How-to decide between cloth and disposable nappies
05 May 2011 14:39 PM |
Posted by bh'sLeanne
Making an informed choice between cloth and disposable nappies all comes down to information. Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to opt for cloth or disposable nappies.
Cost
Comparisons have been made over the years between the cost of cloth nappies versus the cost of disposables but they’re often not like for like, making it really difficult to get a true comparison. But in general, even when taking into consideration the cost of detergent, cloth nappies are likely to be cheaper.
Effort
Even if cloth nappies do work out to be cheaper than disposables, do you really have the time or inclination to clean and wash your cloth nappies?
Environment
Do cloth nappies have less of an environmental impact on the world? Again, findings do differ depending on which company has undertaken the research but it appears that cloth nappies have less of an environmental impact than disposables.
Nappy rash
There is very little difference in the rates of nappy rash between babies that wear cloth nappies and those that wear disposables.
If you’re still undecided on which nappy is best for your baby, why not jump into our forum and chat to other mums…
Member Comments
(42)
Posted by:
Bianca sarah
(Australia)
I would of loved to use cloth nappies, but in today's society, Mums (and Dads) are so busy. With the house to clean, studying, looking after my daughter, food shopping, parents group & play group ect ect ect.....I just find that it is easy to use disposable nappies. Bad I know! And I might sound like a lazy mum, but I find using Huggies Nappies for my daughter leads to hardly any nappy rash at all and using disposable nappies also means more time that I can spend with my daughter. I already spend enough time in my day doing washing for 3 other people and well as myself and a baby! I do look up to Mums (and Dads) who do use cloth nappies though. I guess I'm just not one of those 'wonder' mums!!
Posted on:
May 05, 2011 (May 5, 2011 3:40pm)
Posted by:
Vikkisue
(Australia)
I used cloth nappies with all three of my babies and used disposables when I was going out or on holidays etc. I loved the feel of a cloth nappy and even though I was busy with all the day to day chores of being a mum, one more load of dirty nappies was worth the effort. I know disposables have changed over the years but I found them drying on my babies skin and had a lot of trouble with nappy rash from them.
Posted on:
May 06, 2011 (May 6, 2011 9:07pm)
Posted by:
Platinum Ms
(Australia)
Go for the disposables, by the time use wash in hot water (electricity) and buy the detergents, they are alot better and try different brands that suit you. I really perferred them alot better and let them go bare bum in the summer when at home or outside.
Posted on:
May 12, 2011 (May 12, 2011 2:46pm)
Posted by:
Kpesenhofer
(Australia)
I used cloth nappies with my first child for the first 6 months and really felt like i was doing the right thing. Once i started using disposable nappies i found it hard to go back. Now with my 3rd on the way i must admit i would still like to use cloth nappies but find the convenience of disposable nappies too hard to pass.
Posted on:
May 12, 2011 (May 12, 2011 3:53pm)
Posted by:
Chaneleve
()
Cloth is ridiculous !!!
Posted on:
May 13, 2011 (May 13, 2011 4:09pm)
Posted by:
Libbypoo
()
I'm wondering if some people aren't aware of modern cloth nappies - nappies that are shaped like disposables, with elastic in the legs and waist and with a built in waterproof cover? These require no assembling and can be put on and taken off as easily as disposables. They don't require soaking or any more care (or harder work!) than any other clothes I wash. My washing machine does all the work and even poo removal is easy because I use flushable liners.
I wash almost every day as it is with 3 kids, so an extra couple of loads a week is nothing.
A recent study by the University of Qld showed that disposable nappies used more energy, more land resources and generated 20 times more waste than cloth nappies - and that they used the same amount of water as is used in washing cloth nappies. There's an interesting article here http://www.darlingsdownunder.com.au/main.php?mod=Blog&id=60&flag=previous.
Even using cloth nappies part time will save both money and the environment. If I used just one cloth nappy a day, it would save me $150 (& 100kg of waste going to landfill) each year.
CHOICE mag says that parents spend between $1700 & $4650 per child on disposable nappies (http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/babies-and-kids/food-and-health/nappies/disposable-nappies-2010-review-and-compare.aspx). I've spent about $500 on my stash of modern cloth nappies and about $70 a year on water, energy & detergent, plus 30 minutes a week washing & hanging them on the line. This has been for 3 kids - I could have spent more than 10 times that if I'd used disposables and it would have all ended up in the bin! It is a little extra work, but the money we've saved has come in handy for our family to provide extras we couldn't have otherwise afforded.
I know cloth isn't for everyone, but it's a pity more people don't know how easy and convenient modern cloth nappies are.
Posted on:
May 18, 2011 (May 18, 2011 8:29pm)
Posted by:
Nickyfraser
(Australia)
I love cloth nappies i use the old style fold ones and the modern clip ones with liners and find it really rewarding and easy
Posted on:
June 07, 2011 (Jun 7, 2011 10:57am)
Posted by:
Gorjus
(Australia)
i used cloth nappies for the first 3 months and found them no different than cleaning any other item of laundry. I cleansed the nappy first but did wash and sanitize separately. Went to disp nappies from 3 months on due to bigger wees from bubs and wanted him to sleep longer at night !! Aww.. memories. I prefer cloth to disp anyday.
Posted on:
July 23, 2011 (Jul 23, 2011 2:12pm)
Posted by:
Euphorica79
(Australia)
I read that there were more instances of diaper explosions with the disposable nappies, and if that was the case I'd be more prone to use cloth nappies, although I'm dreading the cleaning. Nice to see someone say that they noticed no difference between cleaning nappies and other laundry items! What has your experience been with "explosions" from coth versus disposable?
Posted on:
July 28, 2011 (Jul 28, 2011 8:09pm)
Posted by:
Nickyfraser
(Australia)
I used cloth nappys for the first six months but didnt find them practical after that as its too time consuming when your trying to return to work and baby starts solid
Posted on:
August 07, 2011 (Aug 7, 2011 1:46pm)
Posted by:
Miss Yummy Mummy
(Australia)
I was going to use cloth nappies but i decided to use disposable, it was just to hard with how busy we where we went for the easier option. but i use the cloth nappies as a spew rags they are very good for that and just in case we run out of other nappies i have cloth there just in case.
Posted on:
August 25, 2011 (Aug 25, 2011 6:10pm)
Posted by:
mrssimmo
(Australia)
I have 2 young children. I initially started with disposables with my oldest because I was totally put off at the thought of cleaning poo etc and the complications of folding squares etc. But nearly 18mths ago a friend introduced me to MCNs!! Totally hooked!! Save so much money and so much better for the environment. I also have a massive addiction and love shopping for cool nappies for my babies' gorgeous bums :D
Posted on:
August 26, 2011 (Aug 26, 2011 8:45am)
Posted by:
Meedee
(Australia)
With My first baby i figured i would do everything the "right' way and i purchased cloth nappies. My first baby had health issues and never slept. She would scream for hours on end and then finally would go to sleep for 20mins. In that 20mins I would rush to get nappies washed, get myself washed, dressed, prep dinner, and get some sleep myself. After 3months of this i gave up and decided that i needed to make life easier on myself. I put the cloth nappies away and purchased disposable Nappies.
Although my following children didnt have the same problems that i first did i simply didnt want to put any pressure on myself so decided it would be dispossable all the way.
I think everyone needs to do what suits their situation best.
Posted on:
August 30, 2011 (Aug 30, 2011 10:32pm)
Posted by:
learocks
(Australia)
I only have one little angel so far and I used cloth nappies which had a plastic lining, as well as normal disposables. The cloth nappies leaked with a big wee or poop and were only good during the day. The disposables were way more convenient when out and about too. It's true the disposables are probably much worse for landfill, but you can get biodegradable ones these days. The cloth nappies take a lot of soaking, disinfection and washing which mean more water usage and chemicals in the waterways anyway.
Posted on:
September 12, 2011 (Sep 12, 2011 4:07pm)
Posted by:
Beauty_fan
(Australia)
My sister has 5 children and she preferred the new style cloth nappies mentioned by Libbypoo. Mainly for the cost effectiveness. Once I left the hospital, I used disposables for my little one. I just felt I needed all the time I could get to manage the rest of motherhood's daily tasks.
Posted on:
September 29, 2011 (Sep 29, 2011 4:25pm)
Posted by:
Jourei
(Australia)
i dont like using clothes .
my mum used to do that for my baby bt i wasent happy with it cuse it take more time
Posted on:
October 05, 2011 (Oct 5, 2011 3:35pm)
Posted by:
Lj36
(Australia)
Hmmmm...very interesting article.
Posted on:
October 17, 2011 (Oct 17, 2011 10:42pm)
Posted by:
Miss Yummy Mummy
(Australia)
very interesting article
Posted on:
October 25, 2011 (Oct 25, 2011 11:53am)
Posted by:
jacqueline901
(Australia)
thank you, enjoyed reading the article and the different views via comments, I wanted to go with cloth nappies, but now thinking it would be easier for me, given time, to use disposable nappies.
Posted on:
December 20, 2011 (Dec 20, 2011 7:11am)
Posted by:
Smmmm
(Australia)
I used cloth with each of my babies and like others have mentioned, there is no need anymore for the whole hot water soaking thing. I believe they are better for the environment and for babies tooshies and they are sooo much cheaper! I don't think anyone should be judged for the choices they make, but I think people need to be more aware of their choices.
Posted on:
January 05, 2012 (Jan 5, 2012 12:44pm)
Posted by:
denimbaby
()
I think it is up to the individual. It works for some and not others. Some of the modern cloth nappies make it much easier these days like the ones we use at Denim Baby http://www.denimbaby.com.au/modern-cloth-nappies/
Posted on:
January 07, 2012 (Jan 7, 2012 9:28pm)
Posted by:
sprinkles37
(Australia)
I would love to use cloth nappies, but I already have way too much washing to do. We are looking at getting a second washing machine if we have another child, so then we could do cloth nappies
Posted on:
January 28, 2012 (Jan 28, 2012 8:13pm)
Posted by:
Curlycee
(Australia)
We are using cloth nappies at the moment (itti bitti) although I'm not game to use them overnight at this stage lest we be woken early!
Posted on:
January 29, 2012 (Jan 29, 2012 10:35pm)
Posted by:
Candyfairy
(Australia)
With my first bub 6 1/2 months old, I've mainly been using disposables because before she was born we got given so many nappies from family & friends to give us a head start so we had a good stash to start with. Now I don't have Many disposables left I've used cloth a few times, I'm not too sure if it works out cheaper, but I'm giving it a go! :)
Posted on:
February 06, 2012 (Feb 6, 2012 1:42pm)
Posted by:
beautystar
(Member since 2007, Australia)
People harped on how much cheaper cloth nappies were, but with the modern bamboo ones I really think it works out much the same. I was told you were looking at an outlay of about $800 to get enough nappies in various sizes, whereas I only spend about $30 a month on disposible nappies. I think if you end up having a few kids, int he long run it will be cheaper but once I tried disposibles i got hooked on the convenience and never got around to buying cloth (or bamboo!)
Posted on:
February 17, 2012 (Feb 17, 2012 8:19pm)
Comment on this article
Posted by: Bianca sarah (Australia)
I would of loved to use cloth nappies, but in today's society, Mums (and Dads) are so busy. With the house to clean, studying, looking after my daughter, food shopping, parents group & play group ect ect ect.....I just find that it is easy to use disposable nappies. Bad I know! And I might sound like a lazy mum, but I find using Huggies Nappies for my daughter leads to hardly any nappy rash at all and using disposable nappies also means more time that I can spend with my daughter. I already spend enough time in my day doing washing for 3 other people and well as myself and a baby! I do look up to Mums (and Dads) who do use cloth nappies though. I guess I'm just not one of those 'wonder' mums!!
Posted on: May 05, 2011 (May 5, 2011 3:40pm)