Much Ado About Diapers

Six Factors To Consider When Choosing Diapers

Decision making, every parent’s constant companion. With so many decisions to make, parents approach the process differently. Some parents like… no, love, research. They google, read, interrogate other parents, and research every little thing before making a decision.

Others, well, others just wing it.

Most are in between; a little bit of research and a little bit of winging it. No matter where you lie on the spectrum, we’ve decided to help you with at least one of those many decisions. Which diapers to use. Here are six things to consider when choosing diapers.

Price

Consider your budget and how much you’re willing to spend when choosing a diaper.

Diapers aren’t cheap; and considering you’re going to be buying them for at least the next 3 years, price is a huge factor to consider. Disposable diapers cost anywhere from UGX 5,000 to 50,000 depending on the size and number of diapers in a pack. Newborns go through 8-10 diapers a day, and while the number of diapers used a day decreases as babies get older, the price of diapers increases with size. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are a more cost effective option. While the initial cost for a starter pack of cloth diapers is high, somewhere close to UGX 100,000, the fact that you don’t have to keep buying them makes this a cheaper option in the long run.

Convenience

Another factor to consider is convenience. As mentioned above, cloth diapers are more cost effective than disposable diapers. However, disposable diapers beat out cloth ones in convenience. Changing cloth diapers when on the go can prove a daunting task. Besides the necessity of a wet bag in which to store the dirty diaper till you get home, there’s the thought of toting around a soiled diaper possibly for hours. If you have your heart set on cloth diapers, however, consider using disposable ones only when on the move.

Environmental Impact

Which brings us to the next factor to consider in choosing diapers, environmental impact. It has been said that there is no generation more desirous of a cause than the millennial generation. So if you were born between 1982 and 2004, and have chosen saving the environment as your cause, then by all means embrace the cloth diaper. On average a child will only need about 40 cloth diapers the entire time they are in diapers. Furthermore, cloth diapers can be reused with subsequent children negating the need to buy new ones. Compare this to the thousands of disposable diapers just one baby goes through a year and the environmental impact of disposable diapers becomes really concerning.

Baby's Reaction

Your baby’s skin might react to some diaper brands and thrive with others. Watch baby carefully and make your choice accordingly.

Then there’s, of course, baby’s reaction to the diaper of your choice. Different disposable diaper brands use different chemicals in their manufacturing process. In fact, in 2011 Proctor & Gamble (makers of Pampers) settled a huge lawsuit with parents who claimed their Dry Max versions of Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers gave their babies diaper rashes and burns. You can read the article here for more details. While Pampers has since taken the offending chemical out of their diapers, the case does bring to mind the fact that disposable diapers do indeed contain chemicals. This is one of the advantages of cloth diapers. Cloth diapers contain no chemicals and are therefore believed to be better for baby’s skin. Keep in mind, however, that cloth diapers are not as absorbent as disposable ones and can therefore cause diaper rashes if not changed frequently.

Sizing

The next factor to consider when choosing diapers is sizing. Some diaper brands are known to run larger than others. For example, Huggies diapers are better suited for larger babies. Cloth diapers come in either different sizes or adjustable ones. The adjustable cloth diapers can be a bit ill-fitting on tiny babies and newborns, leading to more leaks, so this is something to keep in mind. Consider how often your baby has a blow-out or leaks through her diaper. These are signs of an ill-fitting diaper.

Quality

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the quality of the diaper. Not all diapers are made equal. Off-brand diapers certainly cost less than brand name ones, however their performance might not be up to par.

The ideal diaper should be soft on baby’s skin, while strong and durable at the same time. Signs of a poor quality diaper include itchy, scratchy, or rough feeling to the touch, and thin, weak material. If you can feel wetness on the outside of the diaper after only being worn for a short time, then chances are the diaper is a poor quality one and will be more prone to leaks and blow-outs. Take advantage of all the diapers you get on your baby shower. Feel each different brand and compare softness, strength, and durability.

While this list is certainly not exhaustive, we hope we have made choosing which diapers to use a little easier for you. Don’t think you have to have it all figured out before baby arrives; and don’t be surprised if you change your mind often as baby grows. There is no one right choice, only the right choice for your family.