| During the seventies, I raised my children on books that | | | | First, there are pre-fold diapers that can be placed |
| criticized the notions of rigid childcare, and if I | | | | inside waterproof covers to hold the diaper in place. |
| remember correctly, one authority of those days | | | | Then, there are contoured diapers that fold to a baby's |
| warned that the mother could scar the child forever if | | | | shape and fit inside a cover. There are also fitted |
| she pushed a child's toilet training. These books also | | | | diapers that are held in place at the waist with Velcro |
| alerted their readers to the fact that those mothers | | | | over which the baby wears a waterproof panty. |
| who boasted of their early successes were the ones | | | | Then, the best option is probably those diapers with |
| who fooled themselves, because they were the ones | | | | beautiful and entertaining designs where the diaper and |
| aware of their babies' elimination needs at their onset | | | | the cover are sewn together. The soft cloth, printed |
| and reacted accordingly while their babies remained | | | | diapers with matching waterproof fleece covers look |
| untrained. | | | | very chic, especially when their print is the same as the |
| In those times, Pampers became the way to go and | | | | receiving blanket and other clothing articles of the |
| they overtook their soft cloth counterparts like wildfire. | | | | infant. |
| Soon, a few more disposable diaper companies | | | | If you do not hesitate to use your washing machine at |
| followed Pampers. Since the first one of my children | | | | home for the baby's diapers, probably cloth diapers are |
| developed a skin rash with the disposables, we used | | | | the best for your budget, your baby's skin, and the |
| cloth diapers with diaper pins. Remember, we didn't | | | | environment. Ideally, all soil on the diaper should be |
| have Velcro in those days. With my second child, we | | | | rinsed off into the toilet first and the diapers should be |
| graduated to disposables. | | | | stored in a covered pail with some mild detergent in |
| So much has changed since then. More mothers are | | | | warm water until the next wash. Then, you can put the |
| pushing toilet training to a much earlier time, some as | | | | diapers in the washing machine with no misgivings, and |
| soon as the first couple of months of infancy. I bet | | | | if you feel you need to take extra measures, you can |
| they are not scarring anybody, since the generations | | | | run the washing machine empty after washing the |
| before mine observed the same guidelines of these | | | | baby's diapers. |
| young mothers. It also seems like cloth diapers are | | | | On the other hand, you might consider using a diaper |
| proven to be better for the tiny tushies according to | | | | service, which could be too costly for the typical family. |
| the most recent studies. | | | | On the average, a diaper service costs 40 to 70 |
| Yes, cloth diapers and diaper panties are in the vogue | | | | dollars a month, based on two diapers a day. Yes, |
| again, after the realization that disposables crowd the | | | | there is a count and an average baby will need to be |
| landfills the most and are not truly biodegradable; plus, | | | | changed a lot more often than twice a day. |
| more than two decades ago, a Canadian pediatrician | | | | While we are at the subject of the diapers, let's not |
| advised that disposables, according to his studies, | | | | forget the importance of the diaper bag most mothers |
| caused more frequent and severe diaper rashes. | | | | and baby care-givers would be lost without. |
| Companies that produced disposables have | | | | Nowadays, the modern diaper bags can be attached |
| conducted their own studies and they claimed that | | | | to a stroller with clips and they are much fancier than |
| disposables are safe and eco-friendly. The studies | | | | their plastic predecessors of the seventies. Not only do |
| done by the environmental agencies and public health | | | | they look trendy on the outside, but also they are |
| offices, however, have pointed to some very different | | | | functional inside with pockets for cell phones, wallets, |
| conclusions compared to those studies done by the | | | | and keys, plus changing pads, cases for wipes, and |
| companies. Most parents, therefore, have become | | | | nylon linings to prevent spills. |
| proponents of cloth diapers, today. | | | | Caring for a baby's elimination needs may be deemed |
| Opposed to the long rectangle or large square of the | | | | a selfless act, but it is still a chore. It can, however, be |
| soft cloth diapers of the sixties and the seventies, cloth | | | | turned into a productive and loving task that is safe for |
| diapers of today come in different fabrics and styles. | | | | the baby and is also environment friendly. |