by Yvonne Griffie

Created on: July 26, 2010

Diapers are essential for babies during their first 18 months of life. There are so many brands to choose from. How does one decide? Use these tips to help you decide which diaper will be right for both you and your baby.

Cloth or Disposable?

It is important to first decide whether you will use cloth or disposable diapers. Environmentalists and parents alike agree that cloth diapers are better for the environment, as they are made of material that can be washed and reused. Cloth diapers are also less expensive in the long run, because you are buying them, washing them, and reusing them, which equates to buying them less often. Disposable diapers are of course made primarily of plastic and are not good for the environment. These diapers are also more expensive in the long run, because they are used many times a day, are thrown away, and thus have to be bought more often. Using disposable diapers is convenient for families on the go, and they are fairly user friendly. Cloth diapers on the other hand, are foreign to most new parents and can be difficult to learn to use. You also have to launder dozens of diapers a day when using cloth diapers. Using either diaper type has its pros and cons. Consider your budget and lifestyle when considering which type of diaper to choose.

The next thing to consider while shopping for the right diaper is your budget, not the name brand. While it’s true that not every brand is made equal, you don’t have to buy the most expensive brand for it to be the most effective brand. Many store brand diapers are made just as good as the national brands if not better. Having raised four children, my husband and I have had the opportunity to test many diaper brands. I personally fell in love with a national brand, but when our budget got tight, I tried the Wal-Mart brand and discovered that there was not much difference in the absorbency and I was able to buy in bulk and save money. The only thing I would warn against is shopping for too much of a bargain and settling for very inexpensive diapers. If you see a package of 32 diapers for $2, you have to wonder how effective they will be in protecting your little one against leakages.

The last thing to consider when purchasing diapers is your baby. How are her legs shaped? Are they chunky? How often and how much does she wet? Many diapers have different elasticity and absorbency capacities to fit babies of all shapes and sizes and all wetting habits. Be sure to try a couple of different brands before making up your mind and you’ll be a diaper buying pro in no time.

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