There are many things that come along with becoming a parent. One thing that you will be doing a lot of for the next few years is changing diapers. Babies need diapers, so you are likely to be thinking ahead about what kind of diapers your baby will wear once he is born.
The two basic categories of diapers are disposable diapers and cloth diapers. There are pros and cons that go along with each of them, and you will have to make a decision based upon what you feel is best for the needs of your family. I wanted to use cloth diapers but the high up front cost made it hard to buy enough so that I could have enough to get through a day without washing them. I ended up using disposable diapers most of the time for Dylan, until a couple of weeks ago. I switched him to cloth and then, voila, three days ago he asked for underwear to wear during the day and wears cloth diapers at night. I still have a few cloth diapers and just got a few more, so I am switching Blake out of disposables and into cloth as well.
Disposable diapers cost less up front, but are more expensive in the long run. They are convenient, just use and toss, no washing required. Sometimes, though, babies and toddlers can develop a sensitivity to the chemicals used in making the diapers and they can get awful rashes. Disposables are also not biodegradable, and take up lots of space in landfills.
Cloth diapers come in many sizes, shapes, and styles. They are so cute, too. Cloth diapers cost more up front, and you also must educate yourself on how to wash and care for them properly. They pay for themselves over time and end up being cheaper than disposables in the long run. Cloth diapers keep all of that yucky plastic trash out of landfills and keep chemicals off of baby’s sensitive skin. They can take some getting used to, but more and more people are choosing cloth diapers because they are an environmentally responsible and thrifty choice.
Photo by anitapatterson on morguefile.com.