Everything You Need To Know About Reusable Diapers

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By Henry Jackson

There was a time when many new parents used to be skeptical about a reusable diaper or a cloth diaper. But as awareness spreads, and as people realise that cloth diapering is an age-old tradition that is great for their baby’s skin and the environment, the popularity of reusable diapers is on the rise. So, suppose you are one of those conscious parents who has decided to go ahead with a reusable diaper. In that case, this article will help you understand everything you need about the reusable diaper.

Types Of Reusable Diaper

A reusable diaper is any bum wear or a diaper that can be washed and used again. When you hear the term reusable diaper, you might assume the adjustable modern cloth diapers with the snap system. But there are other types of a reusable diaper that you can use as per the age and potty-training stage your baby is at. Here are the most popular types of reusable diaper:

  • UNO – An adjustable cloth diaper with a snapping system that can fit from a 7 KG baby to a 17 KG baby. They last up to 300 washes and can be used for years till the baby is completely potty-trained.
  • Padded Underwear – Padded underwear is underwear with layers of cloth. These are specifically meant for the potty-training phase for toddlers. Padded underwear can hold up to one pee and make the child feel wet without creating any mess outside.
  • Nappy/Langot -A nappy or langot is a reusable diaper most suitable for a newborn baby. A nappy or langot can hold only one pee and is ideal for daytime diapering.

How Much Does A Reusable Diaper Cost

Should reusability and sustainability be the only motivation to use or switch to a reusable diaper? Well, the amount of money it ends up saving for you is also a significant factor, especially if you compare the cost of buying and maintaining a cloth diaper versus the price of a disposable diaper.
One reusable diaper costs Rs. 650 – Rs. 700 approximately. One disposable diaper from a good, popular brand costs around Rs. 10 per piece. In one day, for the first few months, you would be using at least 7 – 8 diapers every day. This means you would be spending Rs. 70 – 80 per day. The cost of one reusable diaper would be covered in around ten days at max.
Now imagine incurring this cost for almost three years! So, to answer the question, how much does a reusable diaper cost, around Rs. 670 per piece, but it costs much less than a disposable diaper in the long run.

How To Wash A Reusable Diaper

Many people might assume that maintaining and washing a cloth diaper is a tedious and time-consuming task. But surprisingly, that is not true at all. Once you have a laundry schedule in place, it will become like any other everyday activity. Washing the reusable diaper is a simple process. Here are the steps for your easy reference:

  • Knock the poop off the diaper if the diaper has been soiled by poop. You can use the toilet faucet to do this or tissue paper.
    Rinse the diaper with water to get rid of pee or any traces of poop, and you can now directly wash it.
  • If you have an alternate laundry day, you can toss the diaper in a laundry basket or a bucket with a top lid on it for a day or two.
  • Suppose you are washing the diapers in a washing machine. In that case, you can put the diapers along with other baby clothes and use a cloth diaper detergent suitable for all kids and other apparel. Then, wash in a regular wash cycle and sundry the diapers.
  • If you are handwashing the diapers, soak them for some time in a cloth diaper-friendly detergent. Do not use a brush to wash the diapers. Instead, rub with your hands, rinse and gently wring to remove excess water. Then, dry them in the sun until completely dry.                                                                                                                                                                               Now, isn’t that easy!

Can Reusable Diaper Cause Rashes

Here is the best news for parents. Parents who have used both disposable diapers and reusable diapers on their babies claim that reusable diapers cause fewer rashes. A reusable diaper is free of harsh chemicals and toxins in a disposable diaper that can cause severe rashes and allergies to your baby. On the contrary, the cloth is soft, skin-friendly and known to keep the skin cool instead of causing rashes.

How Many Cloth Diapers Would You Need

If you use good-quality absorbent cloth diapers such as SuperBottoms UNO, 16 diapers are all you need! Assuming that you have an alternate day, laundry cycle and would use a maximum of 6 – 7 diapers per day, keeping two as a backup in case the diapers are dry in time, 16 diapers in total are sufficient to have an exclusive cloth diapering journey!
So, now that you know all that is to be known about cloth diapering, start buying and flaunting the cute bum of your baby looking even cuter with adorable prints of cloth diapers. Happy cloth diapering!