There are many reasons why people choose cloth. I initially chose the cloth route to save money. We are knee-deep in Seminary life(a blessed place to be), and since I quit my job last December to stay home, we wanted to stretch our money as far as we could. Another thought to ponder: Why spend a few thousand on disposables that will soon be hazardous to our land as it piles on top of our landfills, when I could use those few thousand dollars on something practical like: providing food for our daughter, paying our rent, buying a car, or even on something fun like making improvements on our home or a family vacation? Let's peruse the facts, shall we? This information was derived from www.punkinbutt.com
Here's a Huggies spending budget for the first 2.5 years(30 months):
0 – 3 months, 10-12 diaper changes/day
Size 1 disposables -- $16.99/76 diapers or $.22/diaper
10 diapers/day X 30 days X 3 months = 900 diapers, 900 diapers X $.22/diaper =$198
3 – 12 months, 7-9 diaper changes/day*
Size 3 -- $16.99/54 diapers or $.31/diaper
9 diapers/day X 30 days X 10 months = 2,700 diapers
2,700 diapers X $.31/diaper =$837
(My head's already hurting!!)
12 - 30 months, 6-7 diaper changes/day
Size 5 --$16.99/42 diapers or $.41/diaper
7 diapers/day X 30 days X 18 months = 3,150 diapers
3,150 diapers X $.41/diaper =$1,292
Totals
6,750 diapers = $2,327 + $203 (wipes)=
$2,530 total
That’s an average of $84 per month or $.37 per diaper change to diaper and wipe your little baby’s bum for 2 1/2 years with throwaway products! It should come as no surprise that the disposable diapering business is worth $400 million a year–and growing!
Cloth Diapers
There are several variables involved in calculating the cost of diapering your child in cloth. First, there is the cost of the diapers themselves, and then there is the detergent, energy, and water to wash and dry them. There is a wide range of quality, style and price of cloth diapers and diapering products available. Children typically potty train at about 30 months of age (2 1⁄2 years). Your cloth diapers will last well beyond this time frame, but we have used this 30 month period in calculating the cost of detergent,energy, and water you would use to clean and dry your diapers.
Buying Cloth Diapers
The following package gives you an idea of what you could purchase to diaper your baby until she is potty trained. Here's an average package for our cost comparison. The different combinations of diaper types and quantities are endless.
0-3 months
8-12 changes/day
36 Infant Chinese Prefolds (4x6x4 ply) $1.35 = $48.50
8 Super Whisper Wraps, small $9.50 = $76.00
4 hemp inserts, small $4.00 = $16.00
2 Stacinators, small (for night time) $17.50 = $35.00
6 6- packs hemp washies $5.00 =$30.00 (cloth wipes)
2 small Nylon Totes $6.00 = $12.00
1 large Nylon Totes $14.95 = $14.95
total $202.45
5 – 15 months
7-9 changes/day
36 Regular Premium Chinese Prefolds (4x8x4 ply) $2.10 = $75.60
6 Super Whisper Wraps, medium $9.50 = $57.00
4 hemp inserts, medium $4.50 = $18.00
2 Stacinators, medium (for night time) $17.50 = $35.00
total $185.60
15- 30 months
7-9 changes/day
6 Super Whisper Wraps, large $9.50 = $57.00
4 hemp inserts, large $5.00 = $20.00
2 Stacinators, large (for night time) $17.50 = $35.00
total $112.00
Washing Cloth Diapers
Baking soda $3.00/50 loads x 240 loads =$14.40
Detergent $6.00/50 loads x 240 loads =$28.80
TOTAL cost baking soda and detergent for 30 months=$43.00
Water breakdown:
80 gal/load (2 washes) x loads/week =160 gal/week
160 gal/week x 52 weeks per year =8320 gal/year
8320 gal/year over 2.5 years =20,800 gal total
$.85/1000 gal x 20,800 gal =$17.68
Note: Front-loading machines us HALF the water of top-loading washers.
Summary of energy, water, and detergent costs for 30 months:Top-loading machine:
Detergent: baking soda + detergent =$43.00
Energy: $.70/Easy Wash load x 240 loads =$170.00
Water: $.85/1000 gal x 20,800 gal =$17.68
Total detergent, energy and water for 30 months =$230.00 (or less than $8.00/month!)
Front-loading machine: $145
or less than $5.00/month!
Average financial cost of purchasing cloth diapers
over 30 months = $505.05
At a Glance
TOTAL Financial Cost for 6,750 diaper changes
Cloth Diapers- Home Laundered $778.05 or 12 ¢ per change
Cloth Diaper Service $2,133.00 or 31 ¢ per change
Disposables $2,530.00 or 37 ¢ per change
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa....MAJOR money saving going on, even if you have someone else do your laundering...you'll STILL save money, help the environment and save your baby's bum from being exposed to chemicals and possibly pain and irritation from diaper rashes.
If you'd like to read the fine print and more details/explanations to the info above, go to: Diaper Dollar at Punkin Butt
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