Traditional Cloth Diapers vs Baby Diaper Rash

An age-old debate on tackling baby diaper rash is the issue of using traditional cloth diapers vs disposable diapers. Disposable diapers do a great job of keeping your baby's skin dry because they're super absorbent. But mothers also tend to change these less frequently than every 2-3 hours (as recommended by doctors). On the other hand, each cloth diaper can be reused hundreds of times, leading to more frequent changes and a way to keep skin dry and rash free. When this grandmother made sure her grandson was only using 'langots' since they were better for the baby, the mother was at her wits end: No sleep, plus the cloth would have to be changed innumerable times. 

Cloth vs Disposable Diapers - A Mother's Perspective

This story goes back in time to when I first saw an advertisement for a disposable diaper. Then, I was at a life-stage where I did not give the advertisement a second glance. Not even for the extremely cute baby bum they showed. Okay, maybe the bum did catch my attention. But beyond that, no thought. Little did I know that a few years down the line, diapers and potty management would become a key aspect of my life. 

When my son was born, like millions of Indian babies, the first diaper that he wore was a traditional triangular ‘langot’. These, my mother said, were best for a newborn baby’s skin. Yes, they would have to be changed at the rate of innumerable times per hour, yet they were the best option for his delicate skin. Putting him into the ‘plasticky’ disposable diapers, though very tempting after 2 sleepless nights, was out of question. Good Read: Tips on Baby Diaper Care in winter season

By the 15th day, however, I desperately wished that he slept for 3 hours at a stretch so that I could catch some sleep myself. I, therefore, called my pediatrician and asked him if I could use a disposable diaper on my child and if yes, was there any particular type he would recommend?

He said I could, but I must apply a coat of diaper rash cream on his bum and remove the diaper immediately after 3 hours. My joy knew no bounds and I excitedly got our first pack of disposable diapers and clumsily put it on my son’s really delicate bum, though not before I ‘painted’ his bum in the white gooey diaper rash cream. He slept well, I slept well, there were tears of joy and it became a norm to put him into a disposable diaper for the after-bath sleep.

This went on quite well for about a week. Then one day, he woke up less than an hour after I put him to sleep after his bath. He was unusually uncomfortable. He just would not sleep and kept wailing how much ever I tried to comfort him. Suspecting colic, I removed his clothes and diaper to administer a light tummy rub when I noticed redness on his bum.

Mother's Observations

On careful inspection, I saw a severe rash on his bum! This, after some very liberal use of diaper rash creams. Guilt-ridden, I rushed him to my doctor who obviously advised me to keep him diaper free till the rash subsides, at least. He told me that my baby probably had a very sensitive skin, plus the plastic nature of the diaper could also be a cause for the rashes.

Mother's Conclusions

Being a new mother, I really felt it was my temptation to get some sleep that made me go for the disposable diaper to put my baby in this painful situation. I went back to the simplistic ‘langots’ which in all their triangular glory could barely hold 1 single pee without soiling atleast 4 other garments. With the help of an ointment prescribed by the doctor, the rash subsided within the next few days and I heaved a sigh of relief.

This was the first and the last diaper rash that my baby ever had.

Solutions Choosen

I, however, kept wondering if there were some other ways of diapering babies so they would last longer than the ‘langots’ and were not so ‘plasticky’ in nature? I opted for cloth diapers. Cloth diapers available in the market provide all the benefits of disposable diapers in the goodness of cloth. Mothers seemed to be truly excited about them too. I decided to give them a shot, and hoped they would really work for me. Thus began my Cloth Diapering journey. Also Read: Tips to Maintain Baby Diaper Hygiene in Summers

When she finally switched to plastic diapers, she realised what a pain infant diaper rash can be. Read this blog to find out how one mother tackled the problem of baby diaper rash.

Photo credit - Out of Focus Pictures