While people are becoming more frugal and aware of dwindling resources, adding a new member to your family may make it more difficult to conserve and reuse natural resources. You may want to consider cloth diapering to help you be a "green parent". Since cloth diapering is a bit more pricey initially, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of this particular diapering method.
Pros of Cloth diapering
Cloth diapers are less harmful to the environment, because they create less waste. Disposable diapers never break down completely, so every time you throw away a disposable diaper, you are adding something to the landfills that will always be there. There is no waste materials to add to landfills with a cloth diaper.
Using cloth diapers can actually save you money. Once you have invested in the diapers, you will not have to buy them ever again, unless you purchase a line that has varying sizes. Parents who use disposable diapers tend to run out at the worst times and need to run to the store to get additional supplies. You do not have to run to the store to get clean diapers, just your laundry room.
Cloth diapers also cause some children to show an early interest in potty training. Disposable diapers do a great job of keeping wetness away from the skin, but this can make potty training difficult. The child does not feel "wet" when the diaper is wet, so learning when it is time to go is hard. With cloth diapers, the child feels wetness on his skin when the diaper is wet, which can push him towards potty training early.
Cons of Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers can cost a bundle to purchase initially. There are many different vendors, and you can even buy the diapers and covers used, but some of the best diapers cost as much as $300 to $500 to get a beginning set. This can cause many parents to turn away, even though they will spend much more than that over their child's lifetime if they are buying disposables time and time again.
While cloth diapers do keep the landfills more clear, they are not completely environmentally friendly as might be thought. It does take a bit more energy to wash and dry these diapers. They have to be washed in hot water, which takes a lot of energy. This also adds to the cost factor, as it increases your utility bills.
Some parents find cloth diapers difficult to manage while out in public. There are products that you can use to transport soiled cloth diapers back home for washing, but some parents find this cumbersome. It is particularly difficult to manage while traveling when you may not have access to a washing machine. Don't forget the good news! You can use disposables during those infrequent times you do not have access to a washing machine or dryer and still use cloth the majority of the time if you want.
So are cloth diapers for you? It is up to you to decide. Before you decide, do some research into the cleaning and care of cloth diapers to help you determine whether or not you might enjoy clothe diapering. If you feel like you can manage it, then you can do your part to help protect the environment by diapering your baby with cloth.
David Cummings is a devoted husband and regular author on many family topics. He is dedicated to helping parents improve family time together and to ensuring a brighter future for all children via contributions to children-oriented organizations. David is the General Manager for Bustling Baby, LLC - a company that knows the business of parenting and offers many products to make life with baby easier, such as highly-featured Baby Travel Systems
