Monday, January 28, 2013

Switching to Cloth on a Sposie Budget

 Switching From Disposable Diapers to Cloth in Six Months--On Your Disposable Diaper Budget

If I had to start from scratch, with mainstream, easily available diapers, on a disposable diaper budget, here's how I would do it!

The cheapest I can find Huggies Snug & Dry diapers is $0.20 each on Walmart.com. 

For us, that means we are spending about $1.64 a day on 8 diapers, making our month diaper budget $49.20.  Some months the budget may go over by a couple of dollars, I assume that MOST people can find an extra dollar or two in their budget, even if it means cutting back in another area.

(I determined how many diapers I would need, based on the fact that, recently we took a cloth diaper "break" so I could catch up on housework and laundry after the flu did a number on our family.

During that time we used 24 disposable diapers, Huggies Snug and Drys in size 3.  I have two kids in diapers.  My 3 year old is potty learning, so really only wears a diaper to bed, but did use a couple for car rides or naps.  My 18 month old is in diapers consistently.)

First purchase/ Month One:

Thirsties Diaper Cover, Size Medium $11.50 Shipped
Bumpkins Prefolds Premium Sized (6 pack)  $15.54 Shipped
Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers Sz. 3 (112 Count) From Wal-Mart.com with free store pick-up $22.94

Total: Month 1-$49.98 (112 sposies, 6 prefolds & 1 cover in stash)

For the first month, it will require daily washing, but have faith! It will get easier after ONE MONTH!

Daily Routine:

Toddler-6 prefolds with cover for day-time use, 1 disposable at nap, 1 disposable at bedtime
3 year old- Undies all day & 1 disposable at night

Wash prefolds & cover overnight to reuse the next day.

After one month you will have used 3 disposable diapers a day & 6 re-usable diapers! Already you will have made a huge impact on the amount of waste you have created! At the end of the month, you will have 22 disposable diapers remaining as well as your six prefolds.

Second purchase/ Month Two:

Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers (112 Count) From Wal-Mart.com with free store pick-up $22.94
Diaper Rite One Size Pockets (1) $12.67 Shipped
Bumpkins Prefolds Premium Sized (6 pack)  $15.54 Shipped

Total Month 2: $51.15 (134 sposies, 12 prefolds, 1 cover, and 1 pocket in stash)

Daily Routine:

First day:
Toddler- 6 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket at nap time, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
Rinse cover & hang to dry overnight

Second day:
Toddler-6 Prefolds for daytime, 1 disposable at nap, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
 Wash all diapers & cover overnight to start over the next day.

This month you'll only have to wash every other day & you'll end the month with 59 extra disposable diapers, allowing you to purchase a smaller pack of diapers for month three.

Third purchase/ Month Three: 

Wal-Greens Huggies Snug & Dry 36 count- $11.99
Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (3) $35.45 Shipped

Total Month 3: 47.44 (saving money!) (95 sposies, 12 prefolds, 1 cover, and 4 pockets in stash)

Daily Routine:

First day:

Toddler- 4 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pocket at nap time, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
Rinse cover & hang to dry overnight

Second Day:

Toddler- 4 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pocket at nap time, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night
Rinse cover & hang to dry overnight

Third Day:

Toddler- 4 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 2 disposables for day-time & nap, 1 disposable for night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night

Wash all diapers & covers overnight.

This will get you to the optimum 3 day wash routine!  Yay for only washing every 3rd day!  At the end of the month you will have 15 disposable diapers left.

Fourth Purchase/ Month Four:

Wal-Greens Huggies Snug & Dry 36 count- $11.99
Thirsties Diaper Cover, Size Medium $11.50 Shipped
 Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (2) $23.42 Shipped




Total Month 4: $46.91 (still saving money!)  (51 sposies, 12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 6 pockets in stash)

Up until this point, you might have been using disposables randomly throughout the day if there was a blow-out in the ONE cover.  Now you have 2 covers, so you shouldn't need those random disposable diapers! Unfortunately, we will have to go back to every other day washing, just for one month.

Daily Routine:

Day 1:

Toddler- 5 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 pocket at night
Rinse covers & hang to dry overnight

Day 2:

Toddler- 5 Prefolds & Cover for daytime, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pockets for nap & 1  disposable at night
3 Year Old-Undies all day & 1 disposable at night

Wash all diapers/covers overnight. You should have 2 clean prefolds, be sure to rotate which prefolds are not getting used each wash cycle.

At the end of this month you will have used 30 disposables, leaving you with  21 left-overs.

Fifth Purchase/ Month 5:
Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (4) $45.60 Shipped
(21 sposies, 12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 10 pockets in stash)

Daily Routine:

Day 1-
Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 2-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 3-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 1 pockets for nap & 1 sposie for night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & 1 sposie  for night-time

Wash overnight & have all diapers ready to start again

This three day cycle will use up the last of your disposable stash.  You'll have a disposable to put both kids in  overnight (on wash day),  so you can wash ALL the diapers in one night.

Sixth Purcahse/ Month 6:


Diaper Rite One Size Pockets  (4) $45.60 Shipped
(1 sposie, 12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 14 pockets in stash)


Day 1-
Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 2-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 3-


Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time


Wash overnight & have all diapers ready to start again

Now, you will be using cloth full-time!!  Congratulations on making it through the first six months and fully converting to cloth diapers!  Each three day cycle you should have 2 pocket diapers still that will be dirty while you wash overnight, so that's where the extra 2 pockets go.

7th Purchase/ Month 7:

6 Thirsties Duo Prefolds Size 2 --$53.10 shipped
 (12 prefolds, 2 covers, and 14 pockets & 6 extra inserts in stash)

These will replace the stuffing in your night-time diapers, making them more absorbent & eliminating any possible leaks you may have been experiencing.


Day 1-
Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 2-

Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time

Day 3-


Toddler-4 prefolds & covers for day-time, 1 pocket for day-time, 2 pockets for nap & night-time
3 Year Old- Undies all day & pocket for night-time


Wash overnight & have all diapers ready to start again

After this, you should be established enough in the cloth-diapering world to spend your $50 a month on fun extras that will make cloth diapering easier or more convenient to you.  If you don't love prefolds, quickly replace your 12 prefolds with 12 more diaper rites, it'll only take 3 months.

If you're okay using the prefolds as needed, spend a little extra & buy some nicer diapers or extra items like wet-bags or pail liners.

Cloth diaper detergents are not needed.  The keys to keeping your diapers clean are prerinse (dunk & swish) any solids, rinse diapers on cold, hot wash with a normal amount of detergent, and then rinse on cold until the suds are gone.  Vinegar helps remove stinkies & yeast.  Bleach is okay (especially on the prefolds) in moderation.

Plastic grocery bags & zipper bags work fine as a wet-bag until you can afford to buy one.  Pail liners are not needed.  I've been using cloth for 5 years and have never owned one.

Cloth diapering CAN be affordable and even fun.  It might not be fun right from the start, and making the switch does require a certain level of committment, but the amount of money you can save over time is definitely worth it.

Knowing what I know this is how I would spend the next 5 months worth of budget:

Month 8- ($60.22 starting budget with savings from previous months)
3 BG 4.0s -$58.90 shipped

(12 prefolds, 2 covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 2 BG 4.0 Pockets, & 6 extra inserts in stash)

This will allow you to replace 3 of your prefolds with pocket diapers! One less prefold each day!

Month 9- 
GroVia Wetbag
2 BG 4.0s
Total: 48.45

(12 prefolds, 2 covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag & 6 extra inserts in stash)

Month 10- (starting with $2.87 roll over)
Wool Soaker or Shorties from Recycled Wool $18 shipped
3 Pack of Snappis $9.75 (up until now you've been tri-folding)
2  GMD Workhorse Diapers in Med. Snaps $26.85 Shipped
Total: $54.60

(12 prefolds, 2 prefitteds, 1 wool cover, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)


Slightly over budget--but now you've got 2 fitteds & a wool cover as well as a snappi--to make using those prefolds more fun!  The cover can supplement the 2 PUL covers that you've been using daily for 7 months.

Month 11: 
Eucalan Wool Wash 16.9 oz- $13.95
2 GMD Workhorse Diapers
Total: $40.80 shipped

(12 prefolds, 4 prefitteds, 1 wool cover, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)

Month 12: (starting with $9.20)
2  GMD Workhorse Diapers in Med. Snaps $26.85 Shipped

Total: $26.85

(12 prefolds, 6 prefitteds, 1 wool cover, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 4 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)

Month 13: (starting with $32.35)
3 BG 4.0s -$58.90 shipped
Wool Longies- $23.45 (might splurge a bit here!)

(12 prefolds, 6 prefitteds, 2 wool covers, 2 PUL covers, 14 Diaper Rite pockets, 7 BG 4.0 Pockets, 1 wet-bag, 6 extra inserts, & 3 snappis in stash)

After a year in cloth, you'll know what you like/love/hate.  You should have found your way onto www.diaperswappers.com/forum and can buy, sell and trade to make your stash exactly what you want it to be!







































Saturday, January 5, 2013

Sunday Update 2012 into 2013

So, I think between the last couple posts I've pretty much updated for December.

We spent the 26th and 27th out at Mom & Dad's house.  The 26th was a pretty laid back day.  We did run into town for some groceries but mostly we just rested and relaxed.

On the 27th we all started to feel sick and by dinner we all had low temperatures.  We decided to quickly pack up and head home.  By the time we got on the road I was in full-blown flu mode.

We stopped at the Patient First to find out I had the flu, bronchitis, and an ear infection.

On Friday the 28th we took both boys to see Dr. T and find out that they both had the flu as well.  They actually tested positive for it.  We opted not to use any medicine to help them get over it, since the tamiflu has some negative side effects in babies.

Then we went to Patient First for Tim to get his medicines.  Bronchitis and the flu for him.  The boys and I rested in the van and got some groceries at the nearby Farm Fresh.

Saturday the 29th I went downhill and got very dehydrated.  By 3:30 I had made the decision to go to the ER and so Peggy came and took me in.  I was severely dehydrated but they fixed me right up with a heavy sedating pain medicine, a regular pain medicine, zofran in the IV, and a bag of IV fluids.

After leaving the ER, Peggy and I went to Wal-Mart to get a few groceries and then to Lawrence to get my prescriptions.

Sunday (the 30th) we all skipped church and laid around the house.  Tom and Peggy came over around nap time to help out with the boys so we could all get a nap.

 Monday (the 31st) I took Vinnie back to the doctor, I thought he was dehydrated, but Dr. T said he was okay.  So we toughed it out at home.  We had home-made pizza and then donuts.  We also had ice cream cones!  Our entire little family was asleep by 11.

On Tuesday January 1, we all relaxed at home and played together.

On Wednesday Jan. 2, Tim worked from home & I went grocery shopping by myself in the afternoon.  Then we went to MacArthur to get one of Tim's text books and have dinner from the food court.

Thursday the 3rd brought another feeling really sick day to the house and Tim decided to work from home for the rest of the week.

Friday the 4th was Tom's fifty-first birthday and we spent it at home.

Today was the 5th.  Luke and Tim are pretty much over the flu, Vinnie's temperature finally went away today but he still has a pretty miserable cough.  I've still got the cough and the tired-ness that comes from being Mommy to a sick family.

Tim and Luke went to Wal-Mart and the MacArthur mall today to get another text book. While they were gone, I nursed Vinnie a bunch, played with him, and worked on the blog.  I feel good that I am caught up!

PS. My October/November "Sunday" Update post is a continued work-in-progress and will eventually just randomly publish as being posted Nov. 30. :) More for my own documenting than anything. :)


Advent 2012

So, I only managed to blog about the first few days of our Advent activities, but we did really well with it & accomplished almost everything we had planned!

Day 1-Children's Museum for Snow

Day 2- Visit Santa at MacArthur Mall

Day 3-Bake Chocolate Chip cookies with Mom









Day 4- MOPS Christmas Party & playground










Day 5-Make salt & cinnamon dough ornaments with Grandma & play trains with Pap







Day 6-Make glittery snowflakes to hang in the window


Day 7-Bake pumpkin pie--MISSED

Day 8-Olde Towne Portsmouth Holiday Music Festival with Brianna & Ashley




























Day 9- Christmas pictures & Bass Pro Shop











Day 10-Bake sugar cookies




Day 11-Birthday dinner for Tyler & Brianna, Holiday program for Brianna and Ashley
Vinnie coloring during the program. Carolynn & Luke helped. 


Day 12- Playdate with Aubrey and Delaney



Day 13- MISSED

Day 14- Drink hot chocolate & look at stars
No pictures, but basically Daddy took the boys on the porch and they drank hot chocolate.

Day 15-Haircut & visit Santa, & free carriage ride!

BEFORE

AFTER








Day 16-Pictures with Santa Claus, Visit Grandparents Goetsch

Day  17-Build a giant train track with Mommy & Daddy

Day 18-Crafts MISSED

Day 19- Port Norfolk lights

Day 20- Christmas Scavenger Hunt- Replaced with Build Vinnie's toddler bed with Dad, Trains/Fighters with Pap











Day 21- Finger paint- MISSED Dad was home from work! Christmas gifts from Auntie Laura!



Day 22-Emporia for Covato Family Christmas Eve


Day 23-Make Placecards, Christmas with the Hayes, Cancelled due to illness

Day 24- Christmas Eve Church (MISSED), Christmas with the Goetsch family




Day 25-Christmas!