Do Cloth Diapers Really Save You Money?
Do Cloth Diapers Really Save You Money?
Can you really save money by using cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers? When you look at the cost of cloth diapers, they seem so expensive. The thought of spending hundreds of dollars on diapers seems, at first glance, outrageous when compared to a $20 package of disposable diapers. So, is it really possible to save money using cloth diapers? After some research and number crunching, my answer is undeniably...Yes!!!So, how did I come to this conclusion?
To begin with one needs to consider that the average baby is in diapers day after day, and week after week for approximately 3 years. As newborns, babies use about 12-14 diapers a day and that number slowly decreases over time until, as a toddler, a child will use approximately 7 diapers a day. So each child uses in the ballpark of 8700 diapers from birth to potty learning.
The average cost of disposable diapers, based on three nationally recognized brands, was $0.26 per diaper. Well that doesn't seem like much, does it? I decided to factor in the cost of disposable diaper wipes used per diaper change, which cost about $0.04 per wipe. So each diaper change costs about $0.30. Multiply that figure by the amount of disposables that one baby uses in his diapering days and you get an astounding $2600. OK, now I don't know about you, but that is quite a lot of money and it doesn't even included such things as diaper rash ointment; gasoline used to drive to and from the store to purchase diapering supplies; illnesses which can increase diaper usage; extra trash collection fees; extra loads of laundry due to leaks and "blow-outs"; etc
As any good researcher knows, one must look at all sides. So, what about cloth diapers? Up front, they seem to cost way more than their disposable counterparts, but in reality the opposite is true. For around $400 total, you can build a basic cloth diapering stash that would get you through the diapering years. This stash would include prefolds, diaper covers, and a few pockets for nighttime use, along with a few basic accessories.* However if you chose to go with the more expensive pocket diapers and AIO (All in One) diapers than you could spend up around about $1200 for your stash.** Regardless, either of these options (and there are unlimited more options available) still don't come anywhere near the $2600 of the disposable diaper costs.
However, with cloth diapers, we also need to look at the laundering costs to be fair. Most people wash their diapers two to three times a week. So for three years of diapering that equals out to be about 400 washes. According to national averages, it cost approximately $0.85 to wash and dry diapers per load which includes a pre-rinse, hot wash, double final rinse and tumble dry. Also detergent costs about $0.15 per load for a popular national brand. For 3 years of cloth diapering you will spend approximately $400 on laundry care for your cloth diapers.
Overall, you will be spending $800-$1600 to cloth diaper your baby through potty training. Compare that to at least $2600 to diapers your child in disposables. That is a total savings of about $1000- $1800. Imagine what you could do with all that extra money!!!
Want to save even more money??? Re-use your cloth diapers for another child and watch the cost savings add up.
So in light of the above, even skeptics will agree that you will definetly save money using cloth diapers. How much you save, depends entirely on you and what system of cloth diapers YOU choose to use. What a great feeling it is to be in control of diapering your baby, rather than spending your hard earned money on essentially TRASH.
