Diapers (also called nappies) are a necessary part of children growing up. It's essential to use them, and you can prepare for whenever they have an accident. Of course, changing a diaper is a part of parental life, too, so we don't want to get rid of them for good.
However, there are plenty of parents who don't want to use disposable diapers, and thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives out there for you! This post will help you find out what those alternatives are.
It's becoming increasingly important to look after our natural world. The growing climate crisis makes it all the more important to make sure we're getting the most eco-friendly options we can. Without getting into the politics of the climate crisis, diapers are actually a lot worse for the environment than you might have realized.
Most diapers are disposable. That means you can throw them away after the first use. Your child only needs to have one accident in them before they're out in the bin. After that, the soiled diapers are thrown into a landfill or burned.
Neither of these options is great for the environment, especially since they make many single-use nappies out of plastic (and thus will leave harmful chemicals out in the world).
The Alternatives
Now that we've explained why single-use nappies and diapers aren't the way forward, it's time to look at what options you have.
Of course, these won't appeal to everyone. You can still choose to use single-use diapers if you'd prefer. This post is for those looking at going diaperless to see what other options are available to them.
Yes, these are just like regular diapers, only more environmentally friendly. If you're looking for a completely different option to using nappies, then we'll include that in a little while, and you can skip to it if you'd like to.
For now, we think it's wise to talk about using biodegradable nappies when you want to instead of the regular ones.
Biodegradable diapers are precisely the same as other nappies you'll find on the market. However, the significant difference is that these take much less time to break down in a landfill and will be more environmentally friendly in the long run. The problems for our world mostly come from items that have a hard time breaking down, like plastic bags, so if we can speed up that process, we'll be much better off.
Our favorite biodegradable diapers are available here.
These are perhaps the most exciting new alternative to nappies that most people are jumping on. They're great for the environment because they take away any need to throw out another set of dirty diapers again.
To make it even better, they're going to save you a hefty sum of money (since you only need one good set of cloth nappies from birth to toilet training).
Cloth diapers were actually the common choice before disposable ones came along.
People much preferred the convenience of disposable diapers, so once they were on the market, most people threw away their cloth diapers and just made the most of the new single-use plastic ones. History has a habit of catching up to us, which has brought cloth nappies back around.
Basically, to use a cloth nappy, you'll put it on your child like any other diaper. Once they have an accident, you simply replace it with another cloth diaper. You then take the dirty one and wash it as you would any other clothes in your house.
Leave it out to dry, and by the time it's ready, your baby might need another change. You'll often require a set of about ten to make sure you always have one ready, but they're a great alternative.
Our favorite cloth diapers are available here.
If you're looking for a completely diaperless version, then this diaper alternative might be for you. This is perhaps the most controversial choice that parents can make for their babies.
Using no nappies is precisely that; no nappies are put on your baby, even when they have an accident. Instead, parents adopt a method known as "elimination communication."
"Elimination communication" is a method used to learn your baby's body language early on in their development. That way, you can work out when they're ready to use the toilet and start hovering them over a potty or toilet when you feel like an accident is about to happen.
Of course, this requires a lot of attention at all times, and you will run the risk of having plenty of accidents before you figure out your child's rhythm and behavior.
Still, it's an effective strategy that some parents adopt. It takes the idea of going diaperless to a whole new level as well. It just goes to show that sometimes there are always options that avoid the expected things. While nappies seem like a mainstay fixture for most children as they grow up, plenty of parents have made the "no nappies" solution work for them.
Of course, this strategy isn't for everyone. It's okay if you don't think it's for you! You have to make sure you're confident with knowing when your child is ready to go. If you can get a grip of the "elimination communication" early, you'll have no trouble figuring this one out.
Choosing to go diaperless or looking for diaper alternatives is a great tool if you're looking to be more environmentally conscious.
It's also great for new parents who want to try different strategies if they believe they'll work better for their child. We encourage everyone to try whatever methods they feel work best for them.
After all, every child is different, and every parent is different too. Something you teach your child to do might not be something another parent will do.
It's up to you how you raise your children, and it's up to your children how they respond to that! At the end of the day, have fun with it, whatever diaper alternative you choose! We can see value in all of these alternatives!