Best Cloth Diapers – Consumer Reports

For those undecided on which type of diaper they should go for, cloth diapers or disposable diapers, here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of each.

Price: Cloth diapers can be slightly cheaper than disposable diapers, especially if you wash them yourself rather than using a laundery service.

Absorption: The best cloth diapers we tested still aren’t as absorbent as the disposable diapers that received the highest scores in our ratings. That’s because they lack the super-absorbent gel that is part of every disposable diaper, Deitrick says. Because cloth diapers aren’t as absorbent, they need to be changed more frequently to prevent diaper rash.

Environmental impact: Cloth diapers are marginally better than disposable diapers. While cloth diapers require more water for cleaning and produce more waterborne waste, disposable diapers use more natural resources and wind up in landfills more.

Still undecided? It might be helpful to know that the cloth vs. disposable debate isn’t a strict “either/or.” Many parents who use cloth diapers at home also use disposable diapers for travel, day care, or while on the go. If a combination of cloth and disposable diapers works for your family, that means you’re still helping to reduce diaper waste while saving money by not having to buy as many disposables.