cloth diapers

Katie - posted on 07/26/2009

Congratulation on using cloth! I have been using cloth diapers since september. The only time we use disposables is when someone else is watching them or we have a day on the town. We save so much money on cloth diapers. I just bought the basic ones you can get at walmart, They work great. It has to make you feel good to know that your not filling up the landfill with poopy plastics. lol

Julie - posted on 07/20/2009

how much you save really depends on which type of diapers you choose. Prefolds are the cheapiest way to go. If you want to launder them every day then you can get by with 12 (about $20) then you will need a few diaper wraps(3 or 4-about $40) I use pocket diapers on my 1 and 2 year old and prefolds mostly on my 15 day old.

Lesley - posted on 07/20/2009

I was trying to figure out if it would be cheaper to use disposables since I would use generic brands. But then I figured that my cloth diapers will last through all the kids I plan on having in the future since my newborn diapers and wraps are in great condition. Overall you do save a lot of money. It's expensive getting set up but I do it the cheapest way possible. Chinese prefolds and bummis wraps which I got brand new on ebay. So far in 7 months of cloth diapers I have spent less than $150 on 5 doz diapers, 8 wraps, 6 snappis and flushable liners that I cut in half. I don't calculate washing, but I wash every 3 to 4 days.

Meagan - posted on 07/20/2009

I set myself up with cloth diapers a few months ago, and I think that the savings are a little overestimated for me. I was very money conscious and I couponed a lot, so I was only spending maybe $30-$40/month on diapers/wipes. If I potty trained my daughter at 2 and a half, that means from birth I would have only spend $1,200 on diapers. I ended up paying $200 for my stash of prefolds, covers, and snappis. However, a lot of people don't put in the cost of washing and drying them, so I figured that up when I was deciding (money is really really tight and I wanted to be sure exactly what it would cost). We have a washer/dryer at home, normal top loading washer, and most estimates put the cost for electricty and water heating at about $.40/load. I also wash mine a few times, so I estimated about $.60/load (because one of those times is completely cold water). Assuming I wash my diapers 2.5 times/week, then that's $78/year to wash them. Also, most detergents cost about $.17/load, or $22.1/year. I hang dry my diapers, so that's free, but if you dry them in a machine, that's another $.34/load or $44/year. All told, washing and drying them will cost about $144/year. So, over the 2 and a half years your kid is in diapers, you will be spending at least $200 on diapers, $360 on washing and drying them, and probably another $60 at least on disposables, because most cloth diapering moms use disposables from time to time, like on trips or when the baby's a newborn. That's $620, which is almost exactly half of my estimated $1200. Now, if you aren't a big couponer and you don't decide on prefolds, those numbers will be different, but I just wanted to put them out there, because I couldn't find those types of numbers when I was researching.

For your other questions, they leak sometimes, but I do think they leak a lot less. I've only had one leak in the last 2 months, and that was when my husband put on her prefold, which he's only done maybe 10 times total. I wash mine about every 3 days or so, and I bought 36 diapers for those 3 days.

Vilate - posted on 07/19/2009

I make and sell cloth diaeprs and I can set someone up with a set of 12 fitted diapers -which is about all you need with one baby- and wool covers for about $300 and with my diapers being a one size diaper you can use them up until potty traning. I know that we have saved a ton!

They say that you spend $1,200 - $1,500 on disposibles a year if you don't potty train till the kid is 3 you are looking at $3,600 on the low end. I had 6 kids! I CDed 5 of them. I would have spent $7,200 to diaper my kids, but I think I spent like $400 on materials for all my diapers I have used! I saved $6,800!!!!!!



My diapers are super absorbent and paired with a wool cover I have not had any leaks! I use 12-15 diaeprs for one baby when I am CDing 2 I used 20 diapers. I wash my diapers about every other day. I store them in a dry bucket in my tub.

There are lots of of different types of diapers and covers. I have created a webpage with all this info on it. you can see it here

http://www.niftynappybyvilate.weebly.com



not only will you save $$ you will have total control over what goes on your babies bum. You will also be cutting down the amout of nasty trash. :)



I hope you will join in our fun community and give them a try!

Good luck and feel free to ask any ather questions you may have.

Jen - posted on 07/19/2009

I had to drive about 45 minutes for the closest cloth diaper store to me. I still order a lot on-line, and you can prob find all of the information you need on-line as well. It's just nice to touch a diaper in person and helps you to save money because you know exactly what you are getting. Come to think of it, there are two cloth diaper stores up in Columbus, Ohio ... and I think some Whole Foods chains are carrying certain brands of cloth. I don't know. But even if it's a two hour drive to the nearest urban area or where ever a cloth diaper store might be, it might be worth a day trip. You could use the rest of your time checking out tourist attractions, a zoo or museum or something. You will not only be enriched with knowledge of cloth diapers, but get a little bit of culture in you! lol. Well, Timbrel, enjoy the journey. Your little baby seems so sweet!!

To everyone else ... if there's no cloth 101 classes being offered in your area, maybe consider teaching/facilitating a class of your own? Just a thought to spread the word!!

Amber - posted on 07/19/2009

I'm just getting started into cloth diapering so i don't have all the answers you are looking for but i can help with some. First, there are all different kinds of cloth diapers. I personally used fitted ones that have snaps on them to close (some have velcro i dont like those). These kind are a little more expensive then the old school preeold kind but i have no problems with them leaking ever! When i use prefolds I have had them leak before. I go though about 7-10 diapers a day, changing them about every 2hours or so. and we use disposables at night. I wash them every other day in our washing machine. Right now my daughter is breastfed so i dont do anything besides put them in the washer and wash on a cold cycle with no soap and then a hot cycle with a VERY SMALL amount of soap. They are super absorbant so you dont want them soaking up too much soap. when she starts on solids i will have to rinse the poopy ones before putting them in the washer but they make diapers sprayers for that. Over top of them I use wool covers. They are AWESOME! i love them more then any other covers i have ever tired. they are very breathable so they dont get diaper rash with them. I get my diapers and covers from my aunt who makes and sells them. depending on exactly what you want will depend on the prices. I think her's starts around $12 each. she makes them with really cute fabrics and they are just so much fun!. the wool covers she can do embroidery on which i think it adorable. if you are interested her email address is wendy@thepamperedtush.com. she also has a facebook page for her buisiness. Im not sure how to list it on here but you can probably do a search and find it pretty easy, its called The Pampered Tush. she has a bunch of pictures of her products on there. it can be a little pricey to get started but its well worth it in the end and saves a ton of money! just think how much a bag of diapers costs and how fast you go through them. Its also super easy to cloth diaper. many peole think its too much of a hassle but its really no different then useing diposable!!! Hope this helped and good luck!

Timbrel - posted on 07/19/2009

thank you! just you 2 have helped answer some of my questions

Stina - posted on 07/19/2009

wow cloth diaper stores? Cloth 101 classes? Where do they exist? I had to order online and my area doesn't have a diaper service. How fantastic!

I got my how-to knoweledge from another cloth diapering Mom in my church.

Jen - posted on 07/19/2009

This is a very technical cost analysis of cloth vs. disposable, but it takes everything into consideration. http://www.diaperdecisions.com/cost_of_c...

Basically, disposables cost $2,577.35. This particular cost analysis doesn't take into account the marvelous one-size diaper, so I really think you would be saving more than what this site states, but basically, even if you use the most expensive cloth diapering system, you'll save at least $1000 for an average diapering use of 2 1/2 years. I think most moms save double or even triple a year. I know I sure could use $1000!!! That's one major reason why I cloth diaper.

You'll find some great advice on this board, but I would also recommend doing some research of your own. Diaperpin.com is an excellent place for reviews of different brands, and I would especially recommend taking a trip to the nearest cloth diaper store. If possible. Take a Cloth 101 class, it will be very efficient as compared to trying to learn it all on your own.

Good luck!

Stina - posted on 07/19/2009

It cost us about $80 5 years ago to get set up with prefolds, wraps and snappies. With baby #2, we ordered a few more diapers and wraps, replaced worn snappies. Baby #3, we were set, didn't buy more. We do use disposables at night but don't have to buy nearly as many as we'd need if we weren't usein cloth. So yes. I feel we've saved money.



Do they leak? Sure. If not folded right or cjanged often enough. But disposables will leak mega poo too.



We do diaper laundry every other day. presoak in cold soapy water, wash in hot soapy water, extra rinse cycle and dry. Vinegar can be used to soften and balance the ph according to the directions that came with our diapers but this gave my daughter a terrible rash so we stopped useing vinegar.

Timbrel - posted on 07/19/2009

oops....do you use cloth diapers?

Julie - posted on 07/19/2009

This is the cloth diapering board. . .