Many parents who choose cloth diapering do so to save money, but with all the fancy cloth diaper options currently available, the price of cloth diapering can quickly add up. Fortunately, frugal parents still have plenty of options that will keep their babies dry from birth to potty learning for a reasonable price.
Inexpensive Cloth Diapers
One of the most affordable cloth diapering systems are old-fashioned prefolds, or simple rectangles of fabric with extra layers in the middle. Prefolds come in several sizes, from preemie to toddler, but parents who need to save money can often skip the smallest and largest sizes. Cost for two dozen infant size prefolds and two dozen standard or premium size prefolds: about $100.
Even less expensive are flat diapers, which parents can fold to just the size the baby needs and use from birth to potty learning. Although it’s possible to get by with two dozen flat diapers (washing every other day), having three dozen will leave enough extra to layer multiple diapers together if needed for more absorbency. Cost for three dozen birdseye flat diapers: about $45.
Both prefold and flat diapers need a cloth diaper cover in order to make them waterproof. Covers that come in cute prints and colors can be fun, but for affordability it’s hard to beat plain white pull-on covers such as Bummis Super Whisper Pants and Dappi nylon pants. These covers are easy to rinse or wipe clean between most changes, meaning parents won’t need to buy as many covers. Cost for six Dappi nylon covers: about $15. Cost for six covers in each size from newborn to toddler: about $75.
Parents who opt for wrap-style covers may want to choose ones that use a single-layer of waterproof material that can be reused between changes unless the diaper is messy. Covers that use snaps to adjust to multiple sizes as the baby grows, such as the Thirsties Duo, may cost a little bit more up front, but can also save money over the long term. Cost for six Size 1 (newborn/infant) Thirsties Duos and six Size 2 (infant/toddler) Thirsties Duos: about $150.
Save Money on Wipes and Accessories
Using cloth diaper wipes also saves a lot of money compared to disposables, and it’s easy to sew cloth diaper wipes. Parents who don’t sew can also simply cut up a yard or two of flannel, or even an old receiving blanket, since flannel doesn’t ravel much in the wash. Cost for homemade flannel wipes: about $5. Rather than buying a diaper pail, parents can purchase an inexpensive garbage pail and line it with a nylon bag for easy laundering, or simply hang up the bag and skip the pail altogether.
More Cloth Diaper Savings Strategies
- Shop around – with so many top quality online cloth diaper stores available, it pays to look for the best deal on both diapers and shipping. Sites such as Wee Bunz and Nicki’s Diapers often offer free shipping on covers, while Sew Craft Baby may also ship prefolds and flats for free.
- Look for durability – although some parents opt to save money by purchasing one-size diapers, the constant use means these diapers may not really last one baby from birth to potty training, or hold up through multiple children. Consider getting extra diapers so they’re washed less frequently, and look for diapers with snaps instead of hook-and-loop closures.
- Buy used – sites such as Diaper Swappers and Undermycrib allow parents to buy preowned diapers, and sell their own when they’re no longer needed.
- Avoid cheap diapers – stay away from store brand prefolds that use cheap polyester fillings instead of absorbent cotton, to prevent a frustrating cloth diapering experience.
- Be content with the stash on hand – it can be tempting to want to try the latest thing in cloth diapering, but it’s less expensive to stick with a system that works.
Of course, in order to save money with cloth diapers, it’s important to find a cloth diapering system that fits the family’s lifestyle, not just the one that’s least expensive. Parents who wish to compare the cost savings of cloth diapers versus disposables, or of various cloth diapering systems, can use the online cloth diaper savings calculator from Diaper Pin.
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