The Many Benefits of Using Cloth Diapers & Covers

There are two different types of diapers for parents to put on their baby: one is made out of durable machine-washable cotton that allows fresh air to circulate naturally; the other is made out of plastic and polyester that is both waterproof and air-proof.

The great debate between using cloth diapers or disposable (or single-use) diapers has been going on since Proctor & Gamble introduced the latter in 1961. While disposable diapers have been marketed to be more "convenient" for parents, they are not convenient to the environment or to the pocketbook.

Environmentally Friendly Alternative

According to Mothering Magazine, about 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown in landfills each year, taking as many as 500 years to decompose. Cloth diapers are an eco-friendly alternative to disposable diapers because they are machine washable and are reusable.

When the child has outgrown the cloth diapers, they can be used for a multitude of purposes, including using them as burp cloths, changing pads, bibs, wash cloths, or baby wipes.  Outside of childcare, they can be used for drying dishes, cleaning tables and windows (they're virtually streak-free), dusting, packing fine china and other valuables or glasswares, etc. The list is endless.

Economically Friendly Alternative

In addition to being eco-friendly, cloth diapers are a lesser expensive alternative to disposable diapers. Babies' diapers should be changed about every two to three hours, which adds up to about 70 diapers per week. With diapers costing an average of just under $0.60 each, the total weekly cost is about $40. The one-time cost for a twelve-pack of prefolded diapers is about five dollars. If you use the same twelve cloth diapers for six months, you can save about one thousand dollars!

Another alternative to disposable diapers is to use a diaper service, a professional laundry service that rents out diapers and cleans them for you. They are required to meet the public health standards - 13 water changes and high-temperature drying - and are much cleaner and safer for your baby than if you were to wash the diapers yourself.  The National Association of Diaper Services indicates that single-use diapers will, over the course of two years, cost over $4,100, while using a cloth diaper service for the same amount of time will cost only $1,800.

More Reasons to Pick Cloth over Disposable

Many cloth diapers can be covered with plastic diaper covers that are waterproof and leak proof. Diaper and cover combinations feature hook and loop fasteners, which prevent the need for using diaper pins, so there's no worry of poking the baby (or yourself for that matter). And in the warmer months, you can remove the cover so that the baby stays cooler.

Because baby stays cooler and drier with cloth diapers, there is very low occurrences of diaper rash among babies who wear cloth diapers compared to those in disposables. Not having a diaper rash prevents the need for diaper rash ointments, which contain chemicals and sometimes fragrances as well that aren't great for baby's bottom.

Using cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers is a healthier alternative for baby, newborn, or toddler. Because they are reusable, using cloth diapers can save over $2,000 per child, so you can save money while saving the environment.