Though the debate between disposable and cloth rages on, with pros and cons on both sides, one undeniable point in the cloth diaper corner is that these diapers are a money saving option. Yet, 95% of parents still opt for disposable. And while we can go back and forth on which diaper is more time consuming and which is more environmentally friendly, the truth is that most people just find disposables more convenient and they just don’t want to deal with the mess!

While it may be a bit of a generalization, I think it’s pretty safe to say that dads can be especially on the side of mess-free convenience in the disposable vs. cloth debate. Find out about one man’s experience with cloth and what you can do to get daddy on board if you’re a cloth parent.

The frustrations with cloth are probably best lamented in an article by Sam Apple, Man of the Cloth: One Dad Gives Up Disposable Diapers. The narrative tells the tale of Apple’s experience with cloth diapers starting from his struggles with diapering his child to his exasperating search to find the perfect diaper and, of course, the unpleasant cleanings along the way.

His defeat finally came when he realized that disposable diapers may not be the most environmentally friendly option after all. Although disposables use more raw materials, take up space in landfills and degrade slowly, this is countered by the water and electricity used for cleaning cloth diapers. Environmental issues were an important part of Apple’s decision to give cloth a try.

Despite these setbacks, if you are a cloth parent who is in a relationship with a disposable dad, here are some cloth benefits that might help him to see things your way.

• Savings: Though cloth can be expensive at first, savings will start to add up over time and can total $1000-$1200 by the time your child is out of diapers. Savings will be even more considerable with a second child since start-up costs will not figure in as significantly.
• Keep Things Simple: To help keep things as simple for dad as possible, stick to using one type of diaper. Once he gets used to this type of diaper, changing your baby will become easier. Sticking with this diaper means he won’t have to keep familiarizing himself with different changing procedures.
• Use All in Ones: These diapers are the easiest to use making the process of changing your baby a simple one.
• Less Trash: If dad takes out the trash, he may enjoy lighter loads that don’t have disposables in them.
• Other Ways to Make Cloth Convenient for Dads: Dads who are against cloth diapers may be won over by compromises. For instance, though cloth diapers may be a must, cloth wipes don’t have to be! Let him continue with disposable wipes. Diaper sprayers can be convenient for easy clean up as can disposable liners.

The cloth vs. disposable debate may rage on, but don’t let it be an issue in your relationship. There are many ways you can come to a compromise about which diapers to use in your home.  And as for dad, remind him that this Father’s Day he can have that great new gadget he’s always wanted thanks to all the money you saved by switching to cloth!