The All-In-One (AIO)
Cost: we tried out a few of these that I had picked up at yard sales or were given to us. So while if you buy them new they range from $10-25 per diaper but we payed maybe $3 per diaper for the couple we bought. Considering a baby goes through about 6-8 cloth diapers/day and you don't want to be doing diapers every day, if you did them every other day, that could total up to $96-$400 for a set.
Pros: The nice thing about this kind of diaper is it is most like a disposable. You put it on the baby, throw it in the hamper after dumping solids, and wash then dry. Very simple and non-intimidating to people who babysit your baby who are not used to cloth. They also are very absorbent, so leaking never really happened with these.
Cons: When you wash and dry this diaper it never seems to get all the layers clean being they are all sewn together. What occurs then is the awful cloth diaper stink that no matter how many times you wash or strip them they still smell like your baby pooped even when he just peed. Or sometimes it gets so bad they smell that way right out of the drier. This is why we don't use AIO's; my kids both get diaper rash pretty bad from it being too many layers that never see the sunlight or really get exposed to the detergent/cleaning agents in the wash. This results in a nasty buildup and eventually nasty odor every time my kids peed. So we only use them on occasion and in the summer when I can line dry them because it takes forever to dry them completely in the drier.
The Pocket
Cost: I have the most of this variety. I got a bunch of these yard sailing, enough for 3 days, and payed about $90.( That also included the inserts, and a diaper bin with 2 bin liners and a wet bag for my diaper bag.) Looking online you can get these for $10-$35 new. It is good to look when you are buying to see if you are getting the insert with the diaper and not just the "shell". That may be why it is cheaper. So again new it would be anywhere from $96-$560 for a set for 2 days.
Pros: These clean better, and dry faster than the AIO. They also are more of a trim fit diaper so not quite as puffy butt. They are also pretty simple to deal with, the only extra step in that you take the insert out when you put the diaper in the hamper and then stuff them when dry.
Cons: You do have to wash the diaper and the insert every time your baby pees so there is more laundry than some other options. Also depending on the insert you may have to fold the insert before stuffing it into the pocket. So more time lost in prepping the diaper for use after drying. Over all though in doesn't take that much extra time and not having that sink is so worth it for me!
The Hybrid
Cost: This is my favorite option as I feel you can do this very affordablely however you also can really spend on it too. You can spend $20-$35 new on these so $320-$560 for a two day set, or you can make your own set that would last for 3 days for around $25 or less which is the way we did it! More on that later.
Pros: These clean out nice, and make less laundry as you don't have to clean the shell every time you change your baby, you just put in a new pad in the shell. They are the trimmest fit of all the options, and they are great for heavy wetters as you can just buy or make a thicker pad for overnight or big drinkers.
Cons: If they don't snap in the pad may slide around and then there can be leaks. Some of the pads, like I use, require some extra folding.
So out of all the options we tried the one we like best is our home made hybrids! It is simple, clean, effective, inexpensive, and way less laundry! If you want to give cloth diapering a try and not spend a lot this is the way to go!
The things you will need to make the cloth diaper inserts for a homemade hybrid are:
- old flannel sheets (if you don't have any you can find them at Goodwill or Salvation Army)
- pack of 16"x16" microfiber towels (We get ours at Sam's Club, you can get 30 for $13.50)
- thread
- elastic
- pins
- (Optional) snaps
Fold the short ends of the flannel down 3" or till they stick out a little bit longer than the microfiber towel and turn about 1" over to form a cuff. Do this for both of the short sides.
Fold the long sides under about 1" and lay in the middle of the microfiber towel. Then pin in place for sewing.
Sew a straight line from one end to the other leaving enough room for the elastic to fit, about 1/2" from the edge of the flannel.Repeat on the other side.
Pull the elastic through the tubes you just sewed along the sides
Sew the one end of elastic down starting right under the cuff. Pull the elastic to create some gather, not too much but enough to have it gusset around the babies legs. Sew the other side down and cut elastic, repeat on other side.
Now you have completed one insert! Just fold the two towel wings on top of each other over the flannel and tuck the ends into the cuffs. It will be a long pad that you insert into the diaper covers. This insert is for the size medium diaper cover. You have the option of putting a snap on the front cuff of the insert and the front of the cover to keep it in place better or you can leave as is and it still works great! You can get the covers on e-bay for about $5 a cover. You will want to get the diaper covers that you can Velcro or snap to close in the front and not the one piece kind as they don't fit as snug and make for messy changes with this style of insert.
You can save a lot of money and reuse, reduce and recycle older materials to make these diapers. It is a great option if you are concerned about the effect you have on our planet and country by not leaving more garbage to decompose in landfills.
Whatever cloth option you choose to use you are doing a great thing for your baby, your family and for everyone else too!
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