Whether you believe in cloth or disposable nappies is really a matter of personal choice. Neither is perfect, and each have their pros and cons. To put things into perspective, and help you decide which is best for your child, here are the pros and cons of cloth and disposable nappies respectively.
When it comes to disposable nappies, the benefits are less work for the parents, as well as increased protection from nappy rash (if the nappies are changed frequently.) They also fit better, and are easier for your baby to wear under their clothes. They’re available everywhere these days, and that makes it easy to buy them, wherever you may be.
On the downside, disposables are expensive, and definitely take their toll on the environment. They do contain chemicals that can be harmful (depending on the brand) and you do need to remember to change them frequently to prevent potentially dangerous problems like yeast infections.
Cloth nappies, on the other hand, require a lot more work. They need to be changed more frequently, and they will need to be washed. Some people even argue that the water, power and detergent that go into cleaning cloth nappies can be as harmful to the environment as disposables. They are, however, cheaper in the long run, and you won’t ever run out of nappies if you use cloth nappies.
On the down side, it does cost more to buy cloth nappies at first, and you will find that you’re washing mountains of them as time goes by. Unless you buy the newer styles of cloth nappy, they’re also bulky, and it takes a lot of practice to learn to fold them correctly!
So, as you can see, there are arguments for and against both types of nappies. What you ultimately decide will be up to your specific requirements, but there’s no wrong or right choice here.
When it comes to disposable nappies, the benefits are less work for the parents, as well as increased protection from nappy rash (if the nappies are changed frequently.) They also fit better, and are easier for your baby to wear under their clothes. They’re available everywhere these days, and that makes it easy to buy them, wherever you may be.
On the downside, disposables are expensive, and definitely take their toll on the environment. They do contain chemicals that can be harmful (depending on the brand) and you do need to remember to change them frequently to prevent potentially dangerous problems like yeast infections.
Cloth nappies, on the other hand, require a lot more work. They need to be changed more frequently, and they will need to be washed. Some people even argue that the water, power and detergent that go into cleaning cloth nappies can be as harmful to the environment as disposables. They are, however, cheaper in the long run, and you won’t ever run out of nappies if you use cloth nappies.
On the down side, it does cost more to buy cloth nappies at first, and you will find that you’re washing mountains of them as time goes by. Unless you buy the newer styles of cloth nappy, they’re also bulky, and it takes a lot of practice to learn to fold them correctly!
So, as you can see, there are arguments for and against both types of nappies. What you ultimately decide will be up to your specific requirements, but there’s no wrong or right choice here.
