Pros and cons of disposable and cloth diapers

Feb 17

cloth diaper, Orange County, ca, a simple home

Are you diapering or preparing to diaper your little ones and considering cloth? Here are some important comparisons for parents to take into account.

Cost: The average child uses about 2,000 diapers a year. For disposables, this adds up to (depending on the brand) anywhere from $500 to $1,000 each year. Cloth diapers cost (again, depending on the type / brand) anywhere from $300 - $700 for an entire set that can last through multiple children or be resold.
The learning curve: Disposable diapers are fairly easy to use; there might be some difficulties when a baby is between sizes, but it is pretty intuitive. On the other hand, cloth diapers take a while to figure out. There are different types, inserts, washing, drying, and changing sizes.
Environment: The US alone throws away over 27 billion diapers a year. BILLION. These diapers can end up in landfills or be shipped and end up in waterways or the ocean. Cloth diapers are better on the environment (yes, even if you take into account manufacturing, shipping, and washing)
Access: Using disposables, you will at times run out, need to size up, and be left with diapers that don't fit, all of which is wasteful. Cloth diapers are purchased once (or more if using sized diapers) and don't run out. (You'll have to find other excuses for a Target run.)
Ingredients: Disposable diapers have ingredients known to be carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, the long-term affects of which are still unknown (but have been banned in most other products.) Cloth diapers are made with natural or synthetic fibers with organic, unbleached options available.

Interested in learning more about cloth diapering? Meet with me for a two-hour cloth diaper consultation, where you’ll learn everything you need to know about choosing, using, and cleaning cloth diapers.