Price Comparison

Using Cloth Diapers can save you from 44-68% over the cost of disposable diapers. You can end up saving even more if you save your cloth diapers for use on a second or third child.

First let's look at just how many diapers you use in a period of 2½ years. Keep in mind some children take longer to potty train, stretching the diaper years into 3 or even 4.

• An average of 70 diapers a week; baby is changed every 2-3 hours and toddler is changed every 3-4 hours.
• A diapering period of 2½ years or 130 weeks.
• Total of 9,100 diapers changes.

The Cost of Disposable Diapers

• Disposable diaper costs an average of $0.24 per change.
• $0.24 per change X 70 changes per week = $16.80 per week
• $16.80 per week X 130 weeks per diapering period = Total Cost of Disposable Diapers $2,184.00

Home Laundering Expenses

Detergent & Additive Expense

• $0.42/Arm & Hammer Fabric Care = Total Detergent & Additive Expense of $0.42 (per load)

Electricity Expense

• National average per wash cycle is $0.19 X 3 complete wash cycles = Total wash expense = $0.57
• National average per dry cycle is $0.40
• Wash expense = $0.57 + drying expense= $0.40 = Total Electricity Expense of $0.97

Water Expense

• Water cost is $0.20 for 140 gallons = Total Water Expense of $0.20

Loads per Diapering Period

• Wash every 3 days = 2 loads per week
• 2 loads per week X 130 weeks (diapering period) = 260 Loads per Diapering Period

Total Laundering Expense

• Total Detergent & Additive Expense of $0.42 + Total Electricity Expense of $0.97 + Total Water Expense of $0.20 X 260 Loads per Diapering Period = Total Laundering Expense of $413.40

Bottom Line

Wow. Even when you factor in laundering your cloth diapers at home, you still save over $1700 using cloth diapers on a single child for a period of two years. Just imagine how much money you can save by re-using those same cloth diapers on other children.

The Cost of Buying Cloth Diapers

This can really vary. You can outfit your baby in the latest and greatest premium designer diapers spending over $1000.00 and still save money over disposables - saving even more if you plan on having more children to pass those same diapers down to. On the other end of the spectrum, the tried and true basics like flat folds and prefolds will cost much less. You might even opt to buy gently used Prefolds and Pull-on style covers to set yourself up for under $50.00 (which is how we got started).

The Cost of Sewing your own Cloth Diapers

Depending on the size you make, and the width of the fabric you choose, you can generally plan on getting 3 to 4 diaper pieces out of one yard of 45" wide fabric, and 4 - 6 pieces out of one yard of 60" wide fabric. When sewing your own diapers, you need to take into account your time and energy. I can sew a premium AIO in about 20 minutes from cut to finish. Not counting any prewashing. While you can go all out buying ready made cloth diapers you can go all out making them too. Buying enough fabric and notions, and even the pattern to make 24 of the latest fad diapers can set you back anywhere from $150 - $250. That's only around $7.00 per diaper. But considering that some of the more popular diapers can fetch between $75 - $300 on auction for a single diaper, it's all kind of relative to what kind of diaper stash you'd lie to have.

If you're interested in saving money, you certainly can. If you're interested in having a new hobby and money isn't terribly important, you can certainly spend a pretty penny on sewing diapers for your baby.

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