When we become parents we have to make many decisions: Breastfeed or not? Give your child a pacifier or not? Sleep with your baby (co-sleeping) or not? One of the elements on your long list of care for your baby is diapers. There is a lot of debate about disposable and cloth diapers as many parents are trying to find out what type of diaper (cloth or disposable) is best for their child.
Cloth diapers have come a long way in the last few years, they have nothing to do with the diapers our mothers and grandmothers used in the last century. They now have an ergonomic shape and are available in several colors and patterns. In addition, they can now be cleaned in the washing machine.
Even though disposable diapers still have a large market share because of their convenience, more and more parents are adopting cloth diapers. The environmental impact, budget and daily constraints are just some of the reasons why the popularity of cloth diapers has increased in recent years.
In this article we take a look at the pros and cons of washable and disposable diapers to help you determine which type of diaper is best for your baby.
Characteristics of a good diaper
There are all kinds of diapers on the market, but no matter what type of diaper you choose, a good diaper should have the following characteristics:
- Good Absorbency: Your diapers should be able to absorb a lot of fluid to prevent leakage. In addition, the diapers that have better absorption need to be changed less often.
- Good impermeability: The diaper should be able to filter urine and absorb moisture. A good diaper ensures that the baby's skin and urine never come in contact. The absorbent part of the diaper should not be in contact with your baby's bottom.
- Good flexibility: Your child's diapers should guarantee optimal comfort so that he/she can move freely. They must be elastic in order to reduce the risk of irritation on the baby's delicate skin.
Disposable diapers
As the name suggests, this type of diaper is disposable. Although they seem more practical than washable diapers, in the long run they are more expensive, because you need A LOT of diapers during the first months of your baby's life.
During the first 30 days of their life, babies use about 8 to 12 disposable diapers per day. Then, from month 2 to month 6, they use an average of 3 to 6 diapers per day depending on the baby's weight. From the 6th to the 12th month, this figure decreases to 3 or 4 diapers per day. During the first years of his life, your child uses between 4500 to 6000 disposable diapers.
Disposable diapers are available in different models. They are made up of a series of layers:
- An absorbent layer that covers the entire genital area. It is reinforced at the front for boys and at the back for girls. This absorbent layer is made up of wood fibers and polymers, which are chemical, natural or synthetic compounds that are super absorbent.
- An inner liner that is in contact with baby's skin and that locks in moisture to keep the baby's bottom dry
- A waterproof outer layer made of polypropylene or polyethylene
Disposable diapers are attached to your child's waist with adhesive strips and are classified according to the baby's age. One of the reasons they still occupy a large part of the diaper market is their convenience: you put it on, take it off and throw it away.
If you opt for this type of diaper, be sure to avoid the ones that contain perfume as they could irritate your baby's sensitive skin. Disposable diapers should also be changed more frequently to decrease the risk of irritation.
Washable diapers
Cloth diapers are made from a set of natural fibers such as cotton, bamboo, hemp or microfibers. The inner fabric of the diaper is usually polar-fleece (a type of soft polyester) and the diaper cover is usually waterproof polyurethane. Unlike disposable diapers, they do not use synthetic fragrances or chemicals.
Here are some advantages of cloth diapers:
- They are more ecological ;
- They are less expensive ;
- They are versatiles ;
- They are reusable ;
- They are easy to put on and take off ;
- They are ajustables to the size of the baby ;
- They are gentler on the baby's skin
Another advantage of cloth diapers is that you know faster when they have to be changed. This decreases the risk of erythema since your child's skin does not stay in a humid environment as long.
There are different types of washable diapers:
- The pocket diaper: This type of diaper has a pocket in which an absorbent liner can be inserted.
- The all-in-one diaper: They are similar to disposable diapers for their ease of use. They are very practical for traveling or for people in a hurry.
- The fitted diaper: The entire surface of a fitted diaper is made up of absorbent material (bamboo, cotton, hemp, etc.) so it has a high absorption capacity. Usually, you also need a waterproof diaper cover.
- The all in two diaper: This diaper has 2 pieces - a diaper cover and absorbent inserts. This type of diaper dries very quickly.
- The flat diaper: The flat diapers are similar to those of our grandmothers. They have a large square of fabric that needs to be folded and tucked into a waterproof diaper cover. This is a more economical diaper model.
- The prefold diaper: As the name suggests, this diaper is similar to the flat one. It saves you folding time because only the center needs to be folded. It requires the use of a diaper cover.
- The swim diaper: These are made from the same material as swimsuits and are designed to hold the baby's solids.
- Training pants: They have a thick, absorbent section that helps children recognize when they are wet. They promote toilet training.
Everything you need to know about washable diapers
Care and maintenance of cloth diapers
Unlike disposable diapers, it's not enough to just take them off and throw them away. Washable diapers require some maintenance to make them last over time.
The first thing you have to do is define how often you want to wash your diapers. If you wash them daily you will need 10 to 12 diapers. If you wash them every 3 days you will need about 18 diapers, and to wash them once a week you will need about 40 diapers. It is recommended to wash cloth diapers every 2-3 days. The maximum time that diapers can go unwashed is one week.
Cloth diapers can be washed by hand or in the washing machine. The front-load washer is ideal since it uses enough water and the diapers and creates sufficient friction between the diapers. HE washing machines also work great if you do a full load.
When changing diapers, be sure to flush solid residue down the toilet. Then, keep the soiled diapers in a dry place (waterproof bag or diaper bin) until you are ready to wash them. For washing, it is recommended to first wash them in cold water in a short cycle and remove the inserts. You can wash them a second time afterwards, but this time in lukewarm water in a Heavy Duty cycle. There should be enough layers to promote friction.
Disposable Diapers vs. Cloth Diapers
Baby's Skin
Many parents consider adopting cloth diapers because they are concerned about exposing their babies to the chemicals used in disposable diapers. Disposable diapers can contain different chemicals such as dioxin, which can cause irritation or allergic reactions, among other things.
Reusable diapers allow the baby's skin to breathe better, as they are made with materials that help balance the skin's pH (cotton, hemp, soy, bamboo or microfiber). Proper humidity helps prevent baby dermatitis. Plus, cloth diapers are softer on your baby's skin and lower the risk of irritation because they don't use chemicals, silicones or parabens.
Price
The price of diapers can vary widely depending on the manufacturer and distributor. In addition, the more your child grows, the more the price of diapers increases.
Cloth diapers require a higher initial investment, but pay off in the long run. Although each cloth diaper costs more than a disposable diaper, in the long run it saves you a lot of money. In addition, the amount of cloth diapers required is much less. If you are using disposable diapers you will need to purchase between 5,000 to 6,000 diapers, while with washable diapers you will only need 20 to 30 diapers.
A child's disposable diaper set costs an average of $ 1,400 (or more) over a 2.5 year period. With some premium or eco-friendly options, that cost can reach almost $ 2,500. The cost of cloth diapers over the same period of time can be as low as $ 300. The initial cost of cloth diapers is higher, but in the medium and long term this option is cheaper.
Environmental impact
In general, cloth diapers have a lower environmental impact since they are reusable and have a longer lifespan. The environmental impacts of cloth diapers depend above all on the conditions of use, that is, on the consumption of water and energy required to wash and dry the diapers. Parents can reduce the environmental impact by air drying diapers or reusing diapers for another child.
With regard to disposable diapers, the environmental impacts are mainly linked to the treatment of waste and the steps involved in the manufacture of diapers. This type of diaper may contain traces of petroleum, plastics, perfumes, dioxins... which are all very harmful to the environment. Parents can hardly reduce their ecological footprint if they opt for disposable diapers
Did you know that disposable diapers are one of the most frequently thrown items? This is not surprising when you consider that a baby can use up to 6,000 diapers during the first 3 years of his life. The environmental impact is enormous as a single disposable diaper takes between 300 and 500 years to completely decompose. Fortunately, cloth diapers take less than 6 months to break down naturally and they can be used up to 200 times if properly cared for.
