Before Elijah was born (and he was born in 2008), like back when I was trying to talk Steve into having a baby, I was looking into ways to save money as a parent. I've discovered a passion in being frugal, even for someone who likes to shop occasionally, I'm pretty thrifty. So on my search to talk my husband into "sure... we can afford to have a baby," I found cloth diapering.
CHECK THIS OUT!! For just your first child you can save about $900. PLUS, now that I'm using the same diapers for baby #2 we're saving boocoos more. (Full Disclosure: we do buy some disposables. We use disposables at night for the benefit the baby not waking up feeling wet. We like our sleep. Also, our day care does not allow cloth diapers so two days a week for 6 hours he's in 'sposies.) I literally feel like every cloth diaper used instead of a disposable is $.20 saved and I know a lot of couponers who would go through a lot of trouble for a $.20 coupon, not to mention a $900 one.
Now, cloth diapering DOES require slightly more work than throwing a diaper into a landfill. I for one was willing to work for saving this much money. Just like I'm willing to make food from scratch rather than buying premade convenience foods. It's healthier and saves money, just like cooking is healthier and saves money. Yes, it is dirty work, but it's not hard. It's easy work and I've easily found the time for it. I figured I'm having a baby I'm going to have more laundry anyways, what's another 2-3 loads/week.
Plus, the biggest benefit. How cute is that: (Elijah at about 4 months old, I haven't yet snapped a shot of Yoseph's cute cloth diapered bum)
Here's what we have in our stash (I put the prices for what you would spend now if you bought these today, but at the time I got many of these on sale or as gifts):
18 newborn size fitteds and 3 covers-I think I paid about $300 for these ($12.95 each I think) the company who we bought them from is now out of business.
5 BumGenius 4.0 one-size pocket diapers- probably the most popular on the CDing market (3 are repaired from using with Elijah, and 2 were given to me for free by a friend) That's what E is wearing in the picture. (today to buy 6 it's $86.90 on sale)
3 Fuzzi Buns size medium ($42.60 today on sale)
3 Tiny Tush one size Elite pocket diapers ($59.85, but I know I got these on sale)
1 Flip day pack, which is 6 diapers and two covers (got these on sale as 'seconds' but they work fine, I paid about $35, today they are $49.95 for first quality new ones)
3 BumGenius Elemental diapers- I got these for FREE when the company made a shipping error and said I could keep them (a $69.95 value!- I never would have bought these just because of the price, but for free I do like them)
The Flips and the Elementals are the newest additions with Yoseph's arrival. I used to use the fitteds in the older baby size, but decided not to with Yoseph and got the Flips instead. We used a newborn size for about 2 months until he could fit into the others. A fitted diaper is a piece of super absorbent cloth cut to a diaper shape and put on with snaps, then you have to put on a waterproof cover. A pocket diaper has this all in one piece, plus a stay dry liner for baby's comfort. Most pocket one-size diapers will fit 8-35 pounds, in real life experience it's more like 10-30 pounds depending on baby's build. For example Elijah grew out of his one-sizes at about 20 months old. My skinny Yoseph is 15 months and still not on the last snap size. I anticipate them fitting him until he's like 2 years old, maybe longer.
What I think of them: Favorites are the Elementals and the 4.0s. Fuzzi Bunz didn't fit either of mine right around the legs (but I use them anyways). Tiny Tush are great, but they stain more than my others and they are more bulky. I do like the Flips for home use. I find they leak a bit more than a fitted and are harder for like grandma or church nursery to figure out so I save those for home. The price of the Flips is the best part about them.
If you were new to cloth diapering I would recommend some kind of newborn option, fitteds work well for newborns. Oh, by the way when baby is just eating breastmilk for like the first 6 months cloth diapering is super easy, no need to rinse the poo; breastfed poo is water soluble. Once baby is about 12-14 pounds he will be ready to fit into a pocket diaper. At this point I recommend at least one Flip day pack (6 diapers) for home use (or maybe try EconoBum by BumGenius, even less $) and a 6 or 12 pack of pocket diapers. BumGenius 4.0 pocket are a well known favorite in the industry, but shop around there are other good options and you don't even have to get all the same kind. BumGenius also has a new diaper called their Free Time diaper which looks like a good option.
Here's the link to my favorite cloth diaper site:
www.cottonbabies.com
Be careful cloth diapering is fun and addicting. I often browse cloth diaper websites just to look and often have to restrain myself from treating MYSELF to some new cute diapers.
CHECK THIS OUT!! For just your first child you can save about $900. PLUS, now that I'm using the same diapers for baby #2 we're saving boocoos more. (Full Disclosure: we do buy some disposables. We use disposables at night for the benefit the baby not waking up feeling wet. We like our sleep. Also, our day care does not allow cloth diapers so two days a week for 6 hours he's in 'sposies.) I literally feel like every cloth diaper used instead of a disposable is $.20 saved and I know a lot of couponers who would go through a lot of trouble for a $.20 coupon, not to mention a $900 one.
Now, cloth diapering DOES require slightly more work than throwing a diaper into a landfill. I for one was willing to work for saving this much money. Just like I'm willing to make food from scratch rather than buying premade convenience foods. It's healthier and saves money, just like cooking is healthier and saves money. Yes, it is dirty work, but it's not hard. It's easy work and I've easily found the time for it. I figured I'm having a baby I'm going to have more laundry anyways, what's another 2-3 loads/week.
Plus, the biggest benefit. How cute is that: (Elijah at about 4 months old, I haven't yet snapped a shot of Yoseph's cute cloth diapered bum)
Here's what we have in our stash (I put the prices for what you would spend now if you bought these today, but at the time I got many of these on sale or as gifts):
18 newborn size fitteds and 3 covers-I think I paid about $300 for these ($12.95 each I think) the company who we bought them from is now out of business.
5 BumGenius 4.0 one-size pocket diapers- probably the most popular on the CDing market (3 are repaired from using with Elijah, and 2 were given to me for free by a friend) That's what E is wearing in the picture. (today to buy 6 it's $86.90 on sale)
3 Fuzzi Buns size medium ($42.60 today on sale)
3 Tiny Tush one size Elite pocket diapers ($59.85, but I know I got these on sale)
1 Flip day pack, which is 6 diapers and two covers (got these on sale as 'seconds' but they work fine, I paid about $35, today they are $49.95 for first quality new ones)
3 BumGenius Elemental diapers- I got these for FREE when the company made a shipping error and said I could keep them (a $69.95 value!- I never would have bought these just because of the price, but for free I do like them)
The Flips and the Elementals are the newest additions with Yoseph's arrival. I used to use the fitteds in the older baby size, but decided not to with Yoseph and got the Flips instead. We used a newborn size for about 2 months until he could fit into the others. A fitted diaper is a piece of super absorbent cloth cut to a diaper shape and put on with snaps, then you have to put on a waterproof cover. A pocket diaper has this all in one piece, plus a stay dry liner for baby's comfort. Most pocket one-size diapers will fit 8-35 pounds, in real life experience it's more like 10-30 pounds depending on baby's build. For example Elijah grew out of his one-sizes at about 20 months old. My skinny Yoseph is 15 months and still not on the last snap size. I anticipate them fitting him until he's like 2 years old, maybe longer.
What I think of them: Favorites are the Elementals and the 4.0s. Fuzzi Bunz didn't fit either of mine right around the legs (but I use them anyways). Tiny Tush are great, but they stain more than my others and they are more bulky. I do like the Flips for home use. I find they leak a bit more than a fitted and are harder for like grandma or church nursery to figure out so I save those for home. The price of the Flips is the best part about them.
If you were new to cloth diapering I would recommend some kind of newborn option, fitteds work well for newborns. Oh, by the way when baby is just eating breastmilk for like the first 6 months cloth diapering is super easy, no need to rinse the poo; breastfed poo is water soluble. Once baby is about 12-14 pounds he will be ready to fit into a pocket diaper. At this point I recommend at least one Flip day pack (6 diapers) for home use (or maybe try EconoBum by BumGenius, even less $) and a 6 or 12 pack of pocket diapers. BumGenius 4.0 pocket are a well known favorite in the industry, but shop around there are other good options and you don't even have to get all the same kind. BumGenius also has a new diaper called their Free Time diaper which looks like a good option.
Here's the link to my favorite cloth diaper site:
www.cottonbabies.com
Be careful cloth diapering is fun and addicting. I often browse cloth diaper websites just to look and often have to restrain myself from treating MYSELF to some new cute diapers.
