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WHY SHOULD I USE CLOTH DIAPERS?
1) Save money
Cloth diapers cost less than disposables over the long run. You may put an initial investment of $200 and then spend another $100 once the baby gets older for a total of $300.
I purchased 12 prefold cloth diapers and several wraps for my son when he was a month old. I then purchased 12 more prefolds in the next size and some larger wraps...I spent a little over $100 dollars.
How much can I save with cloth diapers?
An average baby may average 6 diapers a day. I have based most of my numbers off of assuming that the baby will go through 6 diapers a day. That number will certainly be higher for a younger baby and possibly lower for a toddler. Numbers and cost will vary between every person and the cost will also vary when you start combining different types of diapers. You may decide to have 1/2 prefolds and half pockets and All In Ones, then your cost would be somewhere in the middle of the prefold and AIO cost.
| cost /diaper | # of diapers need for 1 yr | Cost for One Year | # Of Diapers Needed for 2 yrs | Cost for Two Years | # Of Diapers Needed for 3 yrs | Cost for Three Years | Total Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disposables | .27 | 2190 | 591.30 | 4380 | 1182.60 | 6570 | 1773.90 | 1773.90 |
| Prefolds | 2.00 | an average number would be 36 | 72.00 | Possibly another 36 in another size | 72.00 | Zero! The diapers you have already purchased should last you. | 0 | 144.00 |
| Pockets/AIO Sized Diapers | 18.00 | again an average might be 36 (18 small & 18 Medium) | 648.00 | 18 Large | 324.00 | Unless you need any extra large, you should be done! | 0 | 972.00 |
|
Pockets/AIO One Sized Diapers |
20.00 | We'll stick with our average of 36 | 720.00 | Since they are one size diapers: Zero! | 0 | If you need an extra large then you would need to buy extras but if not then you are done! | 0 | 720.00 |
| Covers | 11.00 |
6 Small 6 Medium |
132.00 | 6 Large | 66.00 | Again, zero unless you need extra large | 0 | 196.00 |
2) Cloth Diapers are Better for the Environment
You will be eliminating tons of waste from landfills. It takes disposable diapers around 450 years to break down (EPA). Disposable diapers are one of the top single item fillers of our landfills today. Raw material, energy and water are needed to create every disposable diaper...only for it to be tossed into a landfill after one use. As opposed to a cloth diaper that can be used over and over again. Once a flat diaper is done being a diaper, it can be used for any other number of uses, thus increasing it's life even further.
3) Better for Your Baby's Skin
You will be keeping chemicals away from your baby's skin. The material that makes up the super absorbent core of the disposable diapers, sodium polyacrylate, is the same material that has been removed from tampons due to it's association with Toxic Shock Syndrome.
