As a parent, you may have considered using cloth diapers to save money on disposable diapers at some point.
However, it may seem too much work or expensive when spending up-front, and some cannot bear scraping the baby’s poop from the cloth diaper into a toilet.
Cloth diapers are probably not the right choice for every household. The fact is that these diapers are more work than just tossing a disposable diaper in a trash can.
Various Types of Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are ancient and have evolved over the years, with many available options in today’s market.
There is always a brand on the market that will work for your child, no matter their activity level and body type. What types of cloth diapers can you find on the market?
- Prefold Cloth Diapers
Prefold diapers are those rectangular cloths you picture when thinking of antique cotton diapers.
The diaper design involves folding and stitching with more layers at the center to make it thicker. Prefold cloth diapers come in various sizes and materials like hemp and bamboo.
The price of each diaper is about $2, which is one of the cheapest cloth diapering options available.
With this diaper type, you will need to get a cloth diaper cover with a waterproof outside layer that contains the inner diaper’s mess and wetness.
Most of these cover shapes mimic the disposable diapers’ wrapping around the prefold. They also close at the baby’s hips using several snaps or Velcro snaps instead of sticky tabs.
The materials used in making a diaper cover include a poly-blend fabric. There is also a waterproof lamination for the interior, which comes in different prints and colors.
The price of a cover ranges between $8 and $12.
You can replace the soiled prefold diaper with a clean one during a diaper change. After that, you can reuse the cover after giving it a quick wipe if need be to minimize your laundry.
To ensure that the prefold stays in place, use a separate diaper fastener and add a Velcro snap. Most parents double up on prefolds or add soakers to prevent night leaks.
- Hybrid Cloth Diapers
These diapers combine the benefits of cloth diapers with the ease of disposables.
Hybrid diapers comprise two internal absorbent layers: a disposable or cloth insert, and a waterproof external cover.
Cloth inserts are rectangular pads made of various fabrics like cotton, hemp, and microfiber.
There are disposable inserts for single use that go for $10 for a roll of 100 inserts. The disposable inserts are convenient when you are on the move.
- All-in-One Cloth Diapers
The origin of their name comes from the fact that they have a waterproof outer cover and an inside absorbent layer in one piece.
You will need no inserts, and you can toss the diaper in the laundry in its entirety when it’s soiled.
Like prefold, AIO cloth diapers fasten at the hips with a series of snaps or Velcro. The price per diaper begins at $20.
- Pocket Cloth Diapers
Pocket diapers have similar features to AIOs but with an in-built inside pocket made from wicking material that contains a removable absorbent insert.
You can customize your desired absorbency level by experimenting with different inserts or even using two.
The pocket diaper inserts have a shorter drying time than the thicker AIOs; they are ready for use right out of the dryer.
They are easy to use, and grandparents, babysitters, and daycare personnel need no professional training.
- One-Size Cloth Diapers
Yes, you read that right. Because one-size diapers grow with your child, you can use the same diaper on your newborn baby as well as when they are potty-training.
Velcro and snaps allow for size adjustments, and large inserts accommodate the varying absorbency needs.
The most noticeable feature of this cloth diaper brand is the wide range of adorable designs and bright colors. They are also costlier, ranging from $18-$30 for the top-end brands.
How Many Cloth Diapers Do You Need?
No matter the cloth diapers used, babies use around 10-12 diapers, toddlers require 6-8 diapers, and those potty training need up to 4 diapers.
You will need about 2-3 dozen diapers for your newborn and fewer as the baby gets older.
Some Of the Most Important Clothing Accessories for Diapers Include:
- Diaper pail for storing dirty diapers.
- A waterproof wet bag to stash soiled diapers when on the move.
- Disposable diaper liners
- Diaper sprayer washes out soiled diapers into the toilet.
- A cloth diaper-safe detergent; free from fabric softeners and perfumes to avoid irritation.
How to Use Cloth Diapers
Using cloth diapers is pretty much like changing a disposable diaper using snaps or Velcro to fasten the diaper around the child.
Guidelines On the Use of Cloth Diapers
- Close the diaper tabs before tossing them in a pail to avoid sticking to each other and compromising how they fasten on the next use.
- Snaps at the top of the diaper are for adjusting the waistline.
- Snaps down on the diaper frontal adjust the length of the diaper for proper fit.
- When cloth diapers need changing, they either hang down or feel stiff.
- Change the cloth diapers regularly, every 2-3 hours, to prevent rashes and chemical burns.
How to Wash Cloth Diapers?
Some parents put the cloth diapers in a wet pail filled with water before washing them.
Others flash the solids from the diaper down the toilet and place them in a holding container or plastic bucket.
Whichever option you go for, you can always rinse the diapers off after changing the baby, then toss them in a dry pail.
In this way, the diapers have the advantage of rinsing and a mini soak as you put them in the pail while still wet.
If you use this method, it is advisable to keep the pail in the bathroom.
Basic Laundering Steps for A Cloth Diaper
- Take out the inserts from pocket diapers.
- Use the highest level of water permissible by your washer.
- After a cold rinse, run the diaper through a hot regular wash cycle with a quarter detergent cup. When using a cloth diaper detergent, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the package.
- Rinse with cold water to ensure there is no detergent left.
- Dry it using a delicate heat setting.
After cleaning, your washer will be as clean as a diaper and not carry any bad odors.
Tips On Cloth Diapering
- When the weather is favorable, dry the all-in-one diapers outside as it dries faster, and the sun is a natural stain remover.
Using a dryer may take longer and consume a lot of energy.
- To ease the chore of laundering a cloth diaper, you can put the day’s diapers in the washer every night before bedtime and dry them during midnight feedings.
You could then fold the diapers while watching your favorite show on TV, so it does not feel like a huge chore.
- Having a diaper sprayer is convenient as you can easily attach it to the toilet, and it saves you the stress of creating a soak bucket.
- When you are on the go, you do not have the option of throwing your cloth diapers in the trash. All you need is a waterproof wet sack to keep dirty diapers out and about.
- When done with the cloth diapers after your baby is grown, you can always keep them for future siblings. You can also pass them down to family or friends as they retain their quality over the years.
- If you bought plenty of cloth diapers that you didn’t like or did not work for your child, you can always resell them at the same market price as there is a big resale market.
Cloth Diapers Are A Good Option To Have
You do not need to stick to cloth diapers religiously; you can use disposable diapers in the first few weeks of a newborn and later shift to cloth.
Alternatively, you can balance the two and use whichever works on days or occasions. Moreover, you can also take the hybrid-diaper route to enjoy the benefits of both worlds.
This piece has a washable cover that does not come into contact with body fluids, apart from the occasional blowout, plus a flushable, biodegradable insert that is eco-friendlier than a disposable diaper.
Always go with the best option for you and your child and consult with your pediatrician in case of any questions or concerns.
As babies grow older, they use fewer diapers than newborns. During a child’s first month, they use about 8–10 diapers, or even more.
Within the second month, the number reduces, and by the sixth month, they only need about eight diapers a day. Keeping in mind the usage of diapers in a day, they can be costly.
The average price of a diaper is 0.20 dollars per diaper. The price can go lower depending on the brand if you buy in bulk or take advantage of coupons and clearance sales.
The Price of Diapers in a Month
Working with the price of $0.20 per diaper and an estimate of 10 diapers every day in the baby’s first month, you will probably spend $60 per month on diapers.
The price reduces as the child ages, and the rough budget estimate is about $48 every month for the second month moving forward.
Oh, and remember that a child uses diapers till potty training age, meaning it will be an item on your budget list for the first three years of the child’s life or even more.
You can, however, minimize the expense of the diapers if you employ wise buying tactics, as explained in the article.
Ways To Save Money on Diapers
a) Try Other Diaper Brands
Mom guilt is real, especially for new moms who feel like they should give their babies the best of the best.
However, price is not necessarily a proof of quality. It is about time to get over your mom’s guilt and get creative with your budget.
Several diaper brands will do the job perfectly and save you more than half of what you have been spending.
Store brand diapers are not what they used to be years back, as the quality is way better and the pricing is very friendly. Try using off-brand diapers to save money on diaper purchases.
b) Buy in Bulk
It is tempting to throw a 30 pack of diapers in your cart at the grocery store. However, resist the temptation and save money by buying the diapers in bulk.
Equipped with the sum of money in your budget plan per diaper and taking advantage of any manufacturer’s coupon you may have earned and in-store or online promotions, buy diapers in bulk to save as much money as possible.
Nonetheless, do not buy newborn or size one diapers in bulk, as the baby may outgrow them faster than expected. Instead, buy a bigger pack of size one or newborn diapers.
c) Focus On the Price Per Diaper
When purchasing a diaper pack, it can be tricky to figure out if you are getting a good deal or not.
The sure way to find out is by focusing on the price per diaper. Sometimes, the diaper pack may be cheaper but carries smaller diapers inside, making it technically more expensive.
Stick to your budget for diaper prices; for example, if you plan to spend $15 per diaper and combine this with several coupons and store promotions, you may end up spending $10 per diaper.
d) Use Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers for the last decade have come a long way as more parents embrace them to save on cost and sustainability.
The evolution of cloth diapers started with the cloths held together by safety pins and evolved to diapers held by snap closures.
The estimated price of cloth diapers throughout the child’s life is about $600-$900.
Comparatively, you will spend about $2,500-$3,000 on disposable diapers for the three years your child will be in diapers.
Another advantage of cloth diapers is that you can resell them at a fair price and recoup 30% of the money spent when the child no longer needs them.
Also, it can be useful for other future children, thus helping you save on the money you would have used for new diapers.
e) Save by Purchasing Diapers at Amazon
Amazon is a new mom’s best friend. It is not fun moving around with your newborn on errands.
Amazon makes baby shopping so easy as you can get whatever you need, including diapers, at the touch of a button.
Join the Amazon family and get 20% off subscriptions to baby essentials such as diapers. If you do not have Amazon Prime, use their code link to get a free first month’s subscription.
You do not necessarily require Amazon Prime to access the discount, though you can make your money back quickly.
Moreover, you can get the Amazon Prime Visa Rewards and get 5% on all your purchases from the store and $70 in instant cash back, which almost pays for the first year of Amazon Prime.
Registering via Amazon gets you a 15% coupon to purchase what wasn’t gifted to you; thus, remember to add diapers to your list.
f) Purchase Diapers at Target
Target is a favorite for new mothers because of the many available discounts. One, with the red card, you get a 5% discount on every in-store purchase at check-out.
The Red Cards are available as credit and debit cards, so you can go with whatever works for you.
Moreover, the store has a diaper brand that is very affordable and works quite well.
To save money when purchasing diapers, first download the Cartwheel app to receive sales and promotion updates.
Every Sunday, there are new deals, and when combined with manufacturer coupons from Cartwheel or Paper app, cartwheel offers, and Target promotions, you will likely get your diapers at a very fair deal.
You can also get a monthly subscription that will have them delivered to your house every month, save 15%, and get a free shipment using the red card.
Furthermore, ensure to sign up for the baby registry, which has tons of deals, discounts, offers, and benefits, such as a free $80 welcome kit.
g) Use Manufacturer Coupons
Coupons may seem to save such a small amount, but it goes a long way.
If you add all the coupons used in a year, you may be in awe of the amount of money you have saved, as the small amounts add up to several hundred dollars.
The best part about coupons currently is that they are more advanced, and you do need to scroll through the newspapers to find one, as you can use the websites below for such purposes to save time.
Coupons And Savings Websites
Coupons.com is the most widely used platform for getting coupons online. Moreover, you can use the app for your store purchases.
On savings.com, you are always informed of where the deals are. In the search box, type in diapers, and you will get a list of the lowest prices you can get for diapers in stores close to you.
You can also set the application to inform you whenever the items you key in are on sale, thus saving time.
h) Buy Discounted Gift Cards
Purchase gift cards at a discount on sites such as Cardpool.com and get them at a price lower than the face value.
With gift cards, you can save up to 35% of the face value. If you are not interested in searching for giveaways, you can always find good deals at Amazon or Target’s baby subscriptions.
i) Use Rakuten
To begin with, ensure you have signed in to Rakuten to purchase diapers online.
When you type in the retailer you intend to purchase from, the application redirects you to the retailer’s website, where you can complete your purchase as normal.
With Rakuten, you can compare prices across different stores before you purchase. Moreover, it comes with different benefits, such as:
- $10 bonus on the first purchase.
- Cashback on purchases.
- Price and return protection.
- No charge for an annual fee.
j) Try Ibotta
Ibotta is a program that gives you cash back when shopping for groceries or other essentials.
You need to check the app for cashback offers for the items you may be purchasing, in this case, diapers.
Scan the receipt or attach your loyalty card after shopping, and you will have the cashback in your account within 48 hours.
The Best Decision
Yes, diapers can be quite expensive, but you will always find a good deal if you shop smart.
If you want to save your money, consider some or all the methods in the article to attain the lowest prices possible when diaper shopping.
All the best on your wise shopping spree!