Cloth Diapers

Cloth Diapers

I know what you’re thinking when someone mentions cloth diapers. You’re thinking that disposables are so much easier unless you can afford a diaper service to wash them for you. Even if you wash them yourself, you may think that disposables might be cheaper.

When you consider the number of disposables you will buy until your baby is potty trained that may not be true. If nothing else, it may be wise to think about all the disposable diapers that are clogging our landfills.

I don’t have any children but my youngest brother was born when I was a teenager and I quickly became educated about babies. Once I started babysitting my young cousins on a regular basis, I felt well prepared for one of my own. One of my chores was helping with laundry and that meant diapers. I’ll bet I have folded thousands. When he was born there were no prefold diapers. All of them were flat my mother had her own very strict standards about how they should be laundered and folded. I quickly learned that folding diapers for boys was quite different than folding them for girls.

Of course lots of people do not want to deal with the dreaded diaper pail. Get over it. The new diaper genies make the pail virtually odorless. If you really can’t bear the thought of dealing with soiled cloth diapers, you may want to consider a diaper service.

Flat diapers have the same number of layers of fabric throughout. They are less expensive than prefold diapers. Prefold diapers have about twice the thickness of fabric in the middle right where you need it and are less bulky on the sides. Diapers made of 100% cotton will last through several babies and make great soft cleaning cloths when you’re done with the kids. Unbleached cotton is more durable, but some people prefer the white ones to natural. Woven fabrics are also more durable than knitted jersey fabrics. The knitted fabrics tend to develop holes and runs after being pinned repeatedly.

Thickness and sizes vary from one brand to another so check the measurements carefully to choose the correct cloth diaper for your baby. Try to avoid the diapers that have foam or rayon inserts in the center. They don’t really enhance the absorbency and tend to break down in a short period of time. Eco-conscious parents will be happy to know that organic fabrics and hemp diapers are widely available these days. They are a bit more expensive, but very durable options. You may still want to use disposable diapers for travel, but cloth diapers are gaining in popularity. Everything old is new again.