Does It Really Cost Less To Use Cloth?

Not for me!

My cloth diaper stash is worth around $1,245. However some people are able to keep it cheaper using flats(which are the least expensive of all diapers). And PUL covers that either slip on, snap on or velcro on. Those people can get away with spending under $500 for the entire time they cloth diaper!

Here is my break down on the cost of diapers for me.



I used disposable diapers for my two oldest kids. I bought one package of diapers a week, price being about $8 each package. That was for Luvs. So that means I spent $416 a year on diapers I threw away every time I used them. My boys potty trained at 3 yrs old. One a little before and one a little after. But it still averages out to 3. :) So that would mean I spent $1248 on each kid just to throw them away and never use them again. :( That means I spent $2496 on my two older kids diapers. Keegan was a different story though. I was a little better off financially and Luvs no longer worked for us. So we used Pampers. I didn't start using cloth diapers until he was 6 months old. So I used the same amount only this time I bought them in boxes and went trough a big box in 3 weeks. Each box cost me $35. I'll just say I went through 9 boxes before I started cloth diapering full time. That makes it $315 in disposable diapers for him. So my total disposable diaper costs were $2811 for all three kids.





My cloth journey started off a little rough. I spent money on the crappiest diapers I have ever seen! Probably about $150 after all the shipping costs. I got the majority of it back though. I traded things with people to get diapers and I sold off other things to get more diapers. But the diapers I have right now are my favorites ones! And they have mostly come from out of pocket money's.



So I broke down what I have spent on cloth diapers so far.

First off: I threw away about $50 on all the diapers I got at first and didn't like. I spent more but made most of the money back.



I use BSRBs now. That's what I have found to be the trimmest and most absorbent of all the rest. Plus I have always gotten the best fit around his chunky little thighs. LOL I have all sorts of them too. I have some AIOs, Hybrids, UF, and TIANs. I just love them all. Any ways, I now own 25 of them. Plenty to last through potty training! I got some used off of Diaper Swapers. And I got some new strait from Joyces hyenacart store, Bagshot Row Bamboo. All of them are made out of bamboo material so they are nice and absorbent, as well as soooooo soft. Any ways the way I am adding it up on here is going to be more than I actually spent on them. First of all when I buy just one from her it ends up being about $24 after shipping. So I am going to just round up and say I spent $25 per diaper. $25 @ 25 diapers is $625 total for those diapers.



I bought flats to try out from Little Lions for 12.5 for the dozen. I'm just going to say I spent $25 after shipping and everything. (I got some preemie prefold seconds for using as doublers)



I have 4 flips @ $17 each plus one extra insert @ $5 = about $75 with tax and free shipping.



I bought 4 Thirsties Duo Wraps @ 13 each w/free shipping = lets say about $55 with tax.



And I have bought 100% wool yarn to crochet my own woolies which I have probably spent less than $100 but lets just say that. ;)



So that's: 625+25+75+55+100= $880

I have spent $880 on what is in my stash ATM. But let us not forget that I still have a lot of accessories and diapers that I have gotten in trades. I still have prefolds, Wet bags, pail liner, snappis, and BG AIOs. I got all of the BG AIOs free with there coupon from last month. And I got them all from places with free shipping! So in a quest to find out a round about cost of my cloth diaper supply I looked up the cost of everything and went to add it all up. My husband does NOT want to look at this figure!!! ROFL



BSRBs - $535

Other Fitteds - $80

BG AIOs - $100

Flips - $75

Thirsties Covers - $80

Prefolds (1 doz) - $55

LL Flats (1 doz) - $15

Woolies - $100

Inserts/Doublers - $30

Wet Bags (1 lrg, 1 small) - $35

Snappi - $20

Pins - $5

Snaps added to diapers - $115



Grand total of $1,245 worth of cloth diapers. Which is about what you pay for one child's full diapering days in disposables. I will remind you that at least 80% of all my diapers are one size. That means that if/when we decide to have another baby, all I need is some smaller woolies, and PUL covers! Of course I'm not saying that I would just not buy any more cloth diapers. *blushing* Especially if we were to have a girl!