Disadvantages to Cloth Diapering

Even though there are many advantages to cloth diapering, there are a few disadvantages as well.  However, I believe those disadvantages are so minor, and that the advantages far outweigh them.

One disadvantage is that cloth diapering is more work because you have to wash the diapers.  True.  However, a few more loads of laundry a week is not that much work when you consider that it takes me about 30 seconds to throw them in the washer, another 20 seconds to throw them into the dryer, and then a few more seconds to toss them into a basket for my children to fold and put away.  Even my toddler likes to help with this job.  It is really not a big deal at all, especially with my simple system of diapering that keeps the poop off of the diapers. 

Another disadvantage is that it takes longer to change baby's diaper using cloth than it does using disposable diapers.  True!  I timed myself, and it takes me about 30-45 seconds to change my baby's cloth diaper.  With a disposable, it takes me about 10 seconds.  So, it does take me a little longer per diaper change, which is just more quality time i get with my baby while I sing and talk to her.

The final disadvantage is that clothes sometimes don't fit as well over cloth diapers.  Cloth diapers are, after all, a little bulkier than disposables. However, the cuteness factor of a baby in a cloth diaper outweighs this, in my opinion!

Why Cloth?

Lots has been written about this so I won't spend too much time on it, but for me there are a few reasons why I like cloth over disposable diapers.  I only have one in diapers now, and my reasons are the same as they've always been. 

1. The cost. I've seen this number WAY overinflated, but I figure I save about $35-$40 a month by cloth diapering.  Thad is over $1,000 per child over their diapering years.  Since I have seven children, I figure I have saved at least $7,000, so the savings add up! Disposables cost around $40 a month (for generic) plus wipes, so probably $45-$50 a month.  I figure I spend maybe $10 a month to wash my diapers when you figure detergent and energy costs.  But it is still well over a dollar a day for doing something that I would do even if it was a break-even financially.

2. Cloth diapers just work better.  My baby doesn't get the "up the back" accidents, nor does she get the "down the leg" oozing with cloth.  Everything just stays put better.  She also doesn't get the saturated and squishy, saggy back end, which is characteristic of a wet disposable.

3. I am free to change my baby whenever she is wet.  Yep, I'll admit it.  When my babies have had a disposable diaper on, I waited until that diaper was fully saturated before I changed it.  I wanted to get the most out of each diaper as possible because each diaper change cost money.  Sad, but true.  With cloth, I know that adding an extra diaper to the pail costs no more to wash.  A load of laundry is a load of laundry.

4. Cloth is more comfortable for my baby.  What would you rather wear?  Disposable paper underwear or cotton ones?

5. Cloth diapers don't stink like disposables do.  Even when just wet, disposables stink far worse than a wet cloth diaper.  I can't even put a wet disposable diaper into a bathroom trashcan without the whole bathroom soon stinking.  Yet I can store wet and dirty cloth diapers in a non-sealing pail for a few days with no smell.  I don't know why this is, but it is true.

6.  Less diapers in the landfills.  This is way down on the list for me as a reason.  I am not an environmentalist to the point that this is my main reason by any means.  Yet I do like knowing I'm not adding tons of diapers to the trash.