I’ve shown you in the past how you can begin using cloth diapers for $200.
But, the reality is most of us a visual learners. Show us a graph, chart or pretty infographic and you got us.
Do you ever wonder how many disposable diapers a child goes through in a year? Have you ever pondered how that compares to the number of cloth diapers you need?
Country Drawers provides us with a very simple yet very impactful picture:
That’s 3000 disposable diapers going into the landfill in your child’s first year compared to 24 cloth diapers. 24 cloth diapers that will be reused in year 2 and 3. 24 cloth diapers that could be used on other children.
I don’t care if you cut that number down to 2000, you’re still saving A LOT financially and environmentally.
Show me the numbers!
Here’s a graphic I found from One Posh Baby’s showing how much you could be spending on disposable diapers:
A brief glance at this chart is all it takes to prove to even the biggest skeptic that cloth diapers save you money. A closer look will reveal that you can save even more money by spending less than $22/cloth diaper. Many of you are cloth diapering at a tremendous savings!
Do you know someone who has doubts about cloth diaper savings? Do family members give you a hard time for using cloth?
Show them this post and I doubt you’ll be the butt of any jokes. You’ll be the one they come to next time they shell out $15 for a box of diapers they’ll just throw away.
Autumn is a wife, mother, homeschool teacher, friend and most important a follower of Christ.
MADELINE WHITE says
ebay is the cheapest i spent less then $10 got 40 inserts & 10 covers..saving me tons of money
Rita says
I am due in November and I want to use cloth diapers. How should I know which brand I should buy? Or do you think I should buy a variety of different hybrid brands to figure out which one’s work best for my child.
Autumn Beck says
I would definitely recommend a sampling of different brands and types. Trial programs are offered at several cloth diaper stores and are an excellent way to try many types.
Stephanie says
Hey Everyone ,
a friend of mine has her own diaper business
MONKEY DOODLEZ check them out on google will take you right to her website, I have seen and used her diapers on her 4 kids, and I wouldn’t want to use anything else. And they are always happy to answer any questions you might have. She has an amazing product, works for both boys and girls. You should really add MD to your site, everyone will be extremely pleased by just how easy and convinient these diapers are, fun colour, super absorbent, from all in ones to tag system outer cover and inserts, swimmers, laundry soaps, cloth wipes, diaper pails, and Tons of stuff
This is the way to go :) congrats to all moms out there :) these are the perfect diaper for everyone.
Stephanie
Grace says
A plus is you can reuse those batch for your next child, which I did and I am only spending for laundry and water :-)
Bonnie says
I have never had my own washing machine, so I used disposables with my first three children, assuming it would cost less than washing all those diapers at the laundromat. Due to circumstances, there was no money to buy diapers for my fourth child. I decided to go super cheap (made my own covers and use old t-shirts and blankies for flat folds) and even having to pay for laundry, it has been so much cheaper than buying diapers every month! I love being able to bypass the diapers at the grocery store every week =o)
COUNTRYPIE says
I am looking into using cloth diapers but i am a bit confussed about how many diapers i will need to start off i am expecting twins.
Autumn Beck says
Congratulations! If you plan to wash daily you will need 24 minimum. If every 2-3 days, then you will need to double that. Please let me know if you need more clarification. It can change depending on what type of system you are using.
Elizabeth says
I have serious doubts that I am saving money using cloth diapers. Every time I see a cute new diaper, I want to buy it. And the cute wet bags too. Please dont make me think about adding up the costs! Thank goodness you can sell them when you are done! :)
Ann Marie says
Well you definitely can’t do that with sposies! ;)
Kari D says
I just know that I could not have afforded to diaper either of my children if I had not used cloth. I bought almost all of my diapers used and they are now going on to my niece and possibly another child too. Another point, you never see dirty cloth diapers on the side of the road or in a parking lot. So much better for everyone.
Laura says
Don’t forget the fact that you can sell them when you are done too!
Heather says
I spent about $450 total on my cloth diapers – NOT ON SALE and that’s enough to go from newborn to potty and I only wash them once a week – I do rinse them real quick so they don’t stink. I know when I’ve bought disposable diapers for a trip (I ran out of disposable liners for cloth covers) and I was SO thankful I didn’t have to shell out that much EVERY SINGLE WEEK! Investing in trainers is also fabulous if you have a child who has troubles potty training. I’ve saved HUNDREDS not having to buy pull ups with my first…and Hundreds on diapers with my second. Money that’s much better put away for college savings! I just wish I discovered the joys of cloth when my first was born!
Rachael says
I saw the second chart on facebook and shared it. Hubby pointed out that it doesn’t take into consideration the opportunity cost — the time I spend laundering, folding and arranging the diapers. I figured I spend, maybe, 25 minutes 3 times a week… comes to 75 minutes a week. In a year, that’s 65 hours a year. If you save $800 in a year (comparing cloth to lowest cost sposie), you are earning $12/hr. Not too piddly… if I did the math right.
judi says
Awesome addition! Even if you take into account the cost of water and soap for laundering I’ll bet you’re still making $10 an hour in savings! :) That’s more then I’ve EVER made per hour at any of my jobs.
Trevor says
Also important to look at the cost of wipes. For those cloth diapering already, adding in cloth wipes is a piece of cake. For the cost of 2 months of disposable wipes, you can buy a set of cloth wipes. You could even make your own and save even more. At $15/month in wipes, you will save about over $400 in 2.5 years.
tarin says
Here’s a really economical option: 2 dozen imagine flat diapers at $29, 6 imagine one size covers at $9 each = $54 add 4 newborn covers at $8 each = $32, bringing the grand total for diapering from newborn to potty to $125! Or lose the newborn covers and you’ll only spend $83!
Mary P says
I think the biggest thing that sells me is that $800 is mostly just for the first child. If you have others, then you are just talking laundry costs–while the throwaway diapers would start over with the costs next time around.
Grace T says
Autumn
Your little one is adorable! I voted today :-)
Jamie O'Hare says
Buy 6 Flip covers on sale from a site that’s doing a Buy 2, Get 1 Free promotion, and you’re paying $54-ish for covers. Get a stack of about 20 flannel receiving blankets and pad fold them. Lay them in the cover and top them with a fleece liner upcycled from old clothes. It’s like diapering for “free”. The liners work great as wipes too. This combination is virtually leak proof and indestructible. Hand or laundromat washable, and they dry in the sun in an hour. I have tons of FBs and a few BGs, and I reach for a Flip and blanket every time.
Jill says
That is a lot of savings! I made the mistake of buying velcro when the baby was very small So he quickly grew out of them. I have since added an all in 1 back into our repertoire, which uses snaps which are crucial to the growth expansion as they get bigger. I generally put it on him at night, saves on wear and tear because he’s not pooping in the nighttime diaper. I plan on adding another 1 or 2 to our mix of some disposable and some cloth.