cost of CD vs. disposable in newborn stage

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

So I've just done a little cost analysis for diapering a newborn. Let's say a baby would be in newborn CDs for 3 months (90 days). My last baby was small, so I'm going to assume this one will be too (it helps the calculation - kind of). Rougly

I just calculated the cost of using Pampers Swaddlers for 3 months (with a mega pack). $255CAD.

Then I totted up a newborn stash if I use mainly infant prefolds and 10 ME fitteds, plus some covers. $315.

The Pampers comes out significantly ahead. Argh!

I'm CDing either way - but does this make sense? I guess the savings come later, in the larger sizes? I was hoping to triumphantly prove that CDing a newborn was much cheaper. Not so much.

I know I can sell them afterwards, which will help. I also know I could buy used, and I may if I can find the right ones.

[MamieCole]

Well, I think that it depends a lot on where you buy your sposies and for how much. Around here, a 60ct. pack of Pampers Swaddlers runs about $18.00 minimum, plus tax. Figuring that you go through about a dozen diapers per day, each pack will last 5 days. Calculating a 30-day month, you'd need 18 packs of diapers to last 3 months, which = $324.00 (not including tax, cause I can't do that kind of math...heh)

I bought my newborn stash completely new, consisting of:
12 Kissaluvs Fitteds
3 Clovers fitteds
1 dozen newborn indian prefolds (+ I had about 10 prefolds given to me by a friend)
and 6 covers (Thirsties, Imse Vimse and Bummis Super Brite)

Which for me = $273.00

[weliveintheforest]

infant prefolds could last a lot longer than 3 months, they did for us. That might help with the cost break down. Also, if you got 3 dozen infant prefolds and no fitteds, it's under 100 bucks, and then you just need covers, wipes and wet bag.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Also, you can figure in multiple children using them if you plan on having more. You have to buy new sposies for each baby, but not with CDing.

[octobermom]

I disposable diapered my first for about the first 3 months because the cloth diaper we had were way too big (just gerbers and pull on pants didn't know newborn diapers existed).. We spent a ton on sposies using the cheepest we could find but we were easily going through 16-20 diapers a day. This time around I'll be getting 2 dozen organic cotton newborn prefolds from GMD thats $58.00 and 4-6 newborn/small diaper covers around $12 each and the covers will go past 3 months) so for around $150 I'll have a newborn stash and a partially small stash. Honestly I'll probably use a bit of both sposies and cloth ...

Deanna

[syd'smom]

If you use prefolds, those can be used as doublers, stuffers, rags etc. later. Also, you don't have to get newborn size. My sil used MEOS and small sandy's right from birth. Her dd was a bit bigger though. I am due in a couple of weeks, so I'll let you know as I plan on using sma sandies and meos from birth; dd was 7lbs5oz at birth and is still very petite!

[NorthernPixie]

Our infant prefolds lasted until dd was 20 pounds, so way longer than 3 months. I now still use them (at 19 months) for doublers, sometimes tri-folded in the cover. Or you could go for flats that are really really cheap and have many uses, for older babies and other things. I would avoid, like the plague, fitteds for newborns, but that's just me.

If you're in Ottawa - I have seen used diapers of many varieties at Chiquita Baby in Kanata, and the three Boomerang Kids locations also sometimes have them. Belly Laughs does not. Buying used makes it even cheaper, and there's always kijiji or craigslist.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Thank you! I didn't realize Chiquita Baby had used diapers. Boomerang either for that matter. I will need to haunt them more often

syd'smom - please do let me know - my DD was about the same size when born, and didn't grow particularly fast - if I could get away with smalls instead, I'd be all for that.

This is our last child - we have larger diapers because I started CDing at 11 months. Just the wee little ones I have to get!

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

NorthernPixie - just wanted to say thanks again. I checked out Chiquita Baby today as I was in the area, and I scored a newborn Kissaluv and two small MEs (one bamboo, one cotton). They look like they're in fabulous shape, and I'm really pleased to have scored them. I wasn't planning on buying any diapers yet, but if I'm going to do used, which makes sense, then I'll have to start grabbing them as I see them!

[itsy]

I was at Belly Laughs today and they had a newborn Fuzzi Bunz in their used section in case you're interested.

[texmati]

honestly... cost is why we are going with everythign in the small sizes and crossing our fingers that they will fit. If they don't, we'll use sposies until the bean grows into them.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Originally Posted by itsy

I was at Belly Laughs today and they had a newborn Fuzzi Bunz in their used section in case you're interested.

Yeesh - I didn't know they HAD a used section for diapers! I was in there on Wednesday cleaning them out of maternity clothes! Thanks for the heads-up. My parents live in Kanata and I visit a lot - I can see I am going to have to haunt a few stores...

[NorthernPixie]

Well I learned something too! I was very much under the impression they didn't have used diapers. Excellent news! And I'm the one always cleaning them out of Stride Rite shoes

[ShwarmaQueen]

Adding what to PPs have said, used dipes can be resold or reused for future lo's...there really is a cost benefit if you're smart about them!

[ChetMC]

Our Case - Broke Even

In our case, we basically broke even on the newborn stage for baby one. We might have saved a little bit of money, but nothing significant once you figure the cost of the diapers and the cost of washing. Personally, I find newborn disposables pretty cheap if you buy them in jumbo boxes, and there's lots of coupons around. I swear the companies try to get parents hooked on their brand so they can milk them for all they're worth once baby is into size 3, 4, 5, pull-ups, etc.

We didn't go with the cheapest options available for cloth. We had some kissaluvs, and mostly bummis covers, but I had some generic fitted diapers too, a few random diapers that I got cheap at a discount store and a dozen infant prefolds. My not much better than break even estimate also doesn't include the money I would have gotten back selling the stash if they'd only been used for one baby. Size 0 kissaluvs or xs Fuzzi Bunz you can expect to get two thirds of your money back if they're only used for one baby (they'll still look brand new after three months of use).

Mostly, I wanted to post and say that over 4 children, and assuming number 3 and number 4 are fully trained around age three like our first two were, we will have saved roughly $4500 in total. That estimate is also low. It doesn't include the anything I might get selling the massive stash of diapers I've got now, or the fact that I often wash sheets and towels with the diapers to top up the load so I get more than just clean diapers for the cost of a wash.

I'd also like to echo the experience of others when it comes to infant prefolds. You use them forever. Ours have been in constant service for five years now.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

It's funny - I was paying upwards of $20 for a diaper for DD, many times over. I had a serious fluff addiction. I don't want to calculate what I spent overall. At least I had the foresight to buy mainly gender-neutral colours and prints...

And now here I am balking at $13/fitted diaper! LOL. I've become more frugal with age I guess.

I think unless I can find a decent used stash of newborn sizes, I'm going to go with primarily smalls and prefolds and flats. DD was 7'9oz at birth, and gained quickly at the beginning, so here's hoping our next babe will be similar and will fit smalls pretty quickly.

[Logan]

My little one grew into her smalls at 2 weeks and she was on the small side at birth but is a great feeder so grew quick. So you may only need 3 or 4 packs of sposies to get to the small stage. I have definitely not broken even in any way shape or form, Im way too addicted to cute diapers so I have definitely spent a LOT more than I would have on even the most pricey disposables! However I justify it cause Im planning on having more.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

So - you guys think that I could make do with flats and infant prefolds for a newborn? My DD was 7lb9oz.. assuming her sib is the same or bigger (aren't second babies supposed to be larger?) then maybe I'm wasting my time building a newborn fitted stash, unless I can get a great deal on some used. (I saw a new post on the local kijiji for 7 Kissaluv colours size 0 last night at 8pm, and they were gone by the time I emailed at 9:30.... yikes!).

And... so if I do go with flats/prefolds primarily, should I be buying newborn covers at first, or just go straight for smalls (thinking Thirsties Duos, maybe some Imse Vimse and Motherease, with the assumption that they will last for a while). I don't mind buying two sizes if I'm only really springing for covers.

I have some one-size diapers already (BG, MT) that I figure will fit at the small stage (not newborn), and add some fitteds to that stash - I know they will last for longer, along with some prefolds. Maybe I can skip newborn sizes pretty much completely. I am really not interested in using disposables except in a pinch - I'll have to talk to DH about what he'd like to use when it's his diapering turn - whether he'd be interested in prefolds, or whether he'd rather use sposies or a couple of pockets - or fitteds I guess.

[Anastasiya]

Originally Posted by MamieCole

Around here, a 60ct. pack of Pampers Swaddlers runs about $18.00 minimum, plus tax. Figuring that you go through about a dozen diapers per day, each pack will last 5 days. Calculating a 30-day month, you'd need 18 packs of diapers to last 3 months, which = $324.00...

Wow! I never realized how much I spent on the first couple kiddos! That's INSANE!!!

MY recommendation is for a diaper I discovered 5 months ago and am in love with. They are esp good for infants since they are just cotton flannel (my 5 month old still does great in them but I know once he gets to more heavy wetting we'll move back into the Cricketts and Motherease.)

Anyway, they are called Snugglebottoms.

You can get 6 of them with velcro for $24. So, a two day stash would be $96. Throw in three pairs of easy-to-use and leakproof covers for $5.25 apiece and you're whole newborn stash is just a bit over $100.

Disclaimer: I only buy the ones without the velcro so I can't tell you if the velcro is good or bad, or if there's a laundry tab or not.

(The covers are the Bummis Whisper Pants which I love love love! It's all I use now (other than wool). They are comfy, have great coverage and even though they look poofy they are very thin under clothing. )

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

What a lovely site that is (BabyBunz). Thank you for the link!