If your Instagram is anything like ours, you’ve probably seen tons of pictures of babies in cute cloth diapers, but it’s hard to know if it’s worth making the switch.

Sure, you may already know cloth diapers are better for the environment, but what about all the extra work and mess that comes with them?

Every tot is different so there is no right answer. We put together a list of some of the biggest pros and cons of cloth diapers to help you make your decision.

Whether you go with cloth diapers, disposable, or some combination of the two, we want you and your little to know all your options!

Pros:

1. Reduced rashes

Most disposable diapers are made from plastic which can irritate your baby’s skin. If your baby has a sensitive bottom then you can try cloth diapers made from cotton, terry cloth, or even flannel. These materials are less prone to irritating sensitive skin than other diapers. Since cloth diapers need to be changed more often, you might expect fewer rashes as your baby isn’t sitting in a wet nappy for long. 

2. Saving money over time

Making those late-night diaper runs really adds up over the years. By investing upfront in some reusable diapers you’ll save a whole lot of dough. Your savings could add up to anywhere from $1500 to $3000 per child. Unfortunately, your costs will be frontloaded since you’ll have to buy cloth diapers up front, but you will definitely see savings over the years. Most cloth diapers are adjustable and can size up as your baby grows.

3. Reduced waste

As you might have guessed, disposable diapers are not the most earth-conscious option. They do not break down well in landfills and some studies estimate it might take up to 500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose. Each cloth diaper can help keep hundreds of disposables out of landfills.

Cons:

1. Messy

We’re not going to lie to you, it won’t be a picnic having to deal with all those messy diapers. You will have to rinse off those cloth diapers before they go in the laundry. There are helpful tools like bioliners to help separate the solids from the cloth, but you still will have to get your hands dirty. Plus if you’re out and about with your little and need to do a diaper change you will have to carry that stinky diaper back home.

2. Laundry, and lots of it

You should expect to be doing two, maybe even three extra loads of laundry each week. Since you don’t want soiled diapers sitting around for too long you are going to find yourself spending a lot more time on laundry. Which also means higher electricity and water bills.

3. More diaper changes

Cloth diapers are much less absorbent than traditional disposable ones. This means that your tot is going to be uncomfortable after they pee in it once or twice. To avoid leakage you’re going to have to change your baby’s diaper much more often. But that will probably make for a happy baby since they’re not sitting in dirty diapers.

What did we miss? Do you use cloth diapers?