Easily laundered pocket diapers, cover diapers, and all-in-one diapers are the order of the day. With snaps or Velcro closures, waterproof TPU layers around the waist and legs, and natural, breathable fibers that require no soaking, cloth diapers can be a more palatable choice than you may imagine!
For the fashion conscious, there are all the cool patterns to consider. For those concerned with keeping little bottoms pristine, you won't have to worry about blowouts and suspicious chemicals used in making disposables so absorbent. Add to this the potential savings and you may want to give cloth-diapering a try!
Read more about the types of cloth diapers & finding your preferred style in our blog!
The Bottom Line: How Much?
If you go cloth and launder them yourselves, the cost over three years will be between $800 and $1100, half as much as disposables. And diapering a second child will only cost you the laundering (about $400 for three years).
So how much would you be spending upfront? For your newborn, we would recommend 24-36 diapers, so between 4-5 7 packs of cloth diapers. If you were to purchase our pocket diapers, this would be approximately $280 USD upfront. For toddlers, we would suggest 14-24 cloth diapers, so this would be 2-3 7 packs of cloth diapers. If you were to purchase our pocket diapers, this would be approximately $210 USD upfront. Read more about your costs here.
Cost Per Wash
The cost per wash for cloth diaper laundry can vary based on several factors, including the type of washing machine, detergent used, water and electricity costs, and even the specific cloth diaper materials. On average, however, the cost per wash for cloth diapers tends to range from $0.25 to $0.50 a load.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Per Wash:
Water and Electricity Costs: The main contributors to the cost per wash are water and electricity. High-efficiency (HE) machines tend to use less water and energy, thus reducing these expenses. Also depending on where you live, running things like your washing, or drying machine after a certain time can also help reduce these expenses.
Detergent Type, and Usage: The type and amount of detergent used per wash can impact costs. Some detergents are formulated for cloth diapers and might require smaller quantities for effective cleaning.
Diaper Material: Different cloth diaper, and cloth diaper insert materials (such as microfiber, cotton, hemp, or bamboo) may also have specific washing requirements.
Read more in our blog 'Making Cents of Washing Cloth Diapers: Understanding Laundry Cost Per Load'
Washing 101
Don't worry that your house will become a toxic waste dump. There's no longer any throw away or flush a diaper. Simply shake solids into the toilet, rinse the diaper off if your baby is a newborn. For EBF babies, whose stool is typically runny and water-soluble, a simple pre-rinse in cold water can help prevent staining and remove as much poop as possible before, they go into the washing machine. Then, just drop the diaper into a lined diaper pail after a change. Check out our reusable pail liners. When the pail is full, tip into your washer, and throw your reusable pail liner in with it!
Step 1: Rinse
Run your diapers and inserts through a cold water rinse cycle. There is no need to use detergent during this step – this initial rinse helps to remove any remaining solid waste, flushes away urine, and is a helpful step before a thorough washing.
Step 2: Wash
We recommend you wash your cloth diapers, and inserts every 2-3 days. Wash cloth diapers and inserts using a normal warm or hot water cycle. During regular washes, use water that is less than 95oF to increase the lifespan of your diapers. When cleaning cloth diapers that are extremely soiled or when tackling build-up, you can increase the water temperature - but ensure the water is less than 115oF. When you wash cloth diapers and inserts, never boil them as this can cause damage. Use the maximum water level setting and the manufacturer recommended amount of laundry detergent. Choose a laundry detergent for cloth diapers that is safe for your diapers and safe for your baby.
Step 3: Extra Rinse
A final cold or warm water rinse is recommended to wash away any remaining detergent. This is an optional step if you have soft water or find your machine doesn’t fully wash away detergent during its regular cycle.
A final rinse for cloth diapers after the main wash is crucial as it helps to thoroughly wash away any remaining detergent residue. Detergent that is left behind after washing cloth diapers and inserts can cause residue build-up and can result in repelling. Detergent buildup not only reduces the absorbency of the fabric but can also lead to unpleasant odors and potential skin irritations for the baby.
Read more in our 'Washing 101' Blog
Stocking Your Changing Table
When determining how many cloth diapers you will need – regardless of style – there are a few factors that come into play. The first being your child’s age. Newborns and younger infants will need a larger stash of diapers, as they will soil their diaper more frequently. Whereas toddlers won’t need to be changed as frequently. Another factor that will determine how many cloth diapers you need is how often you are planning to wash your cloth diapers. We understand that every family's circumstance is different, and some families may not have access to launder their cloth diapers as frequently as other families. To avoid any bacteria build up that would cause harm to your cloth diapers, we recommend washing your used cloth diapers every 2 to 3 days at most. We always recommend spraying off or rinsing off any solids in your diapers prior to storing them in your diaper pail, wet bag, hamper etc. to help avoid any bacteria growth that can wear down your cloth diapers and cause diaper rashes and irritation to your baby.
Let’s say you are washing your cloth diapers every two days, and your child needs to be changed every two hours – For newborns, we would recommend a stash of 24-36 cloth diapers. Each diaper will come with its own Bamboo insert, however it is always good to have some extras on hand for the times you may need some extra absorbency – whether it be overnight or on a long car ride, etc. For toddlers, we would recommend a stash of 14 to 24 cloth diapers, again with an extra pack or two of bamboo inserts.
So how much would you be spending upfront? For your newborn, we would recommend 24-36 diapers, so between 4-5 7 packs of cloth diapers. If you were to purchase our pocket diapers, this would be approximately $280 USD upfront. For toddlers, we would suggest 14-24 cloth diapers, so this would be 2-3 7 packs of cloth diapers. If you were to purchase our pocket diapers, this would be approximately $210 USD upfront.
Read more about how many cloth diapers you may need here
Eco-Friendly Diaper Services
If your motivation to use cloth isn't based on finances, and the prospect of home laundering is an intimidating one, you may want to opt for a local diaper service. As a rule, services now use biodegradable detergents in their cleaning process rather than the harmful phosphates of old. Like disposables, the costs of using a diaper service plus diaper covers will fall in the range of $2000-$2500 over a three year period.
cloth diapers have come a long way from the old-fashioned, cumbersome options of the past. Modern cloth diapers are convenient, comfortable, and eco-friendly, offering families an excellent alternative to disposables. Whether you choose to launder at home or use a diaper service, the benefits of cloth diapering—from cost savings to a smaller environmental footprint—make it an option worth considering for any family.
