If you are an expectant mother, there are a lot of things you need to think about – the crib, the pram/buggy/travel system, having enough clothes ready for the big arrival and lots of fun and cute stuff like that. Although you may not want to be reminded of just how much poo and wee you need to clean up from your baby’s body and clothing, you need to give some serious consideration to diapers.

Of course, you could just give in and take the convenient route of buying disposable diapers. However, if you are environmentally-friendly and conscious about the waste you are generating, you may want to consider cloth diapers.

We’re not going to lie to you, they do require more work and a more comprehensive system in place than disposables, but they offer some great benefits. To give you some food for thought, we are going to consider some of these below.

Economical

One of the main, and most obvious, benefits of opting for cloth diapers is the amount of money you will save over time. When you consider that your baby will use about 5,000 diapers in the first 2 years of their life.

If you have ever looked at the prices of branded and even supermarket-own diapers, you can only imagine how much money that is going to cost you. Yes, initially, you will have to spend a bit on the diapers and the other accessories necessary and it will include a lot of washing, but as you are going to be regularly washing your kid’s clothes anyway, it shouldn’t make too much difference.

No Chemicals Used

Disposable diapers, in case you didn’t know, use chemicals that provide your baby with a smooth feel on their skin. With cloth diapers, there are no special chemicals used. Although this may result in diaper rash if you are not hot on changing them quickly or regularly enough, it can actually be positive in helping your baby to be more aware of their bodily functions which will help when you try to potty and toilet train them.

Renewable, Natural Fabrics

Disposable diapers are terrible for the environment because they do not breakdown easily. Cloth diapers on the other hand, if you avoid those made from microfiber, are made from natural fabrics like bamboo, hemp, and cotton. As well as being gentle and kind to your baby’s skin, these fabrics are also completely sustainable and recyclable.

Lack of Urine Smell

It may sound ridiculous, but it is true. If you’ve ever experienced the fragrant smell of a freshly “filled” diaper, you will know it has a certain funk to it. This is caused by the chemicals used that turn the urine into a gel and helps provide that dry feel on the skin. With cloth diapers, because there are no special chemicals, this stronger and very unpleasant smell is eliminated.

You will still get an unpleasant smell from a poopy diaper, but really that is to be expected when you have children.