The Nappy Debate
Cloth or disposable nappies?
While there’s a lot of debate on what’s best, ultimately what it all comes down
to is what’s right for you and your baby. Everybody’s lifestyle, beliefs and
time constraints vary – so of course priorities for what kind of nappy you
choose will also vary. In everything we do it’s important to gather as much
information as possible before making a decision. Here are some of the pros and
cons for both:
Cloth Nappies…Cloth nappies have come a long way from what we remember our mothers and grandmothers using. In fact most modern cloth nappies look much the same as disposable nappies, just made of fabric. They even come complete with handy Velcro closures and elasticised leg openings. Available in a range of fabrics, including organic cotton and eco-friendly bamboo, the overall consensus is that cloth nappies will save you money, especially if you’re able to reuse them with other children. Depending on the brand you choose the average set-up costs are between $800 and $1000. This is compared with the average $2500-$3000 most of us spend on disposable nappies every year.
There’s also the added health benefits
as using cloth nappies helps you avoid the risk of exposing your baby’s
delicate skin to some of the harsh dyes and gels that appear in some brands of
disposable nappies.
The major con of cloth nappies is
of course the washing that’s involved. Most mums feel clothes and linen are
more than enough for the keeping the washing machine in constant motion without
adding dirty nappies to the mix. However, a quick trawl of internet forums
discussing this aspect and you’ll find a lot of mums arguing the benefits of
cloth nappies – both economic and environmental – greatly outweigh any
inconvenience regular washing creates. When managed the right way they can
simply be added to the washes you’re already doing. 
Disposable Nappies…
Convenience. Convenience.
Convenience. It’s hard to argue about how much easier life is with disposable
nappies. They’re super convenient and a cinch to change thanks to smart,
commonsense designs. As they can be thrown straight in the bin, they make a
much more practical option when you’re on the go and due to their
ultra-absorbent linings, there’s less urgency to change them than if you’re
using cloth. And so long as they’re put
on correctly, no leaks is almost a guarantee. On the downside, they’re more expensive than using cloth and there’s no denying the huge environmental toll disposable nappies are making on Australia’s environment. It’s estimated that 800 million nappies end up in landfill each year and when you consider it can take up to 500 years for a single nappy to breakdown there’s a strong case that disposable nappies equal a real environmental disaster.
These points are just the tip of
the iceberg and in the end everyone needs to decide what works best for their
own family. I encourage everyone to read up more on this issue and recommend
the following websites for more info:
