wow.. i never realized...

JennlovesAustin · April 2009

How much you save when you use cloth diapers. I just did the math:

The cloth diaper 12 pack costs $200 and babies go through up to 12 per day so I would recommend 24 diapers (laundry 3 times per week). That means it would be $400 for the life of the baby because they adjust from 7 to 35 lbs.

If we bought disposable diapers in bulk, they would be about 26 cents a piece. SO?. 12 per day is $3 per day which is 1149 per year. If we potty trained at 2.5 it would cost us 2874 for disposables or 400 for cloth?

WOW! I think I am converting...

melbry15 · April 2009

Don't forget to calculate the amount of water, electricity (washer and dryer, hot water heater), laundry detergent,etc. consumed in re-using those diapers, but still probably a better deal!

lv2bhapi · April 2009

My friend uses cloth diapers on her son. She swears by them. I think it's a great way to save money, I'm just not sure I'd have the patience to use them.

JARbaby · April 2009

They do not go through that many diapers for long.

C goes through 5-6 per day and J goes thorough 7. They both sleep 12 hours nights.

besszilla · April 2009

I am all for CD, but since the kido will be in some sort of daycare starting at 8 weeks its a no go for us. If you need to you a daycare center you might want to check with them before you invest in the CDs.

MarisaC · April 2009

12 per day is a lot. I guess maybe for a short while in the beginning? We use about 8 now, 7th Generation ordered through diapers.com. $43 worth lasts about 3 weeks.

If you want to cloth, by all means give it a shot. I just know a few people that swore that's what they were absolutely going to do and then couldn't stomach it, lol. And the laundry adds up on your electric bill, and on your already hectic schedule.... just some things to consider.

mavs_girl07 · April 2009

melbry15:
Don't forget to calculate the amount of water, electricity (washer and dryer, hot water heater), laundry detergent,etc. consumed in re-using those diapers, but still probably a better deal!

That's not much though...our water bill only went up by a couple of dollars a month when we started cd'ing. And the detergent we use on her cd's runs us about $12 every 6-8 weeks.

annapolischick · April 2009

i'm totally on board, don't know about DH though~ I think it's great. It's better in less likely to get diaper rash, more likely to potty train earlier! Plus they are CUTE!

lfen0526 · April 2009

I'm all about saving the enviroment and stuff, but I don't think I can do cloth diapers. They just seem really gross to me, having to wash them and stuff. Maybe I'll change my tune when I see how many disposables I use, but until then. Pamper's all the way!

EnglishMajor03 · April 2009

We did cloth diapers(because DD has a skin issue and had to use them) for a while and they were a lot of work. We ran two loads a week and the time and energy it took, plus caring for a newborn was tough. This time around we're going disposable all the way. Be sure to invest in a good pair of rubber gloves to clean off that poop!

ashdonne · April 2009

No cloth diapers for me---will have to go back to work somewhere between 8-12 weeks after babe is born so its not really an option for me. Plus all the extra laundry---if I was a SAHM I would probably do it but I just don't think it would work with me working. Maybe I am just not that ambitious!

DiscusCoach · April 2009

I would have to calculate the cleaning service...

Some friends of mine did the math here in CA and with the cleaning service it came out about even.

Geekchick921 · April 2009

melbry15:
Don't forget to calculate the amount of water, electricity (washer and dryer, hot water heater), laundry detergent,etc. consumed in re-using those diapers, but still probably a better deal!

This.

According to Baby Bargains, the cheapest thing to do is CD, then DD, then CD and pay for a diaper service is most expensive.

I would have like to cloth diaper, but we live an an apartment and have the share a washer & dryer with other tenants, so it's often occupied, and it's a total rip off. $3.25 for 1 load, washed and dried. Maybe we'll try it with later babies once we have a house.

IrishSara · April 2009

To each their own, but I agree that they don't go through 12/day the whole time they are in diapers. When mine was between 1 and 2 we probably only used 5-6 diapers/day.

Plus, I doubt you can use the same few diapers for their entire life span. I'm pretty sure no matter how great your washing machine is, some are going to be too nasty to get all the way clean. You're going to have to replace them out occassionally. Not to mention wear and tear.

I think it's great for the environment, I'm just saying your math is a little off.

Plus, there is a lot of effort that goes into CDing that I personally don't think is worth the cost.

MommaD2Be · April 2009

lfen0526:
I'm all about saving the enviroment and stuff, but I don't think I can do cloth diapers. They just seem really gross to me, having to wash them and stuff. Maybe I'll change my tune when I see how many disposables I use, but until then. Pamper's all the way!

Yes

smilelari · April 2009

We are doing daycare and I'm still considering cloth diapers. Some daycares in town will do cloth diapering and I have heard that even the ones that say they won't often will if you actually show them a diaper and how it really is pretty much the same as a disposable for them (if you are using pockets or AIOs). Certainly worth a shot. From what I've read, there are just too many benefits to not at least try. It's even way better for baby's skin! Plus you can use them for multiple children making the cost factor even better

smilelari · April 2009

MommaD2Be:

lfen0526:
I'm all about saving the enviroment and stuff, but I don't think I can do cloth diapers. They just seem really gross to me, having to wash them and stuff. Maybe I'll change my tune when I see how many disposables I use, but until then. Pamper's all the way!

Just wondering. If your child has a blow out are you planning on throwing away the clothes?

neonvicki81 · April 2009

Even though I'm going to be a SAHM, I have the dog and cats to take care of (cats @ parents but I take care of them once in a while), and doing cloth diapers on top of that ! I have enough Poo to deal with! Too bad I couldn't just put it in a compost and sell it as fertilizer!!

meanbearkitty · April 2009

i used to be a director at a daycare center. the state i live in has a policy that kids in group daycare had to have disposible diapers unless they had a doctor's note. just make sure that the daycare you go with (if you need daycare) is not only willing, but even able to use them before you invest.

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