In the time of our grandmothers and mothers, it was rare for them to use disposable diapers due to their high cost. Those who did get to try and enjoy this convenience would save them for days with medical appointments or perhaps for longer outings, and in daily life, cloth diapers prevailed.

Buckets and buckets of diapers to wash, triple the work compared to the lives of moms today, but have you ever stopped to think about how much you spend on disposable diapers? And the harm they cause to the environment? What happens to them after they’re thrown away in our household trash? And we’ll tell you: Disposable diapers discarded with the household waste end up in landfills and on average take 400 years to completely decompose. Calculations show that a baby up to age 2 uses around 3,000 to 6,000 diapers in that time, so just imagine how many disposable diapers are discarded daily??? Weekly?? How much of this waste is accumulating on our planet?

Aiming for a healthier planet and thinking of future generations, cloth diapers are making a strong comeback these days. But unlike those that were so much work for mothers and required large quantities for frequent changes, a new version has been created, known as the eco-friendly diaper. Similar to a disposable diaper and with a very similar design, the eco-friendly cloth diaper has a waterproof layer and a comfortable fit for the legs and waist. Even better, it doesn’t get too small easily, as it is designed to fit your baby as they grow until their first year of life.

Advantages of Using the Eco-Friendly Cloth Diaper

Besides being a product made in Brazil and powerfully helping to preserve the planet and reduce waste production, the eco-friendly cloth diaper provides huge savings in the family budget. According to calculations done by mothers who switched to this modernity, it was found that 5,500 disposable diapers were replaced by just 25 eco-friendly cloth diapers. Big difference, right?

Besides the massive savings, which are very exciting for parents, the cloth diaper is made of hypoallergenic cotton that is extremely soft and comfortable for babies, and it eliminates the need for diaper rash creams, which is another saving!! And they no longer resemble the ugly cloth diapers of the past—now you can find models that are not only comfortable, but also beautiful and well-made with very creative designs. Some mothers who use eco-friendly cloth diapers even match the prints with their baby’s outfits, especially on warmer days when the baby can be more comfortable.

The eco-friendly cloth diaper has an opening where the absorbent pad should be inserted and needs to be changed as needed, on average every 2 to 3 hours, depending on how much the baby urinates. Some moms prefer, instead of inserting the absorbent into the pocket of the cloth diaper, to place it on top so that the diaper doesn’t get dirty with each change, particularly when the baby poops. The solid waste can be discarded easily in the toilet, the dirty absorbent is swapped for a clean one, and just like that, the fun can continue!!

It’s worth noting that there are three types of inserts to use with eco-friendly cloth diapers: fleece, bamboo, and microfiber. Only fleece and bamboo inserts should be in direct contact with the skin and can be used this way for easy disposal of poop. Microfiber inserts are not recommended for use outside the diaper pocket, as they may cause allergic reactions!!

Washing is simple and comes with care instructions, which say you should remove any excess urine before washing. You can wash them in your own washing machine or quickly and easily by hand, using coconut soap that not only leaves the diapers clean and odorless but also doesn’t cause allergies on the baby’s skin. So if you’re unsure and think this is too much work, it’s worth checking out!! Those who have tried it have approved and ditched the old disposable diaper for the sake of the environment and savings!!

See also: Changing Diapers for the First Time, Tips for Beginners

Photo: Personal Archive TF