The funny thing about all this is that most of these are a "break even" situation. Also it's not "either/or" but instead it's "and." If I can say one thing about preparing for a baby: you don't know what you don't know. You learn continually and adapt so there are no absolutes that work forever.
Taking a tally of what we spent to get up to speed with cloth diapers vs. what we would have spent if we did disposables full time
No matter what : $65
Changing Pad $30
Changing table $35
Disposable only : $914
Hanging organizer $20
wipes $3.00 × 12 = $36
Genie $20 x 2 = $40
Refills $7 x 30 = $210
size 0 (36 pack) $5
size 1 (196 pack) $40
size 2 (76 pack) $26
size 4 (180 pack) $46 x 11 = $495
Wipes (11 packs) $13.98 x 3 = $42
Cloth only : $626
Affresh (3 pc) $7 x 2 = $14
Toilet Sprayer Kit $30
SprayMate Kit $42
style A 6 x $12 = $72
Inserts (6 pack) $15
style B) 6 x $12 = $72
Used Lot $225
Covers (10) $43.00
Covers (10) $9.00
FSTs (15 pc) $16 x 2 = $32
FSTs (4 pc) $4 x 7 = $28
Bamboo cloths (12 pc) 2 x $12 = $24
Octopus hanger $5 x 4 = $20
Taking into account what we would have spent in formula versus breastfeeding and associated technology
Either way : $256
Burp Cloth 4 x $15 = $60
Bottle Warmer $70
Sterilizer and Dryer $100
5 oz Bottle Set (3 pack) $11
8 oz Bottle Set (3 pack) $15
Breastfeeding only : $601
My Brest Friend pillow $17
Manual Pump $30
Electric Pump $300
Bags (100 ct) $15.00 x 2 = $30
Tubing $19 x 2 = $38
Breast Shield $15 x 3 = $45
Membranes $5 x 2 = $10
Valves $7 x 3 = $21
Car Adapter $8
Connectors $12 x 3 = $36
Pumping Bra $33 x 2 = $66
Formula only : $3330
$37 per can x 6 cans/month x 15 months
Taking into account how much it costs to buy baby food versus making it yourself and associated technology
Either way : $16
High chair $10
Bibs $4
Spoons $2
Homemade : $395
Immersion blender $50
Miniprep $50
Food processor $200
Portion containers (50) $15
Silicone mold $15
Pouches (6) $15
Dishes $50
Pre-made : $1369
5 x 365 days x $0.75
So I guess I spent a bunch on cloth diapers but I have like 3 times as many as I would actually need. I have 3 redundant "systems" that are different.
But it seems like breastfeeding and homemade baby food are clear winners even though they have a fair amount of technological cost to get going. I had a goal of breastfeeding for 6 months. Then I had a goal of making it to a year. My current goal is to make it to 2 years or whenever weaning occurs naturally.
One argument I get from my husband is that washing cloth diapers (and perhaps the associated tools for making our own baby food) add to the water and power bill. Comparing the year without a baby to our first year with baby, the bills were consistently higher with baby.
July 2020 $252 ($54 more)
Sept 2020 $536 ($144 more)
Nov 2020 $386 ($169 more)
Jan 2021 $174 ($13 more)
Mar 2021 $171 ($36 more)
May 2021 $219 ($8 more)
One argument I get from my husband is that washing cloth diapers (and perhaps the associated tools for making our own baby food) add to the water and power bill. Comparing the year without a baby to our first year with baby, the bills were consistently higher with baby.
July 2020 $252 ($54 more)
Sept 2020 $536 ($144 more)
Nov 2020 $386 ($169 more)
Jan 2021 $174 ($13 more)
Mar 2021 $171 ($36 more)
May 2021 $219 ($8 more)
Total for 1 year ($424 more)
I wonder if this is true for everyone who was quarantined (working from home) during the pandemic though. I know we used to turn our thermostat up during the day when we were working out of the house and then turn it back down only at night. Now that we're home all day every day, we keep it running more during the day when we're here. The air conditioning I mean.
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| top left drawer (AIOs), changing pad |
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| top right drawer (pockets), clean & dirty clothes |
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| middle left drawer (fitteds & covers) |
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| bottom left drawer (wetbags, sheets, wipes) |
