Back in the day, cloth diapers were popular because of their low price, but the major setback was the labor involved.
This is still true for modern diapers; however, the differences are not as pronounced as they once were.
Various Categories of Cloth Diapers
Cloth diaper shopping can be confusing with the diverse brands available on the market. Cloth diapers involve all-in-one, all-in-two, hybrid, and pocket terminologies.
These terms are interchangeably used, making matters more complicated.
To make shopping easier for you, here is a list of different diaper types and their pros and cons to help you decide.
Prefold Cloth Diapers
A prefold is the basic flat rectangle diaper, usually thick in the center. The term “prefolds” distinguishes them from the old flat diaper, which is rare to find nowadays.
Nonetheless, despite the name “prefold,” you will still have to fold them before fastening them on the baby.
In addition, these diapers are easy to wash and dry and are also versatile. Prefold diapers come in various sizes and are replaceable regularly as the child grows.
You will also need a separate cover to protect against leakage and keep the diaper secure. It costs about $255 to buy and use prefold diapers for three years, which is a lot.
Fitted
Fitted diapers have a similar design to disposable diapers, having several layers of absorbent material, Velcro tape or snaps to hold the diaper in position, and back and leg elastic.
Nonetheless, you will need a separate cover as they have no waterproof outer layer like the disposables.
Fitted diapers are available in various sizes, though several brands come with snaps to give room for adjustments as the child grows.
These diapers are costlier than prefold diapers, though they are more absorbent, easy to fasten, and the elastic legs are ideal for containing the mess.
The price per fitted diaper costs around $15. However, it is not easy to evaluate the lifetime price with separate covers and different diaper sizes as the child grows.
All-in-one Diapers
All-in-one diapers are similar to fitted diapers, though with a waterproof in-built exterior layer, disregarding the need for a separate cover.
Changing all in one diaper is easy and quick, making them a daycare preferred choice as all the parts are in a single piece.
This diaper type is the most expensive, costing about $600-$900 from dealing with a newborn to potty training. The downside to these diapers is that they are bulky.
This means they take longer to dry and take up space in the washer, resulting in more laundry loads.
Pocket diapers comprise tabs or snap fasteners, a removable insert made of soft cloth, and an outside shell with elastic legs.
The diaper body has a smooth lining with a pocket opening and a waterproof outer layer. Fold the inserts inside the pocket to redirect moistness away from the child’s skin.
You can add an extra insert layer for additional absorbency, especially at night. Moreover, pocket diapers are easily fastened and do not need a separate cover.
The shortcoming of pocket diapers is that they are heavy, and since both the insert and the diaper get soiled, they both need laundering after every use.
Changing the diaper, particularly taking out the insert, can be quite a messy procedure.
Regarding costs, they are cheaper than all-in-one but costlier than hybrid and all-in-two diapers. The estimated lifetime cost of a pocket diaper is $720.
All-In-Two
An all-in-two diaper has a shell and a liner that rests on the surface without having to be tucked in. It is simpler to take off a dirty liner and prepare a fresh diaper for a change.
The greatest advantage of using these diapers is that only the liners get soiled, so you can reuse the shell and reduce your laundry load.
Moreover, since you do not have to change the diaper body regularly, you need not purchase many. This makes them cheaper than all-in-one and pocket diapers.
All-in-two diapers come in both multiple sizes and one-size adjustable designs. The lifetime price of this diaper type ranges from $255 to $550.
Hybrid Diapers
Hybrid diapers are special all-in-two cloth diapers that work together with disposable inserts to earn the name ‘hybrid.’
With hybrid diapers, you get to enjoy the benefits of both types of diapers. Cloth liners are great absorbents, while disposable liners are convenient when the child is in daycare or on the road.
The estimated lifetime of hybrid diapers is $300.
The Cost of Cloth Diaper
As seen from the different cloth diapers, their prices depend on your pick. The cheapest diapers are prefold, costing about $2.50 for each diaper and having a lifetime cost of around $260.
For modern cloth diapers, the price per diaper ranges between $15 and $24, which is a higher initial cost compared to most diapers.
Nonetheless, when the lifetime cost is considered, the investment is worthwhile. For instance, purchasing a one-size diaper of 30-36 pieces will serve you throughout the child’s diapering stage, and you do not have to replace them.
Cloth Diaper Accessories
Cloth diapers, similar to disposable diapers, need wipes and a pail. There are additional accessories that help in the process of washing and changing cloth diapers.
These Accessories Include:
Diaper Pail
Cloth diapers require a pail to keep a heap of dirty diapers contained and contain the smell. If you launder every day or every other day, you will need a smaller pail.
You can also wash the cloth liners along with the diapers. The old-fashioned way of soaking the dirty diapers in a bucket of water does not work with modern-day diapers and is too much work anyway.
A washable cloth pail or a good quality pail has a maximum price of $100.
Baby Wipes
Disposable wipes cost about $360 over a 3-year timeframe. However, you can also opt for reusable cloth wipes, which are eventually cheaper, costing $45 for 48 wipes.
This can take you through the whole diapering years.
Diaper Sprayer
If you have already introduced your baby to formula or solid food, you cannot place their soiled diapers with poop straight into the laundry.
You will need to dump the poop into the toilet first; the same applies to disposable diapers. You can either dip the diaper in a toilet bowl or swirl it around to take off the poo or use a sprayer.
A diaper spray costs $45 to purchase a sprayer and $25 for a spray pal to contain the water and its contents.
Flushable Liners
Flushable liners are another diaper alternative that eliminates the need for spraying as they are flushed down the toilet.
The price per flushable diaper is $0.07 and $420 for a cloth diapering lifetime. To cut down on costs, you can use these diapers when on the move and use the diaper sprayer when in the house.
Laundry Accessories
Laundering cloth diapers is another expense, as you must incorporate a specific laundry detergent with no fabric softeners and regular water and electricity bills.
Water and electricity bills may not have a big impact as you can combine diaper laundering with other laundry. Altogether, laundry accessories cost about $200 in a diapering lifetime.
Generally, the lifetime cost of cloth diapering approximates $600-$1870. The range may seem huge, but even with the costliest cloth diapers & accessories combined, they cannot compare to the most expensive disposable diapers.
Moreover, you can use the same cloth diapers for other siblings or even resell them, a quality lacking in disposables.
Diaper Service Cost Considerations
Diaper services are an alternative home laundering of your baby’s diapers. It costs $20 for a week supply of dirty diapers in a diaper service, about 80 diapers for a newborn.
Some services include laundering diaper covers and cloth wipes at a higher price alongside the diapers.
In 3 years, diaper services cost more than $3,000 from childbirth to potty training, excluding covers or liners.
In the long run, it costs almost twice as much to wash your clothes at home, even if you buy the most expensive diapers and accessories.
In comparison to disposable diapers, diaper services are a toss-up depending on your brand choice.
Disposable diapers cost between $0.14 and $0.48 per diaper, while service diapers cost $0.25 each.
So dependent on the disposable diaper brand you opt for, the choice of diaper service can be a great or poor deal.
Best Choice
Ultimately, the price of cloth diapers varies depending on various factors, as highlighted in the article.
The most important factors are convenience and comfortability for you and your baby.
With cost, you can always work through the prices by working with a favorable cost-friendly combination of diapers and their accessories.