Cloth Baby Diapers Provide Comfort, Convenience and Safety

Since 1961, when the first disposable diapers became commercially available, there has been an ongoing debate about which is better—cloth diapers or disposable? There are two sides (just like your baby!) to this issue and many different factors to consider. Let’s take a look at some of the things to consider when making a decision about whether a disposable or cloth baby diaper is better for you, your baby, your pocketbook and the environment.

• Comfort and Safety: For years disposables were considered safer and more comfortable for baby, primarily because of the pins required on old-fashioned cloth baby diapers. Now, with the advent of fitted cloth diapers, pins are not a concern because they have been eliminated and replaced by Velcro fasteners. The fitted cloth diaper is both safe and comfortable.
• Convenience: Cloth baby diapers were once considered inconvenient, but now families have learned how simple it all is—no pins, no presoak, no last minute trips to the store. A couple of loads of laundry a week is about it.
• Cost to Families: According to a 1998 Consumer Reports article, "Disposable diapers cost between $1,500 and $2,100 per child over the average three years most kids wear them." More recent studies show even bigger savings—as much as $1600 in savings over the 30-36 months that most babies are in diapers (the average child uses over 5,000 diapers during the 30 months prior to toiled training).
• Environmental Costs: There has been much debate about this issue because, as with so many environmental questions, there are different numbers and methodologies being used. The obvious and inarguable advantage to cloth baby diapers is in terms of waste and landfill usage. About 10,000 tons of disposable diapers are tossed into landfills each day. Even so-called biodegradable diapers don’t decompose because they must be exposed to air and sum for the decomposition process to work. One study of solid waste in landfills determined that disposable diapers accounted for 9 to 10 times the amount by weight of fast food packaging.

Fitted cloth baby diapers are easier and cheaper for you, more comfortable and safe for your baby, and easier on the environment.