The Canadian Family

Cloth diapers have the distinct advantage of being reusable. Hence, they are better known as Reusable Diapers. These diapers give a feeling of softness and tenderness to the babys skin. Due to their reusability, they last longer, cost less to use, and are friendly to the environment. Disposable diapers clog landfills and take many years to break down.

Another advantage is that cloth diapers do not contain chemicals that some disposable diapers contain. Disposable diapers have been reported to contain some amount of Dioxin. This substance is a highly toxic paper-bleaching by-product. It is carcinogenic, and has been listed by EPA as amongst the most toxic with regards to cancer-oriented chemicals. This material has been banned in majority of countries. However, its still prevalent in the United States. Another toxin contained in disposable diapers is TBT (Tributyl-tin). Its just one of the toxic pollutants that has been known to cause hormonal problems in some animals and humans.

Sodium polyacrylate is another toxin contained in disposable diapers. It turns into a gel like property upon getting wet. A similar substance was used in super-absorbency tampons until the 1980s when it was found to increase the chance of toxic shock syndrome. A health survey carried out recently discovered that using disposable diapers for long periods of time could harm the physiological testicular cooling mechanism essential for proper sperm production.

A baby on average needs to be changed between 2000 to 3000 times per year. The price of disposable diapers averages about 25 cents and brand names diapers are around 38 cents each. The average cost per diaper comes to around 32 cents. So, your monthly cost for each child would be around 78.00 every month.

Cloth diapers cost more, but you will save a lot more in the long run. If you were to take the average of 32 cents per diaper and multiply that by 100, you could save yourself 32.00 for each cloth diaper you use instead of disposable. Caring for cloth diapers is just like taking care of your own clothes. By washing them regularly, they should last a long enough for several children to use them. Just use soft detergents that won’t irritate your babys skin.

Trying both types of diapers to see which one works best for you and your baby is probably a good idea. You can also ask your friends and family what they preferred when bringing up their own children. In the end, it comes down to your choice and your baby’s.