One of the many decisions you have to make as a parent is what diapers to use on your newborn. Your obvious choice might well be a disposable diaper, after all everyone else you know uses them, but we really think you ought to give cloth diapers a try!
What Are Cloth Diapers & How Do They Work –
Cloth diapers are reusable nappies made from natural fibers, man-made materials, or a combination of both. Unlike disposable diapers which are thrown away after one use, you can wash reusable nappies in your washing machine and hang them out to dry then reuse them.
Are Cloth Diapers Worth It?
Absolutely! Here are 5 reasons why you should make the switch today.
1. Environmentally friendly
The primary advantage of disposable diapers is their convenience but they come at a huge environmental cost. An estimated 18 billion diapers are thrown away every year in the US, accounting for 2-3% of all household waste.
The issue with disposable diapers is they’re made with synthetic materials such as polymers and adhesives which are derived from fossil fuels. They’re also non-biodegradable and lie in landfill for hundreds of years.
Using cloth diapers for your newborn is the best thing you can do for the planet. You can help divert hundreds of diapers from landfill and conserve many natural resources.
2. Simple to use
Gone are the days of squares of linen or flannel folded into a triangle held together by a safety pin. Reusable diapers are now shaped like a regular disposable nappy and come with velcro or press stud-closing tops to keep them in place.
Cleaning is also easy -when you take the nappy off, flush the poo down into the toilet and place it in a dry bucket until you’re ready to wash them. There’s no boiling or soaking required – your washer will do all the hard work for you.
3. Safe
Disposable nappies are not as safe as many parents assume. Researchers have found traces of dangerous chemicals found in disposable diapers including glyphosate, used in the weedkiller Roundup, cigarette smoke and diesel fumes that could permeate the babies’ skin.
With environmentally friendly diapers, you’ll have full control of what you use on your baby so you won’t have to worry about any chemical exposure.
4. Gentle
Disposable diapers are made of plastic which traps heat and moisture. This can cause a baby’s skin to become red, scaly, and tender. Combined with wee or poo, it can create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Baby reusable diapers are lined with natural, breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen and hemp to keep your baby cool and comfy all the time.
5. Money-saving
One baby uses roughly 3,000 disposable diapers and up to around 8,000 before being potty trained, coming up to around $75 a month, or $900 a year.
Reusable cloth diapers are highly cost-effective – you only have to buy them once and they’ll serve you for a long time. Even with the cost of water and electricity for washing them, cloth diapers still work out cheaper than disposable nappies.
What Are The Best Cloth Diapers For Newborns?
Ready to make the switch to reusable nappies? You’ll be happy to learn that there’s a wide selection of cloth diapers made in USA.
To make it easier we’ve narrowed the list to 5 of the best cloth diapers for newborns on the market today.
Green Mountain makes cloth diapering easy with its high quality natural organic reusable diapers for newborns weighing from 8 to 40lbs.
We love their wide variety of colors and prints ranging from blue and purple, to cars and even puppies.
Green Mountain recommends you wash their cloth diapers a few times before use to make them super absorbent.
Parents are impressed with this cloth diaper because it offers a biodegradable disposable insert option which makes it more eco-friendly. The snaps are easy to use and you’ll have no trouble finding a proper fit for your baby.
It’s easy to clean but keep in mind that the hybrid shells (covers) will last longer if line-dried.
Rumparooz cloth diapers are highly flexible because you can adjust them to fit a newborn up until the potty-training years.
What sets this diaper apart is the no-pill micro-chamois inner layer that keeps away moisture from the baby’s bum and the leakproof patented double inner gusset to prevent any leaking.
EcoAble Hemp Night Fitted Cloth Diaper
This diaper can keep your newborn baby leak-free for up to 10 hours. It has multiple layers of hemp to provide you with ultra-absorption that is on the next level.
Fit for babies from 10 to 30 pounds, it also has snap buttons and gentle elastics to make it adjustable as your baby grows.
You’ll need a cover for this as it is not waterproof.
If you’re looking for an affordable cloth diaper for your newborn, AlvaBaby has one of the least expensive cloth diapering packages on the market.
The “One Size Adjustable Diaper” has a pocket style design that allows you to add more inserts for extra absorbency as needed. It also has rows of snaps on the front rise to ensure a good fit for your newborn.
What’s your experience? Are you using brand cloth diapers or DIY options? Let us know in the comments!
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