backyard compost bins. But when any diaper is thrown in the garbage, whether it’s biodegradable, compostable, or conventional; it will end up in a landfill and then take years and years to break down.

 Click here to know more about Biodegradable Diapers!

 'Infographics here'

Considering their pros and cons, evidently neither is superior to the other. Both the AAP (American association of Pediatrics) and the EPA (Environmental Protection  Agency) have remained neutral in the debate regarding cloth and disposable diapers.

You can use them in tandem according to your lifestyle - a cloth diaper, say, when you’re home and disposable diapers when you’re out and about.

So what's your choice - Cloth or Disposable diapers? Like most parenting choices, the right one is a personal decision; what feels best for you and your child.

Related: The Decider: Diapers   Cloth. Disposable. Which system is actually better for the environment?