Cloth Diapers: A Cost Analysis

Disclaimer #1: Before I begin, I would like to say that these results would (obviously) be very different if we chose to buy less expensive diaper covers and inserts or more expensive disposables.

We started using cloth diapers on Miriam when she was two months old. We have two older children, but we did not use cloth on them, so this is our first experience with cloth diapers. Miriam is now 7 and a half months old. We have been using cloth for 5 and a half months, but there were three weeks when we didn't.

Those three weeks of using disposables started with her getting a stubborn diaper rash that took forever to heal (so we switched- thinking the disposables would keep the moisture at bay). What ended up healing her was a proper diagnosis (after two visits) from the pediatrician and treatment. Then, I had surgery, so we just let her in the disposables so it would be easier for Jamey. Then, we traveled for a week over the holidays when we didn't use cloth. It's confession time, folks.

So, let's say we've been using them for 4 and a half months. Let me get a calculator and begin....

Disclaimer #2: We do use a disposable diaper at night on Miriam. She sleeps so very long (6:30 pm until 7am) sometimes without getting up to eat. We do not wish to wake a sleeping baby to change her, so we use a disposable at night. I didn't factor in this cost because I didn't think it necessary. This is an analysis to show how long it takes to pay for the diapering system we use.

Cloth Expenses


4 size small gdaiper covers with plastic liners... $50 (I bought two of their old versions of a Starter Kit, each containing two covers with liners for $25 per kit, or $12.50 each. This is much cheaper than buying individual covers which are $14.44 on sale and $18.99 regular price.)

4 size medium (she's growing!!) gdiaper covers with plastic liners...$50 (I about had a heart attack when I saw that our little non-chain grocery store started carrying gdiapers! They had packages of two covers with liners on sale for $25 per package, normally $29.99.)

4 6-packs of bumGenius inserts (from diapers.com)...$72 (These fit super-well in the medium sized gdiapers and are a little bulky in the small ones. We used size small regular cloth tri-fold diapers while she was itty bitty, then used the inserts as her bum grew. They work great and are easy to wash and so far do not smell when washed with only a tad of detergent and cold water- granted, Miriam is breast-fed, but she has started eating some vegetables and cereal.)

Total: $172

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If We Were Still Using Disposables Expenses

How many times a day does one change their baby? Let's estimate 5 times in a 24 hour period. I think that's being pretty conservative.

5 times x 134 days = 670 disposables divided by 40 per package = 16.75 packages x $10 each (assuming you buy generic) =

Total: $167.50

In about 18 diaper changes, the cloth diapers will pay for themselves! The size medium gdiapers are to fit babies up to 28 pounds. Once those don't fit anymore, we will borrow Miriam's cousin's size large gdiaper covers. Miriam's size small gdaiper covers will be passed on to her new cousin, due in May:-).

All the to say, we will not have to buy any more cloth diapers or accessories.

Not too shabby. Not too shabby indeed.

Disclaimer #3: I did not include tax, shipping charges or gas money to run to the store to buy disposables in my figuring. I also did not include a water cost for washing the cloth inserts. I don't care that much about the cost analysis. Pin It