How to Choose Diapers for Your Baby

One of the first decisions you will make as a parent after your baby is born is the type of diapers you wish for him or her to wear. Be it cloth or disposable, the diaper is your baby's most important article of clothing for the first two years. It may seem trivial, but choosing the correct diaper helps assure that your baby's skin stays healthy. Here are some tips for choosing diapers for your baby.

The Perfect Fit: If you are going with cloth diapers, one size fits all. However, if disposable is your plan, it's important to choose a diaper that fits your baby well. The best place to begin is by observing the weight on the diaper package. These are usually a pretty good match for what your baby will wear. However, babies are built differently. Your baby may have larger legs (it's cute), so he or she may need a larger size to accommodate this. Pay attention to how the diaper fits your baby. The tabs should reach to just short of the halfway mark of the front of the diaper and should not overlap (although this is common in newborns if your baby is especially small). The diaper should be snug but not tight, and you should be able to run your finger around the inside of the elastic around the leg. If the elastic leaves red marks, then choose a different size or brand of diaper.

It's a Material Thing: Your baby's comfort is important, so pay attention to what material the diaper is made of. Cloth-like material tends to be more comfortable and less scratchy than plastic-type coverings. The softer the outer material is to the touch, the softer it will feel on your baby's skin.

Sensitive Skin: Some babies have more fragile skin than others. If your baby falls in this category, you will need to pay special attention to the characteristics of the diaper. Choose diapers that are chlorine-free and hypoallergenic, and that don't contain fragrance or latex. This will help decrease the chance that your little one will have an allergic skin reaction to the diaper.

Expensive Doesn't Equal Quality: Remember that cheaper in price does not necessarily mean cheaply made. You may very well find that the most costly diapers aren't worth the extra expense, since cheaper ones do the job just as well or sometimes even better.

The type of diaper that your baby wears is unique to you and your baby. His or her skin type, as well as your lifestyle and ideas about parenting and the environment, will help determine what type of diaper your baby needs. Choose the diaper that is best for the two of you, and you can't go wrong.