Cloth diapers or disposable diapers?
The birth of a baby is one of the most momentous events for any family. Your little bundle of joy is your whole world. First time moms are especially apprehensive about what to do and what not to do. Every little thing becomes a potential source of debates with self. All moms ask themselves what should he/she eat, how should the baby be bathed, held, burped etc. This is also the time when friends and family will come up with advice and suggestions for you. The question is how to filter all this information and use it in the best way for the baby.
When you hold your baby for the first time it is the most emotional experience of your life. But soon emotions give way to more practical questions. Only someone who has had babies of their own can tell you how frequently they soil themselves, especially as new borns. So, the primary concern obviously is diapers. They can be a mom’s best friend and also their worst nightmare. If diapers are suitable for your baby’s skin and keeps your baby dry for longer time, then it is your best friend because it will let you catch up on some much needed rest, while your baby will remain dry and happy. But if it is not suited to your baby’s skin and god forbid it gives your baby nappy rash, or is not sufficient to keep your baby dry, you will have a very hard time.
There are two choices, cloth diapers or disposable diapers and many times the supporters of these two separate types of diapers get divided into two groups even within your family and friends: the cloth diapers vs. disposables. There are pros and cons of both. Cloth diapers are more airy as compared to disposable diapers. These are made of cotton and hence are more airy. Also since they are made out of natural fibers they are more sensitive to the baby’s skin. They can be washed and reused and so are more cost effective since the washing cost does not outdo the cost of buying a fresh pack of disposable diapers for at least the first two years of a baby’s life. Also cloth diapers are more conducive to toilet training. They get wet faster and the baby feels more uncomfortable and hence realizes that this is something he/she needs to make a noise about. Cloth diapers are better for the environment since they are not thrown in large quantities everyday.
Disposables have their own pros too. First of all they are far more absorbent and so can ensure you at least four hours of peace at a stretch. There are many brands to choose from, so if one didn’t suit your baby’s skin there is no need to lose hope, go and try another brand and this just might be more suitable. It is disposable so you don’t have to add yet another thing that needs to be washed for the baby everyday. If you run out of these you don’t need to wait for them to dry you can simply buy it from your grocery store. Disposables are very suitable for traveling since cloth diapers have a greater chance of leaking.
This cloth diapers vs. disposables discussion should help you to make up your own mind. You could also use a mix of two, cloth diapers during the day and disposables during the night for longer uninterrupted sleep cycles for you and the baby.
