Posts Tagged ‘cost of cloth diapers’

Cloth Diapers: How Much Will They Cost Me?

Friday, October 19th, 2012

Often when people are considering using cloth diapers, the main question is how much will it cost me to get started? (What do I do with the poop? is the second most popular question). The answer to this question can vary greatly depending on what type of diaper you purchase and how many diapers you purchase. However my best guesstimate is that in order to get a decent stash and adequate accessories you would probably spend somewhere between $250 – $500. Yeah, I know that probably sounds like a large chunk of money, but remember that cloth diapering is WAY cheaper than using disposables!

I recommended having at least 25 diapers in your stash, 3 travel wetbags, and 2 pail liners. You can pay as little as $10 per cloth diaper or as much as $25+ per cloth diaper, again depending on the type of diaper you select. While cloth diapers can range in price significantly, there are more factors to consider than just price tag when selecting a diapering system.

The first main decision is do you want/prefer a two-step or a one-step diapering system? Then the second main decision is do you want/prefer sized diapers or one-size diapers? Okay, I know that sounds like a foreign language when you are new to fluff.  So let me briefly explain….

A two-step system would consist of an inner absorbent diaper (options are pre-fold, flat, fitted, or contoured) and a separate outer waterproof cover. Generally this is the least expensive route when building your diaper stash. For example, an Econobum trial pack that includes 1 cover and 3 pre-folds retails at $11.95. Keep in mind you can often re-use the same cover through several diaper changes. Basically you remove the soiled inner diaper and replace it with a fresh one. Then as long as the outer diaper cover is clean/dry you can continue to re-use it. That being said you typically need far more of the inner absorbent diaper (ie- pre-fold, flat, fitted, or contoured) than you do of the diaper covers. Hence the reason the Econobum trial pack includes 1 cover and 3 pre-folds. Econobum is a great option to build a diaper stash very inexpensively!

The other option is a one-step diapering system. In a one-step diapering system the inner absorbent diaper and the outer cover are essentially “attached” so there is only one step when diapering baby. Pocket diapers and all-in-ones fall into this category. Many people enjoy the convenience and ease of cloth diapering with a one-step diapering system. Generally cloth diapers that fall into this category are going to cost a bit more per diaper than you would pay for a two-step diapering system (even when you add the cost of the inner diaper and the cover together).

The next consideration is sized diapers versus one-size diapers. A one-size diaper means it is adjustable and developed to fit baby from newborn to potty training. A sized diaper means it comes in sizes such as small, medium, large, etc or size 1, size 2, etc. Once baby outgrows a size, you would need to purchase the next size up. While one-size diapers cost more up front, you generally end up spending as much or perhaps even a tad more if you purchase sized diapers. Although the benefit to sized diapers is that they usually provide an overall better fit, particularly in the newborns stage of diapering.

Okay now, bear in mind you do not have to be a purist when it comes to cloth diapering. You can build yourself an eclectic stash that includes a wide variety of cloth diapers. This is especially beneficial if you have the ability to build your stash over time and take advantage of all the incredible deals as they become available.

Still confused and unsure about where to start and what kind of diapers to purchase? Well then a Cloth Diaper Trial Package might be a good option for you! You’ll get to try out 13 NEW cloth diapering products for 30 days for only $20! Check out the details here!

What was your start-up cost to cloth diapering? What did you start with in your stash? Would love to hear from you!

-Sarah 🙂

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Why would someone*want* to cloth diaper?

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

 

When I was pregnant with my first baby I remember mentioning to someone that I was considering using cloth diapers. Her reply was very discouraging. She assured me I would be way too busy caring for my newborn to wash poopy diapers. “Why do you think they invented disposables?” she said in a somewhat mocking manner.  Sadly this conversation was the primary reason I used sposies for the first 6 months of my first baby’s life.  Now why I let someone who had never cloth diapered a baby before influence my decision about what type of diaper to put on my child I do not know. I guess it was first time mom insecurities? After all, I worried what if she was right? What if caring for and nursing a baby is more work than I could ever imagine? Would adding extra laundry just be a huge nuisance? Surely disposable diapers are a viable option because everyone I knew used them. In fact I didn’t know a single person who cloth diapered when I was pregnant with my first!

Although there was a whole subculture of cloth diapering families. Why were they committed to cloth? Surely there must be some benefit to it? Why would someone want to cloth diaper? Basically there are few main reasons. Although in all honesty  for many, many families it boils down to ONE main consideration; cloth diapering saves you money!

While it is difficult to calculate an exact amount you will save by using cloth due to a number of variables, a general estimate can easily be obtained. A savings of  roughly $1500 is commonly sited in literature that compares cloth versus disposables.  Some of the variables that influence the amount saved include how long your child is in diapers and what type of diapers you use. Let’s say for example your child potty trains at age 2.5 and averages 8 diaper changes in a 24 hour period during their 2.5 years in diapers. On average disposables cost about .25 per diaper (name brands and larger sizes will cost you more while generic brands and smaller sizes will cost you less).

2.5 years/912 days of diapering x 8 diapers a day x .25 per diaper = $1824.00 per child

Cloth diapering estimates are a little trickier to obtain since there is a large variance in price depending on what type of cloth diapering system you use and how many diapers in your rotation. A most basic system consisting of pre-folds and covers would cost approximately $300 (check out Econobum Trial Pack).  A more eclectic stash that includes a mix of pocket diapers, all in ones, and or one-size diapers would cost approximately $600.  Given those numbers it sounds like an average savings of $1500 is spot on! Now keep in mind the benefit of cloth diapers is that they can be used over and over again.  This means the amount saved increases as you cloth diaper subsequent babies! And for those families who only have one child, don’t fret because this benefit is available to you as well. There is a market for used cloth diapers. Yes, you can actually SELL your cloth diapers when you are done with them!

Purely from an economical standpoint cloth diapering makes sense and is the primary selling point for many families. The ecological benefits are typically a secondary consideration, especially once the true impact of disposables is examined. Want to know more about the ecological benefits of cloth diapering? Be sure to check back here tomorrow for more information about why cloth diapering really is an Eco-friendly choice! Still think cloth diapering might be too much work? Check back later this week where that myth gets debunked once and for all!

Why do YOU cloth diaper?

-Sarah

 

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