The Expense of Cloth Diapering Vs. Disposable Diapers

When you look at the prices of disposable diapers against the initial cost of cloth diapering, cloth can seem a little overwhelming. If you’re getting a good quality cloth diaper, it can cost you upwards of $500 for your initial investment, whereas you can get a package of disposables for about $12-15. BUT you have to keep buying disposables! Here, I’ll let this lady Tell you the Actual cost….. she’s better at it than me you can find her website at www.naturalfamilyonline.com

How much will they cost?
The costs calculated below for disposable, single-use diapers are based on two of the most popular brands from a store known for its value pricing.

• The newborn package (up to 10 lb.) contains 48 diapers at $16.23, or $0.34 each .
• The average number of changes for a newborn is 12 to 16 per day for the first two weeks.
• 14 diapers x 7 days x 2 weeks = 196 diapers at $0.34 each = $66.64.

• The infant size 1 package (up to 14 lbs.) contains 104 diapers at $ 0.22 each.
• An average baby requires 10 to 12 changes per day for the first three months.
• 11 diapers x 30 days x 2.5 months = 825 diapers at $0.22 each = $181.50. 11 diapers x 30 days x 3 months = 990 diapers at $0.26 each = $257.40

Mega-pack pricing was used for the balance of the packages, because mega-packs are the least expensive.

• Each mega-pack was $28.92 + $2.02 sales tax, for a total of $30.94 per package.
• The infant size 3 package (16-18 lbs.) contains 96 diapers $0.32 each.
• A six- to nine-month-old baby requires eight to 10 changes per day.
• 9 diapers x 30 days x 3 months = 810 diapers at $0.32 each = $259.20

• The infant size 4 package (22-27 lbs.) contains 64 diapers at $0.37 each.
• A nine- to 12-month-old child requires eight changes per day.
• 8 diapers x 30 days x 3 months = 720 diapers at $0.37 each = $266.40.

• The toddler size 5 package (over 27 lbs.) contains 58 diapers at $0.41 each.
• The average 12- to 18-month-old child requires six to eight changes a day.
• 7 diapers x 30 days x 6 months = 1,260 diapers at $0.41 each = $516.60.

• The child size 6 package (over 35 lbs.) contains 48 training diapers at $23.00, or $0.45 each.
• An average 18- to 30-month-old child requires six to eight changes per day.
• 7 diapers x 364 days = 2,548 diapers at $0.45 each = $1146.60

GRAND TOTAL:
The total estimated average cost is $2,694.54 for 7,349 disposable, single-use diapers. Keep in mind that this is a conservative estimate. It is not uncommon for a child of 3 years to require a diaper at night, and children in single-use diapers tend not to feel wetness, requiring a longer duration of time for toilet training success. Your child’s individual sleep pattern, body functions and time frame for toilet training success will determine the number of actual diaper changes required.

OK, I’m back and that was a LOT of numbers. haha, $500 doesn’t seem so bad now does it, and that’s for a HIGH END diaper system. They don’t HAVE to cost that much!

But what about the Laundry?  Doing a load every other day (especially with the extra rinse cycle in the beginning) HAS to cost a bundle… doesn’t it?   Here’s some math I did:

Even a low-efficiency washer-dryer combo only costs about $0.78 per load (including detergent) and most Cloth-Diaperers will do a load every other day. So you’ll (over a period of three years) end up with $427.05 in extra laundry [$.78(365/2)X3]. That STILL brings up a savings of over $1,500!!! [$2694.54-(500+427.05)=$1767.49].

Yeah, in the long run, they’re A LOT cheaper.