Reason #2: Cost
Who wouldn’t want to save a few bucks? Well in this several hundred dollars?
If you compare the cost of disposables with the cost of cloth the winner is obvious. Let me outline the cost savings for several different cloth diapering systems, starting with the cost for disposables.
Disposable diaper costs:
(I am using average costs found on the diapers.com website for Huggies diapers, if you were to buy store brand diapers the cost may be slightly less).
Newborn 0-6 Months, 10 diapers per day, $.20 per diaper = $364
Infant 6 Months-18 Months, 8 diapers per day, $.25 per diaper = $728
Toddler 18 Months-2 Years Old, 6 diapers per day, $.30 per diaper = $328
Potty Training, 2 Years Old-3 Years Old, 4 diapers per day, $.50 per diaper = $728
Cloth Diaper Costs:
Please note that it is rare to rely on one cloth diapering system for the entirety of baby’s life in diapers. Different systems work better at different times.
(These estimates are based on doing laundry every other day).
System #1: simplest system- Prefolds and Covers
There is a relatively new product on the market from the makers of BumGenius called Econobum. It is a one size prefold and cover.
(2) sets of 3 one size diaper covers with 12 one-size prefold diapers = $50 per set.
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $100
System #2: One-Size Pocket Diapers
(2) sets of 12 BumGenius One-Size pocket diapers = $204 per set
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $408
System #3: Sized Pocket Diapers
24 Fuzzi Bunz, Size Small = $396
24 Fuzzi Bunz, Size Medium = $396
24 Fuzzi Bunz, Size Large = $396
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $1188
System #4: Fitted Diaper with Cover
24 Kiwi Pie One-Size Fitted Diapers = $600
24 Newborn Kissaluvs Fitted Diapers = $288
6 Wonderwraps One-Size Diaper Covers = $90
6 Thirsties Size Small Diaper Covers = $72
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $1050
System #5: My Choice
12 Newborn Swaddlebees Fitted Diapers = $144
10 One-Size Kiwi Pie Fitted Diapers = $250
4 Wonderwraps One-Size Diaper Covers = $60
4 Thirsties Diaper Covers, Size Small = $48
8 Swaddlebees Size Medium Side Snap Velour Diaper = $176
12 Swaddlebees Size Large Side Snap Velour Diapers = $264
10 Tiny Tush Elite Side Snap, Size Small = $110
(10) Hemp Doublers = $40
Total Cost (Birth-Potty Trained) = $1052
Accessories to add to the cost of cloth diapering:
Large Wetbag = $20
Small Wetbag = $15
After adding accessories to the most expensive cloth diapering system you would still be saving $925.
You may also want to figure in the costs of water use (the extra load of laundry every other day will probably make a difference in your water bill) as well as the cost of laundry detergent.
Because I pay to bring my trash to the dump and disposable diapers would greatly increase both the quantity of trash and the frequency in which I’d need to go to the dump- I think this equals out the extra laundry detergent and water usage.
I hope that these basic figures will help you see that cloth really is a huge cost savings over disposables. Also take into account that diapers can be used with second and even sometimes third children- or sold used if they are in fairly good condition. I bought my BumGenius diapers for $16 each and sold them used for $10 each on Craigslist.
From a financial standpoint cloth is by far a more solid investment!
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