When my daughter was born my dad went through a phase where he’d tell me all about what it was like when I was a newborn. One of the things he talked about was my aunts making diapers for me in preparation of my arrival. He also told me about the “newborn flag” that all new parents raised on their balcony – aka, the clothesline of cloth diapers they had to hang up.
“Diapers nowadays are so much easier. You don’t know what it was like cleaning off your poop.” Gee, thanks, Dad…
But he has a point. Disposable diapers make life so much easier for new parents. But there are still plenty of parents today that choose to stick to cloth diapers – one of them being former jingkids Deputy Managing Editor Anna Pellegrin-Hartley.
Let’s put aside the obvious cons of cost and environmental impact that disposable diapers bring aside. Anna shares some first-hand pros and cons of cloth diapers.
Pros:
- Cute designs
- Can be better for babies with sensitive skin
Cons:
- More work with laundry
- Take some adjusting to, and experimentation
- More bulky so clothes fit differently and more to carry when you go out for the day
- Change more frequently
Other things to consider:
- There are a few different kinds of cloth diapers. Not all are the same
- Cloth wipes are great. They’re much better at cleaning up babies than disposable ones. They’re also a great, easy way to get into the idea of a washable baby products for those who are curious.
- Buying a second-hand starter stash is a great way to experiment without making a big investment.
- It’s not all or nothing. It’s convenient to use disposable for travel and overnight.
According to multiple forums online, cloth diapers help kids potty train quicker than those who wear disposable ones.
Being stuck in lockdown with a toddler who’s at the perfect age for potty training has got me thinking – why not put this time to some good use and see if cloth diapers really help her transition to big girl panties quicker?
For those looking for a second-hand starter pack like Anna recommended, check out these kid-friendly secondhand groups here.
Otherwise, got a baby laundry detergent you’d like to recommend? ‘Cause I have a feeling that my laundry machine is about to go into overdrive.
Images: Pexels
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