If you’re looking to cut down on the costs of raising little people, using cloth diapers can definitely save you some coin…if you do it right.
After using cloth on our kids (and having 2 kids in cloth at the same time), we got pretty good at maximizing our tiny student’s budget, without maxing out our time and energy on diapers.
We tried almost every method of cloth diapering there is, but we always came back to doing it this way, because it’s easy, effective and SO CHEAP!
The Method
The cheapest way (and best way, in our opinion) to cloth diaper is…the way your grandparents did it.
That’s right. The big piece of cloth that you fold up, fasten, and cover with a waterproof layer.
This way has stood the test of time because it works! It’s customizable, effective and inexpensive. What more could you want?
If you’re picturing safety pins and (what my grandma calls) rubber pants, and immediately rethinking your choice, don’t! Thanks to modern-day technology, it’s easier and safer now. And you don’t even have to fasten the cloth, if you don’t want to. But we’ll get to that.
To start, here’s what you’ll need.
Flats
First, you’re going to need something to absorb and catch the pee and poop. Nowadays there are specifically designed fabrics for this called flats. They are usually very soft, very absorbent and very large.
There are a ton of tutorials that show really cool ways to fold flats. Depending on your baby and how much time you are willing to spend folding, you may want to try some of them out. Keep in mind, folds that wrap around your baby’s legs will need to be fastened, so they actually stay on. You can use safety pins, but there are other, safer options. We had 3 Snappis that we used on our newborns and found that they worked well.
But, if you’re basic (like me) you can just fold your flat into a slim rectangle, lay it inside you PUL cover (more on those later) and call it good. No fastener required.
Flats are great, but there are even cheaper options that are still effective.
The truth is you can use any large piece of fabric, as long as it is is completely made of a natural fiber like cotton, bamboo, or hemp.
That means absolutely NO MICROFIBER, because it will dry out your baby’s skin. I would also steer clear of polyester or any type of blend with synthetic material because they don’t absorb much, so you’ll waste your time and money.
Our go-to was flour sack towels from the kitchen linen section at Walmart. We paid $7.50 for 5 towels! They cost a bit more now, but are still incredibly cost-effective, and they do the job very well. I remember using a receiving blanket in a pinch, but you can also use an old cotton t-shirt, pajamas or sheets.
We found that 30 flats was a good number for us, because it allowed us to wash every 2-3 days without running too low.
Covers
The next part of the diaper is called the cover which is made of a waterproof or water-resistant material. As you can probably guess, the cover goes over top of the flat to make the diaper waterproof.
You do not need nearly as many covers, as you do flats. Unless your baby has pooped, or had a massive leak, you can switch out the dirty flat for a new one and reuse the cover up to 5 times before grabbing a new one.
Most covers are made of PUL, which stands for polyurethane laminate. Basically, it’s a fabric that is coated or laminated on one side, and it’s what I would recommend for day-to-day use. But, you can also get (or make) covers made of fleece or wool.
You can still find the older, pull-up style covers, but nowadays most PUL covers open at the front, like disposables, and use snaps or hook-and-loop fasteners. While the hook-and-loop is definitely faster to put on and take off, it’s also more likely to wear out quickly, stick to other things or scratch your baby’s delicate skin. For those reasons, we prefer the snaps.
We used PUL covers most of the time, but had surprising success with fleece covers for nighttime diapers, when our babies were older. They couldn’t take off the cover by themselves, so I never found them in a soiled crib (one point for us!).
Plus, I could throw them in the dryer with my flats, which is a big no-no for PUL covers.
Fleece and wool covers tend to cost a bit more, and usually come in the pull-up style. Wool covers also require special maintenance. For that reason, we didn’t find them to be practical for small babies or day-to-day use, but some parents love fleece and don’t mind the extra maintenance for wool covers. It’s all about what you prefer.
You can’t really substitute a PUL, fleece or wool cover for anything else you have lying around, but you may be able to find used covers near you, which can save you some cash.
If you do decide to buy used covers, check the elastics to make sure they’re not shot and all fasteners to make sure they still work well. Those things are fixable, but only if you have the skill and patience.
Make sure you also take a careful look at the inside layer of all PUL covers, used and new. They should be smooth and shiny, and the plastic layer should be clear. If you see or feel any rips, bubbles or cloudy-white patches, you should pass, or ask for a refund or exchange. Those are all signs of delamination, which basically means that the cover may not be as waterproof as it should be.
We found that 6 PUL covers and 2-3 fleece covers was enough for us to wash every 2-3 days, but you may want more, depending on your baby and personal preference.
Advantages
My favourite thing about cloth diapering this way is that it can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. You can use organic and renewable flats or what you have lying around the house.
You can buy new, name-brand covers, make them yourself, or find gently used ones near you. You get to choose your diapering adventure…and cost.
It’s also customizable to what works best for you and your baby. You can fold differently depending on your baby’s body and how much time you have on any given day. And you can use different covers for different purposes. Oh, the possibilities!
Finally, they are so easy to clean! By having the absorbent part separate from the waterproof or water-resistant layer, water and detergent can pass easily through the material, which means they are less likely to get stinky. Plus, you can throw flats (or whatever you’re using as a flat) and fleece covers right in the dryer, instead of waiting hours for thick diapers to air dry.
Disadvantages
Some people are turned off to this way of diapering because it seems like so much more time and effort. Listen, there’s no getting around the fact that folding and assembling does take longer than other (more expensive) options, but those other options also take much longer to dry…like, longer than it would take for you to fold a load of diapers while you watch TV. Plus, you’re more likely to run into problems with stinky diapers with some other methods.
Either way, you pay. Whether it’s your money or your time, you have to decide which one is more valuable to you.
Cost Comparison
Buying brand new all-in-one diapers is going to be your most expensive option…unless you get gifted an entire stash for free.
The most-budget friendly way to cloth diaper is by using flats and covers. Period.
But let’s do a cost comparison just to make sure.
Let’s say you want to have a modest 24 diapers in your stash.
Popular all-in-one diapers cost about $26 (or more), which means you’ll be spending around $624, before tax. Yikes!
For the flats and covers combo, we are going to go with 24 flats and 8 covers.
If you buy 2 packages of these flour sack towels, and 8 of these PUL covers, you’ll be spending approximately $226, before tax. That’s less than half of the cost of buying new all-in-one diapers! And that’s not including any second-hand covers you may find, or other materials you may already have.
So, while the convenience of other options can be incredibly tempting, you will pay for it.
Conclusion
I’m not one to believe something is the best just because it’s old, but this basic way of cloth diapering has stood the test of time for good reason. It’s effective, customizable, easy to clean, and won’t break the bank.
With crazy inflation rates and regular shortages of essential items, cloth diapering is quickly becoming the most reliable and sustainable option for the planet and for people’s wallets, when it’s done right.
If (or when?) we reenter the diapering stage, this is the way we’ll be doing it. It’s a no-brainer.
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