Cloth diapers VS. disposable diapers
Generally, the first two or sometimes, even three, years of the life of a child are spent in diapers. Today, when we talk about diapers, more and more parents seem to be choosing disposable diapers over their cloth counterparts because of the convenience they offer. However, there are actually a number of advantages that cloth diapers have over disposable diapers. Here they are.
1. Cloth diapers are generally healthier for your baby. Disposable diapers are usually made with sodium polyacrylate, which is a super absorbent chemical that has the ability of absorbing and holding fluid in the diaper. There have been studies that have linked this particular chemical to toxic shock syndrome. There have also been cases when traces of a carcinogen called Dioxin which has been studied to cause liver disease, genetic damage and immune system suppression. Dioxin is a by-product brought about by the process of paper-bleaching.
2. The use of cloth diapers reduces the risk of having diaper rash. When babies use cloth diapers, diaper rash is a rare problem. Because of the super absorbent material found in disposable diapers, there are some parents assume that their babies are not wet and so, parents change the baby’s diaper less. Babies who wear cloth diapers, on the other hand, are changed more often, since cloth diapers become damp faster. Cloth is also a lot more breathable compared to disposable diapers which encourage rapid bacterial growth.
3. Cloth diapers are more comfortable for babies. Cloth diapers that are manufactured today are designed with several layers of pure cotton flannelette. As a result, more and more parents opt for using pure cotton diapers as natural cotton fibers would of course, feel better on baby’s skin. Cotton is also cooler and more natural, which would be the best for use on sensitive body parts. Cloth diapers allow babies to stay cool and refreshed even on the hottest days.
4. By using cloth diapers, you would be able to save more money. Raising a baby could be quite expensive and of course, parents are always looking for ways to be able to save some money while still giving the best to their children. As a matter of fact, there have been a number of studies that have been conducted which compared the costs of using disposable diapers and using cloth diapers. The results showed that the cost of the cloth and the cost of washing the diapers at home were still considerably lower compared to the cost of disposable diapers.
5. Cloth diapers are better for the environment. Because cloth diapers are reusable, they are a friend to the environment. Also, cloth diapers could be laundered for at least 100 times. Cloth diapers can also be passed on to your future other children. It has also been estimated that disposable diapers could take around 400 to 500 years to be able to decompose in landfills. Companies today that produce disposable diapers make use of wood pulp that is more than a million metric tons and plastic that is around 75,000 metric tons.
6. Cloth diapers also offer some convenience, as they are made with Velcro closures or snap on features, which could also be easily adjusted as your baby grows. Even someone who does not know much about baby care can find diaper changing an easy task.
7. Lastly, there is no outer cover required for cloth diapers unlike with disposable diapers. There are even those that are manufactured today with a built-in outer cover that is also waterproof.
In the end, you would still be the one to decide which kind of diapers would be best for your little one. There are still advantages to using disposable diapers over cloth diapers. It would be best to weigh out all the factors to make sure that you would be choosing the more suitable one for you and your baby.