reusables vs disposables - which is best for baby?

[squilliams]

My ds is 7 weeks old and has been in disposables since birth. I've just received a trial pack of reusables from my local council, and am currently working my way through the different types. I was surprised by how wet the nappies got, having got used to the disposables soaking everything up and am not sure how comfortable this is for him. The reusable nappy websites say that this isn't a problem for babies, but I'm not sure that this is unbiased advice as they are trying to sell you reusables - has anyone else switched between disposables/reusables and have you found that one type is better for baby?

Obviously if you use eco-friendly nappies, you still will be using hundreds of nappies (as opposed to only 20 odd if you use cloth), which as chatelskier says, uses huge amounts of energy and water. They still have plastic in them (which is made from crude oil) and not only that, the only way to biodegrade them is to tear them in half (don?t place them in a bag) and put them in your own wormery, and you have to buy special worms for it, garden worms don?t do the job! And then you shouldn?t use the compost to grow food, and you can?t sell it either. Again, just my two-pence worth!

I?m not saying I don?t ever use disposables, because I do. They are convenient at times. I also have a car, which uses petrol and I shop in supermarkets, which means stuff with heaps of packaging on. We are all part of a consumer lifestyle. We just have to make the choices that are best for us, our families and our consciences. I think, TBH, it?s about compromise.

Disposables look hideous. Reusables look gorgeous. Spend the money you save using cloth on yourself. Bingo

i'm not too sure about all the links to various illnesses from dispies, i use wasables for cute factor these days
but
i'm sure none of mine were bothered by the wetter feeling of washbles and they're way more comfy for them in summer with a paper liner. alterntively fleece is lovely and cosy and keeps the skin dry

Message withdrawn

I agree that the biodegradable bit is a con (or misleading is maybe better?), but they do invariably have fewer nasty chemicals and are a known to be more ethically produced than conventional sposies.

I'll get a wormery one day