DIAPERS

Until disposable diapers were introduced about thirty-five years ago, the only choice was to use cloth diapers, and either launder them at home or use a commercial diaper service. Today, modern disposable diapers meet the needs and expectations of most parents, and make up 80% or more of all diapers changes in virtually all developed countries. However, diaper choice is a decision that every new parents faces. Ideally, you should choose between cloth and disposable diapers before the baby arrives, so you can stock up or make delivery arrangements ahead of time. In order to plan ahead, you should know that most newborns go through about ten diapers a day.

DISPOSABLE DIAPERS

Most disposable diapers today consist of an inner liner next to the baby to help keep wetness away room skin, an absorbent core made of purified wood pulp and super absorbent polymers, and an outer waterproof covering. They may have elastics at the waist and legs to provide better fit and help prevent leaks, and have various kinds of fastening tapes to make application and removal easier. Over the years, disposable diapers have become thinner and lighter, while continuing to meet the need for containment, comfort, ease of use, and skin care.

To fit a disposable diaper, place the baby on the open diaper so the fastening tapes are in back of the baby, and bring the front of the diaper between the baby's legs. Then bring back the edges of the diaper over the front and press the tapes into place to fasten. When changing a soiled diaper, dump loose stool into a toilet. Do not flush the diaper, because it can block you plumbing. Wrap the diaper in its outer cover, and discard in a waste receptacle.

CLOTH DIAPER

Like disposable diapers, reusable cloth diapers have improved over the years, and available in a variety of absorbencies and textures. The original single-layer cotton diaper that is folded down to size has been largely replaced with the double-layered rectangular cotton diaper that has a multi-ply  or fiber-filled center strip. Most parents fasten them with diaper pins. To prevent pricking the baby when using pins, you need to keep your hand between the pin and your baby's skin. You can also use diaper tape, which comes in a dispenser like household tape, and adheres to the clothe. To prevent wet clothes and bedding, cloth diapers can be covered with a waterproof pant or over-wrap. Cloth diapers are also available that combine the diaper and over-wrap into a single unit.

If you want to use a diaper service, shop around before you make a choice. Ideally, a diaper service should pick up dirty diapers and drop off clean ones twice a week. Some services ask you to rinse the diapers yourself, while others prefer that you leave them intact, waste and all, in the diaper pail. If a diaper service is not available, or you choose to wash diapers yourself, keep them separate from the other clothes. After dumping stool into a toilet, you should rinse diapers in cold water, then soak them in a mild detergent solution with bleach for 30 minutes. Wring them out, then wash in hot water with a mild detergent. 

DIAPER CHOICE

Diaper choice has been complicated in recent years by the debate on the environmental effects of diapers, mostly centered on the effects of disposable diapers on landfill space. Actually, both cloth and disposable diapers have environmental effects, including raw material and energy usage, air and water pollution, and waste disposal. 


A number of scientific studies have found that each diaper has some environmental effect. Disposable diapers add 1% to 2% to municipal solid waste, while cloth diapers use more energy and water laundering and contribute to air and water pollution. It is difficult to judge whether solid waste issues. In the end, it is up to individuals to make their own decisions about diaper type based on their own concerns and needs.


There are also some health aspects to consider. Excessively wet skin and contact with urine and stool can cause diaper rash. Because cloth diapers can't keep wetness away from you baby skin as effectively as disposables, it's especially important to change cloth diaper quickly after they become wet or soiled. If you use cloth diapers, you might consider using disposables overnight and during trips and outings, when it is often less convenient to change them frequently.


Another health-related issue results from the ability of diapers to prevent leakage of urine and stool. This is particularly important in group child-care settings such as day care centers, where intestinal disease can be easily transmitted among the children. Disposable diapers are generally able to prevent leaks better than cloth because their super absorbent polymers lock wetness inside. Because of the increased risk for leaks and diaper handling issues, many day care centers require the use if disposable diapers.