It's hard to believe, but there was once a time when disposables were the rarity. Very few people used them, and if they did, they were a great expense. My parents tell me they used to get disposables occasionally, but only for long trips. "They weren't as nice as they are, today" I'm told.

There are a very few of us who have kept on with the "tradition" of cloth diapers. Most people think it's simply not for them. They think it's too much "work", too "messy" and too "risky". The idea of "leaks" keep them away.

I have found that cloth diapers suit us better, however. To me, it was the disposables that were "messy". They look just awful "dangling"... filled or not. And mine are heavy wetters... and disposables let me down more often than my cloth. It's so very nice to have clean diapers without fretting over the "last one" about to be used. Just toss them into the machine, and soft, fluffy, clean, fresh diapers are back for more use!

And we mustn't forget the cost. My husband has said he can't imagine how much money I have saved by using cloth.

However, you can find yourself spending a great deal either way, if you're not careful.

Recently, I was looking for some new fitted diapers for our newest blessing. I was amazed at how much people are charging. Some cloth diapers were $20 each. Even those that cost $7.50 apiece are simply too much - and these were some of the cheapest I found in my search. And since they were sized to fit... one would need several sizes purchased prior to the child toilet training. At a minimum of two dozen diapers bought for each needed size, at the cheapest cost of $7.50 each, we're looking at a total expense of at least $720 -- and this does not include diaper covers (which often cost a minimum of $10 apiece if you want the velcro style) or wipes (cloth wipes or disposable). And, frankly... if we're considering the cost of cloth vs. disposable, we do need to take laundry detergent into account as well as water and electricity usage costs required in cleaning them.

There are several things one can do to keep the expense down, and still have the benefits that go along with cloth diapering. 

• Stick with those tried and true diapers that have proven themselves for years. Prefolds/birdseye weave are definitely wonderful and extremely absorbent! And pull-on nylon or vinyl covers work beautifully! These aren't fancy, but they are cheap and work the best!
• If you truly feel a desire to have something "cute" to put on Baby, making the diapering experience a little more fun or pleasant... make your own! Flannel is a wonderful fabric, and very thirsty. If you get 5 yards, you can have 2 dozen fitted, print diapers. I make these for our babies, and am presently sewing a couple dozen new ones for the newest blessing. I found 1/4 elastic (100 yards) for cheap on ebay ($3!), heavy flannel for $3 a yard, and used our old flat birdseye diapers that were looking extremely tough for the "soakers". They're adorable... and they work. If "fitted" diapers scare you away... measure and sew some pre-fold or flat diapers! Easy!
• Sew your own "baby washrags" to use for wipes, or buy them for cheap at a local dollar store (I found 6 baby washcloths in a set for $1 at our dollar store). Another option is to use old towels you have around the house and cut them into "rags" for wipes. I use warm water from the tap with a tiny bit of liquid soap when I need to wipe a messy baby during a change, as our changer is right next to the bathroom sink. But, I've also used appropriate sized tupperware containers and empty baby wipe containers and filled them 1/3 of the way with warm water, a squirt of baby wash and my folded washrags. It works great!
• Don't buy special laundry soaps! -- I cannot believe how much some detergents cost! If you're washing cloth diapers, you'll ironically need less soap in the wash, anyway! If you have a sensitive baby, buy the cheaper "unscented" varieties and use it only for Baby's wash.

There are several resources I would recommend to those of you who do cloth diaper, wish to sew diapers or want to try cloth diapering:

• http://www.babybestbuy.com/baby-diapering.asp This is an extremely inexpensive diaper supply site. I am definitely going to be ordering from them (covers are only $.99, for example! And, $4.50 for a dozen prefolds!).
• http://www.wazoodle.com/ Excellent flannel fabrics! I've found flannel from Walmart (what used to be my main "cheap fabric" resource) to be very thin and it breaks down almost immediately in the wash. Wazoodle has the best flannel I have ever used. It's thick, and yet not pricey. They have a terrific selection of cute prints, or if you like solid colors, they've got that too.
• http://www.diapershop.com/index.php/action/category/id/17/ This site sells diaper fabric, such as birdseye for $3/yard.  They also feature other sewing notions and types of diaper fabric.
• http://www.gehmanscountryfabrics.com/store/index.php?cPath=34&osCsid=78880d5a8c84abe17de386e88da791a8 Gehman's Country Fabrics is run by a fellow Mennonite family, and offers inexpensive notions and dress fabric. They carry flannel as well as terry fabric, which make sewing diapers easy!

Happy diapering!

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Shared by HandsNHearts

Ive got several sew-your-own links along my right sidebar also. Debi and I are going to get moving on getting some made soon (hopefully before I won't need them any longer! LOL)
I shudder to think of what it's cost us in diapers for our full quiver!!!
Deanna

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Shared by maa

Thank you for the fabric links. I made cloth diapers and cloth wipes for my babies. Now I am making cloth pads for two of my grown up babies. I have been trying to find good quality flannels for the pads and cloth wipes. The wal-mart flannels are too cheap and the fabric shop here in town charges $6.00 and up for a yard of flannel.

I have recently been using the waterproof fabric called PUL for the pads. I buy it from ebay, it is an amazing fabric and you might be interested in making diaper covers from it. It is soft and breathable which you might like better than the vinyl pants. When my daughter was old enough to complain about anything, she would tug and pull at her vinyl cover untill they came off. She didn't like them and I had never heard of the PUL, I wish I had.

Thank you for this post, it was very helpful to me.
maa's mom

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Shared by mominpa

I love your blog...I have read a few times, but don't think I've posted a comment...but thank you for this entry!!

I have 2 boys and a baby due end of August and have never used cloth diapers but REALLY want to...for many reasons...and the "NEW CLOTH diapers " are VERY expensive... still not more expensive than what I would spend on 18+ months of disposables...

Anyway thank you for your words of wisdom..as someone who has been there.

I know no on IRL who cloth diapers so I thank you again!!

PS: I don't homestead blog as much as I should...I usually keep up my homeschool blog. (if you are wondering where I came from!! ;)

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Shared by deedee06

I used cloth diapers for my children and have no regrets. I figured that it would have cost around $30 a month for disposables, which would have come from my grocery budget. I didn't feel like we should eat $30 less food a month. Formula was another big expense that I saw mothers struggle with. I have always been grateful that God "plumbed" mothers to produce the food their babies need. I cut up an old flannel sheet for wipes and made almost all of my babyfood. Thanks for yet another great post!...........Blessings from the Big Sky Country........Denise (prairiemom)

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