Cloth Diapers vs Disposables

Cloth Diapers vs Disposables

As parents, it can often feel as though we fall into two teams: Team Cloth Diaper, and Team Disposable Diaper. Naturally, both sides have their pros and cons. Disposables are famously easy to use, and seem lighter on the pocket. Not to mention,… they’ve been… around longer. Cloth Diapers are a fairly more recent concept in India, and offer a number of benefits.

So, let’s take a closer look at what’s great - and what’s not - about both.

Comfort 

As grown-ups, we’re no authority on a baby’s true feelings - but we can tell when they’re uncomfortable! 

  • Traditional langots have long been adopted by parents of newborns for the rash-free benefits of using natural cloth fabrics. 
  • Many parents opt for disposable diapers primarily for their breathability and capability for absorption. 
  • Disposable diapers can contain chemicals designed to maximize absorption that may irritate a baby’s sensitive skin and cause rashes. 
  • Today, cloth diapers come in breathable, super soft, customized fabrics that are designed to maximize absorption and comfort. 

Ease of Use 

Being a new parent is one of the toughest jobs in the world. Which diaper makes the job just a little bit easier? 

  • Disposable diapers are often chosen for their Velcro and snap closures that make fitting easy
  • Cloth diapers are now similarly designed with a number of design features, including snap closures, leg gussets, and body-contour design to make fitting intuitive and comfortable 
  • Disposable diapers are often absorbent, but need to be changed very frequently 
  • Cloth diapers can be rewashed and reused, cutting down on shopping/delivery time

Price 

The average baby needs diapers for roughly 3 years. When you stack up the costs, which type of diaper is ultimately more affordable? 

  • On average, a baby may use upto 5 disposable diapers per day
  • Disposable diapers can cost upto Rs. 13-15 per piece
  • This adds up to roughly Rs. 70,000 for 3 years 
  • Cloth diapers are a one-time purchase, with many of them being reusable for upto 3 years
  • The average cost of cloth diapers for the period of 3 years can be as low as Rs. 10,000 

Sustainability 

Since we’re talking about the new gen, it’s important to consider the planet they’ll grow up in. 

  • Disposable diapers create around 3.5 million tonnes of waste per year
  • Cloth diapers typically need to be washed 1-3 times per week, depending on the number of pieces you own 
  • Disposable diapers can use resources from trees and non-biodegradable plastics for manufacturing 
  • Cloth diapers require use of water, but produce significantly less waste 

Disposable diapers have always been a popular choice for a number of reasons - however, in recent years, cloth diapers have been able to offer future-forward, intelligently designed solutions for millions of Indian babies and parents. 

At Bumberry, we’re innovating everyday to make cloth diapers more accessible, affordable, and easy-to-use for Indian parents. After all, what matters most is making our planet a better place for our children - one diaper at a time!

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