It is hard to save those pennies. Sometimes we just have the bare minimum to start cloth diapering, so what we choose to use has to stretch our dollar to the extreme. I remember when my son was a newborn, and I invested in a stash of organic one-size hemp/cotton fitted diapers. I was so excited that I would have a stash of organic, absorbent, and premium diapers. After I washed them up and tried them on my baby, I realized that they were way too big and bulky. They were also not very soft, which was a big issue with me. I wanted nothing but softness and comfort for my baby. (I am sure that resonates with all of you!) Being that I could not return them, I had to use them, knowing that they were making my baby uncomfortable. They were very absorbent, which is important, but they also made him very hot. They also only fit him for a short period. The moral of the story is; you don’t need the fancy diapers to cloth diaper. It is an investment, and the basic and affordable diapers may work just as well or better as the premium options. Enter the Prefold diaper. Prefolds are a very versatile and affordable cloth diapering option. They are very durable, and have uses beyond cloth diapering. They are made from natural fibers which are easier to clean. This has become one of my most recommended cloth diapering options! Now for some of you, this may bring visions of the old fashioned flat diapers, pins, and vinyl pants. But cloth diapers have a new twist, even when using prefolds and covers. There is no longer a need for diaper pins with many of the new cover designs – simply trifold the prefold and lay into the cover. Please see the illustration below.
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You will want to make sure to use a trim cover such as our Duo Wrap to keep the prefold in place and up against baby’s skin. The price of the Duo Wrap/Duo Hemp Prefold combo is about $384 per child from birth to potty training. This pricing is based on a stash of 20 diapers and 7 covers in size 1, and 12 diapers and 3 covers in size 2. You will need at least this amount if you wash every other day. Prefolds should last you through more than one child, compounding the savings. +    PrefoldsWraps: $384 Total water/energy/detergent and washer/dryer upkeep per child for 2.5 years: $502
This is a great article for comparing costs. Thanks for including the upkeep costs in the comparison.
I started with 2 doz. Gerber prefolds & 3 plastic pants 10 yrs ago. I still use the same 2 doz. prefolds on baby 3. They became a little thread barren so I cut the sides off & made insert because the middles are only stained. Baby 2 I bought 2 duo wraps & loved them. No more plastic pants. I use Fab Doublers for naps & going out. I have 2 Stay Dry inserts for nights & church nursery use. The only CD easier than prefolds & Duo Wraps are AIO which are to expensive for my budget. Prefolds & Duo wraps are a great way to start CDing.
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