Cloth diapers or disposable? It’s a question many expectant parents ask. As with many choices in life, there are benefits and drawbacks to both, as well as a myriad of options. So let’s dive into the pros and cons, as well as some parent-approved favorite brands.

Benefits of Cloth Diapers

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1. Saves money. By acquiring a stash of diapers, using them for your baby (and any other kids you have), and then selling them after you no longer need them, parents can recoup some of the initial costs. The average diaper stash, according to many cloth-diapering parents, is about 20 diapers, which allows enough diapers to last a couple days if you do laundry every two days or so.

2. Earth-friendly. Another wonderful benefit to cloth diapers is saving the environment from one-use diapers. Even though disposable diapers require laundering, the fact that they are used for years and may be recycled after their usable life is complete is a huge win for cloth-diapering enthusiasts and parents who are looking for earth-friendly alternatives for their babies.

3. No chemicals. Cloth diapers are typically made from cotton, hemp, bamboo or microfiber. These materials allow peace of mind for parents wanting to limit harsh chemicals from interfering with their baby's delicate skin. There are many options in the material of cloth diapers from organic to bleached to non-bleached materials.

 

Drawbacks of Cloth Diapers

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1. Initial investment. Acquiring cloth diapers requires an initial financial investment that some budgets may not be able to accommodate, especially with everything else you need for a new baby. But with the popularity of cloth diapering, it is possible to purchase pre-owned cloth diapers for a fraction of the price through parent groups on social media. This gives parents a chance to try them out without breaking the bank. There are also varying price points for the many cloth diaper brands on the market, making it a financially viable option for those interested.

2. Diaper booty. Using cloth diapers may mean you have to go up a size or two in clothing due to the adorable cloth diaper booty that results. Different brands have varying levels of thickness and absorbency, which will impact the fit of clothing on the lower half of the body.

3. Extra laundry. Adding more laundry to the new parent's already full plate could prove stressful for some. Many cities offer cloth-diaper laundering services, but if that's not an option for you, many cloth-diapering parents say that once they get in the groove, it's really not a big deal to rinse solids off the diapers (using a toilet hose attachment) and throw them in the washing machine every few days. Also, many parents choose to cloth-diaper their babies during the day and put disposable diapers on them at night for ease and extra leak protection.

Cloth Diaper Brands to Consider

GroVia

Smart Bottoms are less bulky, made from organic cotton and hemp, and are all-in-ones (AIO), which means they are one-piece. They are made in the U.S.A. and have the cutest prints.

Bum Genius is known for one-size cloth diapers that adjust with your baby's growth. They have a myriad of options including all-in-ones and diapers with inserts.

GroVia has lots of different cloth-diapering options with AIO, inserts, organic, hybrid diapers and the brand's beloved Buttah velour diapers, which look as soft and buttery as they feel.

Not sure if cloth diapers are right for you? Let’s talk about disposable diapers.

Benefits of Disposable Diapers

baby surprised expression wearing diaper - money-saving tips
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1. Ease of use. The learning curve of being a new parent is steep, and sometimes you just need the easy button. Disposable diapers are pretty intuitive at a time when you are bombarded by things that are not. The wetness indicator line on the front of some diapers takes the guesswork out of figuring out if your baby's diaper needs to be changed in the first place.

2. Availability. Once you find a brand you like, you will most likely to able to find them in stores near you. Or you can order online and have them auto-shipped, which means you don't have to worry about running out. Buying them online also means you can compare prices to get the best deal.

3. Fewer diaper changes. Because disposable diapers have ultra-absorbent technology, they aren't as prone to leaking, and diapers can be changed less often than cloth diapers. Also, diaper rashes may occur less because of the extra absorbency.

Drawbacks of Disposable Diapers

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1. Irritating materials. Some babies may get diaper rashes due to the chemicals, dyes and gels used to make disposables super absorbent.

2. Non-recyclable. Experts calculate that more than 3 million tons of landfill waste can be attributed to diapers. While there are some up-and-coming companies dedicated to recycling these used diapers, this option is not readily available to most consumers.

3. Expensive. According to some estimates, parents can spend $2,000 to $3,000 per year per baby on disposable diapers. Compare this with a stash of cloth diapers which can be acquired for less than $800 and can last through multiple children and later resold.

Disposable Diaper Brands to Consider

The Honest Company

Pampers Baby Dry are the most economical of these three brands and are loved by parents because of their breathability, wetness indicator and absorbency. They are free of parabens and latex and are hypoallergenic.

Honest Diapers prides themselves on using super-absorbent, hypoallergenic materials that are plant-based. These diapers are readily available at national retailers as well as online, and the patterns are super cute. With bright and cheery prints, these diapers will make you smile even in the midst of the messiest blow-out.

Babyganics Skin Love Diapers are made without latex, parabens, chlorine, petroleum-based lotions or fragrances. Their diapers are a bit more cost-effective than similar brands and are also available at national retailers.

The Diaper Lowdown

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Diving into the diapering world can be information overload. Talk to friends and find out what brands they've used and how they diaper their kids. Join social media groups devoted to parenting and even cloth-diapering. There are so many wise and experienced parents out there who are happy to share the what, how and why behind their choices. Whatever you choose, know that you are doing the best for your baby.

 

Sarah Blight

featured image: heymattallen via Pixabay

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We’re not going to pretend this is anything but pure, unadulterated, porn-level, bordering on the irresponsible sugar consumption. This is not “breakfast”; it is a dessert (and activity) worthy of the designation “special treat.” That said: there’s this totally cool, admittedly ridiculous cereal bar in a high-concept menswear store that you owe it to your kids to visit. (You will also enjoy it.)

photo: KITH Treats

Excuse me: A what?
Yes! A cereal bar. As in: you saddle up to a counter in the front of the newly-redesigned and reopened super groovy, somewhat absurd KITH apparel store, review the LED-screen display of a surprisingly robust selection of breakfast cereals and order up a single, double or triple serving of the — mostly — sweet stuff. (Corn Flakes, Wheaties and Cheerios are among the choices, but if you or your kids want those, we suggest heading to your local supermarket instead.)

Go On
The 150-square-foot sweets dispensary (officially known as KITH Treats) is located at the front of the massive, high-end, sneaker and apparel retailer, and visitors can even utilize a small counter with bar stools to consume their purchases on site. The store itself, designed in cooperation with the firm Snarkitecture is a super-slick, gleaming, high concept urban retail experience, with an archive of Kith creator/designer Ronnie Fieg’s previous footwear collaborations with various brands displayed on backlit glass shelves, custom Carrera white herringbone marble floors and a sculpture of 750 cast Air Jordan II sneakers suspended from the ceiling.

Ok, But What About the Cereal?
Customers can choose from 24 different flavors of cereal and have the option of ordering one to three servings of cereal, with orders of two or more being served in collectible, custom-designed mini shoeboxes. (Brands and individuals will collaborate on the design of the boxes, with new designs rolled out every six weeks. The inaugural box featured a design from Nike under the creative direction of Andre Agassi in anticipation of the U.S. Open.)

A small sample of the cereal selection includes Apple Jacks, Cap’n Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Fruit Loops, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Rice Krispies and Special K. In what some might describe as “gilding the lily” or just plain overkill,  for 75 cents each you can then add toppings such as brownie or cheesecake bites, cookie dough, cotton candy, crushed Oreos, marshmallow charms, Kit Kat, Snickers Bar and s’mores crunch crumble. (It should be noted that Fieg readily admits that he was not allowed sugary cereals growing up and that he’d sneak them at friends’ houses after school. Food for thought.)

If you and the kids are feeling extra adventurous, you can try one of the Kith Treats “Specials”, which are custom blends of various cereals created for the bar by friends of the brand such as Action Bronson, Don C and Maxwell Osborne. (Feig’s concoction, “The Fiegster,” for example, is a mix of Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Puffs, Mini Marshmallows, Crushed Oreos and Whole Milk.) All orders come with the customer’s choice of milk (whole, skim, almond, hemp or chocolate) in a KITH-branded glass bottle, and cereal comes with a KITH-branded spoon-straw.

photo: KITH Treats

But Wait, There’s More
If cereal is not your family’s thing you can still find a way to overindulge at KITH. The cereal bar also offers “The Ice Cream Cereal Swirl”, which is essentially vanilla ice cream infused with the cereal of your choice and one topping. (We opted for Cap’n Crunch ice cream with Crunch Bar bits. It was horrible. Kidding! — it was sensational.)

In one nod to sanity, KITH Treats does sell La Colombe Coffee, iced coffee, tea and hot chocolate, and the store even has a walk-up window where you can get your cereal and more to go.

So How Much Will All of This Madness Set Me Back?
The Build Your Box is $6 for up two cereals and $7 for three; the Ice Cream Swirl is $5.50

An Important Parent FYI
Believe it or not, the elementary set is not KITH’s target market, and the store features a booming, hip-hop heavy soundtrack that can at times be liberal with the profanities. (At least that was the case when we stopped by. You’ve been warned.)

KITH Treats
233 Flatbush Avenue
Prospect Heights
347-889-6114
Online: http://kithnyc.com

Have you visited KITH Treats? What did you think? Tell us in the comments below!

—Mimi O’Connor