The One Thing You Need to Do to Save Money on Diapers

This is one of our peaceful pockets ideas, which are easy, earth-friendly ways to save money. If you switch to natural cloth diapers, you can save $522-$2082 on disposable diapers over 2 years for one child or $1242-$4362 savings for diapering 2 children for 2 years each. You will avoid all of the many health risks of disposable diapers. You will also gain the benefits of healthier and comfier cloth diapers.

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Cost of Disposable Diapers

Cost of disposable diapers varies so much, that getting these numbers made my head spin. I've heard anywhere from $35-$100 a month. I'm going to assume that you're cost-aware enough to just throw away disposable diapers in the same trashcan as your kitchen garbage or just reuse disposable grocery bags instead of the added cost of a special diaper pail liner.

Cost of Cloth Diapers

Wool diaper covers=2 covers per $8 sweater, 2 sweaters per size 6 sizes=NB, SM, M, L, XL, XXL= 24 covers for $96 (Spread out as the child grows or have whoever is throwing your baby shower, organize having the guests bring 100% wool or angora sweaters/sewing machines and have a sewing party) OR knit longies with the free pattern (wool cover/pants). You can learn how to prepare old sweaters for upcycling here. I was actually able to get 4 diaper covers (2 NB, 1 M, 1 LG) out of one adult sweater by careful rotating the sweater to cut out the pieces, but 2 is a good average.



3-layer one-size wrap-style cloth diapers= 1 used towel ($2 thrift store), old T-shirts, OR a combination where the T-shirt is next to the baby's body and the towel acts as the absorbent layer. Again, by careful management, I was able to rotate a T-shirt and cut out two diapers, not including the absorbent layer.

10 towels for all sizes=30 diapers for $20

Total Cost for Getting Started with Upcycled Diaper Stash

• $5= a month washing-water, energy, laundry detergent


• $14= 5 pack of Snappis (alternative to diaper pins-$5 )


• Free-$12 homemade family cloth for free OR Cloth wipes, which can just be baby washcloths ($12= 24 pack Baby Washcloths). We use more family cloth, especially as our babies become toddlers.


• $28= 2 laundry bags to line your diaper pail for soiled diapers.


• $40= 2 Wool wet-bags to carry home used diapers when you're out and about. I chose wool, as it will last you longer than a plastic lined wet-bag which comes apart in washing machines after a while. You can reuse plastic grocery bags, but they don't keep the smell at bay as well as a wet-bag.


• $28.99= A diaper sprayer to make cleaning easier (I have never successfully used one, but many parents swear by these and say they wouldn't cloth diaper without them. Dirty diapers don't really phase me.)

$198 up-front cost (diapers, covers, snappis/pins, free family cloth, laundry bags, and wool wet bags)+$120 for 24 months of washing (2 years)=$318 for 1st kid or $13.18 a month

$198 up-front cost/2 kids+ $240 for 48 months of washing (2 years per kid)=$219 per kid, with 2 kids or $4.57 a month

Health risks of Disposable Diapers

To summarize this article on how dangerous disposable diapers are for babies' health is quite challenging, but I'll try. The absorbing gel inside can cause skin irritation so bad the babies genitals to bleed and has been linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome. The bleach (dioxin) used to whiten the diapers is linked to cancer, birth defects, skin disease, liver disease, immune system suppression & genetic damage in lab animals.

Some disposables contain heavy metals which harm immunity and effects hormones enough to speculate that it may cause sterility in boys. Some of the other chemicals in disposables may cause respiratory issues, central nervous system depression, and more.

Rashes are also more common with disposables and disposables raise body temperature downstairs too much, which may affect normal development in boys.

Cloth diaper benefits

Cloth diapers are obviously cheaper than disposables, as you can see. They are less toxic and cause fewer skin issues, as well as encouraging more frequent diaper changes. In my experience, cloth diapers have fewer blow-outs, which means less "emergency" laundry sessions for cute baby clothing.

Cloth diapers are more comfortable than disposables. Although I don't remember my baby diapering days (I was cloth diapered), I do know how much more comfortable cloth pads are than adult diapers (postpartum) or disposables.

Repairing Cloth Diapers

After the first two kids, a few diapers or covers may need repairs and very few may need to be replaced, but most of your "stash" will still work for more children. This drives the price down per kid significantly if you have a larger family. Keep in mind that diaper repairs would be a great gift to suggest if anyone asks what you would like for an additional child or if you buy diapers secondhand.

• How to replace snaps yourself.


• How to replace diaper/cover elastic. (Personally, I prefer to replace elastic with drawstrings or to sew gathers around the legs instead.)

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCUl_23nOxs[/embed]

That is Why You Should Switch to Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers are less toxic and cheaper than disposables. Save $522-$2082 on disposable diapers over 2 years for one child or $1242-$4362 savings for diapering 2 children for 2 years each. You will have fewer blow-outs (from my experience) and a comfier baby.

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