Did you know that your baby will go through as many as 5,000 diaper changes from birth through to potty training?

Disposable diapers are certainly the most popular method of diapering in the US as they are readinly available to purchase and there’s no commitment to launder an outer diaper or inner liner, or dispose of an insert. But convenience comes with a cost—they’re expensive (up to $2,000 per kid through potty training) and environmentally controversial because of the lack of biodegradability of some brands.

If you’re opting for disposables, you can help reduce waste concerns by discarding stool in the toilet rather than in your household trash. Take time to weigh the factor of convenience against the reality of waste produced. And look for “greener” options from manufacturers like Seventh Generation or Nature Boy & Girl.

Considering Cloth

The total investment in cloth diapers is far less, although you need to consider the expenses and energy used for properly laundering them. Whether you use a diaper service or buy your own, concerns include cotton being an environmentally demanding and high-chemical use crop to grow. You can go green in cloth diapering by choosing organic cotton, recycling diapers with others, washing larger loads and outdoor drying.

There are multiple cloth diaper options out there today—forget the cloth, pins and bulky rubber pants of yesteryear. Today’s cloth diapers feature stylish and comfy outer wrappers with either a washable insert or disposable pad. Some are even engineered with fasteners that allow the wrapper to grow with your baby from birth to toddlerhood. Popular choices include gDiapers, Oh Katy, Bumwear, bumGenius and GroVia.

For hygiene, wash cloth diapers in hot water, separate from other laundry and avoid perfumed detergents and softeners that can bother baby’s sensitive skin.

Smart Diapering

Regardless of your choice, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stresses the need to keep baby’s tender skin as clean and dry as possible with prompt changes. It’s common for babies to develop diaper rash during infancy but the AAP reminds you to contact your pediatrician if the rash has blisters or pus, if your baby is taking antibiotics and develops a red raised rash, if she gets a fever while having diaper rash, or if the rash is painful.

Choose what works best for you and your family, including the decision as to who gets to change diapers in the middle of the night!