Diapering Choices
Oh, there are so many choices. Disposable or Cloth. Pampers, Luvs or Huggies. Size one or size two. Swaddlers, cruisers, regular or supreme….How does a mom choose what is best!
Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are very “vintage” and definitely making a come back. Every year more and more new moms fall for this relatively cheap way to diaper their baby. After the initial expense of the diapers and the wraps, the cost of cloth diapers is equal to the soap, water and the cost of the electricity or gas used for the dryer. Sure it takes time to wash those diapers, but most new moms will find themselves washing baby clothes on a near daily basis, and able to just throw the diapers in with their loads. For mom’s that don’t have time there are diaper services that will pick up the diapers and drop off clean ones for a nominal fee.
The downside of cloth diapers is having to wash them out when your baby has pooped and you have to carry plastic bags with you at all times to put the diapers in when you are out and you have to change your baby. This can be very inconvenient and smelly.
Disposable Diapers
While definitely less time consuming and in many peoples’ eyes more convenient, disposable diapers are much harder on the pocket book. At club stores like Sam’s and Costco you can buy a big box of diapers, approximately 250 size ones and 200 size threes for about $40. This is the cheapest you can find it. In a regular store like Wal-Mart, Target or a grocery store, you get a much lower number of diapers for a higher cost.
However you do not have to deal with the rinsing, washing, wraps, pins, etc with disposable diapers. You can take it off and throw it away whether you are at home or out shopping.
Brands of Diapers
With all the different brands of disposable diapers, how do you know which is best for your baby? There are three main brands Pampers, Luvs Huggies, and numerous other store brands available. Some moms will swear that one brand is best over another or that one brand never worked on their baby. In many ways this is true. Body shapes are as different for babies as they are for adults and each brand of diaper is made differently. You may even have two babies that can use one brand where your third baby can’t and you have to buy a different brand for him. If your baby seems to be having a lot of leaks from one brand, experiment by trying another brand to see if it works better. The brand of diaper may also change as your baby goes up in sizes.
Some parents will choose diapers based on choice, or based on the coupons that they have and can use. Collecting coupons and waiting for a sale on your favorite diaper can often save a lot of money.
The Little Details…
The disposable diaper companies all have different details to their brands of diapers. Pampers has Swaddlers and Cruisers, focusing on different ages and stages of your babies life. Huggies has their normal diaper, and their supreme diapers which seem to fit a little snugger. This again is an issue of trial and error. Which diaper works best and fits your baby’s body the best?
Sizes
Diapers come in six main sizes, only five of which most babies will go through. They come in preemie, newborn, size one, two, three, four and five. Most babies will be able to start off in newborn, although they may be able to fit in size one as well. Most toddlers will be into a size five before they are potty trained. Each size has a minimum and maximum weight listed on the packaging, but many times this is subjective based on your baby’s body type. If you feel like a diaper is fitting too snug, even if your baby has not reached the high end of the pounds listed, you can still move him up to the next size in order to see if your baby is more comfortable.
Read More
Comment on this article...