Cloth Diapers – Facts and Myths. Your Questions Answered

There are so many misconceptions and myths circulating about reusable cloth diapers, so we thought we'd give you a brief guide to use as a starting point.

They cost so much more money than disposables.

This is false. You decide how much you spend on cloth diapers, and very few parents even come close to spending as much as they would with disposable diapers. 

Let’s do some basic calculations. An average child gets through 1,600 diaper changes a year before toilet training, which takes up to 3 years. When averaged over 3 years, your little one will need 8 changes per day. At an average of $0.40 per diaper that is $3.20 per day, $1168 per year, and over $3000 for 3 years. Please bear in mind that bin charges would be additional to this. And in some cities, this a massive additional cost, up to 

Now let’s consider Bayrli diapers. Our diaper system is not just beneficial for the planet but also your wallet. Our all inclusive Everyday kit is $620. And this includes lifetime support and a lifetime warranty.

Disposables = $3000 for 3 years. Bayrli = $620 for 3 years.

They always leak so they have to be changed more often.

Leaks almost always relate to fit. And Bayrli diapers, when fitted correctly, are leakproof. Every single range undergoes an extensive design and testing phase, both during initial production and throughout a lifecycle, to ensure we maintain a consistent quality for you. Need your baby's diaper to last longer? Simply boost it with one of our wide range of absorbency options.

My baby will have hip problems from reusable diapers because they’re so bulky!

This is a common statement that is a misconception. When we consider hip issues, we consider two aspects: Hip development and walking.

A baby’s hip bones will fuse into their socket joints between 24 to 36 months of life. The hip joint attaches the thigh bone (femur) to the pelvis. The top of the baby’s femur (femoral head) is rounded, just like a tennis ball, and sits inside the cup-shaped hip socket.

Indeed, there are some small-scale studies that conclude that the use of good fitting cloth diapers can help push your baby’s hips into an optimum position and can sometimes aid in preventing or correcting hip problems. Some Podiatrists and Orthopaedic Surgeons will recommend putting a baby with hip problems in reusable diapers to support the hips as they develop. What we can conclusively summarise is our diapers do not adversely impact hip development.

Regarding walking, every single baby is unique and therefore will learn to walk at different stages and ages no matter what type of diaper they wear. There is utterly no evidence-based research that will say reusable diapers impede normal motor development or inhibit this in any way.

Cloth diapers are not better for the environment.

This is false. Many will cite a deeply flawed study by the UK Environment Agency which was published in 2005. However, this study was later edited and updated in 2008 and diverged from their original findings and accepted that the use of reusable diapers was actually beneficial for the environment.

Since 2005, every major study of note has strongly encouraged the use of cloth diapers, including a detailed study from Zero Waste Europe in 2020, which is supported by the LIFE Programme of the European Union.

Reusable diapers are too much hard work and too much laundry.

Just keep it really simple. Break it down: it takes less than 5 minutes to put on a wash, less than 5 minutes to hang to them up to dry or pop them to the tumble dryer, and less than 5 minutes to put the diapers away. And you do that max twice a week. Your washing machine does the hard work for you!

Cloth diapers are too complicated to put on.

Our Bayrli diapers are actually purposefully simple by design. There’s a waterproof bit to keep liquids in, then the absorbent bit to soak up the liquid. If one Bayrli system doesn’t work for you, simply try another. It’s completely up to you, your lifestyle, and your baby. Find what works best for you!

Don't cloth diapers smell?

When you change your baby you will place the diaper into a dedicated Bayrli wet bag, diaper bin, or pail until you have a full load, thus ensuring an economical wash. Should there be any poo in the reusable Bayrli diaper, this is carefully rinsed off or simply plops into the toilet.

These dirty cloth diapers will be then be washed within 3 days. Our wet bags are carefully designed to trap all smells. They will not emit a putrid and foul odour in your garbage bin for up to a fortnight until their next collection.

Will my baby have a higher chance of getting diaper rash?

Diaper rash is a concern for all new parents and is usually caused when urine or poo has been in contact with your baby’s skin for too long or if your baby’s bottom has not been properly cleaned and dried after the previous diaper change. This is all about maintaining good hygiene; good hygiene etiquette, regular diaper changing, and ensuring your baby is dry before putting on a new diaper. These are the best ways to prevent diaper rash for all babies, regardless if you choose to use Bayrli diapers or disposables. Any Bayrli product does not contain any unwarranted chemicals or fragrances.

Get in touch!

If you have any other questions about cloth diapers, how they fit, how to wash cloth diapers, or how to store reusable diapers, please get in touch and our team will be thrilled to help you with any query.