Nappies
Now you’re a mom diapers are going to play a big part in your day-to-day life! Your first big diaper debate will be over whether to use disposables or cloth diapers.
Some parents decide to use both: cloth diapers at home and disposables when they’re out and about. The best way to decide which you prefer is to try a few brands.
Disposable diapers
These come in a great range of sizes – even tiny ones for preemies – and the good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune on the big brands: own-brand versions are just as good. Even a total novice mom (and dad!) should be able to get the typical disposable on right first time… lay your baby on her back and lift her legs up by her ankles. Slide the diaper underneath her (the tabs are attached to the back) and bring the front up between her legs. Unpeel the two side tabs and fasten to the front of the diaper, and the job is done. A word of warning though – if your baby is a boy make sure his penis points down or he’ll pee in the wrong direction!
Cloth diapers
Cloth diapers are totally different to those thick toweling diapers our moms may have used back in the day. Now they’re shaped to fit your baby, just like disposables, and made from super absorbent fabric so they don’t have to be so thick. Plus, they come complete with poppers and Velcro tabs to hold them in place, so you put them on your baby in much the same way as a disposable, and stylish outer wraps to keep the damp inside where it belongs.
Cloth diaper systems usually incorporate a biodegradable disposable liner that sits inside the diaper and is flushed away once it’s soiled. The diaper itself just goes into some sterilizing solution and then into the washer. Alternately, you can opt to use a diaper service – most provide an initial set of diapers, then pick up used diapers and provide clean diapers on a weekly basis for a fee. The National Association of Diaper Services has an online service locater at www.diapernet.org.
You’ll probably need around 20-25 diapers if you want to exclusively use cloth diapers, and around 10-12 if you want to use them part-time. While it seems like a big financial outlay, bear in mind that they’ll see your baby right through to potty training. There are several brands to choose from and most companies can send you a trial pack so you can work out which style and system suits you and your baby best.
There’s a lot of pressure for new parents to be eco-friendly, but cloth diapers don’t suit every baby or parent. Newborn babies poop a lot and if they’re breastfed the consistency of their poop is very runny. You might experience leakage with cloth diapers at this stage of your baby’s life but you can always try them again when he’s weaned onto solids, as his poop will be more solid then.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 13/05/2007
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