The "How's" of Cloth Diaper Purchasing

There are so many reasons mothers choose cloth diapers. We know that disposables are environmentally unsound. Also, many have come to realize that disposable diapers are unhealthy for our children, causing long-term fertility problems due to the chemicals in the diapers. Potty training is more difficult when using disposables. Some even do it because it's less expensive than disposable diapers.

Whether you choose cloth diapering for economical, environmental or health reasons. Choosing which cloth diaper is yet another decision to make. There are so many out there! All in Ones; Pocket Diapers, Fitted diapers, prefolds and the list goes on and on! So how is a mother to know?

The first step is to take a look at your lifestyle and plan around it.

• Are you out of the house with baby often? Then you'll want a highly absorbant one-piece diaper that is easy to change on the go.
• Is the majority of baby's day spent at home? Fitted diapers with or without covers work well at home.
• Are you looking for something close to a disposable without all the chemicals and environmental hazards disposables cause? Pocket diapers work very well because you can pull the stuffer in and out of the diaper.

A simple evaluation such as this may lead you straight to the answer. Perhaps your life requires that you have different types? That's the case with many of us. We want a certain thing when we're on the go; another for playing around the house and something else for overnight dryness.

The next thing is to evaluate your finances. No matter which way you go, of course, it will be less expensive in the long run to use cloth diapers than disposables. The startup can seem daunting at first but if you calculate the cost of disposables over a 3 year period; add to that the medications and doctors visits for chemically-induced rashes and possibly the cost to your child as an adult for long-term health issues.. really there is no comparison at all.

Once you've decided on a budget, check out the various types of cloth diapers. See what type will fit your needs; what they cost will be initially and work from there. Many places offer layaway plans. Some will offer packages. You may be able to do a startup package for newborn and buy larger sizes as you go with relative ease.