April 2007
Cloth diapers
You'll change thousands of diapers by the time your child is 2 to 3 years old and ready for the potty. Fortunately, diaper
quality is better than ever, which makes the task easier. Your first major decision in the diaper department will be between
the cloth or disposable kind. Both kinds have their benefits and drawbacks. On the one hand, disposable diapers are undeniably
convenient, but they're also costly: You can expect to spend $1,500 to $2,000 or more on disposables by the time your baby
is out of them.
Cloth diapers are less expensive than disposables, especially if you do the laundering yourself. All-in-ones and cloth "diapering systems" that close with snaps or Velcro, are almost as easy to use as disposable diapers. But you still have to wash them. Despite a resurgence in the popularity of cloth diapers, disposable diapers remain the most popular choice among today's parents, as well as day-care centers and hospitals. A disposable diaper is an absorbent pad sandwiched between two sheets of nonwoven fabric. The pad contains chemical crystals that can absorb up to 800 times their weight in liquid and hold it in gel form. This helps keep liquid away from your baby's skin, so you can leave him in one longer than in a cloth diaper without causing him discomfort.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Cloth diapers are made from absorbent cotton fabrics: terry (like towels, but softer), bird's-eye (similar to old-fashioned tea towels), gauze (thin and lightweight), and flannel (similar to the material used in flannel sheets and pajamas, but denser and thicker). Flannel is the softest against the skin, and the most absorbent. A combination of terry and flannel is also quite absorbent.
All-in-ones (a diaper and a protective cover as one unit) and diapering systems (a moisture-resistant cover into which you insert a diaper) are superior to plain diapers for absorbency, fit, and leak control and spare you the hassle of safety pins. But they are also more expensive. Major brands of cloth diapers, all-in-ones, and cloth diapering systems are Bum Genius (www.bumgenius.com), Bumkins (www.bumkins.com), Dundee (available at www.buybuybaby.com), Fuzzi Bunz (www.fuzzibunz.com), Gerber (www.gerberchildrenswear.com), Kushies (www.kushiesonline.com), and Swaddlebees (www.swaddlebees.com).
Cloth diapers and diapering systems are available at baby and toy stores, via mail-order and through diaper-specific Web sites (such as those above). Cloth diapers cost from $1 to $3 (or more) each, and waterproof pants cost $2.50 and up. All-in-ones and diapering systems have higher start-up costs. You'll pay in the range of $7 to $12 apiece for all-in-ones and $24 to $36 for a system of five cloth diapers and a moisture-resistant wrap that the diapers fit into. But you'll use both types again and again, which can make them a cost-effective option.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The type of cloth diaper you choose (as well as whether you go with cloth at all) is a matter of personal preference. If you choose cloth diapers, you will need two to three dozen to begin with, plus six to ten waterproof outer pants. If you go the all-in-one-or diapering-system route, having eight to 10 on hand should be adequate. Buy two or three dozen diaper inserts for the system. Browse online to find the most competitive prices.
Cloth diapers are less expensive than disposables, especially if you do the laundering yourself. All-in-ones and cloth "diapering systems" that close with snaps or Velcro, are almost as easy to use as disposable diapers. But you still have to wash them. Despite a resurgence in the popularity of cloth diapers, disposable diapers remain the most popular choice among today's parents, as well as day-care centers and hospitals. A disposable diaper is an absorbent pad sandwiched between two sheets of nonwoven fabric. The pad contains chemical crystals that can absorb up to 800 times their weight in liquid and hold it in gel form. This helps keep liquid away from your baby's skin, so you can leave him in one longer than in a cloth diaper without causing him discomfort.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Cloth diapers are made from absorbent cotton fabrics: terry (like towels, but softer), bird's-eye (similar to old-fashioned tea towels), gauze (thin and lightweight), and flannel (similar to the material used in flannel sheets and pajamas, but denser and thicker). Flannel is the softest against the skin, and the most absorbent. A combination of terry and flannel is also quite absorbent.
All-in-ones (a diaper and a protective cover as one unit) and diapering systems (a moisture-resistant cover into which you insert a diaper) are superior to plain diapers for absorbency, fit, and leak control and spare you the hassle of safety pins. But they are also more expensive. Major brands of cloth diapers, all-in-ones, and cloth diapering systems are Bum Genius (www.bumgenius.com), Bumkins (www.bumkins.com), Dundee (available at www.buybuybaby.com), Fuzzi Bunz (www.fuzzibunz.com), Gerber (www.gerberchildrenswear.com), Kushies (www.kushiesonline.com), and Swaddlebees (www.swaddlebees.com).
Cloth diapers and diapering systems are available at baby and toy stores, via mail-order and through diaper-specific Web sites (such as those above). Cloth diapers cost from $1 to $3 (or more) each, and waterproof pants cost $2.50 and up. All-in-ones and diapering systems have higher start-up costs. You'll pay in the range of $7 to $12 apiece for all-in-ones and $24 to $36 for a system of five cloth diapers and a moisture-resistant wrap that the diapers fit into. But you'll use both types again and again, which can make them a cost-effective option.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The type of cloth diaper you choose (as well as whether you go with cloth at all) is a matter of personal preference. If you choose cloth diapers, you will need two to three dozen to begin with, plus six to ten waterproof outer pants. If you go the all-in-one-or diapering-system route, having eight to 10 on hand should be adequate. Buy two or three dozen diaper inserts for the system. Browse online to find the most competitive prices.
