The great diaper debate is a long and complicated one. Which is cheaper? Which is better for the environment? Which is better for the baby? Which one is -- dare we say -- more convenient?
According to my trusty Baby Bargains book, the average baby will go through 2,300 diaper changes in their first year of life. Let me repeat that: TWO THOUSAND AND THREE HUNDRED CHANGES! Good, you got it. And that's just for the first year. Diapers will be a part of our lives until Lima Bean is three or four years old.
Let's take a quick look at each before I make the big reveal of what our decision is.
Cloth Diapers
I wore cloth diapers when I was a baby. I don't know for sure, but I would venture a guess that Papa Bean did too. That's what was used back then. (No! Papa Bean's mom used disposable diapers! They had just come out a few years earlier and she says they were all the rage.) They were regular white pre-folds and typically secured with safety ins and then worn under a pair of plastic bubble pants.
Pros: Babies had less diaper rash and toilet trained faster. Plus, they are reusable and don't end up in landfills.
Cons: Some are not as absorbent. And, of course, do you wash them at home or hire a laundry service? Plus, not all day care centers accept them.
Flash forward to today's more modern diapers. Many are much more absorbent. They now have fancy (cute even) diaper covers instead of the plastic pants. And laundry service is still available.
Some popular options: bumGenius , Bumpkins , Kushies, Swaddlebees or FuzziBunz. Also popular: PinStripes and PolkaDots or Niki's Diapers.
For more on cloth diapers, check out Diaper Pin. Read a mother's rave review here.
Disposable Diapers
First introduced in 1961, these suckers now hold an impressive lead over cloth diapers. More than 95% of all households who have kids in diapers use them.
Pros: Today's disposable diapers have super-absorbent gels and, let's face it, they're cheaper and easier to use.
Cons: All that super absorbency means babies are in no rush to potty train. Plus, they could lead to higher trash costs. And, of course, you are taking up significant space in a landfill somewhere where your babies diapers will be decomposing until they graduate college, or later.
So which costs more?
It depends. Cloth diapers have a higher up-front cost (cloth diapers, diaper covers, different sizes as your baby grows) but then don't cost much if you continue using them. Disposable diapers, on the other hand, are far cheaper per diaper but remember, you'll need 2,300 of them in the first year. The bottom line comes down to whether you are willing to wash the cloth diapers yourself - or whether you hire a laundry service, which averages about $750/year.
According to my Baby Bargains book, cloth diapers for the first year, using a laundry service, would likely run $800-$1,200. Disposable diapers could run as high as $650-750 if you buy them at grocery stores or $400-500 if you buy them at discount stores.
Bottom Line, according to my book: "The cheapest way to go is cloth diapers laundered at home. The next best is disposables. Finally, cloth diapers from a diaper service are the most expensive."
Will we go cloth or disposable?
We're going to try a hybrid solution, called gDiapers! These diapers use a washable outer shell with a disposable inner lining that can be flushed down the toilet or composted in the back yard. To be fair, I have heard mixed reviews about these. Some moms love them and others say they leak and don't fit as well. Well, we love how eco-friendly they are and think the concept is a good one. So, we're willing to give them a try!
HINT: The gDiapers Shower Gift would be fabulous to receive! It includes a Starter Set, case of small refills and an extra gPant. Check out how cute these pants are! (Our favorites: Good Earth, Girly Girl Ruffle, Good Vibe Girl, Grasshopper Green, Gaga Pink and Got Chocolate Brown)
I have a feeling that the answer to the great diaper debate is not a one-size-fits-all solution. There may be some trial and error involved. So here's our plan: We'll give the gDiapers a go. I like the concept, so I am hoping they work! (Actress Julia Roberts uses them!)
We also plan to try some of the eco-friendly disposable diapers out there: Tushies, Seventh Generation or Nature Babycare.
HINT: For a $2 coupon off Seventh Generation, create an account on their Web site here.
Here is a great review of gDiapers as well as other eco-friendly disposable diapers, like Seventh Generation.
In fact, many moms suggest using gDiapers during the day and switching to disposables at night to protect from leaks.
Finally, if none of the above work to our satisfaction, you'll find us at our local COSTCO or grocery store buying Huggies or Pampers in bulk.
UPDATE: Huggies now offers a new Pure and Natural Line of diapers. You can order 3 free samples on their Web site! They are per household (or computer) so go on ya'all and order away. We can always use extra diapers... Remember we'll need 2,300 in the first year alone!
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