What do diapers do

The only cost is laundering if you chose not to do it at home. Reusables require scant investment instead of a constant drain on your wallet. For the sake of convenience, there are plenty of companies that provide delivery and laundering services.

There are green and eco-friendly cleaners as well, so your environmental impact from cloth diaper use has the potential to be negligible. The cost of laundering services, combined with the purchase of cloth diapers, is almost equal to that of using disposable diapers.

Cloth diapers save us significant energy, water, raw materials, and landfill space when compared to single-use diapers. Diapers are a necessity for your child. The negative impact on our environment is not. Our total amount of waste produced globally is expected to double by This is one way we can lessen our impact. Andrew Karpisz is a freelance writer for hire, husband, and proud stay-at-home father.

He writes about parenting, self-improvement, and more. He can be reached at andrewak. Chemical Compounds in Diapers Aside from the sheer volume of waste, disposable diapers contain many harmful substances. Tributyltin TBT — A biocide used to prevent the growth of bacteria. It damages fertility, unborn children, and our organs. TBT remains in our ecosystem and is entering our food chain.

Dioxins — A group of persistent organic pollutants. The bleaching process used on diaper material creates dioxins as a by-product. You can always start small.

Keep in mind that different brands may work better or worse for different babies, so be open to trying a few different diapers before you decide on the right ones for you. Sometimes a diaper that costs a little more is a better fit and works better, making it worth the extra money.

About 8 percent of parents report changing diapers less frequently to make their supply last longer, according to a survey by the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, making those last few diapers last just a little longer can ultimately lead to diaper rashes and yeast infections. Another indicator that a larger size is needed is leaking diapers. Parents who chose the cloth diapering method should have at least 20 newborn diapers on hand. One of the bonus features of cloth diapers is that many styles that fit newborns will also be adjustable to fit your baby as they grow — even up through the potty training years.

You should wash no more than 12 to 18 cloth diapers at a time. Some families have as many as 24, or as few as 14 cloth diapers in each size, depending on the amount of laundering they are prepared and willing to do. There are also parents who ultimately use cloth diapers yet choose to use disposable diapers for the first month, due to the heightened number of diaper changes during that time, or for on-the-go or babysitter backup.

Shop for cloth diapers online. Exactly how many wipes will you need per diaper change? That depends. A single change may take as few as 1 or as many as 10 wipes.

If you have the space to stockpile wipes, go for it. Otherwise, you should always have at least two to three extra packs of wipes on hand. You will always find uses for wipes, even long after your diapering days. Nowadays, you may even want to consider a bigger stockpile of wipes in case of natural disasters and emergencies. Also let your provider know if your baby has a fever with the rash or if the rash seems painful, is bright red, or has blisters.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Getting Ready Before you begin, gather a few supplies: a diaper fasteners if you are using cloth prefold diapers a container of warm water and cotton balls for babies with sensitive skin or a clean washcloth or diaper wipes diaper ointment or petroleum jelly for preventing and treating rashes a changing pad or cloth diaper for placing under your baby Make sure your supplies are all within reach.

Wiping Using the wet washcloth, cotton balls, or baby wipes, gently wipe your baby clean from the front to the back never wipe from back to front, especially on girls, or you could spread the bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections. Once you've finished wiping, pat your baby dry with a clean washcloth and apply diaper ointment. Disposable Diapers If you're using disposable diapers: Open the diaper and slide it under your baby while gently lifting his or her legs and feet.

The back part with the adhesive strips should be about level with your baby's bellybutton. Bring the front part of the diaper up between your baby's legs and onto his or her belly. Bring the adhesive strips around and fasten snugly. Be careful not to stick the tape onto your baby's skin. Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind: Garbage should be emptied regularly about once a day if you're using disposables.

This prevents a stinky diaper pail and the growth of bacteria. If you find any marks around your baby's legs and waist, the diaper is too tight.

Go for a looser fit next time. If a rash develops at the diaper openings around your baby's leg and waist, change the brand of diaper you're using. Sometimes babies become sensitive to certain brands of diapers. If diapering a boy, place the penis in a downward position before fastening the diaper. This will help prevent leaks from creeping up above the waistline. Fold down the waistline of the diaper if your baby's umbilical cord has not fallen off yet to keep that area dry.

Continue to do this for a few days after the cord has fallen off to prevent irritation. Always wash your hands well after changing your baby's diaper to prevent the spread of germs. One of the more commonly used ways is the triangular fold: Fold the square in half to form a triangle. For newborns or smaller babies, you might need to fold the long side of the triangle down a few inches so it fits your baby better.