What Are The Benefits of Cloth Diapers?
Each parent has a different preference and perception on what type of diapers to use, cloth or disposable. These differences in choice can be for many reasons; budgeting concerns, environmental concerns, family traditions, or convenience. No matter what your preference is on the type of diaper you choose to use, one thing is for sure, it is an unavoidable part of parenthood.
Today I am going to explore the recent resurgence of cloth diapering; however, let me state for the record, I did not use cloth diapers with any of my children. It was not a choice that I was interested in at the time, I have had friends that have used them and I have talked to many mothers through the years that have used them. I will share with you the information that I have gleaned from them and from my own research on why cloth diapers are becoming so popular again.
♦ Save About $500 During Your Baby’s First Year
The top reason that I have found for choosing cloth diapers is the money saved over using disposable diapers. There are quite a few things that you will need to purchase to make your experience using these type of diapers a more positive and easier one; the diapers, the pins, diaper covers, liners, and laundry soap. I have added up the numbers and I have discovered that though the initial investment may seem high it does save you about $500 during your baby’s first year in diapers.
First, you obviously need to purchase the diapers. I would assume that 36 diapers would start you off well, at most popular retailers they are sold in packages of twelve, so three packages would run you about $39 total.
Plastic diaper covers are a necessity to protect from leaking through the cloth diaper, these run anywhere from $5-$15 a piece depending upon the style that you choose to use. Let’s say that you spend about $60 stocking up on diaper covers, since you will need to change them in the event of leaks or inevitable blow-outs.
Diaper pins will hold the cloth diaper closed under the plastic cover and you can usually find them in a package of 4 for $1.00 for the generic ones. Say that we purchase $5.00 worth of pins, we would have 20 to start out with.
They also make flushable disposable liners that you can put in the cloth diaper to make clean up easier. I have found 3 rolls of what looks to be heavy duty toilet paper at Babies R Us online for $20. The reviews on its effectiveness seem mixed but, I would say anything that is designed to make life easier is worth a shot.
So, if I add up these costs I come up with $124.00 to stock up on cloth diapering supplies. This does not include rash creams, ointments, storage containers, laundry bags, or laundry soap.
The average cost of a two week supply of diapers for a baby is about $25.00, obviously some brands are less and some are more. So if you figure you are paying about $50 a month in disposable diapers, in a year that will add up to about $600. So theoretically, you are saving close to $500 a year by using cloth diapers. However, keep in mind, that you will have to replace diapers, covers, pins, and liners at some point throughout the year I am sure.
♦ The Green Factor
Another reason that I have heard parents give for turning back to cloth diapers is the green factor. According to research since the majority of parents are using disposable diapers in this country, eighty percent to be exact, we are filling our landfills with 82,000 tons of plastic a year from these diapers alone. Some parents feel that by using cloth diapers they are doing their part to help keep that number down and protect the planet.
According to cloth diaper parents, here are some issues that you will want to consider when considering the cloth diaper route for your baby. Have a plan for cleaning the diapers, will you do it yourself or hire a diaper service? Have a plan for what you will do when you are on the go and need to make a diaper change… where will you put the soiled ones until you get home. How often a week will you plan to wash diapers, and how will you work that into your schedule.
One thing is for sure, cloth diapers are not the easiest route to choose but for some parents the benefits outweigh the hassle.
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