Babies Tale

When you figure you’re going to go through approximately six-thousand diapers in the first two and one half years of your baby’s life, it makes sense to spend some time focusing on what you’re going to use for diapers. There are three alternatives, disposable, cloth diapers that you launder yourself, and diaper services that supply and launder cloth diapers for you, and offer pick-up and delivery service.

Since you’ll be going through about sixty-five diapers a week during the first year, it makes good sense to use a diaper service, which could save you either laundering time or the extra expense of that many disposables. During the second year, when laundering cloth diapers don’t require the extra rinses that may be necessary for some hypersensitive newborns, laundering your own diapers might be more practical. Then, in the third year, until toilet training is complete, disposables will be handy and lessen your impatience about the training process, taking the pressure off your child. When it is all over, the old diapers make wonderful cleaning rags!

Regardless what you use for a diaper, you’ll inevitably run into diaper rash. It’s caused by a combination of moisture, warmth, and contact between the skin and irritants in urine and stool. Plastic or rubber aggravates it; cool, dry air makes it better. Most experts assert that disposable diapers, which don’t “breathe” like cloth ones, lead to more frequent and more severe diaper rash, so if you’re using disposables and your baby gets diaper rash, you might want to switch to cloth for a while.

Another diaper danger is the substances that your baby might eat or inhale in the process of diapering. Usually what happens is that the “diaperer” hands the baby something for entertainment or the baby grabs it himself. The baby then ingests or inhales the baby powder, the ointment or cream, or the baby wipes. Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, choking, shortness of breath and vomiting. It’s important to keep these products away from the baby while diapering.

Disposables

Environmentalists have raised a lot of questions about disposables because they are not biodegradable and can’t be recycled. They also cause a public health hazard, since viruses present in excrement can be spread to those who collect the trash. And after disposable diapers are dumped at a landfill site, viruses can be carried into water supplies.

Some disposables [particularly generic brands] keep the skin warmer and moister than cloth diapers [no brand has been found that really keeps a baby dry], and may cause more frequent and more severe diaper rash. Disposable diapers in general can be expensive-up to thirty-two cents per diaper.

On a more positive note; disposables do save a lot of work, and more convenient. They eliminate the need for plastic pants, and they’re much easier to use when traveling. Because there are no pins, less experienced family members are often more willing to change them.

If you choose disposables, here are some guidelines:

1. Sample different brands. Start with a variety in the newborn size until you find one that fits well and has the softness and quality you like. Name brands will usually be more consistent in quality.
2. Don’t use brands that clump, shred or bunch up when wet, since your baby could ingest paper pieces.
3. Brands that don’t allow any plastic to touch the baby’s skin are better for preventing rash.
4. Once you find a brand you like, shop around for a good discount, and then buy by the case.
5. Inspect each diaper for impurities, discoloration, and foreign materials in the paper padding.
6. Create air holes. Since air circulation is the biggest problem with disposables, pinch out a piece of the plastic liner in the seat area. This will allow air to circulate and will also make it easier for you to tell when the baby needs to be changed.
7. Use the weight and size chart to determine fit. Diapers with elastic legs aren’t necessary but they do prevent leakage. As you fasten the diaper, make sure the leg holes are not too constricting.
8. Some disposables supposedly have parts that can be flushed. These don’t work well. Nonetheless, you should try to flush as much from the diaper as possible. Then tightly roll up the diaper so the soiled area is not open to the air, and seal the diaper with diaper tape before throwing it out.
9. Garbage cans should be lined with plastic bags, which should be tied and sealed tightly for disposal. Garbage cans that have locking lids are good; they keep curious tots out.
10. Diapers with refastenable tape are convenient, but not necessary if you keep a small roll of strapping or masking tape and safety tipped scissors handy.

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