A review of the use of cloth diapers.

Gerber Prefold Cloth Diapers

Gerber Diaper Pins

Gerber Plastic Diaper Covers

Reviewer's Grade: C

In an effort to take some strain off of the family budget, I decided to give cloth diapers a try. I estimated that I was spending about $30 per month on generic diapers. While that may not seem like all that much, over the course of a year, it comes to $360. That would almost entirely pay the yearly premium on my homeowner's insurance policy!

With cost being the primary concern, I opted for the cheapest method of cloth diapering I could find. This method uses: prefold cotton diapers, diaper pins, and plastic diaper covers. The price for these supplies came to about $40, just a little more than one month's worth of disposables. I figured that in the second month, I would already be saving money.

The first snag in my plan came when I spent two nights in a row changing diapers multiple times throughout the night. I decided then that one disposable overnight was still better than the seven or eight I was going through in the past. Cloth diapers certainly do not provide the same amount of leak protection as disposables.

Then, of course, I have to factor in the cost of laundry detergent and the water and electricity used to wash the diapers. I found that I am washing diapers about three times per week. With these things taken into consideration, I estimate that I am saving about $20 per month.

When I look at the extra work involved, it hardly seems worth it. However, my family has recently implemented a few other budget changes. These changes combined are saving us approximately $150 per month. Now, that's worth it.

Beyond the savings, there are some other benefits to using cloth. Cloth diapers are much better for your baby's delicate skin. I haven't seen even a hint of a diaper rash since making the switch. Also, using cloth diapers reduces the amount of waste going into landfills, as disposable diapers make up a good portion of that waste.

The bottom line is this: If you want a more natural approach to diapering, cloth is the way to go. If you are concerned about the environment, again, cloth is best. If you are hoping to save money, you will need to weigh the pros and cons, and perhaps combine cloth diapering with other money saving strategies.

As for the Gerber brand of diapering supplies, I can't complain. The diapers are thick, the covers are sturdy (and cute!), and the pins are completely functional.

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