When you have a baby everything that concerns your child is important. Things like choosing the right milk and nappies may even feel like a major issue, rightfully so because we want to give only the best for our kids. On the issue of disposable diapers vs. cloth nappies, I say that the disposable diaper is best for my baby. This is because the disposables trumped over the cloth nappies in the areas of cost, comfort, and convenience. Here is a closer look at the 3 reasons why I chose disposable diapers over cloth nappies.
Cost Savings. At first glance, the disposable diapers seemed to be more costly compared to cloth diapers. One pack of Pampers Dry diapers (61 + 7pcs) costs around Php630 while 6 pieces of cloth diapers would only cost Php450.
These are the ordinary cloth diapers that our parents used to have in the old days. The ones that resemble a gauze pad but are most likely made of thin cotton fabrics.
For me it is more practical to use disposable nappies because I don’t have to worry about any extra expenses. Cloth nappies require washing after use which means expenses for laundry soap, water, and electricity.
If you only have 6 pieces of cloth nappies, expect to wash nappies daily to ensure that the baby doesn’t run out of clean ones. Based on my estimate this amounts to almost double the current soap consumption for my daughter Sam’s clothes. We hired someone to wash our clothes once a week but washing nappies can’t wait that long. I’ll have to take time off from more productive tasks and time with my daughter to wash nappies. Not only that, we also have to consider the cost of water and electricity. Even if I alternate hand washing and machine wash, that will still be two to three extra loads per week.
Aside from washing, you will also need accessories for your cloth nappies. These are pins or snap closures that will lock the nappies in place. Otherwise, you may want to consider the latest versions of cloth diapers that already have snaps or locks built-in. These models are of course more expensive than the ordinary cloth nappies. I saw a 7-piece set of cloth diaper in Lazada that costs Php1,388.00.
You will also need liners that costs around Php700.00 for 5 pieces and an optional nappy cream to protect your baby’s skin. If you don’t have a drying line or rack at home then you may want to add this to your list of costs. This is a small investment compared to the amount of energy and carbon footprint that will be reduced by not using machine drying cycles.
What is my bottom line on cost savings? The lifetime costs of both cloth and disposable diapers vary considerably. As such, the bottom line cost savings depends on you and the diaper of your choice. But having considered all the expenses involved in both nappies, I came to the conclusion that using cloth diapers will be more costly for my budget.
Convenience. As a frequent traveller, I find it more convenient to use disposable diapers. For one, we don’t have to bring extra bags for soiled nappies nor extra pouches for the accessories. We normally use 3-4 diapers for Sam, two changes for full diaper and once for poop change. The fourth one is extra in case Sam decides to go for another poop. I also find it more convenient to use disposables even at home because I don’t have to deal with washing soiled nappies.
Comfort. When it comes to comfort, the type of diaper you use is important. This is why I am careful in choosing the diaper brand that I use for Sam. Pampers does an incredible job in keeping my baby’s skin comfortably dry and protected. They are super absorbent because the All New Pampers Baby Dry with Magic Gel absorbs and locks-in up to 7 wettings. As a result, my baby stays dry for long hours that I only bring 3 diapers per day whenever we travel. Sam is also comfortable in her disposable diapers while asleep or at play. Pampers Baby Dry has NEW Stretchy Tapes that adapt to the baby’s shape and movements. It also has a soft cottony cover that wraps your baby’s skin with comfort. Best of all she doesn’t get rashes with Pampers. Sam also gets changed comfortably without worries of getting prick by pins as one would with a cloth diaper.
Aside from PAMPERS BABY DRY, Pampers also offers disposable baby diapers for every stage of your child’s development: PAMPERS COMFORT DRY, PAMPERS BABY DRY PANTS, PAMPERS PREMIUM CARE. And recently, we tried the Pampers Premium Care. And we love it! Pampers Premium Care with 5 star skin protection is specially designed to provide the best care for your baby’s delicate skin. Super soft like silky soft. It has a breathable cover that lets fresh air in and humid air out, helping to maintain Sam’s skin in its ideal condition.
One of the issues with disposable diapers is its effect on the environment. I am aware of the debate on this issue and here is my take on it. Cloth diapers are considered as the most eco-friendly way to care for your baby’s hygiene. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that using cloth nappies would have less carbon emissions that using disposable. Remember that you need water to wash these cloths, water that we need to conserve nowadays. You also consume electricity and soap that leave carbon footprints in their production. So unless you manage all these things carefully the claim of cloth diapers to be more eco-friendly that disposable ones remain debatable.
I do not consider disposable diapers as bad for the environment as it is. A lot of the diapers we have today make use of recyclable and biodegradable materials. One of the reasons why I chose Pampers for my daughter is their concern for the environment. They have exerted efforts to reduce their environmental impact through smarter manufacturing processes and use of renewable energy resources.
As users of disposable diapers, we can also help reduce our environmental impact by learning ways to reuse disposable diapers. You can use diapers soiled with pee to help your plants grow. Please take note that we only reuse slightly used diapers with pee, so be sure to dispose poop-soiled diapers properly. Simply put the diaper at the bottom of potted plants to condition your soil. The diaper will help retain moisture and would require less watering for your plant. If you have hanging pots you can also line them with used diapers to prevent them from dripping. Not to worry though, these diapers do not pose a danger to your plants. The water storing crystals in the diapers are made of the same stuff as garden watering crystals sold commercially. For practical purposes, your used diapers can be an eco-friendly and less expensive alternative for your garden watering crystals.
Just to be clear, I have nothing against using cloth diapers. In fact I have friends who use cloth nappies for their children and I don’t have any issues with it. I simply feel that the use of disposable diapers is best for me and my baby. After careful consideration of costs, convenience, and comfort, it appears that I made the right decision.
I guess the last question now is Why Pampers? The answer is simple it keeps my baby dry and comfy. This brand has already been tried and tested by my mommy friends and they all recommend it. My personal experience with it was also very positive. I can really say that Pampers keeps my baby dry, comfy, and happy. As they say, a dry baby is a happy baby and when the baby is happy, mommy is definitely happy.
In the end, my baby and I are happy with my decision to choose Pampers disposable diapers over cloth nappies.