| One of the most important decisions parents must | | | | the bleach used in disposables contains potentially |
| make for their newborn is deciding whether to use | | | | harmful chemicals to enhance their super absorbent |
| cloth or disposable diapers. The factors parents or | | | | capabilities. |
| caregivers should consider when selecting the best | | | | About Cloth Diapers |
| diapers are: health, cost and its impact on the | | | | Cloth diapers have evolved and become quite efficient |
| environment. The first and most important factor in | | | | in that they now have Velcro straps. The positive |
| selecting the best diaper should concern your baby's | | | | attributes for cloth diapers are no use of materials like |
| health, especially their skin. A common problem in | | | | AGM or dyes. These materials may affect a baby |
| diapering is diaper rash. Here are a couple of quick | | | | with sensitive skin. Cloth diapers can be cleaned |
| facts about how diaper rashes occur:o It happens | | | | in-house or by using a cleaning service, both options |
| frequently for babies with sensitive skin (be mindful of | | | | are proven more economical than disposables. |
| new materials on baby's skin and chemicals used to | | | | Advocates of cloth diapers agree that disposable |
| clean or produce diapers.)o Extended exposure to | | | | diapers negatively impact the environment; conversely |
| waste (urine and stool.)o Diaper lacks circulation | | | | opponents argue that the use of resources and |
| (usually occurs in throwaway diapers.)o Yeast | | | | energy - electricity and water negatively impacts the |
| infections (certain antibiotics can contribute to the | | | | environment. Some diaper cleaning services use |
| imbalance of helpful and harmful bacteria.)o Improper | | | | bleach to clean which can cause the same problems |
| sanitation of cloth diapers. | | | | as bleached none reusable diapers. Cloth diapers can |
| Parents, please note that diaper rashes are very | | | | also be messy, as you have to clean it yourself, or at |
| common, but in order to avoid it, be sure to keep | | | | the very least rid the waste material. As throwaways |
| baby's skin clean and dry by changing diapers as | | | | are ideal for traveling, cloth diapers are not because |
| needed. | | | | you must carry the soiled diapers with you. Diaper |
| About Disposable Diapers | | | | covers can be helpful but ultimately it may |
| Some parents prefer disposables because you can | | | | inconvenience the parent or caregiver. |
| simply throw it into a diaper pail and it's very useful | | | | And the Winner is... |
| when traveling. The positive features are the highly | | | | We can't tell you what is right for you and your baby. |
| absorbent materials used to contain wetness; the | | | | With any parenting decision you make you always |
| source is usually the absorbent gelling material (AGM) | | | | want to consider health first and then rank which is |
| in the center of the diaper that contains moisture from | | | | more important to you - finances or the environment. |
| the skin. To prevent diaper rash, be sure to change | | | | There is a risk of diaper rash for both cloth and |
| baby frequently. Unfortunately, these diapers have | | | | disposable diapers. Be sure to change diapers |
| negative impacts on the environment. It does not break | | | | frequently or as needed and use lanolin cream to |
| down quickly and therefore packs landfills with its | | | | avoid diaper rashes. From these comparisons, we |
| waste. It is costly and associated with increasing time | | | | hope you can make a more informed decision on |
| for potty training for children because they cannot feel | | | | what is best for your family. |
| wetness- due to the absorbent material. Additionally, | | | | |