Often many people think about and make plans for finding the ideal spouse and settling down. They have great fantasies about each and every moment, including the wedding reception and honeymoon. However, a small percentage of these individuals ponder about or seriously plan having a baby. As the life cycle keeps on going, there comes a time when most couples welcome their progeny, with or without planning. Once a baby is born, people’s lives change completely as they are entirely committed to another dependent and couples have to keep countless things in mind at this time, including changing diapers. Even though the issue seems simple, deciding between cloth and disposable diapers is complicated and, before making a final decision, one should look at the advantages and disadvantages of each in order to make the best suited decision for a baby. It is imperative to remember that each child is different, and what works for one might not work for another.
Companies such as Pampers, Huggies and Parent’s Choice are reliable sources of disposable diapers. They provide unlimited choices for parents to choose from for their babies, making the choice as customized as possible. With that said, the greatest advantage these companies provide is convenience, as disposable diapers are easy to put on, take off, and simply throw away instead of having to clean and wash the diaper. The only task required is to wipe the baby with matching brand baby wipes. Furthermore, research shows incredible decrease in babies experiencing diaper rash as a result of disposable diapers, since the wetness is not constantly touching their skin (Geller).
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Furthermore, disposable diapers are professionally designed and customized to fit any age, weight and baby size. The manufacturers have simplified the task for parents, and parents simply have to choose the corresponding ranges for their baby’s weight and size category. Parents, who prefer disposables over reusable diapers, stress the convenience factor along with saving time and energy. The baby may be taken anywhere with ease, without constantly having to worry about diaper leaks (Labor of Love).
There are multiple shortcomings of using disposables as well, the main one being high cost, reaching as high as $1500 over two years. Also, manufacturers fill these products with chemicals, which make it possible for the diapers to be leak-resistant for a longer period of time. However, these chemicals are dangerous to the baby’s skin and many suffer skin irritation or allergic reactions. The disposable factor harms the environment, filling up more than 3.4 million tons of waste in the earth’s landfills. In the long run, parents complain that after using disposable diapers, it is difficult to potty train the kids, because they cannot feel wetness or detect leakage (What to Expect).
On the other hand, cloth diapers tend to be more popular with parents, especially among middle-class working mothers. First and foremost, cloth diapers are reusable, which makes them cheaper. In contrast to the $1500 for disposables, cloth diapers total around $500 for the baby’s diaper years. Also, people save these diapers for their other children, significantly saving money. Secondly, cloth diapers encourage kids to learn potty-training earlier because they are able to detect the wetness quicker (What to Expect).
Thirdly, cloth diapers are great for the baby’s health and the environment. The materials utilized, such as cotton, flannel and terry cloth, are entirely recyclable, which make them effortless to clean. As for chemicals, there are none; therefore, parents feel safe using them. The environment is also safe from harsh chemicals and wastes, and cloth diaper companies give parents the option of purchasing organic products which enhance performance and recycling (Geller).
Focusing on the drawbacks, the biggest downside to cloth diapering is that it is highly inconvenient, making it difficult to travel because of increased leaks and messes. The clean-up jobs are quite messy and require multiple products to manage, such as a diaper pail. For this reason, most day-care facilities will reject care if the baby is solely on cloth diapering. As for the fitting, cloth diapers tend to loosen up over time and require fastening accessories like pins and snappers for securing. Moreover, cloth diapers tend to show increased diaper rashes, because the wetness is constantly touching the baby’s bottom, which enhances the discomfort as well (Labor of Love).
After viewing both sides of the diaper debate, the final choice ultimately varies from person to person. However, research proves that people increasingly prefer cloth diapers over disposables because of the cost and environmental factors (What to Expect). In fact, people who have used disposable diapers often decide to switch over to cloth diapers for their consecutive children to avoid high expenses. There is no right or wrong answer to this debate, and people should educate themselves about the various options available, but make the choice that bests fits their financial circumstances, schedule restrictions and personal beliefs and values, always keeping the baby’s well-being as the number one priority.