Many moms have switched from disposable diapers to cloth diapers in an effort to save money for their families. Although cloth diapering is generally more cost effective than using disposables, it can get expensive quickly if diapers such as name-brand AIOs and pocket cloth diapers are the main stash. Using pre-fold cloth diapers is a very inexpensive cloth diapering option and is perfect for moms who need to stick to a budget when buying cloth diapers.
How Much Do Pre-Fold Cloth Diapers Cost?
Pre-fold cloth diapers vary in price, depending on the amount of pre-folds in a particular package. Usually, expect to pay around $10 for six pre-fold cloth diapers. Gerber sells 12 packs of pre-fold cloth diapers at most department and big box retailers for around $12. Keep in mind that the thicker the pre-fold, the less likely it will need additional absorbency pads.
Most pre-fold cloth diapers should be thick enough to use as one diaper. However, thinner pre-folds, such as the Gerber type, might need to be folded together into one diaper for more absorbency. Adding a cloth diaper liner is a wonderful way to help increase the absorbency of pre-fold cloth diapers. Cloth diaper liners can easily be made at home if parents are looking to save money on those as well.
How Many Cloth Diapers Does a Baby Need?
The rule of thumb for cloth diapering is to buy enough cloth diapers for the baby to have 6 to 8 daily changes (more if a newborn) for three days. Usually, parents will need to wash the cloth diapers by the third day, since this is when most diaper pails and diaper genies tend to fill up.
For moms using pre-fold cloth diapers, make sure to have around 36 pre-fold cloth diapers to get started. This costs between $36 to $60.
Pinning Cloth Diapers
Pre-fold cloth diapers need to be pinned or held together by a snappie in order to stay together. Traditionally, moms used pins to hold their baby’s diapers together, but today, it is more common to use a simple device known as a snappie.
Snappies can be purchased for around $3 each, and since they can be used over and over again throughout daily diaper changes, a mom only needs about 5 of them to get started with pre-fold cloth diapering.
Other Cloth Diapering Accessories
All pre-fold cloth diapers need a diaper cover of some sort to help prevent the baby from getting other things wet or soiled while wearing the diaper. These can either be made or bought. Fleece diaper covers are the easiest to make and are very popular to use for overnight protection. Wool knitted pants and shorts can also work as a diaper cover.
Waterproof diaper covers run around $8 to 15 a cover. Covers can be reused up to three times before a new one is needed. Cloth diaper inserts, or liners, are also helpful to have on hand when more absorbency is needed.
Total Cost for Pre-Fold Cloth Diapering
Using pre-folds in cloth diapering is a great way to save money. Moms can start cloth diapering for as little as $150. Since this is often the cost of using disposables for a little over a month, this is the best way to save money in the long run. Moms who use pre-fold cloth diapers exclusively can save thousands of dollars on disposable cloth diapering expenses.
Rachel Campbell - Rachel is a freelance writer and author specializing in producing engaging web content on a variety of topics. Her diverse background and ...
