Parentpedia

What Experts Say

The debates about cloth versus disposable diapers continue to rage as significant changes in the world of baby diapers have taken place in recent years. A revolution in cloth diapering started in 1999 when one work-at-home mom invented a pocket cloth diaper that works as efficiently at wicking away moisture as disposable diapers at a fraction of the cost. At the same time, dozens of other cloth diapering systems hit the marketplace (mostly due to the ease of internet shopping), and disposable diapers have been greatly improved and most are now extremely absorbent and ultra-thin.

In a year a child will use about 3,000 diapers (that's a lot of diaper changes for parents and a lot of products to sell for diaper makers). How does a parent decide which system to use? Although most Americans usually choose disposable over cloth because the former are more convenient (and we're an instant-gratification culture), many parents are turning to cloth diapers because they're a less expensive, more environmental, and healthier alternative.

Advantages of Cloth

• Lighter on the Wallet. You pay a chunk of change upfront for the diapers, and there's cost involved for the water, detergent, and energy to clean them (if you wash them at home), but after the initial outlay, cloth diapers save parents thousands and can be used with subsequent children.
• Dodging Diaper Rash. Because they're free from harsh chemicals and because parents usually change cloth diapers more frequently, babies get less diaper rash.
• Ecological. One disposable diaper takes more than a hundred years to biodegrade. Landfills are not equipped to process human waste, and the presence of so many diapers is a potential contaminant to ground water. Dioxin, a by-product of paper bleaching, is a harmful carcinogen, and sodium polyacrylate (the chemical that makes them so absorbent) was removed from tampons in 1985 because it's linked to toxic shock syndrome.
• The Cuteness Factor. A cloth-diapered tush is cuter (especially with all those great colors and designs) than a paper-diapered one.
• Easier Potty Training. Because a baby feels when the diaper is wet, babies in cloth tend to potty train more quickly.
• Rags for the Car. Once the kids are out of diapers (it seems far away but college really is around the corner), you have a nice set of rags to wash the car or windows.

Advantages to Disposable

• Convenience, Convenience, Convenience. Less bulky to cart around and less bulky on the baby, disposable diapers are lighter to lug and convenient to use anywhere at anytime.
• Time-Saving. You toss 'em in the trash when they're used and you don't have extra laundry with disposables.
• Form-Fitting. With all the different sizes and tabs, these diapers tend to fit better, especially on skinny-legged babies.
• Not as Messy or Stinky. Disposable diapers are neater and cleaner, and usually mandatory in daycares. Because the mess is more contained, they may also be more hygienic and spread fewer diseases.