Cloth Diapers Buying Guide for Newborns

When we are about to become a parent, many things are on our minds. Suddenly we become a pro at researching and googling everything. Everything we buy for our babies has to be the best and perfect.

A few things like burp cloths, comfortable clothes, diapers, etc., are needed in large quantities and must be chosen carefully. When it comes to buying cloth diapers, it is essential to consider many things to ensure that your little one is happy, comfortable, dry, and miles away from even the possibility of diaper rashes. For all your diapering dilemmas, here is a guide to help you choose the best for your baby.

Making the First Diaper Decision

You first must decide whether to go for a disposable diaper or a reusable cloth diaper.

When to consider cloth diapers?

• => On a Budget - Go for cloth diapers if you do not want to end up spending a chunk of your income on diapers every month till the age of almost 3, or till the baby is completely potty trained.
• => Eco-friendly – If you are sustainability-conscious and do not want to contribute to diapers ending up in landfills, baby cloth diapers are for you.
• => Skin-friendly – If you are looking for something washable, reusable, gentle on the skin, and would not cause an allergic reaction on a baby's skin.

When would you like to consider disposable diapers?

• => Long travel - Sometimes, when parents travel longer without access to laundry, disposable diapers might offer a temporary solution.
• => The caregiver is busy or sick - There might be a situation where the caregiver is extremely busy or sick and cannot exclusively use cloth diapers for newborns. Again, disposable diapers can be a temporary solution in such a scenario.

Understanding Diaper Sizes

Sizing of a diaper - sometimes it is as complicated to understand it as decoding a cryptic message. How many diapers do I need? Which size should I go for? These are some questions parents wonder about before making the diaper purchasing decision. But luckily, with cloth diapers, sizing is not as complicated as you might imagine.

Just like clothes, cloth diapers also have sizes. Generally, diapers are sized based on the weight of the child. However, cloth diapers such as SuperBottoms Newborn UNO fit from newborn to 7 KGS, and SuperBottoms Freesize UNO from 7 to 17 KGS.

Here's a size guide to estimate how many diapers you'll need

• => Newborn babies - Babies grow fast during the initial months. Thus, investing in too many diapers might not be a great idea. At this age, a combination of Newborn Diapers, langots, and padded underwear for some diaper-free time is ideal. Depending on your newborn's pee and poop pattern, you will need between 8 - 12 diapers.
• => Freesize for kids up to 17 KGs - 16 diapers are all you need. From 7 KGs (around 6 months) to the age they are potty trained and off diapers, 16 Freesize UNO is enough.

Other Considerations Before Buying Newborn Diapers or Infant Diapers

Before you end up spending a fortune only to realise this is not what you wanted or suits you or your baby's needs, here are a few things you should consider.

• => Features of the diaper - Once you have decided to go with cloth diapers, you should compare the features of different options available to see which one suits your needs and your baby's size and weight best.
• => Poo and pee habits of your baby - Every baby has a unique poo and pee pattern. For example, some are heavy wetter, while some are not. Depending on their poo and pee habits, you will need to look for diapers and inserts/boosters that will last for a duration according to their pee/poo patterns.
• => Your Budget - Depending upon your baby's pee/poo habits and your laundry schedule, you will need to decide how many diapers your baby will need. Diapers don't necessarily make a hole in the pockets of parents. With cloth diapers such as SuperBottoms UNO, you only need 16 diapers to last through your baby's diapering years.
• => Your baby's skin sensitivity - Some babies have sensitive skin and pre-existing conditions such as eczema or dermatitis. In such cases, disposable diapers loaded with harmful chemicals can aggravate the condition and cause rashes(1). In such a scenario, you might want to go with a CPSIA certified cloth diaper such as SuperBottoms UNO.

• => Absorbance - A good diaper would not start sagging or making the baby feel uncomfortable or wet within no time of wearing it. Look for a diaper with good absorbance and an inner feel dry layer that keeps the baby dry and happy.
• => Stretchability and fit - Finding the right size of diaper that fits your baby's size is essential. But in the case of cloth diapers, they are adjustable and do not need to be replaced repeatedly to upgrade the size.
• => Convenience and time - Sometimes, the situation might temporarily demand the use of a non-washable diaper. For example, if the caregiver is sick and cannot do laundry for a few days, choosing a safe and chemical-free disposable diaper might be needed.

Every parent and every child has a different need. This applies to diapers as well. Thus, choosing a newborn diaper or an infant diaper while keeping these needs in mind is essential.