Price. A typical family can spend between $2,000 and $3,000 per baby for two years on disposable diapers while cloth diapers and accessories run about $800 to $1,000 if you wash them yourself. If you go with a cloth diaper laundering service it will run you closer to the cost of disposables around $2,500 to $2,800.
Kaeding estimates that disposable diapers are 25 to 30 cents each, while her cloth diaper inserts run about 7 cents a diaper. Using about seven diapers a day, that is a savings of about $1.50 to $2 a day using cloth diapers.
In sum, in the first year of a baby's life it costs between $244 and $1,100, or on average $664, to use cloth diapers. Over the first two years of a baby's life it costs between $360 and $1,560, or on average $960. One disposable diaper does not fit a child as it ages from birth to age two.
Ultimately, it will cost anywhere from $50 to $80 per month to diaper your child exclusively in disposables.
Cloth Diaper Costs
The cost of cloth diapering depends on the type of diapers you choose. As noted above, prefold diapers are the cheapest type, costing around $2.50 per diaper, with a lifetime cost of about $255. Modern diaper systems have a much higher initial cost – between $15 and $24 per diaper.
There are disadvantages in using cloth diapers though.
With cloth diapers, you can be certain of what materials you're using. But because cloth diapers are less absorbent than disposables, children can be more prone to diaper rash. No matter which diaper you use, don't leave your baby in a soiled or wet diaper for too long.
They're good for the baby's skin — but only if you change them often. Cloth diapers are often praised for being good for the environment and good for the baby's skin. However, they tend to be less absorbent than disposables, so you need to change them more often.
There's no huge difference between cloth diapers vs. ... Leaving on a soiled diaper (cloth or disposable) increases risk of diaper rash and doesn't feel so great for baby. Disposable diapers are more breathable, but their moisturizing, absorbent chemicals irritate some babies.
Here are the top detergents for cloth diapers on the market.
Cloth diapers
And if you're worried about the dyes and gels used in disposables, then using a cloth diaper is a more natural way of diapering. Plus, the fact that these kinds are less absorbent than disposables means more diaper changes (a con), but it may mean fewer diaper rashes in the long run (a pro!).
How to wash cloth diapers
Cloth diapers leak less than disposables
Old cloth diapers and poorly designed covers definitely leaked. But modern cloth diapers actually leak less than disposables! Did you know that many moms actually switch to cloth diapers because they were fed up with disposables leaking? Yes, it's true!
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