Choosing cloth diapers IS cheaper than disposable diapers (diaper services being the exception). On average, cloth diapers will save you about $1,575.50 USD on the first baby, and even more on the next when you reuse them (read the full Do You Really Save Money Using Cloth Diapers article to check my math).
But my math in that article was based on pretty expensive cloth diapers. There are many ways to save money on your cloth diapers that will drop that cost even lower.
I’ve put all my money-saving tips and strategies right here for you, so you can get the most out of your diaper dollars; so let’s dive in!
Wait for the Big Cloth Diaper Sales
Sales and deals on cloth diapers do happen from time to time. In fact you can expect awesome sales on cloth diapers twice annually:
We treat each of those days seriously around here and we will bring you the full list of cloth diaper sales for each, so make sure to click the links and bookmark those pages.
Take Advantage of Cloth Diaper Deals and Coupons
There are several coupons Cloth Diapers for Beginners has been able to score for our readers.
For an up-to-date list of those coupons, as well as notice of any upcoming deals, visit the Cloth Diaper Sales, Coupons, and Deals page here.
Go With Cheaper Diapers
While there’s a lot to be said for premium diaper brands like Thirsties Natural All-in-Ones, Green Mountain Diapers workhorse diapers,
You can read about the 5 cheapest ways to cloth diaper your baby here, but in short, the five cheapest diaper systems are:
- Inexpensive pocket diapers (just steer clear of anything called “China Cheepies“),
- Flats (and stretchy flats),
- Prefolds,
- Flour Sack Towels (FSTs), and
- DIY diapers.
But even if you don’t want to go with an inexpensive diaper system, you can still save money on premium diapers, and I talk about how below.
Go with Used Diapers
If none of the cheaper diaper options mentioned above are right for you, you can get premium diapers for less by buying used.
Yes, second-hand diapers are a thing, and they can be sanitized and made ready for your little one safely and easily.
Not only can you find good quality, premium brand cloth diapers for far less, but you can feel good about your impact on the environment too.
Another often overlooked perk is that you’ll get to meet another cloth diaper user who may have some great one-on-one advice for you, gained while using your own diapers!
For information on where to find used diapers, how to know if a used diaper is good enough to buy (diapers do eventually wear out and need repair), how much to pay for used diapers (spoiler: it depends), and how to properly sanitize them so they’re safe and clean for your baby read the Cloth Diapers for Beginners Guide to Used Cloth Diapers here.
If you’re looking for a bargain, don’t be afraid to shop around and barter, you’ll never know how low someone is willing to go until you ask!
Search for Free Diapers
If you’re just not into DIY, even when it’s no-sew, there are still opportunities to find free diapers.
Here’s a list of places to look for free diapers:
1. Your Local Buy Nothing Project
The Buy Nothing Project is a collection of Facebook groups, split up by local area (down to the community level), where participants give and receive items from their neighbors all for free (in fact you’re not even allowed to recommend purchasing something).
As the Buy Nothing Project website explains, “People give clothes, dinners, crock pots, plants, garden tools. We’ve seen used and clean Ziploc bags offered, laundry detergent, antiques, bicycles, canoes, kombucha, branches, flowers, cement blocks, eggs, beds, broccoli, custard, and crickets. There’s no limit to what you can give or receive.”
I’ve given and received cloth diapers from my local Buy Nothing group and love it because I’ve gotten to try a number of different cloth diaper brands thanks to the generosity of my community’s members.
2. Cloth Diaper Retailer Facebook Groups
While you’re on Facebook checking out your local Buy Nothing page, make sure to find and like the Facebook pages of the cloth diaper retailers and brands you like the most or are local to you. Cloth diaper retailers like Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot, Lil’ Monkey Cheeks, Cloth Diaper Kids, and so many many more, often hold Facebook and Instagram giveaways where they draw for diapers.
3. Cloth Diaper Banks
There are a ton of cloth diaper banks in the USA and Canada available to help you start your cloth diaper stash. You can get an updated Cloth Diaper Bank List here.
I encourage you to check out the many cloth diaper bank programs that may be available in your area.
Is Saving Money on Cloth Diapers Possible?
Umm, heck ya!
When you first look into cloth diapers, the sticker shock on some diapers can be overwhelming, but with all of the tips and tricks above, I promise that anybody can cloth diaper a baby on any budget!