CDing on a budget

[alicia9178]

I would love to CD, but barely have the $$ to get everything I need for this baby. How do you do it on a very tight budget?

[treegardner]

The cheapest option is prefolds and covers. What is your budget?

[alicia9178]

Well.....essentially nothing, but I want to do what is best for this baby. I have cd'd before and we had decided when we were not going to have anymore babies to get the diapers to someone who needed them....I gavemy ENTIRE stash away. Now I am 21 weeks pregnant and in a bad financial spot.

[treegardner]

Maybe making your own? I've never done that so I'm not sure if it's cheaper or not, but that might be something to look into. GL!

[Marissamom]

least expensive would be if you get flats and second-hand covers. I'm justifying it by thinking that if we were using sposies the first year would cost $700-1000, even if I get everything new and get prefolds and thirsties duo covers it's less than $250 for the first year. With DD we spent over $100 on sposies in just the first month. right now I'm thinking a mixture of flats and prefolds, with a few GMD workhorse dipes thrown in for if I have a family member babysit, but those are more of a luxury for us.

[alicia9178]

Originally Posted by treegardner

Maybe making your own? I've never done that so I'm not sure if it's cheaper or not, but that might be something to look into. GL!

I cannot sew a button on a shirt.

[SilverFish]

well, you'll need to buy disposables anyway, right? look at how much you would need to pay per week for those (the cheapest option in my area is $10 for 60) and budget the same for cloth. you can put your stash together week by week, or save up your "disposables" budget over the next few weeks and buy a bunch together. i agree, prefolds or flats and covers are your cheapest option. would the person or people you gave your stash to be able to return some of it? do you have any family members who do sew? making wool covers out of thrift store sweaters and prefold/flats out of old t-shirts, receiving blankets, etc is a decent way to fill out a diaper stash.

[mountainfeather]

If I were in your spot, I would seriously consider Econobums. It's what I use for DD and I have been happy with them. For $48 you get 3 diaper covers, 12 prefolds and a wet bag. For that price, I don't think you'd even get a month of disposables. I would then add a Snappi.

That would get you started and then when you have some more $ you could get a second set. That should take you into potty training with tons of prefolds (24) to keep you from having to do laundry every day. So all your CD needs for that baby for $100. They are one size fits all so they go newborn to toddler.

http://www.cottonbabies.com/product_...oducts_id=2533

Cotton babies has free economy shipping.

[Ola_]

For cheap I'd probably go with prefolds and covers. I think Little Lions has really good prices especially if you go with their seconds prefolds - $12-14/dozen infant prefolds. For covers Proraps or pull-on covers (like Dappi or the Bummis whisper pant) are probably the most economical.

[lunita1]

Originally Posted by Ola_

For cheap I'd probably go with prefolds and covers. I think Little Lions has really good prices especially if you go with their seconds prefolds - $12-14/dozen infant prefolds. For covers Proraps or pull-on covers (like Dappi or the Bummis whisper pant) are probably the most economical.

Yes, this. Infant prefold seconds are $14/dozen at little lions, and dappi nylon pants are $4.50 for two (and they work great over pinned or snappi'd prefolds.) I'd get two dozen diapers, pins and 6 covers to start. The dappi covers dry very very quickly, so you can handwash and hang to dry and maybe get away with only 4. Wet bags are nice, but not a necessity. Then gradually add to that, buying a little each month. Keep an eye on craigslist for good deals on the bigger sizes, and budget $20/month (disposables cost at least $40/month) to building your stash. They go through sizes quickly in the first 6 months, but the diapers and covers that fit most 6 month olds will often last until they are 2.

Let friends or relatives who want to buy you something for the baby know that you're cloth diapering, and maybe someone will want to buy something nicer, (like thirsties duo size 2 to size up into??) as a baby gift.

[cristeen]

Recieving blankets can be pressed into service as flats. If you have a friend w a serger, $1 flannel can be used. 1.25 yds will make 4 (22" sq).

Also keep an eye out on DS and here for dipes FFS.

Thrift store sweaters make nice covers.

Or its the right time of year to look into holiday helpers.

[Adaline'sMama]

We spent the first two months with 2 covers and 12 prefolds, and LOTS of wet recieving blankets. Basically, I bought 2 thirsties covers (total of $24) and the prefolds were given to me (but they were 3 ply organic gerbers, and retail for about 20.00). We washed every other day, and I hand washed the covers. Each time we needed to change a cover (when she pooed or when they were getting stinky from pee) I hand washed it and hung it to try while we were using the same cover. A lot of times we just swaddled her in a recieving blanket naked. When it got wet, we rinsed her off and wrapped her in another one. She was really little and I hated her wearing a huge bulky diaper. We had bought BG's (1 per month) when I was pregnant, but they were HUGE, we didnt start wearing them until she was about 2.5 months.

[cyncyn]

Anything absorbent (usually cotton) can be used as a diaper in a pinch: towels, washcloth, sheets, blanket, t-shirts, even socks, with no sewing required. I bet you have some rags or old linens that could be cut into squares or just folded down. I have seen a way to fold a onesie with a washcloth inside to make a fitted diaper. Like PP said, take what you would spend on sposies anyway and get a couple covers. I would get cheap wraps because you can put anything inside to absorb. Around here a used wrap cover is $4-$6. You can skip the wrap in the beginning and use the blanket method as needed. Cloth diapering is still the cheapest method long term, just add a few things as you go along and can spare a little bit of money.

[LightForest]

Flats are awesome. You only have to buy one set, and can fold them to fit the size of your babe. It's easy to get them clean and line dry them quickly. I'd suggest buying 24 or 36 flats. (Or you could make your own flats from cheap fabric or receiving blankets.)
$45 (for 36 flats)

Dappi covers are the cheapest store bought option -- about $5 for 2 covers. As was mentioned previously, they line dry quickly so you might be able to get away with 4 in each size. (Or, if you're at all crafty, you could buy wool sweaters from the thrift store and make your own soakers.)
$50 (for 4 covers in each size)

If you're using pull-on covers, you'll need a snappi or a set of pins.
$1 (for 1 set of pins)

And last, the cheapest wipes are cut up t-shirts (or towels or flannel - though you'd probably have to serge or hem the edges in this case to prevent fraying). You can also use these as doublers for added absorbency.
$0


That comes out to $96 for enough diapers, covers, and accessories for the entire diapering period.

[AKislandgirl]

I'd also plan on prefolds and covers. I'd set aside $ each month to add to your stash until you had a good supply. Receiving blankets from the thrift store would help you get through until you had enough. Good luck!

[Bokonon]

Check Craigslist every day. I once got a huge stash of 24 Mother-Ease one-size fitteds, 24 ME covers in 3 different sizes, a diaper pail, pail liner, one Aristocrats wool shortie, and 6 Kushies fitteds - for $75. I could have diapered from birth to PL with that stash.

Another time I got a stash with a ton of different items for $35, including enough newborn contour diapers and covers for a complete NB stash.

But you have to check regularly as the good lots go quickly!

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Green Mountain Diapers has this eco-package that's $200 and they say that will get your though birth-potty training. (Flats and PUL covers) I would have a look at that and see how to adapt that to a plan where you buy a little at a time.

[nia82]

clothdiaper.com has cheap seconds too. As for covers, if you know someone who can seew (MIL, mom, auntie, friend), getting supplies for enough covers from kidsinthegarden.com and a good pattern will not be expensive, provided the seamstress won't charge you. I did my own (and I just bought a machine and learned on my own), bought a pattern and supplies. They turned out great and worked for my friend! I forget the name of the pattern, but it has sizes preemie through xxl. I like that personally to get a good fit.
I got Indian unbleached preemie prefolds on sale for $21 for three dozens and $30 for 3 dozens econobums. They just wouldn't fit a tiny newborn - I cannot imagine it. DS weighed under 6lbs and econobums would have covered his entire body.

[treeoflife3]

prefolds are NOT the cheapest. I don't know why people insist on this. Flats FTW. I only have 24 of 'em. Wash more often but I figure its good anyway that they don't sit around wet and poopy. they clean easily and dry quickly. If you need more absorbency, you can double them or take old clothes or blankets and sew up inserts.

covers.. if you can find wool sweaters to make some from, I vote this. I love using wool. However 4 PUL covers in each size is nice and cheap. a PP mentioned really cheap ones. thirsties duos would work as well or any OS cover. 4-6 total should be all you need. Worst case scenario is you hand wash one quickly while baby has some naked time. PUL dries fast and honestly, I don't mind if the elastic is a bit damp when I put it on baby if I need one that badly. You can reuse them. Just rotate which one you use at each diaper change and only clean them if you are already doing laundry or if they start to smell or if you get poop on 'em. Easy peasy.

get a couple snappis (you'll want a back up just in case) or a couple sets of pins and you are golden.

Also, What lightforest said