Disposables vs Cloth Diapers

With all the decisions that come with having a baby, one you may not have thought about is what type of diaper you plan to use. Disposable, cloth, or a combination of both?

With our first two, we used disposable diapers. We had a sizeable stockpile from our baby shower after doing a drawing for a gift basket for those who brought diapers. 

With our last three, we used cloth diapers—mostly pocket diapers and some fitted and prefolds with covers for newborns. We originally stumbled on cloth diapers while trying to find a solution for her sensitive skin. We had tried all kinds of disposable diapers and wipes all of them seemed to contribute to terrible rashes.

I bought a six pack of cloth diapers from Amazon and did a lot of naked time trying to stretch those six diapers and have her in disposables as little as possible. We noticed an enormous difference in just a few days. So, we immediately ordered more and never looked back. Our fourth, who is seventeen months younger, shared those same diapers. We diapered two kids under $500. That’s crazy. I didn’t think that was possible with our first two; it seemed like we were constantly buying diapers. 

Trying to decide what will work best for your family? Here’s a quick comparison and some more information on cloth diapers to help get a look at the ins and outs of cloth diapering. 
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• Disposable diapers Pros: 
• They can be convenient, especially when on the go.
• They are a little less work than cloth diapers.
• There is no large upfront cost.

• Disposable Diaper Cons:
• The chemicals used to make them can be harsh on babies’ skin.
• There can be recalls or shortages
• Over time, the cost adds up, especially if you’re planning to have more than one child. It’s estimated that disposable diapers cost around 1,000 a year. There are a lot of factors that affect cost, brand, where you buy them, and how many your child goes through a day. 

Tip: If you have unopened diapers in the wrong sizes or a brand that seems not to agree with your baby’s skin, you can exchange them at most stores. 

• Cloth Diapers Pro: 
• Overall, they will save money, especially if you are planning to have more than one child.
• Cloth can be a great option for sensitive skin.
• No recalls
• Different types to fit your needs/budget 
• Cute prints 
• less waste

• Cloth Diaper Cons: 
• Require a larger upfront cost. It’s estimated $300-600 for a complete stash of diapers. Depending on the style, where you buy them, and special prints.
• They also require a little more work to clean. Fluff Love University (fluffloveuniversity.com ) is a great resource on properly cleaning them. 
• Can’t clean if you don’t have water (emergencies)

The most important thing with cloth diapers is a good wash routine. Floff Love University has all the info to help you find the best wash routine for your diapers. They also have a laundry detergent guide, and you can reach out to the wonderful creators behind Fluff Love for help if you’re having issues.

On the fence? Not sure if cloth diapers are right for you and don’t want to spend the money and not like them? jilliansdrawers.com has a cloth diaper trial program.

There is also a fantastic organization for those who are in financial hardship called www.theclothoption.org

Cloth diapers have come a long way, they are no longer your grandmother’s cloth diapers. There are several types of diapers in all kinds of cute prints to fit your style, like this one.

Psst….. see those links? I am an Amazon Associate, which means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases when you click one of these links and purchase something, at no cost to you.

Flats and Prefolds with Covers – The original cloth diapers. Flats are big, rectangular pieces of fabric (think dish towel size). Prefolds are smaller pieces of fabric that have been doubled over. Both need to be folded, clipped, and covered with a waterproof cover. They’re easy to wash, quick to dry, and very inexpensive. Tip: I love flour sack towels you can find with the kitchen towels in many stores for flats, I have also sewn them into prefolds and snappies to pin in place instead os safety pins.

Fitted – Ready-to-wear diapers have elastic leg openings and snaps or Velcro tab closures around the waist. Fitteds are made entirely from absorbent fabric and require a waterproof cover to go over them. They offer full-coverage absorbency (on the legs, waist and hips), and you can reuse the waterproof covering with a fresh diaper. These help stretch your covers but cost a little more than flays and prefolds.

Pockets -These diapers have a waterproof exterior and inside pockets where you place absorbent inserts. The main benefits of a pocket diaper are the ability to adjust the insert for different absorbency levels and position the insert where your little one needs it most.

All-in-ones – very popular for their ease of use, similar to disposable diapers. They are convenient all-in-ones that have a waterproof cover and an inner cloth lining to absorb fluid. When you change your child’s diaper, you toss the entire diaper into the dirty pile to be washed and then grab another (no folding, no inserting).

Hybrids –  have a waterproof shell but feature a removable inner cloth lining. At changing time, you just pull the dirty lining/insert out and snap a fresh one into the same shell as long as there was no leakage onto the shell. The benefit of this system is that you can purchase fewer shells/covers and stock up on liners instead.

You can get many cloth diapers for as little as $5-10per diaper. This may seem like a lot but that one diaper is replacing a lot of packs of disposables. 

We are using one-size pocket diapers with snaps. It does take me around 15 minutes to fold her diapers. Once they are folded, I find they are easy for others to use. Which is great for siblings who want to help or babysitters. My nine and eleven year olds love helping pick out and change which cute print of diaper she will wear. They also easily allow you to adjust absorption needs by simply adjusting the insert type or amount. 

We have about 50 pocket diapers. I wash about every 4ish days, depending on how many she needs in a day. That’s plenty to last until the wash load is done, even on the days I forget about throwing them in the dryer, haha. 

I hope this quick breakdown helps you choose which type or combination of diapers is best for your family.