Disposable Nappies Pros and Cons List

Disposable nappies were a natural evolution from the homemade nappies made of cloth, usually old cloth from worn out pieces of garments. Those who had money opted for fresh cloth and readymade nappies sold on the market. Today, there is no dearth of choices. Parents can choose from more than a dozen brands of nappies, both reusable and disposal. They come in various sizes and with myriad features. Some are stretchable, some are made of comfy materials, some can soak up a lot of moisture and some even come with certain fragrances.

It is difficult to talk about disposable nappies pros and cons without highlighting the advantages and shortcomings of washable or reusable nappies. The whole argument or discussion needs to be relative. Disposable nappies don’t exist in isolation and while you can always compare different brands of the same, you would obviously pit it against reusable and washable nappies.

List of Pros of Disposable Nappies

1. Disposable nappies are compact and very light.
They are truly portable. You can pack in several of them, they wouldn’t take up much space and you would still have a lightweight bag to carry.

2. Even when it comes to storage at your home, disposable nappies take very little space.
Washable nappies or reusable nappies are much bulkier. Considering the reality that babies tend to have a lot of stuff stored for them, from clothes to toys, baby care products to kids’ furniture, saving space with disposable nappies is not only desirable but wise.

3. Being lightweight, disposable nappies are easy on the kids.
Newborns struggle to carry heavy clothing and washable or reusable nappies can be a tad bulkier for the little angels.

4. Disposable nappies can prevent the wetness from coming in direct contact with the skin.
Babies don’t like to feel the wetness and it is also unhygienic. Washable or reusable nappies don’t do a great job to retain the moisture within the fabrics or if there are any special pouches inside. Disposable nappies are designed and manufactured in a way to retain the wetness without letting the moisture dab against the skin.

5. Disposable nappies can be just used and thrown away.
There is no need to wash them. You don’t have to deal with soiled nappies. You don’t need to carry them back once used. You can easily use one anywhere and at anytime and you can also dispose them off rather easily.

6. Today you can buy disposable nappies that are made of eco friendly materials.
The carbon footprint is even less than that of reusable and washable nappies. Many parents, especially those are conscious about environmental impacts, think that reusable nappies or those that can be washed will have a smaller carbon footprint. That is not always the case.

7. The sheer labor that goes into cleaning washable or reusable nappies is avoided.
In these times when parents are pressed for time, either parent works from home or both parents are working or even if one parent is home and there are other kids, the washing, drying and reusing become a herculean job.

List of Cons of Disposable Nappies

1. Disposable nappies are costlier.
You may not realize the dent in your wallet when you make the first purchases. In the long run, say in a few months or in a year, you would realize the increased cost. It is easy to do the math.

2. There is an environmental impact.
Barring a very few manufacturers who may use 100% eco friendly materials, the carbon footprint is quite high. Even those who use green materials will have to manufacture the nappies so there is an impact on the environment. Disposal of nappies also has an adverse impact, but it is not concerning since the waste is organic, even if the nappies aren’t.

3. Can contain toxins and a number of chemicals.
Some disposable nappies can have chemicals, especially those that claim to convert wee to other liquids, more fragrant or pleasant gels. Parents should choose accordingly.

4. Poor brands of disposable nappies can cause infections and may make babies sick.
Not all nappies that can be disposed will have the same ability to absorb and retain moisture or solid waste. It is quite likely that the parents don’t get to know because of concealed smell and the baby may be exposed, directly in contact with, to the moisture and waste.

5. Disposable nappies are purely utilitarian and they are mass produced.
There isn’t much uniqueness, design elements that would stand out or any materialistic element that will be personalized for a baby. There are of course high end disposable nappies that can come with many unique attributes but they would simply cost more.

Eventually, it is the decision of the parents, the kind of money they can spend and the labor they can put in that shall determine if disposable nappies are ideal or they would settle for reusable washable nappies.