Comments on: Guest Post: Cloth Diapering 101 – Part 1 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html Loving simple and natural living on a budget Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:24:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: susie http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8700 susie Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:05:57 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8700 Cost of disposable diapers is also partly dependent on your location and the cost of living in your area. As to the cost of cloth diapers, you can significantly save money by sewing your own, and even further by sewing your own from re-purposed materials, like old t-shirts and towels. There are many free diaper patterns online. I found that most of my diapers, when I had approx. 20 diapers, lasted through 4 children. I don't know how many uses that is, but it sure beats spending even .06 per disposable diaper! Additionally, many people aren't just driven by cost. Think about our oil dependency... "Did you know that it takes one cup of crude oil to make the plastic for one disposable diaper? Multiply that by the estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers used in the United States each year...and it amounts to 31,136,363.6 barrels of crude oil thrown away! Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels! Use cloth diapers!" A fellow cloth diaper business owner recently posted this to our resource group. She has the sources for these claims so if anyone wants them, let me know! Cost of disposable diapers is also partly dependent on your location and the cost of living in your area. As to the cost of cloth diapers, you can significantly save money by sewing your own, and even further by sewing your own from re-purposed materials, like old t-shirts and towels. There are many free diaper patterns online. I found that most of my diapers, when I had approx. 20 diapers, lasted through 4 children. I don’t know how many uses that is, but it sure beats spending even .06 per disposable diaper!

Additionally, many people aren’t just driven by cost. Think about our oil dependency…

“Did you know that it takes one cup of crude oil to make the plastic
for one disposable diaper? Multiply that by the estimated 27.4
billion disposable diapers used in the United States each year…and
it amounts to 31,136,363.6 barrels of crude oil thrown away!
Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels! Use cloth diapers!”

A fellow cloth diaper business owner recently posted this to our resource group. She has the sources for these claims so if anyone wants them, let me know!

]]> By: Alex http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8691 Alex Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:05:04 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8691 I never spend more than $0.15 per disposable diaper, and often can spend quite a bit less. For example, I just stocked up on Huggies for roughly $0.06 per diaper. I think $0.24 per diaper is quite high. If you're willing to find coupons, you can get your cost quite low. Not to mention, when I checked into cloth diapers, most websites I looked into stated that you should expect each diaper to last 150-200 uses. I have found there isn't much difference in cost. I never spend more than $0.15 per disposable diaper, and often can spend quite a bit less. For example, I just stocked up on Huggies for roughly $0.06 per diaper. I think $0.24 per diaper is quite high. If you’re willing to find coupons, you can get your cost quite low. Not to mention, when I checked into cloth diapers, most websites I looked into stated that you should expect each diaper to last 150-200 uses. I have found there isn’t much difference in cost.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8664 Lauren Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:05:54 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8664 I think if you belong to a club like Costco and can buy the store brand diapers, you'll probably spend less. But both the kids get really irritated bottoms with anything available at WalMart except Huggies. M used to be able to wear other stuff, but R has never been able to tolerate different stuff. Just sensitive skin, I guess! Do you remember how awful M's bottom looked when I tried to use the Sam's brand wipes?? Yikes. I think if you belong to a club like Costco and can buy the store brand diapers, you’ll probably spend less. But both the kids get really irritated bottoms with anything available at WalMart except Huggies. M used to be able to wear other stuff, but R has never been able to tolerate different stuff. Just sensitive skin, I guess! Do you remember how awful M’s bottom looked when I tried to use the Sam’s brand wipes?? Yikes.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8663 Lauren Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:03:50 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8663 Thank you Susie! The estimate of $0.24 per diaper seemed low to me, too. Thank you Susie! The estimate of $0.24 per diaper seemed low to me, too.

]]> By: Jess http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8645 Jess Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:36:01 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8645 The ONLY thing that doesn't make sense in my head is your calculation for the cost of diapering. I have NEVER spent more than $75/month, even for a newborn, on disposable diapers + wipes (thank you, Costco!). I thoroughly enjoyed the post though, it was SO informative and interesting to read! If we could come up with enough money (well, if we made it a priority to save) for the LARGE frontloaded investment so that I could cloth diaper the way that I truly desire (Bumgenius3.0s for both kids), I'd SO be all over it, but since my husband isn't on board there's no way I'll ever be able to spend $600 to get started, lol! Thanks for guest posting, you did a great job Lauren! The ONLY thing that doesn’t make sense in my head is your calculation for the cost of diapering. I have NEVER spent more than $75/month, even for a newborn, on disposable diapers + wipes (thank you, Costco!). I thoroughly enjoyed the post though, it was SO informative and interesting to read! If we could come up with enough money (well, if we made it a priority to save) for the LARGE frontloaded investment so that I could cloth diaper the way that I truly desire (Bumgenius3.0s for both kids), I’d SO be all over it, but since my husband isn’t on board there’s no way I’ll ever be able to spend $600 to get started, lol! Thanks for guest posting, you did a great job Lauren!

]]> By: Jen http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8644 Jen Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:55:54 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8644 Also, I wanted to share that Bethany is a blow-out queen, and we haven't had a single blowout outside of her diaper since switching to cloth! I'm thrilled because the stains were so hard to get out of her clothing and now I know that even if she's in the exersaucer or bumbo seat (major poo stations lol!) I'm not going to have a huge mess to clean up when she lets it all go :) Also, I wanted to share that Bethany is a blow-out queen, and we haven’t had a single blowout outside of her diaper since switching to cloth! I’m thrilled because the stains were so hard to get out of her clothing and now I know that even if she’s in the exersaucer or bumbo seat (major poo stations lol!) I’m not going to have a huge mess to clean up when she lets it all go :)

]]> By: Jen http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8643 Jen Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:45:19 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8643 Thanks Lauren! Shortly after I wrote that, I got very concerned about the link to testicular cancer and male infertility, and immediately put Bryden in my BumGenius 3.0's and he liked them! I had tried a Motherease one-size fitted and cover on him before and that didn't fly. My hope was to use cloth for a transition, now that I know he'll wear a pocket or AIO I need to get a few more! I have lots of friends locally who cloth diaper so I should be able to come up with a few. I really do hope it helps him learn for the potty. Thanks! Thanks Lauren! Shortly after I wrote that, I got very concerned about the link to testicular cancer and male infertility, and immediately put Bryden in my BumGenius 3.0’s and he liked them! I had tried a Motherease one-size fitted and cover on him before and that didn’t fly. My hope was to use cloth for a transition, now that I know he’ll wear a pocket or AIO I need to get a few more! I have lots of friends locally who cloth diaper so I should be able to come up with a few. I really do hope it helps him learn for the potty. Thanks!

]]> By: susie http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8633 susie Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:06:22 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8633 I think your figures for the cost of disposables are low :) We have a great cost comparison chart at Diaper Decisions. You can find it at <a href="http://www.diaperdecisions.com/cost_of_cloth_diapers.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.diaperdecisions.com/cost_of_cloth_diapers.htm</a> I think your figures for the cost of disposables are low :) We have a great cost comparison chart at Diaper Decisions. You can find it at http://www.diaperdecisions.com/cost_of_cloth_diapers.htm

]]> By: Lauren http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8632 Lauren Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:17:09 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8632 That's awesome! I've turned a few prefolds into fitteds, but I wish I had more time to do some more sewing. That’s awesome! I’ve turned a few prefolds into fitteds, but I wish I had more time to do some more sewing.

]]> By: Jamie http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/03/guest-post-cloth-diapering-101-part-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-8625 Jamie Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:44:43 +0000 http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/?p=4773#comment-8625 It's great to see more cloth diaper/nappy info getting out there. I have used cloth on my three kids. The more kids you have, the greater the savings. I have nappies I used on my first that my 3rd is still using. My favourites are pocket diapers/nappies. I use them day and night (overnight I now use them with a wool soaker/cover as my 3rd is a heavy wetter). It’s great to see more cloth diaper/nappy info getting out there.
I have used cloth on my three kids. The more kids you have, the greater the savings. I have nappies I used on my first that my 3rd is still using.
My favourites are pocket diapers/nappies. I use them day and night (overnight I now use them with a wool soaker/cover as my 3rd is a heavy wetter).

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