If you are expecting a baby, you should be thinking about buying dozens of accessories and products that will be needed from the moment of birth and one of them is diapers. Many parents make the mistake of making nervous diaper purchases without taking into account that some brands can harm their delicate skin.
It is there where we are forced to look for other alternatives such as cloth diapers. In a world where people are always looking for practicality, the consumption of this type of diaper is very low. However, sometimes due to various factors, these diapers become our allies while they learn to go to the bathroom.
One of the main advantages of cloth diapers over the popular disposable ones is that they are a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option. These diapers used by our mothers and/or grandmothers have been redesigned today. The fabrics are absorbent and durable and come in different designs.
However, there are mothers who decide to buy both to use everyday cloth and disposable ones for the night or for special occasions. There are also mothers who prefer cloth or so-called “ecological” because they are reusable, are respectful of the environment and at the same time allow them to save in the long term.
There is no doubt that this type of diaper is very profitable because you can reuse them. You simply wash them with water, and neutral soap, put them to dry and that’s it. We have made a list of the best cloth diapers, they all have one feature in common and that is that they contain a cover that prevents waste from being passed. It is also proven that boys or girls who use this type of diaper learn to go to the bathroom earlier than those who do not use it.
In particular, I always leaned towards disposable diapers, until the day I bought a well-known brand and began to cry non-stop. After a while of analyzing the reason for the crying, I noticed that his bottom was itchy and it was there that I realized that the diaper irritated him. After spending a lot of money on anti-nappy cream, I opted to put cloth diapers on him, in less than a week he was cured and he now uses them daily while we are at home.
Importance of Cloth Diapers
For some time, parents have preferred cloth diapers over disposable ones, since using them brings many benefits, such as what you save by using them for each child they have and that they can use them from birth until they leave the diaper.
They are also important because they are respectful of the environment unlike the pollution generated by disposables; they hardly produce waste at home, unlike others that produce 50%.
All this garbage takes centuries to degrade, they are comfortable for your baby and the elastics do not mark their legs like disposable ones, they are safe and when using them you do not expose your baby to the chemicals of disposable diapers.
Other diapers contain a large number of substances that are harmful to your baby’s health and this information is unknown to most moms, these diapers are not biodegradable and most of their composition is made up of cellulose and petroleum derivatives.
Cloth diapers protect your baby’s skin since they are breathable and natural, using them there are fewer cases of dermatitis because they reduce the abrasive effects of urine and stools.
They also favor the position of your baby’s legs because as they are thicker they create a stronger bridge between the legs and this position is the best for the correct development of the hips.
When you buy cloth diapers you will make a single expense, and you will not have to worry again because the diapers have run out and if you have enough money to buy more.
Your child uses them for as long as they use diapers, you will not need to buy them again and if you have other children, they can inherit them, and you can reuse them repeatedly.
Advantages of Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are very useful and especially in the first month of your baby’s birth because they have the most sensitive skin.
These do not contain chemicals and babies feel more comfortable. There are also those who say that children who use these diapers leave them earlier because they learn to control their toilet bowls.
They are more beautiful and static, there is a great variety of different materials on the market and they are sold at cheap prices, they also make your baby feel free, and they give them a pleasant sensation.
They are healthy for your baby because the fabrics used to make them such as cotton, flannel or bamboo fibers do not cause allergies on your baby’s skin and avoid irritation, they are less absorbent and deserve to be changed sooner which avoids irritation .
They are less likely to cause diaper rash, unlike disposable diapers that contain harmful chemicals that can irritate your baby’s skin.
On the other hand, we cannot forget the comfort that it produces for your baby, the touch of the fabric and its softness cannot be compared to that of other diapers.
They are ecological due to their reuse; they have a much longer life than disposable ones that you can only use once.
They are respectful of the environment because they can be used and kept intact for many years, disposables take years to decompose, whereas fabric ones take only months. If you care about the world we live in, these are the diapers you should buy.
They are economical in the long term since they are a greater investment in the first purchase because they are more expensive than disposable ones but in the end, they are cheaper because they are reusable they allow you to save and not be buying all the time.
They are easily washed, if you want you can do it by hand or you can put them in the washing machine with short programs. Do not exceed 40 degrees of temperature and use a biodegradable and fragrance-free detergent and, when there is feces that have passed to the absorbent just by adding water hot wash off without difficulty.
Cloth Diaper for Newborn Baby
The cloth diapers have three layers: an outer cotton print, a waterproof intermediate, and an inner, which is absorbent.
The outer is a soft fabric that is what makes contact with the delicate skin of the baby and prevents diaper rash. The inner part is the absorbent. It can be made of cotton, bamboo, soy, hemp or microfiber, or a combination of several of these materials. The cover, the waterproof outer part, is usually made of polyurethane (PUL) or wool.
Basic Varieties of Cloth Diapers
- Unique piece (TE1): Absorbent and cover are united, they are a unique piece.
- Double piece (TE2): The absorbent is attached to the cover by means of hooks, or another similar system, it can be disassembled by separating the cover from the absorbent.
- Refillable: The cover has a cloth “bag” in which you insert the absorbent.
- Adjustable: The absorbent is a diaper that must be covered with a blanket so that it does not soak the clothes.
- Gauze – Spikes: It is a fine fabric, usually made of cotton or bamboo, which is placed as a diaper. It is closed with a special clip or safety pins.
Types Cloth Diaper
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Pre-folded Diapers
They can be used with diaper covers. They are pieces of absorbent cloth in a square or rectangular shape (there are also those with curves). It is sewn in a specific way in which there is a strip with more layers of fabric in the central part of the diaper than on the sides. They need to be held by a special clamp so that they do not fall off and just like the tight ones, they need a cover for waterproofing.
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Training Diapers
They have a thick and absorbent fabric that helps the child to recognize if he is wet. Made from a cotton blend, its waterproof inner layer and inner sheet are designed to contain ‘small leaks’. They allow the child to feel the humidity to develop the independence of your little one with their “pull-up” style design.
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Adjustable Diapers
Made entirely of fabric, they are adjusted with buttons or velcro. They are made entirely of absorbent material and need a cover to prevent moisture from passing through the clothes. It allows reusing the outer cover by changing only the absorbents and facilitates the use of the cover with tight diapers.
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Absorbent Cover
The covers are the waterproof part of the two-piece system. They are worn over a tight fitting to prevent moisture held inside from soaking through clothing. Normally, many covers are not needed since, if they do not get dirty, they do not need to be replaced at each diaper change. Available in several sizes and with different types of closure, they are cleaned after several uses because they do not tend to stain. There are also microfiber covers that have a pocket in which an absorbent wipe can be inserted.
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Swimsuit Diapers
Made with the same material with which children’s swimsuits are made but they are designed to hold the baby’s stool. Unlike disposable diapers for daily use, disposable swim diapers do not absorb any type of liquid since they will be submerged in water, but are designed purely and exclusively to contain “the solid”.
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All-in-one Diapers
Similar to disposable diapers and very easy to use, they are recommended for traveling. The new proposals incorporate a super absorbent bamboo core, seams, exclusive anti-leak barriers, and an anti-humidity zone in the baby’s tummy. Almost all of them include velcro closure.
Buying Guide for Fabric Diaper
Not only the brand and the price are aspects to value when buying diapers since there are many basic characteristics that you can take into account before buying cheap diapers for your baby.
Our advice: seek the recommendation of mothers or fathers who have already used them with their babies and avoid choosing your diapers at random, since a bad choice could very negatively affect the comfort and well-being of your baby.
Essential Aspects
- Texture: A diaper with a smooth texture will help not to irritate or scratch the baby’s skin.
- Flexibility: Diapers must allow total freedom of movement for the baby and adapt to it, especially when they begin to move on their own. They should be adapted to the needs and movements of your baby.
- Absorbency: It is essential to choose a model that guarantees the highest and fastest absorbency, since this way your baby will stay dry for longer.
Size Guide
Each brand has its measurements, there is nothing standardized. The sizes are according to the weight of the baby, from newborn. There are many brands with one-size fits all. These can be used from 5.5 kg until the diaper is off (in most cases)
- Size: This is one of the most important aspects to consider before buying your baby’s diapers. Here is a table to guide you to choose correctly:
- Size 1: Newborns up to 5 kilos
- Size 2: between 3 and 6 kilos
- Size 3: between 4 and 10 kilos
- Size 4: between 9 and 15 kilos
- Size 5: between 13 and 18 kilos
- Size 6: between 17 and 28 kilos
Price
At first, they can seem expensive, as each diaper can cost between € 15 and € 20. But in the long run, you realize that they are not that expensive, since they are worth more or less the same as a disposable package with the advantage that the fabric ones will continue to be used (even if you have more children).
You can also give it to associations that need them or if it is you, who needs to recover part of the investment, resell them.