There are many reasons why more and more of today’s parents and caregivers opt for cloth diapers over their disposable counterparts. (It’s true – according to recent studies, the number of new parents choosing cloth diapers has jumped from about 9% to  21% in the last 10 years!) Some might choose cloth diapers to live more sustainably, others in hopes of keeping only safe and non-toxic materials next to their baby’s skin (both reasons we love!)… but the “biggest” benefit to cloth diapers is one that we’ll be highlighting in this post: saving money! Here, we'll break down the numbers and show you how choosing Esembly cloth diapers over disposables can save you (spoiler!🙃) over $2,000 during your baby's journey from birth to potty training! And of course, we couldn’t leave out our response to a common criticism often heard about cloth diapers… “You’ll use so much water laundering those diapers you won’t save any money at all!” (another spoiler… it’s not true.😉)

The Esembly Investment

 

Let's start by looking at the cost of cloth diapering with Esembly from birth to potty training. Our estimation includes the cost of cloth diapers in two sizes*, washable organic cotton wipes (plus 2+ years of wipes wash to go with them) AND 2 years worth of our Washing Powder (detergent) as well. 

But before we get into that, here's a “vocabulary list” of the Esembly system:

Inner - this is our fitted diaper (made of 100% organic cotton!), which provides all the absorbency you’ll need – and is oh-so-soft on delicate baby skin

Outer - this is the Esembly diaper cover. It’s the waterproof part of our diaper. It goes over the Inner to keep things leak-free and blowout-proof 🙌

Wipe Ups - these are our reusable organic cotton wipes. If you’re not quite sure about cloth wipes, check out this post where we share why we love them so much (and a word from our co-founder, who was a late convert!) 

Wipe Up Wash - this organic, no-rinse foaming cleanser works with our Wipe Ups to gently clean your baby’s bottom during diaper changes while keeping it hydrated with a blend of organic oils.

Washing Powder - our patented detergent is specially formulated to power clean your dirtiest laundry (diapers!) while remaining gentle on the planet. You can read all about what makes it so great in this post! (But we’ll note here that its officially the ONLY laundry detergent ever to receive a patent for cleaning cloth diapers! 💪)

 

Okay, now for the breakdown: 

• Inner Size 1 x 24 = $296
• Inner Size 2 x 21 = $301
• Outer Size 1 x 6 = $111
• Outer Size 2 x 5 = $92.50
• Wipes Ups x 24 = $29
• Wipe Up Wash Kit x 1 = $18.50
• Wipe Up Wash Refill x 9 = $112.50
• Washing Powder Canister x 1 = $23.50
• Washing Powder Refill Bags x 7 = $273

Total Cost: $1,257

 

The Disposable Alternative

Now let's compare this to the cost of using disposable diapers from birth to potty training:

• Disposable diapers: $0.36 per diaper x 6,850 diapers used = $2,466
• Disposable wipes: $0.08 per wipe x 1.5 wipes per change x 6,850 changes = $810

Total Cost: $3,276

With disposable diapers and wipes* – you're looking at a whopping $3,276 in expenses over the same period. 🤯

*Our calculations are based on an average of 6,850 diapers used from birth to potty training, (babies typically go through anywhere from 6,500 to 7,000 diapers during this time). The cost per disposables and wipe was determined by taking an average from high-quality brands like Honest and Coterie.

Want to save even more? 

Ok so we’ve calculated that by cloth diapering one baby from birth-potty training you can save $2,019. ($3,276 (Disposables) - $1,257 (Esembly System) = $2,019).

Let us just say – we’re all parents here at Esembly and we can think of countless things we’d rather spend two to five grand on other than diapers that will be worn for a few hours and then trashed 🫠

But it doesn’t have to stop there. Want to save even more?? Here’s how:

1. Have another baby! 😂 We know, having more kids doesnt generally equate to saving more money but un the case of cloth diapers it does! Esembly cloth diapers are made to last. When well cared for they can diaper one, two or even three babies! So if you set aside your stash from baby number one and use them for baby number two, the savings from cloth diapering your first will only continue! (your only diaper cost for baby # 2 is cloth wipes wash and laundry detergent).
2. No future babies in your plan? No worries! Go ahead and resell your Esembly diapers on our PreLoved marketplace and earn back some of that money you invested on them! Well cared for Esembly diapers have excellent resale value (especially Limited Edition prints that are no longer available new!).

By choosing Esembly cloth diapers, you can save a staggering $2,000-$5,000 during your baby (or babies) journey from birth to potty training. And no thanks to inflation, that savings number will continue to grow. While disposable diapers are subject to corporate greed and inflation, Esembly diapers are not! Lock in the price for all the diapers you’ll ever need and you’re set.

But what about your Water Bill?

This is the question that’s supposed to stump those hoping to use cloth diapers – so we dove in to research if it was true. 

 

Here’s the skinny: when washing you're diapers twice per week as per our instructions, the amount of water you'll use each week is equivalent to a handful of toilet flushes per day. Something your baby will be doing in just a few short years once potty trained! We calculated this by taking the average number of gallons used per cycle in a standard top loader and a HE front loader, multiplying it by 4 (2 cycles per wash, 2 washes per week) then dividing it by the average # of gallons per toilet flush. As an added bonus, you can toss some regular household laundry* in with your diapers to maximize the water and energy used during the wash and dry process.

*When adding non-diaper items to your diaper load make sure to never fill the washer barrel more than 2/3 (diapers need room to move to get clean) and only throw in items that are colorfast and can handle the hot water and heavy-duty agitation.

 

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Our co-founders host a free, virtual, Cloth Diapering 101 class every month to help cloth-curious parents get all the tools and information they need! You’ll learn:

• How to use the Esembly diapers and accessories 
• How to easily and effectively launder your Esembly diapers
• The impact that your choice has on the planet, your wallet, and your day-to-day. 

You'll leave with the confidence to Live Less Disposably and a 20% discount code to use on your first order. 🥳 We hope to see you there!

Sign Up for Our Next Cloth 101 Class