What are the advantages and disadvatges of cloth diapers?

Answer 1

Advantages:

1. Better for baby - more comfortable and the fabric breathes better than disposable synthetics. That means less irritation and rash.
2. Better for the environment - cloth diapers can be used over and over again, and can be dried on the line. After baby is done you can recycle them for the next baby, or rags and other things.
3. Better for potty training - cloth diapered babies learn early on the difference between wet and dry making the transition to potty easier. This has been conclusively proven in studies, actually. Babies who wear disposables potty train up to a year later.
4. Better for your budget - after the initial expense of buying the cloth diapers, covers and pins, you save TONS of money on diapers. And if you use cloth wipes instead of disposable you'll save even more.
5. Better for sanitation - human poop is not meant to be put in the trash system - it is meant to go down the toilet. Not only do disposable diapers create mega tons of waste, but they introduce fecal matter and bacteria needlessly into landfills.

Disadvantages

Convenience - laundering cloth diapers will be necessary usually every other day, if you have a good supply, so this adds one chore to your list (unless you have the money to pay a diapering service).

Only one disadvantage I can think of!

Some mothers carry a few disposables with them when shopping or on an outing, or when leaving the baby with someone else who is not familiar with cloth.

Answer 2

Pros:
They are the cutest flippin' things you will EVER see
They are so easy these days. Even prefolds and covers but WICKED easy are pockets and all in ones and twos
You don't need special detergent. Plain ole blue Dawn works just fine
You NEVER run out and have to go to the store and buy more diapers
If you're on a budget you can cloth diaper a baby very cheaply- if you like extravegance it can be done very NOT cheaply
Way less chance of rash, irritation
You help the planet :-)
You get to shop like a thousand WAHM (work at home mom) shops online who make and sell diapers and covers and wipes and many other things for some AWESOME retail therapy

Cons:
Some people will think you're weird
Some people equate cloth diapering with being poor- they think only people who can't afford 'sposies use cloth. It's obvious they don't know much about modern cloth diapering.

Answer 3

Advantages - less diaper rash, less cost ($200 in diapers that last 3-4 kids, $5-6 a month for utilities vs. $100/month for sposies), better for the environment, CUTER - and no rubber pants needed!, more comfy for baby, FEWER leaking diapers, no toxic chemicals on your baby

Disadvantages - more laundry (but w/ kids, who notices an extra load or two?), upfront cost

Answer 4

Cloth diapers are supposed to be less harsh on the environment than the disposable's that take years and years to break down. Cloth is also cheaper in the long run as they can be recycled for other things.

Answer 5

My daughter was born in 1979 and I used cloth diapers at home and disposable for travel.
You don't really save any money by using cloth diapers because of the special detergent, water and electricity that you use to wash and dry. You also have to use a plastic pants so that they don't leak.
I don't think in this day and age I'd use cloth diapers unless my child had an allergy to the disposable ones.

Answer 6

Go to this web site and you will get all kinds of information, especially why you wouldn't want to put disposable diapers on your baby.

http://stores.ebay.com/hlnatural_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

Good luck.

Answer 7

Cloth diapers are more comfortable, but you have to change them right after they go or it will seep through.

Answer 8

THE ADVANTAGE IS YOUR CHILD WONT GET DIAPER RASH YOU WOULD KNOW WHEN WET DISADVANTAGE IS STUFF WILL GET WET AND YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CLEAN UP A BIG MESS