The 7 Best Diaper Sprayers
This wiki has been updated 37 times since it was first published in June of 2015. Cleaning up a baby is a messy task no matter what, but if you choose environmentally friendly, reusable cloth diapers, you'll have a lot more to deal with. A high-quality sprayer can make the whole process quicker and easier, as it will remove the worst of the mess in preparation for laundering in a machine. They're also great for washing pets or for use as a handheld bidet. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Spray Pal Cloth Bundle
2. Smarter Fresh Handheld
3. Wipphs Bidet
Editor's Notes
July 09, 2020:
Diaper sprayers aren't just helpful when cloth diapering your child, you can use it as an inexpensive, handheld bidet, or just for cleaning other things around your bathroom. When it comes to choosing the right diaper sprayer, the two primary concerns are good water pressure and quality hardware that won't leak or burst. All of our selections, even those with plastic sprayers, include sturdy brass t-valves to keep the water pressure from bursting at the connection. Even so, nearly all manufacturers recommend closing the t-valve when the unit is not in use.
For this update we added the Son Tiy Adjustable because it's designed with an extra-robust t-valve and a hose infused with braided nylon that won't burst. This is a good choice for parents who may find bending down in a tight space to shut a valve after each use.
The Spray Pal Cloth Bundle continues to take the top spot for providing a splatter shield that will help to contain any stray splashes that can happen if the water pressure comes out a bit high. You can control the pressure on this model simply by adjusting how far you depress the trigger.
For users who prefer more precise pressure regulation, we also included the Willsland Slide-and-Set because you set the pressure to high or low and it provides a steady, consistent spray without you having to depress a trigger. This can also be a helpful option if you're using it for cleaning.
4. Son Tiy Adjustable
5. Willsland Slide-and-Set
6. Aquaus 360 RinseWorks
7. Bumworks Toilet Kit
Why Parents Rely On Diaper Sprayers
Instead of putting on gloves and handling cloth diapers in a bucket filled with dirty water, they can keep their hands away from the waste entirely.
Diaper sprayers are becoming a popular product among eco-conscious parents. Those who already use cloth diapers instead of disposable equivalents reduce the amount of waste that goes into our landfills. Although washing cloth diapers consumes a good deal of water over time, conservation efforts can go one step further if one uses a diaper sprayer because it eliminates the need for dunking and soaking soiled diapers in large buckets of water.
Diaper sprayers work by connecting to the water source in a toilet; one end attaches to the tank, and the other has a spray nozzle that the user controls. To get the best results, one must kneel next to the toilet and unfold the dirty diaper over the toilet bowl, with the excrement facing into the water. From here, it is easy to spray off excess waste before transferring the diaper into the laundry. Many parents also appreciate how using a diaper sprayer allows them to keep their hands relatively mess-free. Instead of putting on gloves and handling cloth diapers in a bucket filled with dirty water, they can keep their hands away from the waste entirely.
Many parents don't like the idea of constantly spending money on disposable diapers, but they do so because they don't want to handle the mess of reusable ones. Diaper sprayers can help convert those parents to cloth diaper users. The average diaper costs 25 to 35 cents, and most newborns go through 6 diapers per day. That means if families were to use disposable diapers, they would be throwing away hundreds each year.
Meanwhile, the estimated annual cost of reusable diapers is significantly lower, even with the initial investment needed. Diapers are only one of many newborn baby expenses parents must deal with. An inexpensive diaper sprayer can make cloth diapering more palatable to those hesitant to try it, so this one-time purchase could help families save quite a bit in their child's first years.
Why Cloth Diapers Are Better Than Disposable Ones
Cloth diapers are far more absorbent than disposable options, reducing the chances that a baby sits in his own filth. If parents don't change a disposable diaper immediately, their baby can be exposed to bacteria and develop an infection. This is why it is important to learn about the best diaper changing practices prior bringing a new baby home. Cloth diapers suck up waste and filter it to the bottom liner, pulling it away from the baby's skin. Many parents even report being able to leave their baby in a cloth diaper overnight, which helps them and their baby sleep better.
The majority of disposable diaper manufacturers use harmful chemicals in their products. Dioxin, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies as a probable human carcinogen, is in many of them. Even super-absorbent disposable diapers typically contain sodium polyacrylate, which has been linked to toxic shock syndrome and allergic reactions. While diaper brands argue that these toxins only appear in trace amounts, a baby will be exposed to them almost all day, every day, for the first year of their life.
One study finds that cloth diapers allow the genitals of baby boys to breathe much better than disposables. Heightened temperature can lead to fertility issues for boys later in life. The materials used in disposable diapers can also irritate a baby's skin, causing rashes and skin wounds, which heightens a risk of infection.
What Constitutes Healthy Baby Poop?
Bowel movements can serve as health indicators. The range of normal bowel movements is large, but worth studying if one wants an insight into their health. This is especially true for newborn babies, whose digestive systems are sensitive. Newborn feces is supposed to be very soft which is a sign of a healthy baby. Pediatricians warn that if a baby passes a hard stool, they are most likely constipated and their parents should consult a doctor about safe ways to address the problem.
A strong odor can also be an indicator of constipation too.
Babies who are six months or older should not have more than four bowel movements a day. If they are exceeding that number, then their food is moving through them too quickly and they are not absorbing enough nutrients. While adults are prone to from suffer diarrhea, it's far more dangerous in babies because their bodies desperately need all the nutrients they can get. Breastfed infants may have as little as one bowel movement per week, which is acceptable, but anything less than that is cause for concern. Children over the age of two should have one bowel movement per day.
One shouldn’t believe the myth that a baby's poop is supposed to smell foul. Particularly rancid-smelling stool can be a sign that a baby is allergic to their formula. A strong odor can also be an indicator of constipation too. The longer the stool sits in the intestines, the more it will smell.
Breastfed babies' fecal matter has almost no odor, which is one reason moms prefer breastfeeding to formula diets. Many mothers also prefer breastfeeding because studies show the experience can bond a baby to their mother. Should a mother choose to feed her child formula, that baby's poop should still have a slight odor. Only later in a baby's life, when his parents add solid food and new protein sources, should there be an increase in smell.
Tina Morna Freitas is a writer who lives in Chicago with her family and three cats. She has a B.A. in anthropology with a minor in English, and has built a freelance career over the years in writing and digital marketing. Her passions for cooking, decorating and home improvement contribute to her extensive knowledge of all things kitchen and home goods. In addition, her 20 years as a parent inform her expertise in the endless stream of toys and equipment that inevitably takes over the homes of most parents. She also enjoys gardening, making and sipping margaritas, and aspires to be a crazy cat lady once all the children are grown.