The use of diapers is unavoidable in children up to about 2 years of age because they are still unable to identify the urge to go in the bathroom.
The use of cloth diapers is an excellent choice mainly because they are very comfortable, they avoid skin allergies and rashes and help save money because they are reusable after being washed. These diapers can be used by all babies and can be purchased in many different shapes and sizes.
However, these diapers also present some drawbacks such as the need to wash more clothes, spending more water, for example. That's why it's important to be informed about all the characteristics of diapers to decide whether they fit your life.
What are modern cloth diapers?
Modern cloth diapers are diapers that can be used many times because they can be washed and used again.
These diapers are made of comfortable fabric such as cotton, preventing baby bites and have a different shape from the old cloth diapers. To experiment you can buy between 3 to 6 diapers to evaluate if you like the investment, and if you think it's worth it, you can buy more.
Why to use cloth diapers?
Although the initial investment is greater at the end it is cheaper to use cloth diapers because these can be used many times, up to about 800 uses, after washing. In addition, it has more advantages like:
- Reduce chances of rashes and the installation of microbes on the buttock of the baby;
- Reusable and can be used by another baby;
- Less chance of causing allergies in the baby by not containing those chemicals that are used in disposable diapers, which keep baby's skin dry for longer;
- Friends of the environment, because it is not necessary to cut so many trees for their production.
In addition, cloth diapers dry quickly because they are cotton and allow the skin to breathe.
What can be the disadvantages of these diapers?
Although they have excellent advantages, these diapers also have some negative points like:
- They need to be washed after each use, spending more water and electricity;
- It is necessary to remove the excess of poop from the diapers before the washing, so they must be transported until arriving at home;
- You must buy diapers of various sizes if the diaper is not one-size-fits-all;
- They may get stained quickly, needing to be changed.
In addition, it is necessary to make a large initial investment because it may be necessary to buy between 15 and 20 diapers at one time, as each newborn needs 10 to 12 diapers per day.
When to change the diaper?
The cloth diaper, although reusable, should be changed whenever the baby is dirty because the moisture causes skin problems and rashes that cause pain and much discomfort.
When the child sleeps for a long time, it is necessary to reinforce the diaper by placing a sheet of biodegradable paper, which can be bought in the same place as these new cloth diapers.
Where to buy cloth diapers?
There are stores with products for babies that sell cloth diapers. In addition, you can also buy over the internet at online stores. There are cloth diapers that the mother has to mold to the body of the baby and others that already have the shape of the old plastic pants.
How to wash cloth diapers?
The diapers can be laundered by the machine or by hand. To wash, you should remove excess pee and poop with a toothbrush, throwing it in the toilet and letting the diaper soak for some time, so that it can then be washed in the tank or machine.
In velcro diapers you should protect the area by turning the diaper upside down before placing the diaper in the machine and drying it in the shade so that the fabric does not fade. Another important care with these diapers is to iron not too hot and not to iron, so as not to spoil the waterproof region.
