Baby Articles > Diapering Your Baby: The Basics

Diapering Your Baby: The Basics

Whether you are expecting your first baby or whether you've had five already, you already know that diapers are a big factor in a parent's life. Children typically spend the first two to three (and beyond) years in diapers going through an average of 10 a day. That adds up to close to 10,000 diapers (and $1700) in one childs lifetime! Knowing that this is an almost unavoidable fact of babyhood the goal is to figure out how to make these years of diapering the easiest and most cost effective for you. You'll need to know which diapers to use, where to buy the cheapest diapers and the easiest ways to reuse or dispose of them.

Disposable Diapers
These days, unlike when we were babies, disposable diapers are convenient, reliable and relatively inexpensive. There are many brands out there on the market, each with their own different absorbancy and fit. Finding out which diaper fits your baby best will be a matter of trial and error. Disposable diapers tend to be more expensive at your grocery store than at a discount warehouse store, so it pays to stock up. However if you sign up for either Huggies or Pampers mailing list, you will recieve generous diaper coupons in the mail. You can also try CouponBar and E-Bay to search for diaper coupons as well. For those who are willing to pay slightly more for a more environmentally friendly diaper, Seventh Generation also offers a line of diapers.

Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers have come a long way in the past years. No longer is it that messy, inconvenient chore that our parents had to go through. These days they are easy to use, healthier for the baby, better for the environment, and the most economical diapering method. While you will need to spend more money upfront with cloth diapers, but with disposable diapers averaging about 20 cents a pop, you will quickly come out ahead with cloth. Diaper Pin is an outstanding source for cloth diapering information and they have a great cost calculator that you really should try. There are four main types of cloth diapers, prefolds, fitteds, pockets and all-in-ones. After they are used, just dunk the dirty ones in the toilet, wash in hot water, dry and they are ready for use again.

Diaper Wipes
Just as with diapers. you can choose to go with either disposable or cloth wipes. You will need to try a variety of brands before settling on your favorite. Or do as many moms and choose whichever brand is on sale that week and that can be your new favorite. You can make your own homemade disposable diaper wipes to save money, or you can make your own natural diaper wipe cleansing liquid for cloth wipes.

Diaper Wipe Warmer
A diaper wipe warmer is a very luxurious item for your baby to have on cold, winter evenings. While not necessary it is nice to have.

Diaper Creams and Powders
Baby powder helps to keep baby's bum dry and is therefore one method of fighting and preventing diaper rash. Back when we were babies, using talcum powder was the standard powder to splash on between diaper changes. However new research is showing that babies can inhale the talc in common baby powder and can be harmful. Choosing a baby powder that is based from cornstarch rather than talc is the better choice. Diaper creams are another method of fighting and preventing diaper rash. Instead of absorbing moisture as powder does, diaper creams block moisture from getting to the babies skin. It is advisable to keep both on hand.

Diaper Pails
The two most popular diaper pails on the market today are the Diaper Genie and the Diaper Champ. The Diaper Genie makes uses its custom bags and a twisting mechanism to create little sausages out of each dirty diaper. This eliminates odor and mess. The only downside is that you have to use their specific refill bags. Diaper Genies also offer adorable fabric covers in themes like "Jasmine" , "Baby Aviator" and "Hello Kitty" to match your nursery decor. With the Diaper Champ you can use any plastic bag you may have in the house. For the most economical solution, you can use a regular pop top Sterilite garbage can fitted with any plastic grocery bag you have on hand. Placing a deoderant disk inside can help make any unfavorable odors.

Diaper Bags
This is one of the most favored diaper necessity, because not only is it a handy place to store your diapers, but it's also a fashion accessory! Important traits for a diaper bag to have are that it be washable, sturdy, and most importantly adorable. Having a matching portable changing pad is helpful and also insulated bags are nice for storing formula and such. The latest trend is The Original Seatbelt Bag, which is supremely durable, washable and fashionable. Breathe Diaper Bag is another diaper bag that affordable and stylish.

Diapering doesn't have to be a big chore or a source for gagging, just make sure you choose good products that are both easy and enjoyable to use.