Almost the precise moment you announce your pregnancy, you’ll start to hear all sorts of conflicting advice from every one you meet.
It’s amusing how the most tame of topics can become subjects of contention as different people passionately tell you which method (theirs) is superior to all the others.
You’ll also start to hear a variety of “facts” that also frequently conflict with one another.
One that I’ve heard a lot is that cloth diapers are impractical because they aren’t actually cheaper than disposable diapers.
This is usually said by some one who hasn’t really compared the price of either. But the assumption is, that once you factor in water costs from extra loads of laundry, “fancy” detergent prices and the expensive start up cost of diapers themselves, you’ll end up paying more for cloth than you would for disposable.
So let’s run the math. I looked up current (2016) prices for diapers in several popular brands. Having experimented with a variety of disposable diaper brands as well as cloth, I’ve collected prices from the brands I deem the best in each category.
There are certainly “bargain” brands of diapers, but most of them are similar enough in price to the cheapest I’ve mentioned here (Huggies) that it would be redundant to mention OR are so cheaply made that they are useless.
Chants says
I appreciate what you’re trying to do here – but there’s no way anyone using disposables do 10-12 nappy changes a day! Only the first week or 2 is that intense, if that.
If that’s how often you have to change nappies when using cloth, I’d say it’s a pretty strong argument for disposables.
Using your average of 25 cents a nappy, (I get much better deals on brand nappies) it’d cost me about $900 for 2 years.
Sure, maybe more expensive- but I save so much time and effort that I can focus on other things.
Natalie says
Everyone seems to think that disposables are convenient and time saving, yet I see so many moms on the mommy groups complaining about nappie rash and having to buy endless creams. Having experienced this with my 1month old myself, I went to the Dr twice to get scripts for creams. And eventually switched over to cloth. I’ve never looked back or been happier….nothing about ur baby in pain and agony is convenient or time saving.
Here is South Africa I paid R1500 for my entire stash. Where disposable cost u almost R400 a month….I definitely scored there. My washing machine uses about 1.5 units per load, and I do two for the nappies a week. Which is R24 extra a month. Detergent I always buy in bulk and spend about R30 a 3kg on special which lasts me about 4months as we are only 4. So I spend less than R100 a year towards the detergents for the nappies.
I’m definitely smiling all the way to the bank.
Another think to note is that the prints are ao adorable, I dont even have to put pants on the little one…so more savings on clothing items.
Tell me again why disposables are better…the effect it has on the environment alone should make us all ashamed for ever using them.
Vanessa says
This was very interesting! I like that you bring up the age when kids potty train. The longer it gets put off the more a family has to spend.