From baby names to nursery colors, parenthood lends a host of choices, and diapers are no different enterprise. As the staple of baby care, today's caregivers choose between cloth and disposable diapers. Cost is the bottom line, but you may be surprised to find it's not just a money matter.
Significance
Diapers have gone from cloth to disposable and back again. You want your baby to have the best of everything, and diaper type is a complex choice. Some decide based on environmental impact, while for others, it's a matter of convenience. One thing we can all agree on is that money matters, and above all else the diaper must be good for the baby. The cost of cloth versus disposable diapers is an important decision to make.
Let's Talk Dollars
Diapers are a booming industry, and here's why: According to Eartheasy, a green-living group, as of 2010 parents can expect to spend roughly $800 for cloth diapers and $1,600 for disposables per year. That amounts to about $30 per month for cloth diapers and $60 per month for disposables. For cloth, the cost is based on home laundering of diapers, and doesn't include water or cleaning-product costs. Diaper cleaning services will launder and fold for you, but they can be hard to find. At $56 to $76 a month, which usually does not include diaper rental or dirty diaper holding systems, additional monthly costs can be expected. Financially, the choice of cloth diapers means a larger initial deposit, while disposable is more of a pay-as-you-go purchase. As a long-term investment, cloth diapers can be used on other children to save money.
Effects
Your baby's sensitive skin requires special care, and diaper rash is one of the most common parent complaints. The National Association of Diaper Services determined that as of 1991, about 90 percent of children in the U.S. wore disposable diapers, and diaper rash has significantly increased. However, there may not be a correlation. Diaper rash is caused by moisture, dyes and chemicals, which both cloth and disposables contain. According to the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, "There is no superior prevention or treatment for diaper dermatitis," and frequent diaper changes and diaper skin-protecting products are the only cures.
The Environment
Without question, cloth diapers are better for the environment. According to NADS, manufacturing disposable diapers uses "over 82,000 tons of plastic and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp" each year. While washing cloth diapers requires energy, water and cleaning products, it still is more environmentally friendly, particularly if you flush wastes prior to cleaning rather than placing them in a trash can.
Life Made Simple
Diapers cost time. Disposables mean frequent trips to the store to restock, while cloth diapers mean extra time spent on laundry. Cloth diapers are less expensive, and better for the environment, but not for the faint of heart. If it's too much to not only see the nastiest of diapers, but physically clean them out prior to washing or pick-up, cloth may not be for you.
