Preface: This post is based on a large quantity (156) package of disposable diapers purchased at Amazon.com which is significantly cheaper than the smaller (32ish) packages that most people purchase due to costs.  It is also based on the fact that the larger the baby, the larger the size they will need and although the package of the diaper stays the same, the number of diapers in the package is less, therefore making the per diaper cost more expensive.  It is also based on one brand of diapers.

I read, yesterday that the price of disposable diapers is going up, possibly 7%!!  Outrageous.  But then again, thinking about it… all the resources they use making them – they have to go up sooner or later.  We’re not just talking about diapers that sit in the landfills taking 250-500 years to decompose.  We’re also talking about the over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feedstocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR per The Real Diaper Association. Not to mention.. look at all the money being literally pooped on and thrown away.

Don’t you think it’s time to make the switch to cloth diapers?   Seriously, check this out.

When we used paper/trash diapers, Huggies was the brand we used most. Let’s talk about Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, Size 3, 156-Count for a second.  These would be considered size Medium if they were cloth diapers because they fit 16-28 pounds.  For a medium baby, 16 pounds, approximately 3 months old, approximately 8-12 diapers per day , this box would last you approximately 19 days for 8 diapers and only 13 days (less than 2 weeks) if 12 diapers per day.

The numbers below represent a boxes of 156 diapers purchased for a sale price for an average of 8 to 12 diapers used per day (there will be days that it’s more, or less), and an average of three years that it takes a child to be out of diapers.  Remember, if you buy diapers in smaller packages, these numbers will rise drastically.

  • Sale price of $31.91
  • $0.20 per diaper
  • $1.60 – $2.40  per day
  • $11.20 – $16.80 per week
  • $44.80 – $67.20 per month
  • $537.60 – $806.40 per year
  • $1612.80 – $2419.20 per the average 3 years until potty

You’re throwing away your hard earned money.

Per Seeking Alpha

  • Kimberly-Clark (KMB) is raising prices for diapers and bathroom tissue as it tries to deal with increasing costs. The consumer products company said Thursday that it will raise prices in North America for its baby, child care and consumer tissue businesses in the second and third quarters.
  • Kimberly-Clark said Thursday that net selling prices for items likeHuggies diapers will go up 3% to 7% on average in the U.S. and Canada. Net selling prices for Cottonelle bathroom tissue will likely rise about 7% in the U.S.

Read more…

So, how does that change the cost of purchasing Huggies disposable diapers?

Remember, right now:

  • $1612.80 – $2419.20 per the average 3 years until potty

3% – 7% increase will translate to:

  • $1661.18 – $2491.78 per 3 years at 3%
  • $1725.70 – $2588.54 per 3 years at 7%

Cloth Diapers save Money and the Environment!

Now, let’s talk about cloth diapers.  Because they come in a 12 pack on Amazon WITH a bag of Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper Detergent if you buy the 12 pack, and they are a really popular brand, let’s talk about FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diapers – and how much money they will save if you take good care of them.  These diapers are known to last for years and years and years if properly cared for.

These numbers are calculated for a 12 pack of FuzziBunz cloth diapers purchased on Amazon.

  • $227.40 – 12 pack
  • $18.95 per diaper
  • $227.40 per year
  • $227.40 per the average 3 years until potty

Now, let’s just say, for grins and giggles, you don’t want to wash every day, and you decide to go ahead and purchase two 12 packs of FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diapers.

  • $454.80 –  24 pack
  • $18.95 per diaper
  • $454.80 per year
  • $454.80 per the average 3 years until potty

Now, let’s go ahead and add another baby in the mix.  Now, you have two in diapers.  You can continue to buy Huggies diapers for BOTH babies, doubling your diapering costs, OR you can continue to use the same two 12 packs of FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diapers with both babies and possibly adding one more 12 pack to your stash to make things a little easier wash wise.

Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, 156-Count (before inflation and 3% – 7% price increase)

  • $1075.20 – $1612.80 PER YEAR for two babies.
  • $3225.60 – $4838.40 per the average 3 years until potty

3 sets of 12 FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diapers

  • $682.20 per the diapering lifetime of all your children!

Not to mention, once you’re done with children, or you decide you’d rather purchase a different cost effective cloth diapering system, you can donate your diapers to an organization like Giving Diapers Giving Hope (info below) so that a family in need can benefit from your cloth diapers for years to come.

Of course, if you’re worried about your water bill and electric bill increase, just look at those numbers.  There’s no way you’re going to up the cost to even out the impact that disposable diapers not only have on your family’s pocket book , but on your children’s future in the environment as well.  Many people either do not notice a rise in the cost or they only notice cents or a few dollars each month.

Still not sure about Cloth Diapers?

I challenge you to Change 3 Things. Change 3 Things is an awareness campaign designed to promote the environmental and economical impacts of cloth diapering. Changing three cloth diapers a day is a small change for one family that equals big impact for our planet.

If you’re worried about the initial cost, no fear, check out Giving Diaper Giving Hope which is a non-profit organization that provides education, support and cloth diapers to low income families in the continental United States!

Take the Cloth Diaper plunge!!