Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Cloth vs Service vs Disposables
You didn’t know there were so many choices to be had over diapers, did you? Everyone uses disposables now, right? Wrong. Cloth diapers used to be the only option, then disposables came along and few people used cloth anymore. But now, with people trying to be more eco-friendly and environmentally conscious, there are both options.

There are pros and cons for each type of diaper. You should figure out the pros and cons for your own situation before you decide which route to go. Below are just a few main points to consider before choosing cloth or disposable.

Disposable
Disposable diapers were created for their convenience. And convenient, they are. But they are also costly, stinky and taking up precious space in the landfills around the world. Disposable diapers are easy to use because all you need is the diaper. A few wipes for good measure afterwards is a good idea, too.

Even though they stink in your garbage and are a daily or weekly expense, people prefer disposables. They don’t want to do laundry every day or don’t feel cloth is advantageous for them.

Cloth Diapers
Families stepped away from using diapers because the disposables were much easier to use. Cloth diapers required pins, rubber pants, a diaper pail for storage until laundry day and then all the laundry time. The diapers needed to be washed, dried and folded. And there was always the fear of pining baby. All of those fears are now gone.

New products on the market have waterproof bottoms built in to the cloth diaper. Velcro strips are used instead of pins. Tools that hook on to the toilet make clean up and the wait period much more convenient than a stinky diaper pail.

And there is always a diaper service to continue. If you don’t want the hassle of washing, drying and folding your diapers, many companies offer diaper service. Once or twice a week, they will send a truck to your house and pick up soiled diapers and leave a fresh batch of clean diapers. While this makes cloth much more convenient, it adds an expense. If you don’t choose to use a service, once you pay for the initial batch of cloth diapers, there won’t be many expenses, if any.

Pros and Cons of Each

Disposables Pros
Convenient
Quick

Disposable Cons
Filling landfills quickly
Stinky
Expensive

Cloth Pros
Reusable
Expense up front, then very little
Softer on baby

Cloth Cons
Large amounts of laundry
Stinky until laundry day
Takes a little more time

Diaper Service Pros
Very easy and convenient

Diaper Service Cons
Expensive

Diaper services can be found by searching online or browsing the phonebook.  Feel free to call several and compare prices. Not every service will offer the same plan, so ask for details on what they do offer. Some will offer different levels of service, including number of pick-ups, washing, folding and extra services.

No matter what you choose, don’t let people pressure you to make another decision. Choose which option works best for your family and your circumstances. You prefer disposable? Use them. You like cloth best? Go for it. Only you know what is best.