Question about switching to cloth to save $

[sunflower.mama]

I am pregnant with #3 and seriously considering switching to cloth because it seems and sounds cozier for baby, and I'd feel great about it from an enviornmental point of view. I am trying to get myself excited about it from a financial perspective as well. If I assume I would pay $35 a month for disposables for at least 36 mos (I have late potty trainers here) that's an outlay of $1260. But if I have to do even two sizes of cloth diapers that is 36 diapers (what I understand a good stock to be) times two sizes times $18 per diaper 2 x 18 x 36 - $1296. And that's not even considering that I might need a third size. Of course this analysis wouldn't matter if we'd be having more kids, but this is IT for us. And I do get that plenty of moms buy second hand, which might appeal to me once I am up and running, but I hope I won't offend anyone by saying that's not an option for me now - as I try to get my head around the idea of CD-ing. So what am I missing here? Do people not buy 36 $18 diapers? Enlighten me!

[Dmitrizmom]

my current stash is 7 BumGenius 3.0, 6 bumkins covers, two wet bags and a couple dozen flat and prefold diapers... think the total spent was less than $300. The beauty of the BumGenius is that they should fit dd2 all the way thru to potty learning.

We did cloth for ds and dd1 - total spent was around $600...

[MamieCole]

I think most people do not buy 36 (times 2) $18 diapers. That's sort of like the Mercedes of cloth diapering. Nothing wrong with spending that much, but most people go the Honda or Nissan route.
Most One-size diapers are around that price, but last to about 30lbs, so in theory you wouldn't need to buy more in the future.

If you go with all pockets or AIOs, you could easily spend that much, but most people do at least some prefolds or fitteds and covers, which is less expensive. You can get a dozen prefolds for around $20ish bucks and really good covers for around $12.

It's all just a matter of preference, but if you really wanna save $$$, the prefold route is the way to go.

FWIW, I was a prefold skeptic for the longest time, but I have to say I much prefer them to other options for the newborn phase. I love pockets and fitteds for mobile babies.

[smpayne]

I agree with PP, if money is the issue, use prefolds and covers. Add some AIO and fitted diapers for occational use and for relatives to use.

I loved my pre-folds with pins and could get them to fit real tight, but dh liked the fitted ones. If I remember correctly, I got by with 3-4 covers in each size plus one wool for overnight.

[Bokonon]

I started CDing when Peepers was about 4 months old, so we had already gotten past the newborn peeing-all-the-time stage, and between pocket diapers (my favorite) and prefolds, fitteds, and covers, I have more than 18, but I don't use them all between laundry days. I could easily get by with 10 pocket dipes and some prefolds and 3-4 covers, but I kind of have an addiction, LOL. I've spent maybe $300 on everything. I've bought some Happy Heiny's at their retail store for 15% off, plus a couple on clearance for $8 each. I have a few Fuzzi Bunz seconds that I got for $11 each.

You can find some really good deals on cloth diapers, and you don't have to go with AIOs or pocket diapers - prefolds and covers are cheap and trustworthy!

[Chryseis]

CD was definitely a financial decision for us. We decided if we were going to go the CD route that we were not going to be spending a ton of money. Partially because we weren't planning on having any more children at the time. I've been diapering my son since he was about 2 months old and he's now 18 months old and have probably spent around $325.

A quick rundown of my stash:
3 dozen GMD prefolds (2 different sizes)
8 Thirsties covers (purchases primarily at the Thirsties outlet for about $7 each)
4 Bummis covers (all purchased with a discount at around $8 each)
7 BG (most of them are seconds at about $12 each)
1 FB (second, around $11)
3 Dream-Eze AIO (clearance at about $11 each)

Because we weren't planning on having another baby I was able to sell some smaller covers that he had outgrown for about what I paid for them, which really helped. And, if we weren't having another baby I'd probably be able to sell my smaller prefolds for a decent price. But, we are having another baby now and I will be adding another dozen GMD prefolds and have already ordered (and received just today) 6 new covers (yay for Thirsties outlet). I may add a few more BG if I can find a good price just because I like pocket dipes for outings. But, I'm cheap and don't mind waiting for seconds! All in all I expect that we will be able to do both kids under $500. And if we were just diapering the one, I think we could probably keep it at around $350-ish.

[smeisnotapirate]

We haven't spent more than $300 total, and here's our stash:

24 fitteds (newborn sized blue dogs)
5 small sized covers (assorted brands, mostly from the Trading Post)
36 (prob down to 29 or so after baby #1) infant sized prefolds (gift and purchase)
36 premium sized prefolds
5 medium sized covers (Thirsties)
5 large sized covers (Thirsties)
3 snappis

I cannot possibly imagine spending $1200 on CDs. That's just wild.

[Bokonon]

And don't forget - once your baby outgrows the smaller size, you can sell those off!

[JTA Mom]

For the most part, people don't buy 2 sets of 36 diapers.

Honestly, some people like sized diapers, I like One Size. Except for my prefolds and most of my covers, the rest of my stash is used.

I like to go a week between washings, so I have quite a bit of 'fluff'.

Are your babies usually bigger or smaller than 'average'?

If it were me, knowing what I know, I would get myself a bunch of prefolds and newborn sized covers (my babies are small). I would also get a nice big amount of Bumgenius One size pocket diapers. They are smaller than the Happy Heiney One size diaper, which would be fine for my babies. If your babies are larger, then skip Bumgenius, and head towards Happy Heineys One size.

I wouldn't really get any other sized covers unless you 1) like prefolds, and 2) your baby is growing so you can tell if he has super chunk thighs that need an accommodating cover (like Prowraps) or super skinny thighs that need an adjustable cover (like Motherease Air Flow).

Ds, for example, was just shy of 5lbs at birth & short. He super chunked up though, and at 6/7mos he had a 22 inch waist!!! By that age, he was in larges. I even bough XL thinking he was going to outgrow his larges. He was completely unsnapped on both the Bumgenius and the Happy Heineys. However, he started slimming down starting at 11mos, and is now tall and skinny again. He also has really skinny thighs (11 inches), so side snapping covers are a better choice (can get smaller thigh openings that way, with less droop than wrap covers, aka the ones that wrap to the front).

Due to the wrap style front of both the Happy Heiney's and the Bumgenius, I can't really get the thigh tight to prevent leaks. So right now, I have some Bummis pull ons and some side snapping covers coming to me, and am happily using my prefolds.


If your babies grow much more normally than mine, then the one size covers should totally be fine. To talk in sposie terms, ds was in preemies until 1 mos, then in size 5 at 7 mos, down to a size 4 by 12 mos and now, at 28mos he's downgraded into a size 3 due to skinny thighs. Yep, he was leaking out of his sposies.


I think Bumgenius is having a clearance sale on their BG 3.0s (newest version) right now, just in case. Also, the best price I've been able to get on diapers is at Costco. And they increased it so it's more like $40 a month. And I only use sposies on outings (like 1-2 times a week) and overnights. So, at most, 3 diapers. A box lasts about 1.5 months here.

Ami

[mariekitt24]

well I think that your assumption for the cost of disposables is a bit low, and I never had 36 cloth diapers in each size. I use thirsties fab fitteds or bum genius bamboo fitteds with thirsties covers, fab fitteds and the BGS are about 13 dollars I think and so the covers, but I dont have a cover for every fitted. I would have loved to have 36 in each size but I would say I had somewhere around 20. You won't know what kind of diaper you like until you try them. I originally went with bum genious pockets, but no matter WHAT I did they repelled water bad and I just got rid of them. I have some prefolds but I just cant seem to make them work right like other mothers can. I had some all in ones and one size fits alls and just wasnt happy with those either. So make sure that before buying an entire stash of one diaper that you try them out first. (I know you dont want to hear that, I hated hearing that too)

Here's a link that compares cloth to disposables that I think is really great.
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php

[lovebug]

[Alohamelly]

$1296 is still a lot less than the $3000 figure (or whatever it is) for how much you will spend on disposables from baby to toddlerhood. Then if you sell, you will get some of that $1296 back, so all in all, you would come out ahead financially.

I thought I got into cloth diapering to save money, but it became an addiction and I've spent probably $1500 on cloth diapers in the last 6 months.

[Ola_]

I think 36 is the suggestion for the tiny newborn babies cause they just go through so many diapers (though it does depend on the baby, some people don't need this many and some wash more often). For bigger sizes you definitely wouldn't need that many I think.

[octobermom]

Well first off I'm amazed by anyone who managed to disposable diaper on just $35 a month especially in the early months around this town the dirt cheepest for sposies is with coupons about $12 for 60 diapers. (less for bigger sizes)
But as others have said 2 sets of 36 diapers (especially the $18 ones) is really over kill..
SOme popular set ups...

4 dozen prefolds (2 dozen each ininfant then premium)
6 covers in size NB-Large
3 sized pocket diapers in sizes small-large for night
total cost $505 thats with doing chinese prefolds Thirsties wraps and sized Fuzzi bunz..

one size pockets 18- 20 pockets which is a good size stash if using pockets
$340-$270 on average and can fit from 7-35lbs potentially

one size prefolds system such as flip and econobum
(econobum kit runs $49 for 12 prefolds and 3 covers two will be enough for full time) Flip run around the same for 6 prefolds and 2 covers if going totally those 4 kits would be most workable..

2 size system such as the new duo AIOs
24 in size one and 24 in size 2 = $792


Etc...

Deanna

[mambera]

I don't think you need 36 diapers.

I use onesize AI2s for day and pockets for night. My working stash contains 7 covers and 20 inserts (so 20 diaper changes) plus 3 Fuzzibunz for overnight. I wash inserts about every 2-3 days. Works fine and I do not feel I need more diapers. Even if I had more diapers I wouldn't wash less often bc it is gross. My stash cost me about $300.

[leavemealone]

I have 18 FB (9 one size, 9 medium) that I bought on sale. I have probably spend about $300 in total including things like a pail liner, etc. I do laundry about every other day, but I also use some disposable so I am exclusively cloth diaper (probably 75% CD). You can definitely find cloth diapers cheaper than what you posted, even if you go with the more expensive options.

[noobmom]

We definitely do not have 36 sized diapers in this house.

Here would be my minimal purchased stash:

2-3 dozen infant PFs @ $30/dozen (GMD organic PFs)
2-3 dozen premium PFs @ $35/dozen (GMD organic PFs)
2-3 dozen wipes (can be homemade or purchased, up to $1 per)
4-6 PUL covers per size, (S, M, L) @ ~$12 a cover
and/or recycled wool longies/shorties, make yourself @ $2-3 per pair
plastic trash can for diaper pail @ $5
1-2 packs of diaper pins @ $2-3
and/or 1-2 snappis
optional would be a pail liner, which can range from $10-$25

And of course you have some shipping costs--maybe another $20-30

So roughly $350-500.

That's pretty much all you need, and it could also even less if you make your own wipes or covers, or buy cheaper PFs (GMD is fairly pricey for PFs).

I have a few fitteds and AIOs, but the vast majority of our stash is PFs.

[leavemealone]

I don't remember if this has been mentioned, but remember you can probably resell the majority of diapers and make some money back in the end. I remember you mentioning that you didn't want to start with used diapers, but other people would probably be willing to buy them from you when your child outgrows them if they are still in decent condition. If you care for them properly, they will very likely be in decent condition after your child outgrows them.

[sunflower.mama]

I am so appreciative of all the thoughtful responses! I probably am underestimating the cost of disposable diapers - that's what I am used to paying for my recently potty-trained 3 year old, and she didn't need to be changed as frequently as a baby. So that's helpful to have pointed out. It looks like maybe the way to go for a newborn is PF and covers, and then assess what direction I want to go in for a larger baby? I have a store near me that does CD workshops and lets you try out 8 diff diapes for 2 weeks for $25, and return what you don't like. Perhaps I do that when he or she is 3 months or something...not a newborn - and then start my real aquisitions then?

[luv-my-boys]

Honestly I advise everyone who hasnt CD before NOT to build up a stash of all 1 type/brand of diaper. Just like you have preferences to disp. diapers you will have preferences for CD as well. I had a few diapers that were the "cadillac" of CD and guess what I hated them. Hated them and got rid of them as fast as I could, the cheaper AIO were DH's fav. I mainly used prefold had a few AIO's for convenience. There are a few websites that sell combo packs of things to try. I at first invested in 2 dozen prefolds and 6 covers (I dont like reusing a cover immediately I always washed and hung dry between uses, personal pet peeve) It also depends on how often you want ot do laundry. YOu will change a newborn quite more often than an older child so fro me prefolds worked great. They washed up and dried fast and were easier to "assemble"