Cloth Diapering Costs How Much?

When my oldest son was in disposable diapers, I had never given a thought to cloth diapering until I kept hearing people talk about how much money you could save by switching. After doing my research, I could clearly see how the savings would rack up over time, but the first thing I noticed was the start-up costs.

In order to have enough cloth diapers to switch from disposables, I realized I would have to shell out a couple hundred dollars up front. Between the cost of diapers themselves to the diaper sprayer, diaper pail, special detergents, and various other “essential” items, I was looking at the cost of a used car. That was certainly not going to fit into my budget!

Determined to achieve the long term savings offered by cloth diapers, I began a mission to find the most frugal start-up options. The first step was to figure out the bare minimum of what I would actually need to ensure my son was diapered and sanitary. Cloth diapers were obvious, but what about the rest?

• Diaper Sprayer. I learned I could avoid the pricey diaper sprayer if I just scraped diapers or used diaper liners. I found that fleece diaper liners were the perfect options to avoid scraping and not spend much money. To make it even cheaper, I went to my local fabric store, bought some cheap, plain fleece and cut it up into rectangles to fit the diapers. Now I can just dunk the mess in the toilet and toss the fleece liners in the wash with the diapers.
• Diaper Pail. The diaper pail became an obvious cut. I could just use any cheap laundry bag or trash can or, if I washed my diapers every day, I could just toss them in the washing machine throughout the day.
• Special Detergent. After quite a bit of research I discovered that no special detergents are needed for laundering cloth diapers. Rather, I could just buy store brand detergents with no fancy color, scent or optical brightening additives. But I decided to take it one step further and just make my own cloth diaper-safe detergent.

Cloth diapering was starting to look much cheaper! Until I looked the price of diapers which averaged around $20 a diaper:

• New diapers. I realized the most expensive diapers were pockets or all-in-ones. While offering a disposable-like convenience, the cost was almost painful. I then started looking into shells and prefolds. That is when I found the Econobum. For only $10, I received a one-size-fits-all shell and a prefold. That made my start-up cost of 10 diapers only $100 dollars!
• Second-hand diapers. For an even more frugal option, I also looked into second hand. A lot of websites like http://cottonbabies.com and http://www.diaperjunction.com offer second hand purchases for a great price with the security of giving you information about the quality of the diapers you will receive. Craigslist can be a great site to peruse frequently to find some great used diapers, though you may be buying at your own risk. When purchasing second hand diapers, always make sure you sanitize them properly. Most prefolds and inserts can be safely boiled while other brands can be washed in hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to check the brand's website for sanitizing tips if possible.

In order to be the most frugal in your cloth diapering start-up, I recommend looking for diapers early. Once that ultrasound confirms a baby in your belly, let the frugal diaper search begin! Enjoy the savings while knowing your baby is diapered and comfortable.

This article was adapted from my original version first published on I Heart Maternity.

For more homemaking tips, check out: Life As Mom, Growing Home and Far Above Rubies

Cloth Diapers and Diaper Rash

A very common problem that I hear about cloth diapers, and have experienced myself, is how do you handle diaper rash? Creams and petroleum jelly are both possible with the right diaper liner, but what if you don't want to spend the money on liners? Anything you apply to the rash will cause damage to your diapers but if you leave it uncared for, your baby suffers.

Here are some tips and tricks I have learned that have kept my babies' bottoms painfree without costing a fortune or ruining diapers:

• Skip the wipes. A lot of wipes are filled with harsh irritants like perfumes and alcohol. Even if you purchase wipes that are specially formulated for sensitive skin, they are still going to leave a residue on your baby's bottom, causing mild irritation. The best thing you can use consistently is pure water. Nothing cleanses better without causing irritation. Consider using a spray bottle with water and washcloths and save the wipes for those occasional big messes.
• Baking soda baths. By sprinkling a little baking soda in your babies bath water and allowing them to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, it will lessen chances of infection while soothing the broken skin. Make sure not to get any in the child's eyes or near their face.
• Colloidal oatmeal baths. Much like baking soda, oatmeal has an antibacterial and healing effect. It may be less harsh on a younger child's skin and also works great to treat eczema and cradle cap. Try a homemade version for a great healing effect at a fraction of the cost.
• Air it out. Because little ones can fill diapers quickly, being constantly wet can start to irritate the skin. Allow your baby to go diaper-free for fifteen minutes a day. Make sure to keep cloth diapers or a diaper pad underneath them to make unexpected accidents easy to clean up.
• Tea tree oil and witch hazel. Tea tree oil is a gentle antibacterial and antifungal oil while witch hazel soothes and heals. Use caution not to over use these herbs as a baby's skin is very sensitive and constant use may make the rash worse. I strongly recommend California Baby Diaper Area Wash which contains tea tree oil, witch hazel and other organic soothing herbs making it gentle on a baby's skin. Not only does it cure diaper rash quickly, it even works in curing and preventing staph infections.
• Switch detergent. A lot of times, diaper rash can be caused by irritants in the laundry detergent. It can build up on the cloth diapers and, once wet, will saturate your babies skin with chemicals. I recommend a gentle homemade detergent. If you prefer to purchase regular laundry detergent, look for brands that are free of dyes, perfumes and especially optical whiteners. Also make sure to boil your diapers regularly to kill any bacteria that may accumulate and cause rashes.
• Breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, express some milk using a pump or by hand and rub it on the baby's bottom a couple times a day. Breast milk has so many natural healing properties and it is specifically created for your baby. No over-the-counter or prescription treatment can claim that!

Remember that not all diaper rash is the same. There are many different causes of diaper rash so one remedy may not work every time. If the rash does not clear up in a couple of days, it may be a staph or yeast infection which are both incredibly common in babies. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about any serious or long term rashes.

So next time your little one's tushie turns red, don't reach for a disposable diaper and some cream. Instead, consider these easy, cheap and highly effective methods. That baby bottom will be smooth in no time!

Disclaimer: The above information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Make sure you consult your child's pediatrician before attempting any home remedies or herbal-medicating.

For more homemaking tips, check out: The Better Mom, Moms the Word, Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Learning the Frugal Life, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Time-Warp Wife

A Boil Today Keeps Infection Away

Now that we have two children in diapers, our cloth prefolds are certainly getting a workout. I continue to wash our diapers daily, but to keep them as fresh and sanitary as possible, I need to give them a little extra TLC. What is the best way to sanitize your cotton prefold diapers?

Boil them.

Here is my incredibly simple step by step process for boiling diapers. It does not take much time and is certainly worth it to protect your little one's bottom. I recommend following these steps every few months, or more often if your child tends to have frequent diaper rash or a staph infection.

1. Be sure the diapers are clean by running them through your usual washing routine.
2. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil.
3. Using a large spoon, submerge the diapers in the boiling water, stirring gently to make sure they are completely saturated.
4. Cover the pot and remove from the heat. Allow the diapers to sit in the boiling water for 15 minutes.
5. Pour the diapers, water and all, into your washing machine, using care not to burn yourself.
6. Add 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide (if your washing machine has a bleach compartment, I recommend pouring the peroxide in the compartment).
7. Wash the diapers in hot water (no detergent) using a second rinse.
8. Without removing the diapers, run your washing machine a second time without detergent or peroxide to ensure they are completely stripped.
9. Dry as usual and use.

These steps work great for almost all cotton prefold diapers. Do not boil diapers that are synthetic materials or that have snaps or any other plastic parts. If you are unsure of whether or not you can boil your diapers, consult the manufacturer.

For more homemaking tips, check out: The Better Mom, Far Above Rubies, Learning the Frugal Life, Growing Home, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Time Warp Wife and 5 Minutes for Mom.

Always Pinning Away

There have been so many wonderful things gracing the boards of Pinterest lately that I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you:

Home Decor

Winter Elegance

Source: acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Happy Valentine's Day!

Source: southerncharmwreaths.com via TyKes on Pinterest

DIY

Handmade Cloth Diapers

Source: owlhaven.net via TyKes on Pinterest

Simple Paper Roses

Source: duitang.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Recipes

Simple Whole Wheat Biscuits

Source: 100daysofrealfood.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Buttermilk Cinnamon Bread

Source: ratetheplateutah.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Organization

Freezer Inventory

Source: mrshappyhomemaker.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Kitchen Pantry Makeovers

Source: homestoriesatoz.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Humor

Source: signals.com via TyKes on Pinterest

Source: puns.icanhascheezburger.com via TyKes on Pinterest

For more pinnable pictures, check out: 5 Minutes for Mom and Women Living Well.

Homemade Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent

Homemade laundry detergent is fast becoming the new trend in homemaking. Not only is it frugal and effective, but many are finding it to be far more simple than first thought. Along with the growing trend of homemade laundry detergent, many are turning to cloth diapers to be more eco-friendly while saving hundreds of dollars.

The problem is that most homemade laundry detergent recipes are not cloth diaper-friendly. Many, including my favorite, contain Borax and washing soda. Borax is very abrasive and can build up on diapers causing irritation and rashes, particularly to sensitive skin. Washing soda has been known to break down the elasticity of several brands of diapers, leading to poor fit and leaks.

So how do you reap the benefits of homemade detergent while still keeping your diapers gentle and functional?

Try this super easy recipe that is safe on diapers and can be used in any washing machine (as requested via email by Reka!):

• 1 bar dye-free, scent-free soap (I recommend Ivory or Fels-Naptha)
• 2 c. baking soda (NOT washing soda)

Using a fine cheese grater, shave the bar of soap into a bowl. Add the baking soda and stir thoroughly making a fine powder. Store in an air-tight container. Use a rounded 1/2 teaspoon per small load of diapers (possibly less in high efficiency machines). This makes enough for approximately 250 small loads of diapers.

A few notes:

• Be sure to add the powder to the washing machine before adding the diapers, allowing it to dissolve. (For most cloth diaper brands, I recommend using hot water.) This will help lessen build-up on the diapers.
• The bar soap cleans the diapers while the baking soda freshens and helps remove odors. If you would like to whiten the diapers or freshen them further, I recommend line drying them outside in the sun whenever possible. The sun has a natural bleaching effect while the fresh air helps diminish any built up odors.
• This recipe works great for 100% cotton and organic diapers. It may cause residue on some synthetic materials. Consult the manufacturer on how to remove any built up residue.

For more great homemaking tips, check out: Homestead Revival, Don't Waste Your Homemaking, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Learning the Frugal Life, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Time Warp Wife, 5 Minutes for Mom, Butter Believer, Everything Under the Moon, 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven, Home Savvy A to Z, DIY Home Sweet Home, Frugally Sustainable and Skip to my Lou.

Where To Begin?

Today you can find me over at I Heart Maternity talking about frugal start-up options for cloth diapering.  I give some of my favorite tricks to make the beginning of your cloth diapering journey as inexpensive as possible!
Please come on over and join me and leave a comment letting them know you are from TheNorthForty!  Thanks!

No Soaking, No Scraping

Whenever I am talking to a mother who has a baby or is planning to have one in the near future, I always bring up cloth diapers.  Anyone who knows me knows that I sing their praises day in and day out, from the convenience, to the savings, to the ease.  Often times I am met with the same reason why someone would not use them: "I just don't have time."  Now, I admit that cloth diapering may not be for every lifestyle, but I think their is a misconception about how much time they actually take.

Here, I would like to walk you through how I care for my cloth diapers on a daily basis to help you make a better decision on whether or not you could find the time or, if you are all ready using cloth diapers, perhaps help you streamline your methods.

I'll start off by saying that I wash my diapers everyday because I find it is cheaper than buying a larger stash to wash every few days.  This obviously depends on the efficiency of your washer, your brand of detergent, and whether or not you machine-dry your diapers.  You will have to work those numbers yourself.  If convenience is a factor over price, perhaps a larger amount of diapers to make less of a washing load may work better for your lifestyle.

Every morning, I take the diapers off the drying rack (we have a location indoors for those yucky weather days) and toss them in my cloth diapering station which is located in the central most area of our house.  I do not "pre-stuff" the diapers since mornings are chaotic in our home.  Rather, I stuff them when I go to use them. 

When my daughter needs a diaper change, I grab a shell and an insert from the station, assemble it quickly (usually as I am walking over to my daughter) and change her like I would if I were using disposables.

I then take the dirty diaper and toss it in our odor-trapping diaper bag in the laundry room.  If it is soiled, I first dispose of the mess in the toilet.  I use a completely "dry" diapering system, so I do not rinse my diapers nor do I use a wet diaper pail for fear of potential drowning if not properly monitored.
At the end of the day, I toss the diapers into the washing machine (along with the diaper bag) and wash according to manufacturer's instructions.  I use Econobum diapers most often because of their ease and affordability.  These need to be washed in one cycle, hot water with a second rinse, with less than one teaspoon of dye-free, fragrance-free detergent.  Once the cycle is complete, it takes less than five minutes to pull them out and hang them to dry.  By morning, they are dry and we start the process again.

When compared to using disposable diapers, the work load is not increased by much.  Stuffing a diaper takes less than 15 seconds.  Tossing a dirty cloth diaper in a diaper bag is as simple as tossing a dirty disposable diaper into a Diaper Genie.  At the end of the day, I would empty the Diaper Genie into a trash can outside to avoid the built-up odors.  Now, at the end of the day, I empty a diaper bag in the washing machine and push a button.  The only added time is the five minutes of hang drying.

Some people have visions of scraping, soaking and bleaching cloth diapers, but in my experience, this has not been the case.  Most of the mess falls right into the toilet, no scraping or rinsing necessary.  If your child tends to make quite a mess, they do make diaper liners that are much cheaper than disposable diapers and make tossing the mess in the toilet 100% effortless.

I never soak or bleach my diapers since that only shortens their lifespan.  Rather, I remove stains and odors by hang drying them in the sun every month or two.  It is amazing how a little fresh air can restore a diaper.

As you can see, cloth diapering in my home is fairly simple.  I'll trade the extra five minutes of diaper care a day for the $60 a month savings any day.

Do you use cloth diapers?  If so, how do you care for them?

Cloth Diapering 101

Anyone who knows me knows that I am an avid cloth diapering enthusiast and feel that those who are well versed in this area should help other moms who are just starting out become successful.  It is for that reason I felt it important to touch on some of the techniques I use that make cloth diapering work for me.

I have had some mothers tell me that cloth diapering is a less than pleasant experience for them.  Each person has their own reasons, but I think, with the proper tools and routines, the experience can become as pleasant as wiping a bottom can be.  True, cloth diapering is not for everyone, but it never hurts to give it a good try.

Here are some of my basic techniques that make cloth diapering more bearable, and even preferable to disposables:

• Flushable Liners.  I cannot stress this one enough.  The worst rap cloth diapering receives is scraping.  If you made me scrape poop of off anything, I wouldn't enjoy it much either.  Flushable liners make cleaning up the mess as easy as dumping it in the toilet.  No scraping.  No dunking.  No touching.  Just dumping and flushing.  I use Tiny Tush Flushable Liners.

• An Odor-Trapping Diaper Bag. Whether you wash your diapers every day, every other day, or a couple times a week, no one wants stinky diapers hanging around their laundry room.  Instead, toss them in an odor-trapping bag to keep your home smelling fresh.  As an added bonus, most bags can be tossed in the wash with your diapers to keep them clean and fresh too.  My personal favorite:  Plant Wise Diaper Pail Liner.

 
• A Centralized Diaper Station. Whether you change diapers on a changing table in the baby's room or on the living room floor (like me), cloth diapering becomes a cinch when you have an organized, stocked and conveniently located diaper station.  I keep pre-prepared stuffed diapers lined with flushable liners, moist cloth wipes, diapering spray, and any extras in a basket on the kitchen counter.  It is right next to my living room which makes it convenient.  Grabbing a cloth diaper is as effortless as grabbing a disposable.

• A Convenient Trash Pail. Sitting in my laundry room, I have a small trash pail ($1.97 at Walmart) which I line with grocery store bags.  I use it to toss flushable liners that have not been soiled or any non-reusable wipes.  It makes it easier to enter my laundry room, throw the trash away immediately and toss the diaper in the diaper bag so that nothing smelly or dirty is left hanging around.

• Perfect Drying Spot. While it is possible to tumble dry your diapers, it drastically shortens the life span and uses a lot more energy.  We opt to line dry all of our diapers, inserts, and diaper bags.  On nice days, find a convenient place outside (preferably directly in the sun) to line dry your diapers.  The sun helps bleach out any stains and the fresh air will clear out any built up odors.  On dreary days, have a consistent indoor location to hang the wet diapers.  We hang ours on a rack directly above the washing machine.  It's easy to just pull them out of the washer and hang them right above you.

The key to making any of these techniques successful is establishing a routine that works for you.  Make it as simple and convenient for yourself as possible, even if it means being a little unconventional.  If you are still really struggling with cleaning up tons of cloth diapers, shoot for using just two cloth diapers a day.  In a month, that adds up to about 60 disposable diapers you did not have to buy.  Like I love to say, every little bit helps.

Let's Talk Babies!

Women love to talk babies!  But a conversation that usually does not take place, and should more often, is how to save money and still raise those babies right.  I wanted to give you some of my favorite grocery store saving tips for baby products.

Cloth diapers. Cloth diapers.  Cloth diapers.  I cannot say this often enough.  Get sick of spending $30.00 every time you set foot in a store on something that is just going to be dirtied and tossed?  Then stop doing it.  Cloth diapers.  Simple.  Amazing.  Money-saving.  God's gift to the frugal mother.

Make your own baby food. This only saves you money if you don't buy all the snazzy stuff that is advertised for making your own baby food.  You don't need expensive food processors, storage containers, or cook books.  You just need a basic food processor and a preservative-free menu.  As you make dinner, toss some ingredients in the food processor and serve.  No extra time necessary.  Breakfast?  My baby's favorite is oatmeal, raisins and cinnamon.  Lunch?  Barley, mixed vegetables, and potatoes makes a great baby barley soup!  For dinner, while you make beef stroganoff, toss some burger, whole wheat egg noodles, and peas into the food processor.  Ta da!  Baby dinner.  Effortless, cheap, healthy.

Stop buying toothbrushes. Until your baby gets teeth, don't waste your money on infant toothpaste and toothbrushes.  All you need to do is wet a clean paper towel with some water and rub their gums after each meal.  The only thing your infant needs before that first tooth pops through is to keep the sugars from clinging to their gums.

No more baby wipes. While you are enjoying the ease and cost of cloth diapers, switch to cloth baby wipes.  All you need is an old cotton t-shirt.  Cut it up into squares and wet with water.  For those extra messes, fill a little spray bottle with water and add one squirt of baby shampoo.  Spray directly on the baby's bottom and wipe with the wet cotton t-shirt square.  Toss these in the wash with your cloth diapers.  No more throwing out money on baby wipes.

Don't waste money on baby snacks. Flavored rice puffs, biter biscuits, and fruit snacks are just unnecessary sugars and costs.  Try Alf's Brown Rice Puff Cereal to replace those flavored rice puffs.  They safely dissolve in your baby's mouth, have no added sugar, flavors, or preservatives, and are a delicious whole grain (only $1.00 at Walmart!).  Plus, you can toss some in your food processor and make a preservative-free rice cereal.  For teething babies, try a peeled carrot (not baby carrots!).  They love the flavor, and the texture and coolness is soothing on their gums.  Instead of sugary fruit snacks, puree some raisins or blueberries, or mash up a banana.

Babies are a joyful expense, but that doesn't mean they have to be a large expense.  They won't remember if you don't get them those special Gerber snacks, so try to shake the idea of "giving them the best."  You'll need to save your money so you can give them the best when it really counts (like education or that amazing pair of jeans they just have to have).

Where Are All the Cloth Diapering Moms?

We began using cloth diapers when we had our second child.  The idea first came about when we were discussing money saving techniques in preparation for a new mouth to feed.  At the time, I had only spoken to one cloth diapering mom and she was not a fan. 

She told me all about the folding and pinning and scraping and soaking...ultimately, she described it as a diapering nightmare.  This reason alone is why I never considered cloth for my first child.  But, since staying home with my children is first priority, I will go through almost anything in order to cut costs and make it work.  Thus, second child equaled cloth diapering attempts.  I had fears...lots of fears...

So, I did all my research and found some snazzy diapers that sounded the easiest.  Biggest mistake:  my research included viewing the company websites.  Of course all the companies will do their best to rave about how their diaper is the best.  Essentially, we fell for the best marketing and we purchased the gDiaper but used reusable inserts rather than flushable ones.  We purchased them for our toddler to try them out before the new baby arrived.  I must say, he looked adorable!  I had never seen a more fashionable toddler.  Beyond that, the diapers were awful.  They were too much work, plastic buttons imprinted into his skin, the plastic disintegrated quickly, and they required scraping...lots and lots of scraping.

I started to become discouraged.  But the moment I mentioned to my mom network that I had begun cloth diapering, they came out of the woodwork.  Tons and tons of moms that had been doing it for years.  They came with words of wisdom.  Where were they before I wasted $40, I wondered.  But that didn't matter now.  They had recommendations, advice, sales, and websites that have become golden to me.  It was through this amazing network that I discovered bumGenius by Cotton Babies.  Once I bought these diapers and some great flushable liners, diapering became Heaven.  No more folding, pinning, soaking, or scraping.  Just put the diaper on, take the diaper off, flush the mess, wash the diaper.  Really?  That easy?  Why aren't people talking about this!?

Well, I am talking about it.  I tell every mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandparent or snail crawling up the street about cloth diapers.  I am a passionate supporter, for the sake of our wallets, planet, sanity, and desire for odor-free homes.  Cloth diapering is not what our grandmothers complained about.  If you are not cloth diapering, research it, study it, learn about it, ask questions about it...in fact, just mention it.  Cloth diapering moms will crawl out of the woodwork (and hopefully save you from wasting $40 on sub-par diapers).

To all my cloth diapering moms, please add your input.  And please tell the world about this amazing invention!  Mother's are an elite group and we need to help each other out whenever we can.