Cloth Diapers Part One

It has been a while since I have been on, but I have been working on many projects and ideas to post here.

So my first post back is going to be about cloth diapers. I started cloth diapering in 2009 when I was pregnant with Cakes. I figured with 2 in diapers it would be so much cheaper, and it has been.

I want to start with the basics...Cloth diapering a newborn.

What do you need to Cloth diaper your baby...the basics

3 dozen infant prefolds--these are the workhorse of cloth diapers, they are cheap, but with newborns they are the best bet as you go through so many diaper changes in a day and they grow out of newborn size so quickly. I personally used Ozycozy from Mom's Milk Boutique, but Little Lions and Green Mountain Diaper also have great prefolds. Around $54

3 dozen wipes -- you can also use baby wash cloths. I personally use Thirsties Fab Wipes. They are soft but grabby. Some mom's buy wipe solution, but I like using plan water to avoid any fragrances and chemicals. Totally depends on the brand you use. Thirsties are $60 for 3 dozen

1 pail -- You can just use a large trash can with a lid. Around $20

2 pail liners -- It is nice to have an extra when you are washing. Some people do skip the liner, but having a front loader, I like to not have to touch the dirty diapers when I put them in the washer, I cannot just dump the contents of the pail in. I have one Planet Wise Pail Liner and one Thirsties Pail Liner, Both work well for us. Around $40

1-3 Wetbags -- this depends on how much you are out and about. Wet bags handle about 3-6 diapers and are good when cloth diapering on the go. I have used 2 kinds so far, Thirsties which wicks a little (meaning moister can leak to the outside) and GroVia, which is hard to open and close. I would like to try a Planet Wise small bag and medium bag. Around $25 for 2

2 snappis -- These little things are so much easier to use than pins. Cakes is still in the size one at over 22lbs and 15 months. Around $6

6-8 covers -- Some get by with less, but with a newborn sometimes it is not possible to wash everyday. I had 5 covers with Cakes and did have to do a quick wash some days because all my covers were dirty. I like Thirsties Duo size one. They fit newborns through around 16 lbs. Around $100

SO for $305...you have cloth diapered a baby until around 18 lbs or 6 months. If you went with disposable diapers, you may on average use 1820 diapers (that is changing 10 times a day on average for 26 weeks) and around 5460 wipes (averaging 3 wipes per change). That would cost $150 for wipes and $440 on diapers...making the grand total $590, and that does not mention all the items that were included that you can use throughout the entire cloth diapering experience (everything I have in italics).