Myths about Cloth Diapers

Have you heard one or two horror stories about cloth diapers? How much time they take and how terribly complicated they are! Do you get sweats with words like boiling, ironing and handling of ... uh ... pee and poo? Then you are exactly right here.

Everything is exaggerated and not true, but some myths about cloth diapers persist. They keep cropping up in discussions and good advice from others.

Come on, let's take a closer look at these fairy tales.

 

Cloth diapers mean more work

First-time parents (regardless of whether they use disposable or cloth diapers) seem like cloth diapers are more work. The environment ensures through constant comments in this regard that some believe this themselves, even though they have no experience of their own.

We, who have already tested a lot, assure you: IT IS NOT TRUE.

If you use disposable diapers, you can regularly look for special offers, visit one supermarket after another and lug packages with disposable diapers and finally carry everything back to the garbage can.

When it comes to diapering, either type of diaper requires you to take off your diaper and put on a new diaper again. The difference is that the disposable diaper goes into the general waste and the cloth diaper goes to the laundry basket and the washing machine every 2-3 days. After washing, put the diapers in the dryer or let them air dry. In this regard, the cloth diapers are not much more expensive than disposable diapers. Unless you feel that pressing buttons on your washing machine is work ☺.

In return, there is no daily walk to the garbage can, the chemical stench of disposable diapers and constant changing because the breast milk stool has blown the disposable diaper again.

 

Cloth diapers have to be soaked, boiled and ironed

You don't have to soak modern cloth diapers! On the contrary, they should be stored in a dry place. When washing, temperatures of 60 ° are sufficient to kill all bacteria. You can pre-wash the diapers to better remove the stains. Modern cloth diapers can be dried in the dryer (except for the waterproof PUL overpants, but these also dry incredibly quickly in the air) and there is no need to iron at all. You can find out more about this in the article Washing and Care - after that you will know how easy it is to wash and dry.

 

You are constantly touching the baby's waste products

For the dirty part you can use microfleece or non-woven nappy inserts and then you don't have to touch anything. Most of the big business ends up on this pad and is then shaken out over the toilet (if you use a microfleece pad). In the case of the non-woven nappy insert, this and its contents are disposed of in the residual waste.

Sometimes it happens that the insert or overpants also get something off, you can then rinse them off briefly under water, that's it. And do you have the impression that working with disposable diapers is clean? You will learn with your baby that this is not the case. You will have contact with your baby's excrement from time to time. But we promise you that it will be the same with every diaper.

 

I just find it unsanitary

Bamboolik's cloth diapers are mainly made from bamboo viscose. It has many excellent properties, including antibacterial properties. Studies have shown that bamboo viscose itself can kill almost 75% of bacteria! 1) You can easily kill the remaining bacteria in the washing machine when washing at 60 ° C and if you still have doubts, you can use a disinfectant from time to time Add washing, e.g. oxygen bleach.

 

Doesn't the baby feel too warm with so many shifts?

They are certainly no warmer than disposable diapers. The modern cloth diapers are made from certified materials (modern synthetic fibers and above all natural materials - at Bamboolik mainly bamboo viscose). These ensure a comfortable temperature, are not perfumed, bleached and contain no chemicals. They are breathable, a feature that reduces the risk of skin problems and urinary tract infections. The professional audience discussed the possible influence of disposable diapers (which are not as breathable as cloth diapers) on the sex organs in boys. The insufficient air circulation under the disposable diapers leads to a higher temperature rise in the diaper area and thus to a significant increase in gynecological and urological inflammation in the girls. The cloth diapers help to avoid these problems.

 

Cloth diapers are not so ecological because they have to be washed

On the contrary! Disposable diapers are a huge burden on the environment that cannot be easily reduced. It is estimated that a child produces around a ton of hard-to-break waste in the time they are diapered. Cloth diapers have a very low impact on the environment and this already in the manufacturing phase. You can find out more in the article Ecology - Cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers.

 

Handling of cloth diapers is complicated

It depends on what type of diaper you choose. The use of pocket diapers is comparable to disposable diapers in terms of simplicity. The All In Two (AI2) system isn't that much more complicated if you prepare everything. Cloth diapers are closed with Velcro fasteners or snaps. Changing diapers with reusable diapers is very easy and intuitive. At the same time, they fit better than disposable diapers, which you will particularly appreciate when it comes to the liquid breast milk stool in infants. No more smeared bodies or breast milk stool that goes up to the armpits ☺.

 

Cloth diapers have to be changed after every pee

Here we want to say that we recommend changing the baby often. It doesn't matter whether you use cloth or disposable diapers. This is the only way to avoid skin problems in the diaper area. If your child does not like the feeling of wetness in the diaper, microfleece inserts or diapers with a fleece surface (pocket diapers with a Stay Dry surface or night diapers) are a good solution. But sometimes it is good that the child is reminded that when they are wet they will get wet. Why? You can find out about that in the article Bamboo or Stay Dry?

 

Modern cloth diapers are expensive

Compared to the costs of disposable diapers, certainly not! In the article Do cloth diapers count? you will find out how much you can save by using cloth diapers during the entire diapering time. It can be up to several thousand euros. Table lovers among you can see more about this in our Savings section.

 

Cloth diapers are too thick, the babyb cannot move in them

Entire generations have grown up in cloth diapers and have certainly not lagged behind in their movement compared to children who were diapered with disposable diapers. Experience shows that a child's motor development has nothing to do with diapers. On the contrary, orthopedists and physiotherapists even recommend that babies should be swaddled wide. This helps with the correct development of the hip joint - cloth diapers are simply ideal for this. You can find out more about this in the article Cloth diapers - the healthy alternative and under Motor skills and development of babies with cloth diapers.

 

Cloth diapers are only for eco-maniacs

Among Bamboolik's customers you will find a wide range of parents with different views. It would be too easy to say that cloth diapers are only used by parents who are interested in nature and ecology. Modern cloth diapers are suitable for everyone, because they offer a cheaper, healthier, ecological and also aesthetic variant.

 

 

1) See http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jfecs.v39i1.69727: A comparative study of regenerated bamboo, cotton and viscose rayon fabrics. Part 2: antimicrobial properties. Autoři A Gericke, J Van der Pol (née De Bruin)