Why You Should Choose Cloth Diapers Over Disposable Diapers And What Are The Best Brands You Should Get!
When you are a mother, your baby is dependent on you for everything – including wiping poop and changing diapers. As baby has sensitive skin, it is important to keep the bum area clean and change the diaper frequently. This would result in a massive amount of diapers, which lead to the next question: Should you use cloth diapers?
Below are the pros and cons of cloth diapering, and brands of cloth diapers in the market.
Advantages of Cloth Diapering
#1 Cheaper
Given that cloth diapers can be reused, it would be cheaper compared to disposable diapers. The cost is also dependent on how soon your child is potty-trained, and the cost of disposable diaper for older children is higher. The reusability of cloth diapers also means that you can use them for your next baby, further increasing your savings!
#2 Ease of Use
The traditional cloth diaper is less convenient as it requires folding and pinning. The modern cloth diaper though comes in the form of pocket cloth diaper, or diaper cover over pre-fold diapers/ inserts. Cloth diapers now have snaps or Velcro and no longer require you to tirelessly fold and pin the cloth together. The diaper cover is also waterproof, and therefore you don’t have to worry about the pee soaking through the cloth.
#3 Environmentally-friendly
Cloth diapers are more environmentally friendly in terms of not contributing to the landfills, less cutting of trees and chemicals used in the production of disposable diapers. However, the energy and water use in washing may somewhat reduce the overall environmental advantage that cloth diapers have over disposable diapers.
#4 Less Chemicals
There is much controversy regarding the use of chemicals in the manufacture of disposable diapers – part of it is the chemicals that are used and generated during production, while another part is the chemicals that are present in the disposable diapers. Chemicals in disposable diapers that could be harmful in larger quantities are dioxins, sodium polycarbonate, tributyltin and volatile organic compounds such as ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene and dipentene.
#5 Resale
As cloth diaper is not cheap (price range from S$25 to S$40 per diaper), you can even consider putting up the used diapers for sale.
#6 Repurpose
When the cloth diapers are worn out, you can repurpose them for other uses such as changing pads and washcloth. Since you can wash the cloth diaper, you don’t have to worry about wasting a diaper by using it as a changing pad!
#7 Aesthetic
Cloth diapers come in all sort of prints – cute animals, flowers, nature and even robots! If your baby is crawling around in his diaper, the cute cloth diaper will brighten your day.
Disadvantages of Cloth Diapering
#1 Laundry
You will need to wash the cloth diapers and while this may not require much work if you’re putting it into the washing machine, every bit of extra work adds up and reduces your rest time.
#2 Leakage and Stickiness
Depending on your choice of cloth diapers (the materials and the fit), the wrong cloth diaper can lead to the pee sticking to the baby skin (just like a wet cloth does) and leakage if the fit is not snug. As the cloth may not be as absorbent as disposable diaper, there is the possibility that you would have to change the diaper more frequently.
#3 Fitting
Some cloth diapers are pretty bulky, and be difficult to put on the pants or onesies over the cloth diaper. It may also be difficult to fit a “bulky bum” into a high chair or narrow car seat.
Given that the choice of cloth diapers is important, here are some of the popular cloth diapers in the market.
#1 Moo Moo Kow
Moo Moo Kow retails a range of baby products and their cloth diapers are sold on their website, as well as various other online and physical stores like Lazada.sg, Isetan and Metro. Their Aplix and Snap range of cloth diapers sell for S$30, with two inserts. Moo Moo Kow is a Singapore company that manufactures its own products from its China plant. Moo Moo Kow has one-year warranty on its cloth diaper, and uses material that stays dry and withstand washing.
Bumwear is a company started by a mom who is a Bali resident, currently staying in Singapore. Apart from selling cloth diapers, Bumwear also sells fun batik wear for the whole family. Their cloth diapers have won various awards by Mother & Baby and Parents. There is also Bumwear bioliners that can be lined on the inside of the diaper, flushable and biodegradable. Bumwear cloth diapers are priced at S$27 each and the inserts at S$7 each. You can buy online or at their outlet at Marina Square, #03-156.
Raf Raf is another homegrown company that makes cloth diapers, with charcoal bamboo inserts. Charcoal bamboo is more absorbent, wash and dry faster. The bamboo fabric used in the inserts is chemical free, soft, cool, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and odour-resistant. You can purchase directly from its website, whereby a set of 3 cloth diaper covers, 3 charcoal bamboo pre-fold inserts and 3 organic bamboo inserts retail for S$89.90.
Charlie Banana is a brand under Winc Design Limited, a Hong Kong company. You can buy Charlie Banana online from Pupsik Studio. Charlie Banana’s diaper is one-size where the diaper can be adjusted to fit a growing baby. The sizing adjustment straps are tucked in the interior fleece so that no part of the elastic or adjustment system touches baby’s skin. Six one-size diapers and 12 washable inserts retail for S$149 at Pupsik Studio (http://www.pupsikstudio.com/charlie-banana-cloth-diaper-bundle.html).
Grovia is a brand under The Natural Baby Company, a US Company with production plants in the US, China and Pakistan. Grovia has a variety of cloth diapers, and the hybrid diaper comes with the diaper cover and the disposable/ cloth inserts. When your baby’s diaper is wet, you can remove the insert and continue to use the diaper cover for 2 to 3 times as it has waterproof backing. Its cloth diaper is also one-size, with snaps that can fit your baby from infant to toddler size. Grovia retails on babyonline.com.sg from S$24.90 to S$39.90.
Bambino Mio is a UK brand, founded by a UK couple at the English countryside in Northamptonshire. Their award-winning Miosolo cloth diaper is an all-in-one reusable nappy which can grow with your baby from birth to potty training. The fabric is able to remain soft after repeated washing, and the core is absorbent with a stay-dry inner layer. Bambino Mio can be purchased online from babyonline.com.sg at S$23.50.
You can also check out online stores like Lazada.sg and babyonline.com.sg which may from time to time have promotions for cloth diapers. There is no one right decision on the type of diapers to use, and you can also consider using both cloth and disposable diapers!
