Cost comparison of cloth vs. disposable

Cost comparison of cloth vs. disposable

Using Cloth Diapers can save you from 44-68% over the cost of disposable diapers. You can end up saving even more if you save your cloth diapers for use on a second or third child.

First let's look at just how many diapers you use in a period of 2½ years. Keep in mind some children take longer to potty train, stretching the diaper years into 3 or even 4. While cloth diapered babies tend to potty train 6 months to a year sooner. Our Lilli is 14 months and has already begun potty training. YAY!!

Disposable diapers:

•An average of 70 diapers a week; baby is changed every 2-3 hours and toddler is changed every 3-4 hours.
•A diapering period of 2½ years or 130 weeks.
•Total of 9,100 diapers changes.

•Disposable diaper costs an average of $0.24 per change.
•$0.24 per change X 70 changes per week = $16.80 per week
•$16.80 per week X 130 weeks per diapering period = Total Cost of Disposable Diapers $2,184.00

Reusable cloth diapers:

Detergent & Additive Expense

•$0.42/Planet detergent = Total Detergent & Additive Expense of $0.42 (per load)
Electricity Expense

•National average per wash cycle is $0.19 X 3 complete wash cycles = Total wash expense = $0.57
•National average per dry cycle is $0.40
•Wash expense = $0.57 + drying expense= $0.40 = Total Electricity Expense of $0.97
Water Expense

•Water cost is $0.20 for 140 gallons = Total Water Expense of $0.20
Loads per Diapering Period

•Wash every 2-3 days = 2 loads per week
•2 loads per week X 130 weeks (diapering period) = 260 Loads per Diapering Period
Total Laundering Expense (We also include all of her laundry in the diaper wash)

•Total Detergent & Additive Expense of $0.42 + Total Electricity Expense of $0.97 + Total Water Expense of $0.20 X 260 Loads per Diapering Period = Total Laundering Expense of $413.40 I think this should actually be less since we do run her clothes in the same washes, and disposable diaper families also wash their baby clothes.... unless they have now invented disposable clothes!

Now add in the cost of purchasing twenty four diapers at an average of $20 each total of $480.

Final comparison:

Even when you factor in laundering your cloth diapers at home, you still save over $1200 using cloth diapers on a single child for a period of two years. Just imagine how much money you can save by re-using those same cloth diapers on other children, or by reselling them when your done with them.

Once again cloth diapers are the best option for today's parents. Save money, save our environment, and save that baby tushie from rough chemical filled disposable diapers!