Baby Diaper
The cloth nappy, or baby diaper, has been around since the 1800’s. With the renewed efforts of the going green coalition, the cloth diaper verses the disposable diaper is back in the spotlight. Cloth diapers have layers of fabric, making them reusable many, many times. When they are no longer suitable to use as a diaper, they can then be demoted to a rag. Can we use them forever? The debate rages on. Cloth diapers are seen as being healthier, more cost efficient, and less damaging to the environment. The cloth baby diaper has been improved, to be more absorbent and fasten with Velcro strips. No more of those large bulky diaper pins that are awkward to fasten on a wiggly baby.
Your goal here is to keep the baby dry and the skin healthy. Diaper rash can be brought on by being wet for too long and ventilation taken for granted. Allergies to various components in either diaper, is possible. Cloth diapers do have to be laundered properly and sanitized. The best way to prevent diaper rash, no matter which diaper you use, is to change the baby diaper frequently. You and baby will much happier for it.
The next consideration in which diaper to use may be cost. Currently the disposable diaper is running from 50.00 to 80.00 a month. The possibility of that cost rising in this economy is expected. Laundering your cloth diapers at home is running 30.00 to 60.00 a month. If using cloth and laundering at home, do not be tempted to wash in cold water. Bacteria in cloth diapers and, for that matter, your own underclothing is left to breed in the fabric and in the washing machine. Cloth baby diapers are meant to be washed in hot water. There is laundry detergents specifically recommended for use with cloth diapers. See what agrees with your baby the best.
Some of the older appliances, such as washing machines, are not as efficient as the newer models. If you notice the baby developing a rash, and you know you have been vigilant in changing the baby, then check the laundry. Be certain that all laundry detergent is being washed out. The easiest way to insure this is to cut down on the amount of detergent used. The baby diaper may be holding soap.
In looking at both sides of the environmental debate, it’s pretty obvious the damage done in using disposable diapers. Though, the pro users point out the billions of hot water used to wash the cloth diapers. Still. we roughly deposit over 7 billion tons of waste in landfills with our use of disposable diapers. Yes, this does include urine and feces left as they are. Not an attractive thought, is it? The possibility of ground water becoming contaminated is a serious and legitimate concern. That is one of the biggest reasons we must continue to debate this issue over the best baby diaper to use.
