Cloth vs Disposable Diapers
Why not use washable diapers?
Let’s discover together the 5 most popular reasons.
1. Washing and fitting diapers takes time!
I won’t teach you anything by telling you that with a child at home, our loads of laundry are much more frequent. So adding a load of laundry every 2-4 days isn’t a big change to our new parenting routine. Especially since it’s not like in the days of our grandparents where we had to scrub and wash everything by hand! Good maintenance usually comes down to washer/dryer.
On average we suggest having at least 24 diapers for washing every 2-3 days.
Tip The wash makes you hesitant? You might consider buying a few more, which might allow you to stretch the washes without always worrying about running out!In addition, having more will have the advantage of wearing out your diapers less quickly, a plus if you are thinking of using them for more than one child.
Then regarding the assembly of the cloth diapers, the time required always depends on the type of diaper chosen and especially on the number of diapers to be assembled. For pockets diapers, the assembly time is longer, because the inserts must be inserted into each of the diapers (but more malleable on the side of the desired absorption).
Personally, at first I did it while watching television and it was going very well. And the times when I was a little busier, I stacked my diapers and put them in a drawer. Then when the time came to change baby I took 1 diaper and 1 or 2 inserts then I inserted it inside the diaper. In a few seconds I was ready to install baby and voila! There’s no point in putting pressure on yourself, you can put on the nappies you need as you go and when you go out make some for your diaper bag. Everyone has their own method!!
2. It's expensive!
Yes, it’s true that cloth diapers are an instant investment. But nothing prevents you from buying the minimum to start and adding more later if you feel the need. It’s really in the long term that we save! I know some who started with 5-10 cloth diapers to try it out or because maybe they didn’t have the money to buy the whole set right away and that’s fine. When he washed their diapers he took disposable ones, but it allowed them to save on his few diapers which he reused all the time.
Then, if you use your 5 diapers 4 days a week, well, you’ve saved 20 disposable diapers from the landfill and 1,040 diapers/year, that’s still impressive! In addition, let’s imagine that your 5 diapers cost you $20 each ($100) and that your disposable diapers cost you $0.35/ea, you saved $264 in 1 year with only 5 reusable diapers!! Then if your city offered you $100 in subsidy, well ultimately that’s $364 in your pocket and your reusable diapers will have cost nothing. So imagine with more than 5 diapers!! Sometimes as a parent we put too much pressure on ourselves, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Interesting fact...
On average, a set of cloth diapers will cost more or less $650 and can be used for more than one child. While disposables until potty trained cost between $2,500 to $3,500 for a single child. That’s a huge difference!! Then interesting to know, several cities subsidize the purchase of washable diapers. You could receive up to $300, contact your city to see if they are included.
3. It's not so eco-friendly, you have to use water to wash your diapers!
Let’s go with facts, you’ll see it’s pretty amazing.
To produce and maintain 1,000 diaper changes, 9,829 liters of water will be used for washable diapers vs. 19,833 liters of water for disposable diapers.
Moreover, if we continue on the side of the environment, it is 4.5 trees that will be necessary for the production of 200kg of flake paste used in the manufacture of 6000 disposable diapers and 1 baby alone will use approximately 6,500 diapers until he is clean (the equivalent of 1 ton of waste)! They will take about 200 to 500 years to be partially decomposed! Compare to 10kg of fibers to make 20 washable diapers that will be reusable for more than one child. Impressive, right?!
4. I don't want to have my hands in the poo!
Me neither!! On the other hand, with a baby it can sometimes happen to have some on a tank top or pants when it’s a little more explosive. The advantage of washables is that the elastic on the back holds everything inside better than a disposable diaper.
And fortunately, there are what are called liners which can be placed inside the diaper and which serve to retain the solids. So when baby has pooped you just have to take the liner and empty it into the toilet. Then throw it away or put it in a laundry bag, depending on whether they are reusable or not. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, you will not need a liner. The poops will be water-soluble, everything will pass without a problem. Just put the diaper in the washer when you do your wash.
A word of advice, if you choose pocket diapers, prioritize those with 2 openings. You won’t need to take the inserts out before washing, the movements of the washer will cause the inserts to pop out on their own.
5. If I go out, it will be complicated!
Complicated no, but it is certain that we need a little more space than if we bring disposable diapers. You just need to bring a wet bag to put the soiled nappies in + some diapers that you can insert in the second pocket of the wetbag if there is one (also no you can also put them in your diaper bag). The wet bag is perfect with the use of cloth diapers for both outings and daycare. You just take it home and when it’s time to wash, you put it all in the washer. (even the wet bag!)
Finaly
There are many other reasons for using or not using cloth diapers, depending on our preferences, values and beliefs. Everyone will choose what suits them best and it’s perfect like that!!
Personally, I chose the washable ones for their economical and aesthetic side (because it must be said, it is still prettier than a disposable one) and in addition I reduce my ecological footprint, for me it was the best choice.
Cloth vs Disposable Diapers
So, washable or disposable diapers?
Still not sure what would be best for you? The best way to find out is to try it!