Five Reasons to Consider Cloth Diapering
Five Reasons to Consider Cloth Diapering
Just found out you’re expecting? Perhaps you’re onto your second or third child? Either way, if you’re considering cloth diapering your child(ren) but are on the fence, here are some factual points to help you make an educated decision.
1. Cloth Diapering Saves Money
Disposables are expensive. These one-time-use diapers can cost you roughly two grand in the span of three years. Diapers are about 24 cents apiece, and a child will use approximately 7,057 of them from birth to 30 months of age. This spend equates to $1,693.68 – almost $1,700.
The average cost of an All-in-One (AIO) cloth diaper is $26. This average is based on what Smart Bottoms offers in the AIO category. But, to try to stack things up against us, let’s say this: If you have a stash of 30 cloth diapers at our highest priced diaper, the Dream Diaper 2.0 at $31 apiece, you’d spend $930.
Even at the costliest option, without discount codes, receiving them as gifts from your registry, offers, etc., you’d still save $763 dollars using cloth diapers. Want to know when the real savings kicks in? With your second and subsequent children. Let’s go back to the drawing board for Child #2.
If you still decide to use disposables with Child #2, and s/he uses them until 30-months-old, you’ll end up spending a total of $3,397.36 – or nearly $3,400 for two kids in diapers.
Let’s say your stash of 30 cloth diapers has grown to 45 because you can’t resist the cute diaper prints. (That’s a real thing, trust us!) Your total spend on cloth diapers still only rings up to $1,395. Parents, that is $2000 less than your total spend on disposables for your two kids!
Cloth diapering can save money! Now if you invest that money you saved, you could actually make money…but that’s another blog post!
2. Cloth Diapering Saves Time
Time is money. Truly. Stockpiling and going out on diaper runs in the middle of the night is both hectic and exhausting. Think about how much time you could save if you didn’t have to run out to purchase more disposables. Cloth diapers are reusable and with a little preparation, you can have clean diapers in rotation at any time. Your time is valuable and we can’t imagine going on diaper runs to the local store or poring over coupons to get the best deals is the greatest use of your time.
3. Cloth Diapers are Safe and Natural
Most disposable diapers contain traces of dioxin, an extremely toxic by-product of the paper-bleaching process. Dioxin is a carcinogen listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals. It’s banned in most countries, but not the U.S, according to an article from Greenpeace. Besides dioxin, disposables may contain dozens of other potentially harsh chemicals that could cause irritation, rashes, and chafing. Do you want your baby’s most gentle parts covered in dangerous chemicals?
Smart Bottoms cloth diapers are made with certified organic cotton and manufactured in the USA. Our cloth diapers are a natural, safe, and allergen-free option for your diaper system!
4. Cloth Diapers are Sustainable
This point is truly win/win for you and Mother Nature. Cloth diapers are reusable. Disposables are not, which means those plastic, one-time diapers take up lots of space in landfills. Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste. Alarming, isn’t it?
When you use cloth diapers, it will help reduce your carbon footprint and cut down on excessive waste. It takes about 450 years for a disposable diaper to decompose according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program. You can help keep the environment clean by switching to cloth!
5. Cloth Diapers are Effective
So many parents rave about the ease of using cloth! Thanks to the elastic band, the number of blowouts are significantly reduced. Smart Bottoms cloth diapers also make changing baby easy because of our rise settings and snap systems. Worried about washing and drying? Easy. It's no different than doing any other load of laundry for your family. When it comes to drying, air dry either on a line or throw it in the dryer on low heat, and you're good to go. Smart Bottoms cloth diapers are safe and sturdy against everyday wear.
When it comes to parenting, there are many choices and options for raising children. Whichever route you choose with diapering your baby, we’re happy you decided to consider cloth! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section or shoot us an email at customercare@smartbottoms.com – we’d love to chat with you!
Ready to save some serious cash, and have the latest fashion on your little one's bum? Of course you are! See our latest prints and diapers here.