How much do cloth diapers cost?
- Cost of Cloth Diapers vs. Disposables
Cloth diaper prices vary a lot! You can find super cheap cloth diapers such as Econobum diapers that will cost around $100 for 24 one size prefolds and 8 covers. On the other end of the spectrum you can find handmade bamboo fitted diapers and hand-knit wool covers that will cost you $900 or so for a full-time cloth diaper stash. Compared to an average of $2,000-2,500 for plastic and paper throwaway diapers, no matter cloth diapers you choose you will save significant money. Add in some cloth wipes for $20-60 and you’ll save another $400-800 over the cost of disposable wipes. *All figures on this site are approximate and your exact cost/savings will vary.
Before you invest in cloth diapers, you want to know how much you can save by using cloth diapers. Cloth diaper costs will vary based on how often you do laundry and what style of diapers you choose. In general, cheaper diapers will be less convenient and less durable. Better fabrics, better quality and better functionality usually cost more than the most basic diapers. You can also sell used diapers to recoup some of your cost if you don’t plan to use them for subsequent children.
Cost of Throwaway Diapers
On average, a baby will use 6,000-7,000 disposable diapers from birth to 2 1/2 years. Some babies use diapers for much longer, others train earlier, but 2 1/2 years in diapers is a pretty safe estimate. If you buy a decent brand of throwaway diapers, you can expect to pay an average of 28 cents each. Yes, you can get coupons and deals, prices vary by size, etc. Still, most people are paying an average of 28 cents per diaper plus $2.50-5.00 per week for throwaway wipes.
That comes to an estimated cost of $2,000-2,500 for diapers – with another $400-800 for wipes. An average cloth diaper stash with reusable wipes and accessories will cost around $300-500. Right off the top you are saving about $2,000.
Taxes, gas for extra trips to the store, and impulse buys while you are shopping can all add hundreds or thousands to the cost of paper diapers. As of the summer of 2011, disposable diaper prices are salted to rise 10% this year, so the cloth diaper savings are going to continue to improve.
7,000 plastic diapers @ 29 cents each ($2,030)
195 boxes of throwaway wipes (1.5 boxes per week@$2.50 = $487.50)
Accessories (diaper pail and liners, extra diaper rash creams for more frequent rashes, extra laundry from leaks/blowouts) $150
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Total $2,667.50 We’ll round down to $2,500 to simplify the math below.
Here is what cloth diapers will cost you based on July 2011 cloth diaper prices for some popular brands (*prices are subject to change!).
Cloth Diaper Cost Comparison
Cheap Cloth Diaper Options
Flat Diapers – Super cheap, super simple, can double up on diapers for extra absorbency. May want to add diaper doublers as an accessory for less bulk.
24 Birdseye Flat Cloth Diapers ($22)
8 One Size Tweedle Bug Covers @ $9.95 ($79.60)
Basic Accessories (Basic Wet Bag, Basic Pail Liner, Detergent, Snappi or Pins) $70
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Cost $171.60
Savings = $2,328.40
One Size Econobum Prefolds
24 Econobum Prefolds/8 Econobum covers/2 Wet Bags (2 day packs @ $49.95 each) $99.90
Accessories (Detergent, Pail Liner) $60
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Cost $159.90
Savings = $2,340.10
Prefold Cloth Diapers and Covers
Prefold cloth diapers are simple rectangles of thick, layered cotton that make it easy to fold a diaper to fit your baby. The simplest systems just use a tri-folded diaper in a snug-fitting cover. Prefold cloth diapers and covers are inexpensive, simple to use, and come in a dizzying array of options. The Bummis’ kits are one way to simplify, but there are many other options as well.
Bummis Infant Organic Prefold Package $184.97
Bummis Size 2 Organic Prefold Package $169.97
Accessories (small wet bag, wipes, detergent) $60
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Cost $414.94
Savings = $2,085.26
One Size Pocket Diapers
One size pocket diapers generally fit from about 7-35 pounds. The pocket opening allows you to adjust absorbency to fit your baby – then the fasten on and are changed all in one piece. They are convenient and economical.
24 one size BumGenius 4.0 pocket diapers @ $16.95 each – $406.80
Accessories (wet bag, pail liner, detergent, wipes, diaper sprayer) $150
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Cost $556.80
Savings = $1943.20
Sized Pocket Diapers
FuzziBunz Perfect Size pocket diapers and microfiber inserts are good quality diapers that fit most babies well. For most just two sizes will last from birth to potty – many babies never get big enough to use a large before they potty train and many newborns are big enough to use a small diaper from the start or at least by a few weeks old). I started using FuzziBunz Perfect Size cloth diapers on my 6 pound daughter and although she is at the top of the size curve, she stayed in a medium until after her second birthday. She is in large size now, but to me they were very worth the money as they fit her perfectly at every stage – something not all one size diapers can do.
24 small @ $16.95
18 medium @ $16.95
Accessories (wipes, wet bag, pail liner, detergent, cloth diaper sprayer) $150
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Total $865
Savings = $1,635
If you need to add large size diapers, the savings still amount to about $1,200.
You can reuse the diapers for a second child and save a total of $4,000 (a few items will need to be replaced, so I rounded down from $4,135).
What about the cost of washing cloth diapers?
Washing cloth diapers adds about $0.01 per diaper change to your cost. Hardly enough to break the bank. You can save more by line drying your
diapers (works best for pocket diapers or flats). Wool covers should always be air dried.
