Moms are busy even before a child arrives, getting everything all set to go and making sure you’ve accounted for every possible thing you’re going to need. One thing a lot of moms consider is whether or not they should use cloth or disposable diapers. This is a decision that has been much debated since the invention of disposable diapers, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both that need to be looked at.

Firstly, cloth diapers. These have been used for years and years on babies, and there are some moms that totally swear by them. They are a one time purchase, so you don’t have to see the atrocious cost of diapers go up year by year as your child grows. They are excellent for reusability and environmental friendliness, because they are made out of fabric and are not disposable, one-time-use diapers. Cloth diapers can also be great gifts to give or receive for a new mom. Serving as great hand-me-down, cloth diapers can be used from baby to baby and still be totally sanitary.

A couple of disadvantages to the cloth diaper approach are that a lot of times, since they are being washed and used so frequently, the snaps or velcro that keep the diaper on the child starts to let go or fray over time and washes. It’s easy to think that you’ll repair it, but as mentioned earlier, moms are always busy, so when are you going to find that time? There is also the added work to laundry. Most moms will wash soiled diapers separate from other clothing, so it’s yet another load of laundry that you don’t necessarily have time to do.

Disposable diapers are new in relation to cloth diapers, and have their own set of advantages and disadvantages that are also modern. They are easy to clean up from, in that they just go into the garbage and that’s that. They are also easy to come by, you can pick them up at a grocery store (though for a quickly climbing price) and simply rip open the package when you are ready to use them, There is no washing or folding required, just rip the package open, put it on the baby, and throw it out when you are done. The disadvantages of disposable diapers are that they are bad for the environment and at times extremely wasteful, if there’s just a tiny little bit of waste and you have to change the entire diaper. There is also the issue of chafing, as the paper/plastic combination sometimes has rough edges where cloth diapers wouldn’t.

Cloth diapers are reliable, cheap in the long run, and always accessible. Disposable diapers are available in bulk and there is no work required for washing or repairing. Whether you use solely cloth diapers, or disposable diapers, or a combination of the two, the choice is entirely your own and there is plenty of information and supplies out there to help you make your decision.