Reusable Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers

Which diaper is best for my baby? This is a common question you will hear especially from new parents who are deciding on which diaper to use:  reusable cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers.

It has been many decades since modern diapers has been invented and evolved from simple cloth diapers with safety pins… to reusable multi-layer cloth diapers with Velcro strips… to the, most popular, disposable diapers.  Until now, it has been debated which of the two makes the best diaper.

No solid evidence exists that says one is better than the other.  It is a matter of weighing a number of considerations to determine which diaper works best for you and your baby.  

Comfort

Incidence of diaper rash is observed more on babies who use disposable diapers than those who use cloth diapers.  This may be because disposable diapers contain more synthetic materials such as polymers and plastic while most cloth diapers are made of natural fibers. It is also easier to determine if a cloth diaper is wet or soiled so babies tend to sit longer on wet and dirty disposable diapers.  

Keep in mind, though, that each baby’s skin is different.  You may hear some moms swear that disposable diapers are better than the other, or vice-versa.   The bottom-line is simply to keep your baby’s diaper area clean, dry and well-ventilated.

Cost

Cloth diapers, particularly the prefold diaper which is the cheapest among the cloth diaper variants, are far more affordable in terms of price tag although there are other things to consider such as laundry costs.

How much you save on diapering largely depends on the total price of the cloth diapers your baby uses plus the cost of laundry services versus the total price of the same number of disposable diapers.  If your baby uses a lot of diapers, more than 60 in a week for example, you may save on laundry costs but if you use much less than that number, laundry costs may be more expensive due to base delivery charges.

Unless you opt-out of laundry services and wash your baby’s diapers at home, reusable diapers are definitely cheaper.

Convenience

There is no question about which of the two is more convenient.  This is the very reason disposable diapers are invented.  In spite of the growing popularity of modern cloth diapers today, disposable diapers remain the leading player preferred by most moms.

We have to acknowledge that in our modern society where both parents have full-time jobs, the most important resource is time and convenience.

Ecosystem  

Another important consideration is the environment and how diapers contribute to the growing number of pollutants in our planet.

Based on charts and scientific studies, disposable diapers are a great environmental threat.  They fill up landfills for hundreds of years and it takes five to six generations before they can be decomposed.

Disposable diaper manufacturers claim that cloth diapers are more harmful to the environment because they use four times more water and produce more sewage treatment.  Still, the fact remains that water is a renewable resource while landfills are not!  Your choice can make a difference.

Freelance Contributor: Hazel Zanoria