Welcome to the crazy world of nappy changing. On an average, in Baby's first year you will be changing around 2000-5000 nappies. If you are a first time mom, you will want to get a primer on changing baby.
Wondering what kind of nappies to use? Consider these options:
Disposable Nappies
No dirty nappies to collect, no laundry piling up, no odor issues, and no frequent poop accidents. Disposable diapers are tops in the convenience department. They are faster and easier to put on and take off (which is a blessing if your baby tries to turn over when you are changing her).
Newer styles hit the market everyday. They are more absorbent, feel drier and are less likely to result in nappy rash. Some are trimmer, give a better fit and are less prone to leaks.
Then what's wrong with them? Disposable nappies feel dry even when they have soaked up a lot of urine. This results in fewer nappy changes and consequent risk of nappy rash. Read more about nappy rash. Another issue concerning newborns is that it is tough to measure urinary output, which is a measure of how much milk your baby is getting.
Another downside is that your baby might feel so dry and happy in his nappy that it might be tough to toilet train him when the time comes. If you are looking for eco-friendly options, cloth might be better.
Plus disposable nappies are expensive too (so are cloth nappies if you use a nappy service).
Cloth Nappies
If you do not mind a few leaks, a few accidents and the odor, reusable cloth nappies will work for you. Why would you want to use them at all then?
Cloth nappies allow air to circulate around baby's bottom and hence have less chance of causing nappy rash. But you might need to use waterproof pants to avoid leaks and these can cause nappy rash too.
Baby's bottom - continued below ...
