As hard as some people try to argue against them, cloth diapers are definitely the
ecothrifty choice for babies. Disposable diapers will cost $1,500 to $2,000 by the time a child is using the toilet, and if you use disposables that are biodegradable and not bleached with chlorine, you can spend up to $2,500.
If you have more than one child, start multiplying. On the other hand, two or three dozen cloth diapers will last through many babies and continue to serve you for dusting furniture or cleaning up spills throughout the years. The cost of washing those diapers is minimal, especially if you use homemade laundry detergent and hang them to dry on a clothesline.
There are so many options available today that you don’t have to worry about
how to fold the diapers or accidentally sticking your baby with a pin. Velcro or snap closures make cloth diapers as simple to use as disposables. You can buy traditional white diapers and covers, or you can make your diaper covers part of your baby’s wardrobe because there are so many different colors and patterns available.
Savings: You can get started with two dozen diapers and six covers for as little as $100. By following the ecothrifty suggestions for laundry in [Ecothrifty], a load can cost as little as 30 cents, only adding about $30 to the cost of using cloth diapers for a year, and saving about $2,000.
This is an excerpt from Ecothrifty: Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life.
I tried cloth diapers a little bit with my first baby (almost 16 years ago!), but ended up using disposables with both that one and my second. My third arrived last summer, and we've been using cloth diapers since he was about 8 weeks old and have been very happy with them.
My first child had extremely sensitive skin and I had to use cloth diapers except when going out. I got used to it and even though I'm lazy the diaper routine didn't seem like a chore. I raised two babies on cloth and I'm a believer