The Frugal Baby » Diapers

Cloth Diaper Comparison Chart

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:54:23 +0000

Flats, prefolds, fitteds, all-in-ones — if you are new to cloth diapering, the choices can be overwhelming. Which system is cheapest? Which controls leaks the best? Which diapers are easiest to use? If you need some help sorting through all of that information, we have a handy cloth diaper comparison chart that can help.

Each category below is awarded 1-5 stars with 1 being the lowest score and 5 being the highest. Clicking on the brand name will take you offsite for more information or to purchase the product. This is, of course, just a sampling of the many brands of cloth diapers available.

PREFOLDS/FLATS Flat and prefold diapers are the cheapest and most basic cloth diaper available. While prefold diapers have a thicker center section, flats are fabric squares of the same thickness throughout, making it necessary to fold them into an absorbent rectangle. Both flats and prefolds require the use of a diaper cover and are both usually fastened with diaper pins or Snappis (I highly recommend Snappis). The different varieties of prefolds and flats below can have marked differences from brand to brand but the ratings below are applicable to most brands.
Type/Brand	Ease of Use	Absorbency	Cost	Softness	Durability	Bulkiness	Overall Score
Chinese Prefold	*******	********	*****	*****	*****	********	4.3
Indian Prefolds	*******	********	*****	*****	*****	********	4.3
Organic Cotton Prefolds	*******	********	********	*****	*****	********	4.2
Gerber Prefolds	**	*******	********	********	********	********	3.5
Hemp Prefolds	*******	*****	********	********	*****	********	4.2
Cotton Flats	**	********	*****	*****	*****	*****	4.3
Hemp Flats	**	********	********	********	*****	*****	4.0
ALL-IN-ONE All-in-one (AIO) diapers are, in general, the most expensive cloth diapers. They are also the easiest to use. These one piece diapers work just like disposables but instead of tossing them when they are soiled, you simply wash the whole thing. You may find that you need to use a doubler (a rectangle of fabric inserted into the center of the diaper) to increase absorbency.
Type/Brand	Ease of Use	Absorbency	Cost	Softness	Durability	Bulkiness	Overall Score
bumGenius!	*****	*****	**	*****	*******	********	4
Bumkins	*****	********	*	*****	**	********	3.5
Dream-Eze	********	*****	**	*****	**	********	3.7
Kushies Ultra	*****	*******	*******	*******	*******	*******	3.3
SwaddlebeesAll-in-One	********	*****	*	*****	*******	*******	3.7
SposoEasy	*****	*****	**	*****	********	********	4.2
Thirsties(All-in-One/Pocket)	********	*******	**	*****	**	********	3.3
POCKET Pocket diapers are very similar to all-in-one diapers. The difference is that pocket diapers have a pocket between the inner and outer layers of the diapers. You then stuff an absorbent cloth insert(s) into the pocket. This allows you to control the absorbency of diaper. It also shortens the drying time because the absorbent cloth dries faster when it is outside of the diaper.
Type/Brand	Ease of Use	Absorbency	Cost	Softness	Durability	Bulkiness	Overall Score
bumGenius! One-Size	********	********	**	*****	********	*****	4.0
Drybees	********	*****	**	********	********	*****	4.0
FuzziBunz	********	********	**	*****	*******	********	3.7
Happy Heiny’sOne-Size	********	********	*******	*****	********	*****	4.2
SwaddlebeesPocket	********	********	*******	*****	*******	*****	4.0
Thirsties(All-in-One/Pocket)	********	*******	**	*****	**	********	3.3
Whamies One-Size	*******	********	**	*****	********	********	3.7
FITTED Fitted cloth diapers work like disposables or all-in-ones in that they are already shaped to fit your baby and usually have snaps or Velcro to keep them closed. Unlike AIOs, all the layers of fitted diapers are made from the same absorbent material, meaning there is no waterproof outer layer. For that reason, you will need to use a diaper cover over a fitted diaper.
Type/Brand	Ease of Use	Absorbency	Cost	Softness	Durability	Bulkiness	Overall Score
Bamboozle	********	********	**	*****	*****	********	4.0
Goodmama	********	*****	*	*****	**	********	3.5
Heiny Huggers	********	*****	*******	*****	********	********	4.2
Kissaluvs	********	*******	*******	*******	*****	*******	3.5
Kushies Classic	********	*******	********	********	*******	*******	3.5
Little Beetle	********	********	**	*****	*******	*******	3.5
Thirsties Fab Fitted	********	**	*******	*****	********	********	3.7

Photo by Tiffany Washko, Creative Commons license

How to Save Money on Disposable Diapers

admin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Disposable diapers are one of the bigger baby expenses. While the average cost of the first year’s worth of disposables is about $700, remember that you will probably be using diapers for two to three years, thus doubling or tripling your expense. For that reason, it is especially helpful to save as much money as you can on diapers. The following strategies will help you get started.

Register with Diaper Companies

Disposable diaper companies offer membership programs that benefit both them and the consumer. To join the program, you provide your contact information plus the names and ages of your children. This helps the company to accurately target their marketing. In exchange, they send their members free samples, coupons, and other goodies from time to time. At least once a month, I receive a free diaper or two in the mail, a couple of coupons, and occasionally things like stickers or booklets. As your child gets older, you will begin to get training pants samples, too.

Pampers Savings Program
Huggies Savings Program
Luvs Savings Program

Mailing Lists

From the time you have your first prenatal appointment until the time you send your kids off to college, you will have opportunity after opportunity to get on parenting mailing lists. You will find sign up forms online, in parenting magazines, at the doctor’s office, in baby supply stores, and more. Sure, you’ll get some unwanted junk mail from time to time, but you will also receive samples and coupons beyond what you will get from the diaper companies, themselves.

Clip Coupons

Diaper coupons are readily available. Aside from the coupons you will receive in the mail when you register with diaper companies and get on mailing lists, you will find diaper coupons in baby and parenting magazines, the Sunday paper, store flyers (think Target and Babies R Us), and in the coupon packs that come in the mail. Also, be sure to check online. Do a Google search for “diaper coupons” and you will be amazed at what is out there. Coupons can also be found for sale on Ebay and for free through Freecycle.

Buy Generic

I have known a number of parents over the years who swear their babies can only wear Pampers because anything else is too harsh on their baby’s skin. If that’s you, then you can skip right over this section. For the rest of you who may be skeptical but not totally opposed to using generic, let me tell you what I have found. Some generic diapers are better than others. Some are simply not worth any amount of money. But some (and I have only found a few), are almost as good as their name brand counterparts. My personal recommendation? White Cloud brand diapers that are available at Walmart. They provide good leak protection, are softer than many generics, and cost about half the price of some name brands (depending upon size, they are around $14 for a case of about 100). I also like Target’s diapers relatively well and they are just as cheap as White Cloud. For those of you with nighttime wetters, consider buying generic for use during the day and pricier diapers for nighttime use.

Buy Used

Okay, there’s something a little icky about the idea of buying used diapers. But hear me out. What happens if you’ve bought a couple of cases of diapers and before you use them all, your baby moves into another size? Or what if you received way more newborn diapers from friends and family than you will ever be able to use? Or (and we should all be so lucky!), what if your toddler potty trains and you still have diapers left?

Some people solve this dilemma buy selling their unused diapers. You can find great deals on leftover diapers on eBay, at consignment sales, and at yard sales. One word of caution, though — only buy diapers that are still sealed in their original plastic packaging to ensure they are clean and sanitary.

How to Make Your Own Cloth Diapers

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:40:08 +0000

If you think making homemade diapers is only for the very frugal, you would be half right. Making your own diapers is something that the very frugal and the very creative do. Depending upon which end of the spectrum you’re on, it can be a simple project or a more complex one.

The fact is, diapers can be made from many fabrics that you probably already have lying around the house. Think you don’t have fabric just lying around? What about these?

Old T-shirts
Unused receiving blankets
Tattered towels
Spare dish towels
Worn out flannel shirts

All of those items make great diapers and are essentially free. Here is the easiest way to convert them into diapers:

Prewash all items.
Cut 25×25 inch squares out of the fabric (this size is designed to fit babies big and small — if you want, you can cut the fabric smaller to reduce bulkiness).
Using a needle and thread or a sewing machine, hem up the edges to prevent unraveling.
Fold the squares into thirds and insert into a diaper cover.
If you find you need more absorbency, you can make your own doublers by cutting out rectangles in the width of your folded diaper from an absorbent material. Finish the edges as you did with the diapers. These doublers can be inserted into the folds of the diaper or simply laid out on top of the folded diaper.

How easy (and cheap) was that?!

Now, for those of you who are more creatively inclined or who want to make a diapering system that is a bit more sophisticated than recycled flat diapers, there are many patterns available for prefolds, fitteds, contours, and all-in-ones. Many such patterns are available for purchase and when weighed against the cost of diapers, may be a great deal. On the other hand, there are a number of enterprising parents who very generously share their patterns for free. Since I am creatively challenged in this area, I will direct you to some of these free patterns. Please be sure to let me know which patterns worked best for you.

DiaperSewing.com – This is an excellent site with instructions for making many different types of diapers.

MamaBird – Great patterns for three different types of diapers.

My Free Diaper Pattern – Basic patterns for a one-size fitted diaper.

Dianna’s Journal – Relatively simple pattern for a fitted diaper.

Dutch Girl Diary – Detailed instructions for making a fitted diaper pattern.

Cloth Diapering Basics

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:17:24 +0000

So you’ve decided to use cloth diapers and now you’re wondering what you will need to get started and how much it’s going to cost you. If you’ve done any research at all on cloth diapering, you probably realize that it can be an extremely frugal or an extremely expensive endeavor. Sure, you can make your own cloth diapers for practically nothing. Or yes, you can buy the oh-so convenient all-in-ones for $20 a pop.

If, on the other hand, you want to be both frugal and practical, The Frugal Baby recommends the items below to get you started cloth diapering. Keep in mind that this is the minimum you will want/need and that the more diapers you have, the less washing you will have to do. Also realize that while the diapers, doublers, and Snappis recommended here will work on a baby of any size, covers have to be purchased by size. Therefore, you will have to buy a new set of covers every few months.

24 Chinese or Indian prefold diapers	$30
6 Dappi nylon covers	$30
2 Snappis	$5
6 Doublers (aka inserts or liners)	$12
Total	$77

There are also a few items you will need to care for your cloth diapers but most of them are quite frugal:

Baking soda
Laundry detergent
White vinegar
Diaper pail
Clothesline (optional, but recommended)

To care for your cloth diapers, I suggest doing the following:

Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of a diaper pail, garbage can with a lid, empty cat litter or detergent bucket, or other large container with a lid. Do NOT add water to the pail. This can be both a health and safety hazard.
Toss soiled diapers into the pail. Solid poop should be flushed first but it is not necessary to rinse the diapers in the toilet.
After you have accumulated one or two days worth of diapers, wash them in your machine’s longest and hottest cycle with half a cap or scoop of detergent and ¼ cup baking soda.*
After the wash and rinse cycle is complete, start the rinse cycle again and add a ¼ cup of white vinegar to the rinse water.
If possible, dry your diapers outside in the sun. The sunlight will help to bleach out any stains and will leave your diapers smelling fresh. It will also help to lengthen the life of your diapers — dryers are harsh on both diapers and covers.

*As a general rule, do not use bleach in your diaper wash. The bleach can weaken the cloth and shorten the life of the diaper. That being said, if you have stubborn stains or odors, the occasional use of bleach might help.

Photo by Tiffany Washko, Creative Commons license