Which diapers are better for the baby - disposable or tetras? Opinions on this issue are divided. Disposable diapers are convenient and save time, while tetras diapers are cheaper. It is up to the parents to decide which one to choose.
The birth ofa childbrings with it many decisions. Serious and trivial, but equally important to young parents. When you choose the hospital in which the baby will be born, you deal with the preparation of the apartment for the reception of a small tenant, you read many wise books on childbirth and care fornewborn baby , you can finally start completing layettes. At this point, there is one more dilemma to be resolved: to buydiaperscloth or disposable? Some believe that disposable diapers are a brilliant invention that makes life easier for young parents. Others defend good old tetra. Confused parents, wanting the best for their toddler, feel helpless in the maze of arguments for and against.
Comfortable disposable diapers
It all started in 1961, when Procter & Gamble introduced the first disposable diapers to the market. Gradually, first in the world, and a dozen or so years later also in Poland, they began to replace the previously used tetra. Over time, the range of disposables expanded, and parents became more and more confident about this invention. Today - as research shows - nearly 90 percent of them use them. parents.
Pros: Disposables are convenient and allow you to save time, which can be spent on playing with the child instead of washing and ironing. In these diapers, moisture is absorbed very quickly, thanks to which the baby does not feel cold and the skin contact with urine is difficult. This prevents irritation. Some newborn nappies (such as Pampers) also absorb loose stools. Disposable diapers are recommended by pediatricians for the youngest children because they create a stronger spacer, important for the proper shaping of the hips.
But be careful! Parents often misunderstand the advantage of rapid urine absorption and make their babies change too infrequently, believing that this is the purpose of disposables - the toddler should always be dry. Meanwhile, a diaper that has been kept for too long can cause diaper dermatitisand chafing. It can also be mechanically damaged, which exposes the child's skin to contact with the gel substance that absorbs urine. In an older infant, changing the diaper too infrequently places a load on delicate hips and may cause the legs to bend. Some scientists also prove that wearing disposables for a long time is harmful to boys because it increases the temperature in the scrotum area. So remember that a disposable diaper cannot be treated as a "reservoir" for storing urine.
Cons: In the case of disposables it is the price (on average 50-60 groszy for one item) ). Considering that a newborn uses 8-10 diapers a day, you have to spend 150-180 PLN on them per month. An argument often raised by supporters of diaper diapers is also the harmfulness of disposables to the environment. That is why their reusable counterparts have already appeared, which are just as convenient to use. Instead of an absorbent inner layer, they have a reusable insert that can be removed and washed (information at www.pieluchy.com.pl). Some online stores also have biodegradable disposable diapers made almost entirely of cotton.
Disposable materialis not a piece of impregnated paper and cotton wool, but a technologically complex product, sometimes compared to membranes in ski jackets. It consists of several layers. A special fleece adheres directly to the toddler's body, which allows moisture to pass through only one direction - to the inside of the diaper. Sometimes it is additionally covered with a thin layer of a balm that protects and nourishes the baby's skin. Next there is a soft insert in which an absorbent, i.e. a moisture-binding substance, is closed. Some diapers have an additional layer made of specially modified cellulose fibers, thanks to which the moisture is evenly distributed over the entire diaper. And finally, the airy outer layer, Velcro at the waist (which allow the diaper to be adjusted to the waist width) and cuffs at the legs, thanks to which the contents of the diaper do not leak out.
Diapers
Some parents are faithful to the tetra. Why? Some people believe that a washed, boiled and ironed diaper is he althier for a child's skin than an artificial disposable one. Others use tetra out of necessity - it's just cheaper. The price of a tetra diaper is PLN 2-3 (depending on the thickness of the tetra - the thicker, the better and more expensive). Considering that you have to buy about 40 items and replace them every three or four months (daily washing causes the material to deteriorate quickly), the monthly cost of tetra diapers is PLN 20-30. In addition, there are expenses for washing powder. At first it shouldto use a special one for babies, which is more expensive than the regular one (the price is about PLN 20 per 1.5 kg, i.e. PLN 40 per month).
Note: you should not add fabric softener to the laundry, as it worsens the absorption properties of the tetra, and may also irritate the skin. You have to take into account water and electricity charges for washing and ironing diapers. In addition, the child must have more sets of rompers and jackets, as the tetra diapers are soaked, as well as foil panties and under the sheets. To sum up, tetra is cheaper than disposable diapers by PLN 40-70 per month. For many parents, however, this is not enough to offset the fatigue of constantly washing and ironing diapers.
In the case of diapers with older babies, there is no risk of curving legs (as in the detained disposables). Pediatricians also point out that children in tetra start using the potty a little faster ( although this is not a rule).
And the disadvantages? The tetra becomes wet immediately after peeing, which puts the baby's skin in contact with urine. If the parents do not change it in time, redness, irritation and burns may appear on the skin. This type of diaper is also more difficult to keep on the bottom in the right position for a busy child.
Which diapers are better?
Both types of diapers are fine as long as the parents are careful about their baby's hygiene. Skin irritation is usually caused by the baby's changing diaper infrequent, not the diaper material. So if you change nappies often enough, it doesn't matter whether your little one will grow up to be disposable or traditional.
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