The question of cloth versus disposable diapers sits right at the apex of controversy and fashion. Despite the fact that the environmental impact of using cloth over disposables is murky, it has proven to be perfect fodder for environmental advocates and the fashion-conscious alike. In the grand scheme of mankind, diapers are a relatively new invention. Besides, the foldable, pinnable muslin diapers were certainly more conveniently absorbent than the leaves and moss that humans had been using for centuries prior.
Until the late s and early s. Along with the rise of social media and environmental advocacy, cloth diapers made an aggressive resurgence. Sometime around , reusable diapers had become so popular that the internet coined a term for the upper-middle-class moms who would troll second-hand marketplaces, eBay, and discount stores for rare or collector editions of high-end cloth diapers. But has the world of reusable diapers changed so drastically in the span of a single generation?
Cloth diaper user and mother of two Raya Hegeman-Davis thinks maybe it has. There are traditional flat squares of cloth that need to be folded, pre-folds, and fancy all-in-one diapers that function a lot like disposables but with removable liners and adjustable snaps. A single internet search yields a variety of options: limited-edition prints , bold solids no pun intended, I hope , and even diapers with ironic slogans printed on the back.
Not only is there concern about the plastic used in disposable diapers biodegrading in landfills, there is also concern about the safety of throwing away human waste. The American Public Health Association points out that disposing of human feces in a landfill could introduce into the groundwater any of different viruses including polio and hepatitis. When asked why they started using cloth rather than disposable diapers, more than half said it was because they heard about it from a friend or family member and on social media.
Stay-at-home mom and second-baby cloth diaper convert Heather Campbell says she saved money by buying cloth diapers in bulk, laundering them responsibly using only natural soap-free detergents, and even managed to resell them for close to 50 percent of their value when she was done. Even the most conservative comparisons of cloth diapers to disposable yield mixed results. The Simple Dollar ran a two-year analysis of both and found that reusable diapers resulted in only marginal savings of a couple hundred dollars over that two-year period.
Cloth diapers afforded parents like Campbell more control over the money they spent each month, rather than paying whatever the grocery store decided disposables were worth each week or cutting coupons. If money was tight, they could line-dry diapers for a while to save on electricity or sell some old ones to recoup the initial investment.
Some cloth diapers also have adjustable elastic in the leg gussets to give baby an even more custom fit. Many people choose to either fold their own cloth diapers using prefolds or to sew their own cloth diapers in the style of their choosing. Babies wearing cloth diapers should be changed at least every two hours, Belosa says. FYI: The same is true of disposable diapers, though those can hold out a little longer, if necessary.
How can you tell if a cloth diaper is wet? They may also feel stiff since natural fibers like cotton tend to stiffen when wet. Another tip for washing cloth diapers? Rely on what you know works. Wilson recommends starting with a warm rinse, then washing on the heaviest setting and finishing with a cold rinse. For hard water, try adding a capful of Calgon or a half cup of borax to boost detergent performance.
Covers and wet bags for washable diapers for babies tend to stay in better shape when line-dried, but everything else goes in the dryer. Fabric softener is a no-no for cloth diapers, since the chemicals in the solution tend to repel urine over time. Instead, opt for wool dryer balls, which are a natural cloth softening alternative—plus, they can speed up drying time by about 15 minutes, Wilson says. Stripping cloth diapers, which removes mineral build-up from leaky, smelly diapers, is also recommended once in a while.
Stripping diapers is as simple as running them through several hot, detergent-free washes. To remove diaper cream residue and stubborn stains, rub some dish soap onto the diapers and rinse thoroughly before washing. Of course, having 35 diapers will give you more flexibility, especially in the early days, since newborns can go through up to 15 baby cloth diapers a day.
Eventually, baby will need changing eight to 10 times a day, and this transition will stay about the same into toddlerhood. You may want to test out different brands or types of cloth diapers before buying in bulk. Some reusable diaper retailers even have trial promotions that let you try diapers from popular brands for a few weeks to help you decide what you like.
Whether you save money on baby cloth diapers depends on a lot of different factors, including what kind of cloth diaper you choose, how many cloth diapers you purchase along with inserts, covers, etc. That said, the savings ultimately depends on the length of time you use cloth diapers and whether or not you use them for multiple kids in a row.
On the flip side, that means you do need purchase enough diapers to make it through each day without constantly running your laundry machine.
Yes, your energy and water bills may increase with additional laundry loads, but with all the spit-ups and messes kids make that uptick in laundry will likely happen with or without cloth diapers.
Plus, you can save on energy costs by hanging diapers outside to dry in the sun instead of putting them in the dryer. This can help extend the life of your cloth diapers as well because dryers can sometimes be damaging. An additional thing to consider when thinking about the cost is that cloth diapers can be passed down to future siblings or even sold to other parents after your baby out grows them. Another added bonus with cloth diapers is that cloth-diapered babies tend to potty-train faster than babies in disposables.
At first disposable diapers seem to be the easier choice based on convenience alone. Of course, that means you are adding hundreds of diapers to the landfill each month. All-in-ones: Most similar to disposable diapers, convenient all-in-ones have a waterproof cover and an inner cloth lining to absorb fluid.
Hybrids: Very similar to all-in-ones, hybrids have a waterproof shell, too, but feature a removable inner cloth lining. The benefit of this system is you can purchase fewer shells aka covers and stock up on liners instead. Newborns dirty an average of 8 to 10 diapers a day. For that reason, and because babies can quickly outgrow newborn-size diapers, many parents use disposables for the first month or two.
We asked thousands of Babylist families about the products they love the most. We took the most popular cloth diapers they shared with us and added our own research and insight. We think you and your babe will love at least one of these diapers too. These incredibly soft cloth diapers have easy-to-adjust Velcro tab closures around the waist and are especially comfy for babies with chunky thighs and toddlers due to the generous cut.
Technically, the Miosolo diapers are the all-in-one type since everything is attached. It makes for shorter drying times, but it can be difficult to stuff back into the diaper.
Vibrant colors and we like the velcro snaps rather than disposable diapers. Easy to setup after washing. Diapers seem to fit better than regular disposables. Just trash the disposable liner and put a fresh one in the cover as long as the cover is still clean. My husband was concerned about cloth being difficult, but GroVia made it super easy. We use the hybrid system during the day and the O. They are excellent quality and easy to wash. Plus they have really cute prints!
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