Guest Post by Brie Latini
When I was pregnant with my son Peter, I discovered the “modern cloth diaper” and promptly fell in love. It all appealed to me- the idea of saving money as we helped to preserve the environment, the soft, comfy cloth that would swathe my son’s bottom instead of papery, chemical-filled disposables, and the fact that they were really, really cute! I was sold and after some careful, persistent persuasion, so was my husband! We were on board but there was one problem- our wallet wasn’t. Cloth diapers can save a family thousands of dollars, but it does take an investment of money to get started. My husband was still searching for a nursing job and money was tight. Still, we were committed to cloth, so we had to get creative. Now I have a stash of fun, fluffy diapers that pretty much make me happy whenever I put one on my son! Even better is the chance to share with you how we made it work for us.
Be willing to go to Cloth Diaper University
There are many options in cloth diapering that cover a range of styles, materials, and price. Your job is to be willing to learn about as many as possible! Snaps or aplix? BumGenius or Rump-a-rooz? Fitteds or prefolds? Do your homework and decide what type of diapers will work best with your lifestyle and budget. The diapers that are only $13 a pop may have as many positive reviews and recommendations are the diapers that are $30! The brand that offers two covers and a number of inserts may help you stretch your dollar. It’s all about figuring out what diapers will meet your needs for the least amount of money possible. There are even brands that can meet your complete diapering needs for $100- less then a months worth of disposables! Wow!
Keep your eyes open for deals!
Go ahead and Google “cloth diapers” and you will get listings for a range of online cloth diaper shops! Look them over. See who offers free shipping. Is there a brand you have fallen in love with? Who offers it for the best price? Sign up for the mailing list and you will get word about sales and offers delivered right to your e-mail box! You can also follow many of these shops on
Facebook and Twitter! We built up our stash by taking advantage of Buy One/Get One deals and free diaper with purchase offers. I signed up for the e-mail list of one cloth diapers brand and got a free diaper as part of a market test. I even won a diaper as part of a Twitter contest! There are deals to be had, but only if you find them!
“For me? Why, you shouldn’t have!”
Let’s face it. Gifts are awesome! If you have your heart set on cloth diapers, you can make them a part of your baby registry! Let your relatives know that instead of a pack of diapers that will run out, they can give your baby that will last for his whole peeing-in-pants career! If the cloth diapers shops are too unfamiliar for your family and friends, plain old Amazon gift cards will do, as they also offer a range of cloth diaper options! There is nothing like the birth of a new life to bring about an onslaught of presents, so use that to your advantage and let your family and friends know that your wish list is full of fluff! Knowing that times were hard for us, my parents very generously gifted us with a lovely start to our cloth diaper stash!
DIY Cloth Diapers are A-OK!
Are you Ms. Crafty Crafter McCraftenstein? Is that cute skirt your wearing right now the fruit of your sewing needle? Can you whip up a scarf before an episode of Law & Order, SVU is over? If that’s the case, you might want to try your hand at creating homemade cloth diapers! Online shops like Etsy offer patterns for cloth diapers at very low prices, and you have control over the color, style and materials used to cover your baby’s bum! By making your own cloth diapers, you can create custom items for much, much less then it would cost in a shop!
Gently used- It’s not gross. Really.
Take a look around for cloth diapering chat rooms and online communities. You can purchase gently used cloth diapers for a fraction of the cost of new ones! It may seem kind of gross to put something someone else peed in on your child. I totally get that and felt the same way! Thankfully, careful laundering of your recycled fluff will ensure a germ-free diaper for your child. You can find tips on how to “strip” (give a thorough cleaning of your diapers to remove any traces of detergent buildup, germs, etc) your stash on cloth diaper websites.
You don’t have to choose between your commitment to cloth and your commitment to your wallet. Some careful shopping and some creativity can have you well on your way to a great stash of cloth and well on your way to saving the money you would have continued to spend on disposables! Good luck on your journey into cloth diapering!
Brie Latini is a SAHM from beautiful Southern New Jersey, where she lives with her husband Peter and their sassy son PJ (age 1)! She enjoys gabbing about anything that has to do with parenthood, coffee, and Gossip Girl. You can check in on her day-to-day thought process by visiting her blog, A Breezy Life or follow her on Twitter.
I’m Julie, a former cloth diaper retailer who discovered a passion for the industry. Now, instead of selling cloth diapers, I advocate them and promote small businesses I love who sell and manufacture them.
I’m the wife of a fireman and mother of three. I have a daughter and identical twin sons.
