Diapering choices: a critical review of the issues

Careful consideration is needed to determine which diapering system may be best suited to an institution's or individual's needs. A critical review of five issues--skin care, infection control, other health-related concerns, environmental and safety aspects, and time/cost issues--reveals that: (a) superabsorbent paper diapers reduce the incidence and severity of diaper dermatitis and control the spread of infection in caregiving surroundings; (b) cloth and paper diapers have different effects on the environment and neither type of diaper is clearly superior to the other; and (c) the cost of disposable diapers and reusable commercial-laundered diapers may be comparable, although home-laundered diapers are least expensive if the caregiver's labor is not considered.