I was thinking about my choice in diapers this time around and how it really is an economical decision for me outside of a personal decision to waste less and use something comfy for my newborn’s bum.
I had planned to use pre-fold cloth diapers for my first (now 2 ½ ) but never was fully prepared to do so. We ended up using disposables which worked for us at the time. When I got pregnant this second time around I really focused on building my cloth diaper repertoire so as to cloth diaper baby #2. I’ve dabbled in cloth diapering my baby #1, but have since continued with the disposables.
I wanted to compare the cost difference of using disposables vs. cloth. Because I’ve not yet gone all the way through potty training with cloth, I’m not sure what the end cost will be for using cloth… but here’s what I’ve spent so far on my baby #2. I’m pretty well stocked up to 1 year (might need a few more supplemental diapers).

If you want to take a minute and add up your cost of diapers, I’d love to know what you do and how much you’ve spent!

What I spend on cloth diapers from newborn size to 1 year.

Initial big purchase of Kissaluvs Fitted: $77
5 Thirsties pockets: around $70
Seconds diaper sale at Mother Nurture: $50 (for lots of gently used diapers)
6 Prefolds: $24
Dirty diapers bag (for home): $18
A few snappies for cloth prefolds: around $15
Wet bag for my diaper bag: (free… I made it from leftover fabric, zipper and PUL)
Lots of free diapers from friends: FREE
Cloth, reusable wipes: FREE (I made them from old receiving blankets that I never really used)
A pack of wipes from Mother Nurture: $7
Oxyclean (not used for every load… just those really nasty ones): $7
Detergent: (Tide Free $7 ever other month for 29 months)
Water bill hard to tell because we got a newborn and new house guest at the same time) = $10/month (for 29 months) = $290
=$656

What I spent/spend on disposable diapers for my toddler (from birth to now).

Newborn stage (Pampers swaddlers): $17 a week for up to 2 months= $136
Infant stage – potty training (2 ½) (Parent’s choice): $40/month = $1040
Potty training (Pull ups) = $12 a week for FOREVER (or for 3 months)! = $144
Wipes (estimated $3/week for 29 months)=
=$1407

DISCLAIMER! My math has always been bad bad bad. Feel free to double and triple check… but if I’m right with my addition, then the difference in savings is HUGE! I’m so glad that I am able to do cloth this time around and use that extra cash on something else – like REALLY yummy fruits and veggies from the Farmer’s market!