This is a sponsored guest post.
Babies are always eating, sleeping and pooping. And for that, one laborious responsibility that every parent is familiar with is diaper changing. Diapers are essential for your baby’s care and play a huge role in their health and development.
In the past, diapers were seen as luxury items, but nowadays it is considered a necessary baby product and can be even be gifted as an ideal baby shower gift. There are two prominent kinds of diapers: disposable and cloth diapers. Both carry the same responsibility but differ in raw materials. Choosing the best of the two is important for the well-being of babies and parents. Babies have sensitive skin, the degree of which varies, so it imperative to know the kind of diapers parents may want to use. In addition, a study conducted by Yale School of Public Health shows that diapers can be a factor in parent’s stress and children’s growth.
Let me discuss and compare both diapers to allow you to make an informed choice about what really suits your baby’s needs.
Disposable Diaper
The first disposable diapers were invented around 1942 in Sweden. They looked nothing like the disposable diapers we have today and is made from unbleached cellulose tissues. It functions as nothing more than an absorbent pad.
Material
Today’s disposable diapers are made from layers of cotton, hemp, bamboo, microfiber and sometimes plastic fiber. Because of these materials, disposable diapers are super absorbent and are incredibly good at keeping a baby’s skin dry. Baby skin needs to be dry all the time to prevent skin rashes and other illnesses. Some disposal diapers may also contain dyes, gels, and chemicals that can cause irritation to the baby’s sensitive skin. Disposable diapers also have a leak-proof system that prevents the leakage of excrement and urine. They have also become thinner and lighter over the years. Organic diapers are essential for your baby’s care and play a huge role in their health and development.
Cost
In two years, a family can spend around $3,000 for disposable diapers. Babies urinate around 20 times per day, and to keep them dry you need to change them every two to three hours.
Environment
An estimated 8,000 disposable diapers will be used by your baby from the time they are born until they complete potty training. According to a report by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, around 20 billion disposable diapers are added to landfills annually, and they take up to 500 years to degrade since only 40% of disposable diapers are biodegradable.
Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers used to be a folded rectangular, linen cloth made of cotton flannel or stocking net and, fastened with safety pins, and people used to boil these diapers to kill bacteria.
Material
Cloth diapers are now made of cotton, terry cloth, wool, hemp, and flannel. These materials make them feel soft and natural on the skin. Cloth diapers are durable and can be used multiple times and be passed on to your next child. They are available in pre-folded pieces of liners or come with a removable cover or inserts that look similar to disposable diapers. They can also be adjustable, which can come in handy, and colourful as a fashion statement for your baby.
Cost
You will spend roughly $800 a year when using cloth diapers, but using them requires additional costs such as pins, cloth wipes, and your laundry expenses. Using cloth diapers demands additional time and effort since you need to wash them at least every three days to keep your diaper supply well stocked.
Environment
Cloth diapers are more environment-friendly when compared to disposable diapers, since you will not contribute to the garbage dumped in landfills. However, you will still produce fetid water after cleaning the diapers, and consume power when you run your laundry.
Making the Call
The ultimate factor to consider when choosing between these two types of diapers lies in the judgment of the parents. Both diapers have advantages and disadvantages. The choice highly depends on the lifestyle of the family. You be confident in your decision, regardless of which diaper you choose to use, knowing that your efforts will help you grow as a parent and give the best possible care to your child.
