Cloth Vs. Diaper For Newborn Babies

check_icon Research-backed

There’s always a lot of excitement and happiness surrounding the birth of a newborn baby. Parents, grandparents, friends, and relatives are all ecstatic at the thought of bringing a new little member into the family. However, even before the initial excitement can wear off, childcare responsibilities start to take over, in a big way.

Babies are tiny human beings, and their little bodies carry out many of the same functions and processes that adult bodies do, an important one that parents often tend to prepare themselves early on for, is the processes of urination and defecation.

Since newborn babies are still a long way from being anywhere close to potty-trained, it’s imperative for parents to come up with preventive measures to ensure that things remain clean, and under control. While some parents use cloth diapers for this purpose, others prefer to use disposable diapers. But which option is better and how? Let’s find out.

In This Article

1. Skin Benefits

Image: Shutterstock

Fungal infections resulting in diaper rashes can happen in babies whose skin is exposed for a long time to wetness, dampness, etc. caused by wet diapers (1). There could be many reasons for diaper rash in babies such as diapers that are worn too tight and rubs the skin or wearing wet diapers for too long. However, diaper rash could also be a result of a bad reaction to soaps and detergents that are used to wash cloth diapers. If you are using cloth diapers, it is important to follow the recommended washing guidelines. While washing, make sure you remove any traces of soap or washing powder. The more water you use to clean the diapers, the better. You can also add a scoop of baking soda to remove any stains and neutralize acidic odors.

Disturbed pH levels in the baby’s skin caused by wetness can also be the cause behind diaper rashes (2). Certain diapers come with a unique moisturizing lotion that helps neutralize the pH levels of the baby’s skin by providing it with just enough moisture after the diaper dries things out.

Whether you are using cloth or disposable diapers, following these steps will keep diaper rashes at bay: maintaining good hygiene while changing  diapers, moisturizing your baby’s skin using coconut oil, a good wash routine, and providing enough diaper-free time to your little ones.

2. Sleep Benefits

Image: Shutterstock

Disposable diapers tend to absorb any wetness a lot quicker and better than cloth does. While cloth can remain wet and damp for quite some time after a discharge, diapers dry out fast for a much more comfortable and hygienic experience. In fact, studies have shown that disposable diapers actually decrease the incidence of infections in newborns as compared to cloth diapers (3).

Certain disposable diaper brands claim that even if the baby isn’t changed for some time, they won’t experience any unnecessary discomfort at all. Though we are not sure how legit these claims are, staying in wet diapers for long can affect your baby’s sleep cycle as well.

It has been scientifically proven that lack of proper sleep can negatively impact the cognitive and physical development in babies (4).  It is therefore important to use diapers of good quality, to keep your baby not only comfortable, but also to ensure that he/she gets uninterrupted sleep and develops properly. If you are using cloth diapers, ensure that you change your baby’s diaper right before you put them down for sleep, and use a fabric that is comfortable on your baby’s skin, such as cotton.

3. Technology

Image: Shutterstock

When it comes to technological advancement, disposable diapers, have made strides in terms of technology over the years.

Certain disposable diapers come with new and innovative technology that allows for faster and better absorption, making sure that the wetness is also distributed evenly and equally between the channels, which prevents leakage! They also make sure these diapers are incredibly comfortable and soft on the skin of newborn babies. The amount of variety and choices when it comes to choosing diapers, along with their near universal availability, is certainly a big plus compared to cloth.

However, unlike before, cloth diapers have come a long way and are designed with Velcro or snap closures keeping convenience in mind. They are also made to fit your baby’s bottom perfectly and come with waterproof bands and removable linings.

Based on all the information that we’ve discussed above, it might be a bit of a stretch to conclude that one kind of diaper is better than the other. The choice ultimately comes down to what you prefer for your baby and which option is more convenient for you as a parent since both have their pros and cons.

Did you find our article helpful? If yes, share it with expecting mothers and newborn parents to help them too.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.