Reusable vs Disposable Diapers: Which is Better?
Babies have a pretty routine—sleep, eat, and poop. Then, they also have the occasional smile or laughter (which makes it all worth it). But all that poop leads to many, many diaper changes. Just like adults, no one likes to be sitting in their filth. When it comes time to welcome your baby, whether it’s your first or you’re a seasoned parent, one question inevitably comes up surrounding all of that diaper changing. Should you use a reusable diaper or a disposable one? After all, you’re going to go through a lot of changes in those initial days, weeks, months, and even years of your little one’s life. Knowing the difference between reusable and disposable diapers is important because it can be the difference between a happy baby or a parent’s lack of sleep.Â
So, which is better? Let’s take a look
Reusable:
Easier to package: Reusable diapers are better to take on the road because it allows parents to easily wash them at almost any time. All you need are a few reusable diapers and a scent secure place to store the dirty ones between washes. A reusable diaper will have less of an environmental impact so that means that they’re more guilt-free to purchase. For infants, in particular, you don’t want to lug around a full package of diapers when you move around.Â
Cost-efficient: This might come as no surprise, but when you purchase less you spend less. As a result, reusable diapers end up saving parents hundreds of dollars a year in diaper spending.
They’re eco-friendly: If you love the environment, then a reusable diaper is the only option for you to go with. Because you buy less and spend less, there is naturally a greater long-term impact on the environment. Fewer diapers mean less waste in landfills.
Cotton made for sensitive skin: Most reusable diapers are made from super soft cotton material. This makes it much gentler on your baby’s skin so that there are fewer rashes, irritants, and cranky moments.
Better tabs: Reusable diapers are made to last, so those tabs that you pull on to properly fit your baby will last longer and be easier.Â
They’re extremely messy: You love the environment so you opted for the reusable diaper option. It’s great until you realize what reusable means: pooper scooper and laundry. When you have a reusable diaper you have to clean it to use it again. And if you’re not used to, or have a low tolerance for excretion then you’ll likely be in for a very, very messy moment, time and time again.
Disposable:
One and done: Disposable diapers are better for the parent, or toddler, who cannot stand the smell of a poopy or bodily-fragrant full diaper. They’re extremely convenient because once you’re finished all you have to do is simply throw it away.
Better convenience: Disposable diapers have been around a lot longer than reusable diapers when it comes to saturating the market. That means more options and more sizing options for your baby. When you have an ever-growing infant you need a diaper than comes with numerous options for their growing body.
Comes with chemicals and irritants: Disposable diapers may be more convenient and less smelly, but many times they also come with harsher chemicals and dyes that can cause a lot of discomfort for your baby.
Not built to last: Since disposable diapers are made to be trashed fairly quickly, they’re not built to last which means that if you pull too hard to the baby tries to escape it can come off, or undone, rather quickly.
Both reusable and disposable diapers come with options that are made from eco-conscious materials. That means more biodegradable materials and leaving less waste in landfills, such as bamboo or plant-based materials. Their eco-packaging and materials are often recyclable, created with non-toxic dyes, and are certifiably sourced. This makes for a better home and it also makes the parent feel better about the purchase itself because, no matter what the option, there is less of an environmental impact on the Earth. Both are suitable for your baby’s needs.
The best part is that you don’t have to choose a reusable or disposable diaper right away. You can try both for yourself and your little ones and see which diaper option is best for your baby. When it comes to your baby, you want the best diaper option out there. Then, you can even go deeper into your research and sort through the numerous brands, reusable and disposable, to see which your baby likes best. After all, our baby lives in a diaper for the first months/years of its life.
Remember, you can always change your mind. At the end of the day, do what’s best for you and your baby.
