Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers - Pros and Cons

Parents today have many choices for their babies. One is the decision to use cloth or disposable diapers for their newborn. It is calculated that your new baby will spend in excess of over 30,000 hours in a diaper, which produces up to over 7,000 changes in diapers in the first year alone. Research shows that 80% of baby diapering in this country is by disposable diapers, coming to 18 billion diapers in use per year. Those used diapers have to go somewhere. So, when you’re making the decision for what’s best for your family, your baby, and your wallet, you need to weigh the benefits and challenges of both types of diapering.

Here are some pros and cons of cloth versus disposable diapers.

Cloth Diapers - Pros
- May be less diaper rash because they are more absorbent
- Cheaper because they’re reusable and washable
- Extras are good for burps and/or spit-ups
- Better for the environment because you’re not adding to the landfills
- Made of cotton, so no chemicals against your baby’s skin
- Can be stored and used for the next baby
- Thought to aid in potty training because the child is aware of the wetness against their skin
- When baby is out of diapers, the cloths they make good furniture polishing cloths


Cloth Diapers – Cons
- More leaks due to heaviness, even with plastic panties over them
- Use pins which can stick the baby, although Velcro tabs are available for cloth diapers
- More laundry, heavier loads, more water, and more soap being dumped into the environment (plus your washer can retain the smell of poo and pee)
- Fees for diaper service, if you chose to use them
- Odors aren’t contained as well
- Very hot in summer weather, which can cause diaper rash
- Most daycares require disposable diapers

Disposable Diapers – Pros
- No diaper pins to stick the baby
- Less leaks because they’re tight, fit, and snug
- Easy to use and find in stores
- Easy to dispose
- Lighter, especially in hot weather
- Good for overnight to prevent accidents and uninterrupted sleep
- Easy changing solution when out in public/away from home
- Most daycares require disposable diapers
- Comes in various sizes for different ages

Disposable Diapers – Cons
- Can harm the environment by adding more to the landfills
- Can be more expensive to purchase over time
- Garbage has to be emptied regularly due to smell and can add expense
- Plastic and chemicals against baby’s skin
- Chances of diaper rash are higher
- Thought that it’s harder to potty train because the child isn’t used to feeling the wetness




Criss White writes about family and baby topics. To check out some baby shower game ideas, visit Baby Shower Ideas.

Diaper Cakes and Other Fun Gifts You Can Make from Diapers

These products of creative genius are called diaper cakes and are a perfect blend of form and functionality - they’re pretty enough to be used as table decorations and yet, their contents are exactly what a mom to be needs in order to take care of her little one.

With diaper cakes, the possibilities are limitless; if the baby is a girl, why not choose butterflies for your theme? Butterflies are colorful and easy to work with as they do not limit you on the things you can put on your cake. So go ahead and take your pick from all the forms butterflies come in.

Once you have selected your theme for your diaper cake, do some rolling and tucking, even some pinning if you wish to make the layers of your diaper cake. As with real cakes, your bottom layer will be the largest, followed by the smaller second layer and if you fancy, a third layer which should be the smallest. After that’s done, decorate the cake with a sprinkling if confetti here and there, maybe throw on some glitter, add some ribbons, add your paper or fabric flowers and some silk, plastic, nylon and rubber butterflies. The materials mentioned above are pretty easy to find and are available in most craft and toy stores. Think outside the box and go to the bookstore where you can find materials for your diaper cake as well. If nothing in the store catches your eye, you can always check online for ideas and even order your materials from an online store, just make sure you order them well before the party date to give ample room for the delivery time, returns and exchanges.

When working with a tight budget that leaves no room for pricey shopping, work with what you have. Rummage around your house for some clothespins and coffee filters. You can use the coffee filters for the butterfly’s body by splitting it in two while, being careful not to rip the folded area. Take some pieces of tissue paper and roll them, once done, glue them along the fold. Now you have the body. Next, just use your coloring materials to decorate the wings and with the use of the clothespins, attach to your diaper cake.

If you know the baby’s name, you can also include it in your cake using letter cut-outs; include some bottles of baby shampoo, oil, maybe even a bar of baby soap. Whatever you put in your diaper cake, any tired parent will be sure to appreciate.

You can also make diaper teddy bears, ducks, or dolls. Just roll up the diapers and tie them up with rubber bands or ribbon. These will be the units that you will use to build your crafts. You can roll the diapers long or shape them into spheres.

Finally, the diaper wreath is another popular diaper craft, especially around Christmas. Roll the diapers lengthwise and tie them together with ribbon, tape, or rubber bands. Avoid using staples and glue but instead use fasteners that are easily removed so that the diapers can easily be reused. Lastly, feel free to add other useful items to your diaper art like pacifiers and baby bottles. The new mom will be sure to appreciate this creative gift.