Cloth diapers are the new baby black
For Laura Lilly, of Carrollton, using cloth diapers on her son — the baby of the family — was a choice she would make all over again.
The environmentally friendly diapering method is making a comeback among parents who want to save the earth and save some money.
Bryana Guckin, owner of the Diaper Junction in Virginia Beach, saw her customer base grow 80 percent between 2009 and 2010. Her business is primarily online, but in May, she opened a warehouse-style storefront for local mothers.
"I like to think we're the price club for cloth diapers," she says. "Over the last few years, we've seen quite an increase in interest, and I really attribute that to the downfall of the economy and more people looking for green solutions."
And the wider market reflects that interest. There are dozens of cloth diaper brands and systems. Prefold diapers require a cover, other diapers can be purchased as all-in-one products. Parents can buy adjustable cloth diapers or purchase them in specific sizes.
There are patterns to consider, absorbency level and fabric choice. And a mother could spend days on the Internet chatting with other cloth diapering moms.
Many of those moms are adament about the benefits of 21st century cloth diapering. There are no more pins and a machine does all of the washing.
"It's just a small change in routine," Lilly says. "You just have to make up your mind to do it."
Other moms tout the health benefits — fewer diaper rashes and no exposure to the dispoable diaper chemicals. There are many claims of early potty training benefits, as well.
For Shannon Gordon, of Hampton, saving money was her biggest motivation.
Single cloth diapers can cost as much as $20 a piece or more, making the project's startup cost high. Gordon stuck with the cheaper Sunbabies brand, which is made in China, takes a few weeks to deliver and does not advertise some of the health benefits that other American-made brands tout.
"I just couldn't see paying $10 or more for a diaper, when Amazon Mom has a great disposable diaper program, and I was only paying about $30 a month for disposables," she says.
She also skipped the popular diaper sprayer and opted for the more old fashioned "dunk" method to clean out solid waste diapers.
Guckin also says she is too frugal to purchase any accessories for cloth diapering, but says that most moms want two larger wetbags (storage for the soiled diapers) and a travel wetbag, along with the diaper sprayer.
She also provides her customers with the practical knowledge of a cloth diaper expert, giving them tips such as what to do when a diaper rash does occur — put a small piece of flannel on the part of the diaper to block rash cream from getting on the diaper, the cream will make the diaper waterproof.
A drop of blue Dawn will get out all stains, and line drying prevents stains and helps keep the diapers smelling fresh.
Diaper Junction customers also can take advantage of free classes to learn how to fit their babies into cloth diapers and have other practical questions answered.
"They're really not that much different from disposable diapers any more," Lilly says. "We all do laundry all the time anyway. Even my husband is totally fine with it."
Paitsel can be reached at 247-4737 or npaitsel@dailypress.com.
More online
For more local deals visit SavvyShopperToday.com. Connect with the Savvy Shopper at Facebook.com/SavvyShopper and text DPFREE to 71593 to sign up for mobile alerts.
Cloth diaper resources
Local resources
Diaper Junction. 1209 Baker Road, Virginia Beach. Diaperjunction.com. 961-1400.
PeninsulaMommies.com.
Eco Existence. A cloth diaper delivery service. Ecoexistence.net.
Other resources
Dirtydiaperlaundry.com
Diaperswappers.com
Theclothdiaperwhisperer.com
Sweetbabybottoms.com
Savings breakout
Based on a child who wears diapers for 2 years.
Disposables
An average disposable diaper costs about 23 cents. Amazon often offers deals through its Amazon Mom program — a free subscription program — that brings the price of a single disposable diaper to about 17 cents.
Age 0-6 months: $419 (10 diapers per day at 23 cents a diaper).
Age 7 months to 1 year: $335.80 (Eight diapers per day at 23 cents per diaper).
Second-year cost: $503.70 (Six diapers a day at 23 cents per diaper).
Total cost: $1258.50
Keep in mind most cloth diapering websites estimate slightly higher dispoable diaper usage than the above estimate and will calculate disposable diaper usage up to 3 years old.
The disposable diaper total goes down to $930.75 when you calculate the diapers at 17 cents a piece.
On the higher end of the usage scale — 12 diapers a day for first 6 months, 10 diapers a day for 7 months to 1 year old and eight diapers a day for the second year — the cost comes to $1,595.05 at 23 cents a diaper.
Cloth diapers
Many moms say they need about 24 cloth diapers in the smaller sizes to be able to do laundry every other day.
Prefold diapers (one of the basic styles)
Newborn: $48 for 24 diapers at $2 a diaper (up to 12 pounds)
Small: $54.96 for 24 diapers at $2.29 a diaper (up to 18 pounds)
Medium: $46.62 for 18 diapers at $2.59 a diaper (up to 30 pounds)
Large: $34.68 for 12 diapers at $2.89 a diaper (up to 40 pounds)
Total for diapers: $184.26
Most moms will want about six covers per size. One brand offers two sizes that should work for children up to 36 pounds. They cost $12.95 a piece.
Total for covers: $155.40
A three-pack of diaper fasteners: $10.95
Common accessories include two wetbags ($18.95 a piece), one travel wetbag ($6) and a diaper sprayer (about $40)
Total cost: $434.51
Savings over dispoable diapers: $823.99
Keep in mind that subsequent children can use the diapers, and the diapers can be resold, as well.
The environmentally friendly diapering method is making a comeback among parents who want to save the earth and save some money.
Bryana Guckin, owner of the Diaper Junction in Virginia Beach, saw her customer base grow 80 percent between 2009 and 2010. Her business is primarily online, but in May, she opened a warehouse-style storefront for local mothers.
"I like to think we're the price club for cloth diapers," she says. "Over the last few years, we've seen quite an increase in interest, and I really attribute that to the downfall of the economy and more people looking for green solutions."
And the wider market reflects that interest. There are dozens of cloth diaper brands and systems. Prefold diapers require a cover, other diapers can be purchased as all-in-one products. Parents can buy adjustable cloth diapers or purchase them in specific sizes.
There are patterns to consider, absorbency level and fabric choice. And a mother could spend days on the Internet chatting with other cloth diapering moms.
Many of those moms are adament about the benefits of 21st century cloth diapering. There are no more pins and a machine does all of the washing.
"It's just a small change in routine," Lilly says. "You just have to make up your mind to do it."
Other moms tout the health benefits — fewer diaper rashes and no exposure to the dispoable diaper chemicals. There are many claims of early potty training benefits, as well.
For Shannon Gordon, of Hampton, saving money was her biggest motivation.
Single cloth diapers can cost as much as $20 a piece or more, making the project's startup cost high. Gordon stuck with the cheaper Sunbabies brand, which is made in China, takes a few weeks to deliver and does not advertise some of the health benefits that other American-made brands tout.
"I just couldn't see paying $10 or more for a diaper, when Amazon Mom has a great disposable diaper program, and I was only paying about $30 a month for disposables," she says.
She also skipped the popular diaper sprayer and opted for the more old fashioned "dunk" method to clean out solid waste diapers.
Guckin also says she is too frugal to purchase any accessories for cloth diapering, but says that most moms want two larger wetbags (storage for the soiled diapers) and a travel wetbag, along with the diaper sprayer.
She also provides her customers with the practical knowledge of a cloth diaper expert, giving them tips such as what to do when a diaper rash does occur — put a small piece of flannel on the part of the diaper to block rash cream from getting on the diaper, the cream will make the diaper waterproof.
A drop of blue Dawn will get out all stains, and line drying prevents stains and helps keep the diapers smelling fresh.
Diaper Junction customers also can take advantage of free classes to learn how to fit their babies into cloth diapers and have other practical questions answered.
"They're really not that much different from disposable diapers any more," Lilly says. "We all do laundry all the time anyway. Even my husband is totally fine with it."
Paitsel can be reached at 247-4737 or npaitsel@dailypress.com.
More online
For more local deals visit SavvyShopperToday.com. Connect with the Savvy Shopper at Facebook.com/SavvyShopper and text DPFREE to 71593 to sign up for mobile alerts.
Cloth diaper resources
Local resources
Diaper Junction. 1209 Baker Road, Virginia Beach. Diaperjunction.com. 961-1400.
PeninsulaMommies.com.
Eco Existence. A cloth diaper delivery service. Ecoexistence.net.
Other resources
Dirtydiaperlaundry.com
Diaperswappers.com
Theclothdiaperwhisperer.com
Sweetbabybottoms.com
Savings breakout
Based on a child who wears diapers for 2 years.
Disposables
An average disposable diaper costs about 23 cents. Amazon often offers deals through its Amazon Mom program — a free subscription program — that brings the price of a single disposable diaper to about 17 cents.
Age 0-6 months: $419 (10 diapers per day at 23 cents a diaper).
Age 7 months to 1 year: $335.80 (Eight diapers per day at 23 cents per diaper).
Second-year cost: $503.70 (Six diapers a day at 23 cents per diaper).
Total cost: $1258.50
Keep in mind most cloth diapering websites estimate slightly higher dispoable diaper usage than the above estimate and will calculate disposable diaper usage up to 3 years old.
The disposable diaper total goes down to $930.75 when you calculate the diapers at 17 cents a piece.
On the higher end of the usage scale — 12 diapers a day for first 6 months, 10 diapers a day for 7 months to 1 year old and eight diapers a day for the second year — the cost comes to $1,595.05 at 23 cents a diaper.
Cloth diapers
Many moms say they need about 24 cloth diapers in the smaller sizes to be able to do laundry every other day.
Prefold diapers (one of the basic styles)
Newborn: $48 for 24 diapers at $2 a diaper (up to 12 pounds)
Small: $54.96 for 24 diapers at $2.29 a diaper (up to 18 pounds)
Medium: $46.62 for 18 diapers at $2.59 a diaper (up to 30 pounds)
Large: $34.68 for 12 diapers at $2.89 a diaper (up to 40 pounds)
Total for diapers: $184.26
Most moms will want about six covers per size. One brand offers two sizes that should work for children up to 36 pounds. They cost $12.95 a piece.
Total for covers: $155.40
A three-pack of diaper fasteners: $10.95
Common accessories include two wetbags ($18.95 a piece), one travel wetbag ($6) and a diaper sprayer (about $40)
Total cost: $434.51
Savings over dispoable diapers: $823.99
Keep in mind that subsequent children can use the diapers, and the diapers can be resold, as well.
Source: Daily Press