Disposable diapers come at a high price, not only for the baby, who is constantly exposed to their chemical contaminants, but also for us parents. A baby will wear between 7,000 to 9,000 diapers (10 daily for newborns and 8 for toddlers) in the first 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years of life [1] unless potty-trained earlier.
Although the high demand for disposables has driven down their cost, one can still expect to pay an estimated $2,200 in three years, plus an additional $380 for wipes. If you buy the “ecofriendly” ones, you will be spending a lot more.
Before knowing anything about them, cloth diapers seemed to be a sort of expensive luxury and out of my reach, but, to my surprise, the opposite was true. In the long run, using cloth diapers is less expensive than using disposables because the diapers are reused many times instead of ending up in the trash after a single use.
My initial investment was $800, although many parents report they spent less. Included in that price are 5 dozen diapers in a variety of styles—more than enough to last four days without laundering—various diaper covers, and soap for washing.
This has allowed me to cloth-diaper my daughter for seven months now, and she is still using the same size diapers with plenty of room to grow. Perhaps within a year or so, I’ll purchase a few more in larger sizes, but hopefully by then my daughter will be fully potty-trained, and there will be no need to shop for more diapers.
When factoring into the equation the expenses of ordinary detergent, water, and the rising cost of electricity, or using a diaper service, the cost of cloth diapers does come much closer today to the full cost for disposable diapers than it did 10 years ago.
Undoubtedly, the savings become most apparent in families with multiple children because the diapers can be shared and saved for any future babies. Some people go so far as sell or trade their old cloth diapers on the Internet—proof of how extremely durable cloth diapers are today.
Making my own baby wipes from my daughter’s old flannel blankets has also been a money saver. Commercial baby wipes are bleached and may contain perfumes and other allergens, so making your own baby wipes ensures you know exactly what comes in contact with your baby’s skin.
Flannel is soft and durable, but any soft and absorbent material can be used for this purpose. Homemade baby-wipe solutions can be downloaded from various diaper Web sites and Internet blogs and can be made right in your kitchen. The formulas usually combine distilled water, pure aloe, baby soap, and a few drops of antibacterial essential oils such as tea tree, lavender, or other oil mild enough for the baby’s skin.
Experiment with some and determine which is best for your baby’s skin. For more ideas on saving and sharing on cloth diapering, please visit Diaperpin.com.
Caring for Cloth Diapers
The time spent in caring for cloth diapers is an important factor when deciding if cloth diapers are right for your family. Cloth diapers don’t require special-care products. Baking soda and vinegar are generally enough to keep them fresh and clean. Although you may use a biodegradable detergent from time to time, these are usually the same price or less costly than the price of the usual detergent.
Washing diapers can seem like a difficult and time-consuming task, especially for parents with full-time jobs. I work a 35-hour week. The way I see it, I do this because I don’t want to leave my child wrapped in paper and plastic packed with harmful substances 24 hours a day for the first three years of her life. The thought of this is really painful.
My washing routine goes as follows. After removing a diaper from the baby, I immediately toss it in a waterproof laundry bag, keeping it closed, then I wait three to four days or until most of my diapers are used. I wash the diapers three times a week, first in a cold wash and then in a hot wash.
To the wash, I add a sprinkle of baking soda, one-half cup of vinegar, [2] and some type of biodegradable detergent, which won’t leave residue on the diapers. I found one on the Internet called Country Save, which I like and find very affordable, but there are other brands I haven’t tried such as Charlie’s Soap and Allen’s Naturally.
I usually add two scoops to either the first or second wash and let the washer take care of the rest. For more washing tips, please consult Diaperhyena.com.
When diapers are new, they reach their full absorbency after two to four washes. After a few washes, they fluff up, get softer, and more absorbent. It’s a good thing to read the care instructions that come with every new diaper you purchase, but unless the fabric needs very special care, such as wool, all my diapers go in the same wash together.
Soap or detergent residue in the diapers can noticeably lessen the diapers’ absorbency, and dyes and fragrances may be harmful to your young baby’s health. The same goes for natural detergent, which may contain oils and leave other residues. Use biodegradable detergents instead. [3]
Never use bleach or fabric softener to wash cloth diapers. Bleach is corrosive and will thin out fabric, shortening the life of the diaper. Fabric softener creates buildup and causes the diapers to repel liquid. Non-chlorine bleach, such as OxiClean, is fine to use from time to time if the diapers become stained.
To soften the diapers, you can add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the last wash. Some also recommend drying the diapers out in the sun, which also helps to lighten or remove stains.
The time it takes for drying diapers depends on their thickness. Fitted diapers and pre-folds usually dry quickest because they are not multilayer, although pocket diapers and inserts also dry easily. Diaper covers dry the fastest, so I usually stop the dryer and pull these out first.
Caring for cloth diapers was actually simpler than I thought, but for those who simply refuse to add this task to their routine, a diaper service can do it for you for about $32 a week. [4]
Joan McConnell notes, “Many parents don’t realize that with a diaper service there’s no rinsing or soaking involved. You don’t even need to flush solids away—you simply throw the soiled diaper directly into a diaper pail lined with a garbage liner. Once a week, you put the bag of dirties out, and a bag of fresh, clean diapers is delivered to your door.” [1]
Angelique Mullen discusses the process and convenience of diaper services in her article, “Diaper Services: A convenient option.” “Laundering and sanitation are checked by NADS [the National Association of Diaper Services] on a regular basis. … Diaper service members of NADS follow high standards of cleaning specified by NADS. These include random bacteria checks, meticulous laundering procedures, and high temperature dryers, [which] … get the diapers cleaner than someone who washes diapers at home.” [5]
The diapers are washed about 13 times and are much cleaner than when doing it yourself. She calls diaper services a “gem,” but points out their nationwide decline due to the increase in demand for disposable diapers.
To find a diaper service in your area, view The National Association of Diaper Services page at Diapernet.org, or check out diaper services worldwide at www.ecobusinesslinks.com/diaper_services_usa_canada.htm
Sources:
1. McConnell, Jane. “The Joy of Cloth Diapers” www.motheringmagazine.com Issue 88 May–June 1998. Nov. 19, 2008, www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/joy-of-cloth.html
2. Heather L, Sander. “Our ‘In House’ Cloth Diaper Washing Routine” www.thediaperhyena.com Nov. 19, 2008, www.thediaperhyena.com/clothdiaperarticle_diaperwashingroutine.htm
3. Heather L, Sander. “Soap or detergent? What is the difference …” www.thediaperhyena.com Nov. 19, 2008, www.thediaperhyena.com/clothdiaperarticle_soapordetergent.htm
4. According to the advertised monthly service price in the Queen Bee Diaper Services Web site in Brooklyn, New York. Nov. 19, 2008, www.queenbeediapers.com/
5. Mullen, Angelique. “Diaper Services: A convenient option.” www.therealdiaperassociation.org, Feb 2005. Nov. 19, 2008, www.realdiaperassociation.org/real-diaper-news/quarterly_article_mullen_diaper-services-a-convenient-option.htm
