Pros and Cons of Cloth Diapers for Newborns

Every little thing that parents get to choose for their kiddos now has more options than ever — formula or breastfeeding, parenting styles, schooling, or even diapers. Among parenting experts, one of the biggest debates in the newborn age group is the use of cloth diapers.

Truthfully, cloth diapering isn't for every family. If you aren't sure whether you should go for the old fashioned route, you need to consider the pros and cons of cloth diapers for newborns and toddlers alike.

If you're new parents, you may want to know both sides of the issue. We decided to divide this issue into a bunch of different categories to help new and expecting parents figure out which works well for them.

Cloth Diapers For Newborns: Costs

Without a doubt, the biggest perk of cloth diapers is the fact that they are far cheaper than the disposable kind — at least, on the surface. A typical parent can expect to spend around $800 their first year on disposable diapers, and that's a lot of money that could be saved.

On the other hand, one site estimated that cloth diapers (and the laundry involved in it) will run about $600. So, that's about $200 per year that you could save by switching to cloth diapers.

More impressively, cloth diapers for newborns are actually way cheaper than disposable diapers are. So, if you just want to do cloth diapering for the early years, that's totally fine.

Cloth Diapers For Newborns: Convenience

The pros and cons of cloth diapers for newborns gets a lot dicier when it comes to the issue of convenience. Cloth diapers don't usually need to be hauled around in a diaper bag. They also tend to require less diapering products, too.

However, there are a lot of problems that make cloth diapering for newborns a difficult task. Specifically, the issues that arise when the newborn actually uses them.

New moms will end up unable to go anywhere that doesn't have a washing machine, and will have to plan trips around laundromats in many cases. You will also have to deal with a lot more laundry loads, too.

Additionally, disposable diapers also are way easier to find in stores. So, if you're a mom on the go, disposable diapers might end up just being a thing you have to do — even if it's a temporary issue.

Cloth Diapers For Newborns: Cleanliness

Obviously, the biggest detractor for many would-be cloth diaper fans is the fact that cloth diapering will result in a lot more time being spent with your hands in poop. You will have to scrape the poop off the diapers and also launder poop-filled diapers.

That is gross, obviously.

With disposable diapers, you get less time involving poop. So, that's a huge perk, particularly for new parents who really don't like the idea of changing diapers at all.

That being said, studies show that kids who are cloth diapered tend to potty train earlier. So, it might be a short term sacrifice for a long term reward in that case.

Cloth Diapers For Newborns: Environmentalism

The biggest issue, at least on a global scale, is the sheer amount of waste disposable diapers make. Each child will cause half a ton of diaper waste in their lifetimes, and that's a lot of landfill waste to deal with. So, from an environmental standpoint, choosing cloth diapers for newborns can make a huge difference.

The Verdict...

The verdict is that you should do what you feel works for your newborn and your lifestyle. Some families are great with cloth diapers. Other families would never choose cloth diapers for newborns. Either way, they'll eventually get potty trained, so it's all good.