Cloth diapering can be cheaper if you don't do what I did!

[USMC101]

To bluntly answer your question, yes you can save a few bucks cloth diapering BUT only if you are serious about saving. If you go out and buy expensive fitted diapers, the cost greatly increases. You've got to have at least two dozen or cloth diapering just doesn't work. If you get a few fitted diapers and use them when you are out, but use the folding cloth diapers at home, you can definately save a few bucks.

Remember, most people have to pay for the extra water it costs to wash those things, and that might seem like a small expense but it does cost something.

I didn't really save money I don't think, but I really got "into" it! I bought fabric and made my own fitted diapers. It was so much fun and I just loved the cute little diaper butt with an adorable print on the rear end. Nothing like it in the world!

[satchie]

Very true. I spent more than I meant to, but since I get almost all my baby and kids' clothing handed down, I also look at it as part of the clothing budget. In the summer they can run around in diapers, so why not adorable cloth ones instead of ugly, hot, disposable ones? 

Anyway, since I am generally very frugal when it comes to feeding and clothing my kid (soon to be kids) I am giving myself permission to "wild out" a little on diapers. And I'm STILL saving over 'sposies!

[octobermom]

 I think there are a few things to consider.. I cloth diapere by first and now almost a year into my second I realized the SAME conclsion with both..

1) DO try those 30 day or so trial diapers kits I find that it IS totally worth finding the diapering system you like if you HATE flats its irrevelent how little you spent for the stash if you end up ditching them.. Its silly to fork over $350 for 24 pockets and not use them..

2) be realstic with material and numbers.. Good AIOs/Pockets CAN be purchased even now for around $12ish fitted for around $8 or even less, no one NEEDS 62 diapers per child.. Dont convience your self that there will be less wear on more diapers or that your kid can ONLY handle organic silk linned custom bamboo fitted with hand dyed wool covers..

3) do not under-estimate both the simpliscity of flat/prefolds or assume one size will fit forever

4) don't over buy the "next" size

Deanna

[sosurreal09]

I only bought one size hybrids. I did waste $250 on grovias and they only lasted like 6 months...so that sucked. We spent $150 on flip stay dry dipes and they are great! We need to get one more pack though. So over all will be $450. We did have to buy disposables over night before we got the flip diapers (they are awesome overnight! I just use 2 pads) so we spent about $60 on that.

DD is 16 m/o and we will have spent $510 once we get the other pack of flip dipes. We won't be buying anymore after. So we saved quite a bit even with wasting $250 on the dipes that didn't last. I won't make that mistake again. If the flip dipes hold up for the next kid we will spend $0.

Of course there is electricity though...(we don't pay water here)

[Greenlea]

You can save even more buying the diapers second hand too!  I spent $100 on 3 dozen smalls, 3 dozen mediums, and 2 dozen toddler sized prefolds all second hand.  I did have to strip them though, but if I bought them new I'd have to prep them anyways.  I buy Thirstie's covers for like $13 and get the dual size (18-30 pounds) so they last a while.  I did buy 2 small Bum Genius AIO's that were a waste cuz they only go up to 10 pounds and my son was born at 9lbs 2oz.  But I got them off Ebay so I didn't waste too much.  Plus now I EC part time so I'm saving on washing too.

I do admit that I'm addicted to buying cloth diaper stuff and have really had to cut back recently.  There is a cloth diaper store near me so that wasn't making it any easier, since I don't have to worry about buying online and paying shipping.  I have bought some AIO and pockets for my older son for night time, which I hardly use anymore cuz I just can't get them clean enough and they keep giving him amonia burns.

[USMC101]

There's nothing wrong with using the cheap diapers when you are at home with your little one. I hated the thought of accidentally sticking my baby with a pin, and that was what drove me to the AIO's, which I made with PUL as the outer shell. I can't remember what that fabric was called that I bought for the liners for the life of me, but if you do an internet search you'll find plenty of information on it.

[ursaminor]

So true! I wish I had solid numbers for the amount of money spent.  I did so much buying, buying used, selling, etc. That I can only come up with a ballpark figure.  I think we have still 'saved'.  But then again, I dont just CD for monetary reasons, I do it for health reasons too.  If we we're rich I would still CD in a heartbeat. 

My big down fall was not asking questions on forums or considering a diaper trial.  My mother CD'd me and both my siblings, so I had the concept of PFs and reusable wrap style covers.  In all honesty, that was the system that made most sense to me - but a friend kept raving about pocket diapers (Happy Heiny's) and I thought that style was the be-all-end-all of modern CDing.  I invested in 12 BG (we were already using PFs and wool wraps).  They were very nice diapers, but I didnt think pockets made sense (you have to wash the ENTIRE thing after one use!).  DH made a few comments that he liked HH better, so I made a really dumb person to person trade with a mama for HH.  My BGs were ECU and her dipes had been used for at least 10 months.  I didnt really know any better at the time, but that was the catalyst to becoming addicted to trying new 'Fluff', as they call it:)  I can say I never caught the Goodmama bug (thank god) or any other couture fitteds, for that matter. 

In the end what have I learned?  They are just poo catchers!  Sure, some work better for different babies' bodies, some are more economical than others, but they all serve the same purpose.  I love Mother-ease diapers and will keep mine and use them for the next baby, I like Gen-y covers for ME dipes and I love supporting small companies that manufacture in the USA, I can make my own woolies at this point and cannot give up PFs - they make so much sense and are so economical, lastly, I will keep a few velcro pocket diapers for DH.   We'll see if I avoid the diaper craze whenever #2 comes a long;)

[akind1]

It is hard to say whether I am really saving money . . .because I know (because I have friends that are extreme couponers) that if you want, and are not super brand loyal, you can get 'sposies pretty darn cheap, if not sort of "free"

Now, when it comes to the next baby, I will definitely be saving, because I can use my cloth diaps on the next baby. I am pretty sure I can make my smaller prefolds work (they are green edge, but not sure where from) just need small covers. Since I had a boy first, I have no problem using the diaps I have on the new baby whether boy or girl. Though I am sure if I have a girl I will splurge on a few girly diaps.

FWIW I have bought very little of my stash brand new. only the FLIPs and the BG which between the two I spent $90 on (1 box of flips and I have 4 BG prints) everything else (almost) is off of diaperswappers. And I have about broken even on the things I bought that I didn't end up liking, like Grobaby.

So you can save money. I would still do it if I didn't, because I like it, and you can't beat the cuteness factor!