The cost of diapering your child varies greatly, depending on what type of system you opt for.  Below are realistic detailed costs, based on an estimated 2-3 day washing schedule.  Please note that ALL of these systems, even the most expensive, do represent a savings over disposables, and cloth diapers can be used on multiple children. An old-fashioned bargain: 3 dozen premium infant prefolds 2 dozen premium baby prefolds 5 x-small diaper covers 5 small diaper covers 5 medium diaper covers 3 Snappis Total approximate cost: $274 ($240 if purchased as a bundle) Cost-Conscious Convenience: 11 one-size basic packs from SoftBums (33 changes) 3 one-size pocket diapers for overnight use (FuzziBunz) Total approximate cost: $428 ($385 if purchased as a bundle) Pocket Perfection: 24 one-size pocket diapers from FuzziBunz Total approximate cost: $454.80 ($410 if purchased as a bundle) All-in-Ones, All the Time: 24 size x-small AIO 24 size small AIO 24 size medium AIO 3 doublers for nighttime Total approximate cost: $1545 ($1435 if purchased in bundles) Leakproof and Skin-Friendly: 24 size x-small fitteds 24 size small fitteds 24 size medium fitteds 4 x-small covers 4 small covers 4 medium covers 6 boosters for nighttime Total approximate cost: $1194.50 ($1132 if purchased as a bundle) Mix & Match: Various combinations of the above… many cloth diaper fanatics end up trying a little bit of everything. This can get as pricey as you want! * The general rule of thumb is about a dozen diapers per day, so two dozen diapers would get you through two days of diapering. If you want to do laundry more or less, you can adjust the list accordingly. Also, a newborn may go through up to two dozen diapers a day (it’s not unheard of!), so know that your wash routine will probably become simpler as time goes on. Note: I did not include large sizes, because some babies never actually need large sizes (generally 25-40 lbs., give or take a few depending on your baby’s shape and the brand of diaper) before potty training. I don’t advise buying large sizes until/unless you need them. All of these plans, even the most expensive, do represent a savings over disposable diapering, and you get the benefit of choosing something healthier for the environment and your baby! And remember, if you are planning on having more than one child, cloth diapers can be used on many children! Also, this list does not take into account the healthy resale value that cloth diapers have. A note about newborn diapering… my personal opinion is that, if you are looking to save a bit of money, cutting out the fancy x-small diapers is the easiest way. It does mean you may be forced to use prefolds when your little one is newborn, but most babies are into the small sizes within six weeks. If you are willing to use prefolds, you can save about $200 over the course of six weeks just by using prefolds and covers instead of AIOs or fitteds. Also consider using prefolds during the newborn stage even if you are opting for a one-size system, since the extra washings from the (frequent!) newborn changes does cause some wear-and-tear on your diapers. Sometimes you can also luck out and find barely used newborn diapers on craigslist or diaperswappers.com. I was able to buy my newborn stash (25 fitted diapers) for just over $100 by buying used. Extras that are almost necessities: Cloth wipes: cloth wipes are actually easier to use than disposable wipes with cloth diapers, because then you can just tuck the wipe into the diaper and toss the whole thing in your pail. I suggest 2 dozen minimum, and up to 4 dozen if you want to keep extras in your car, purse, or whatever. (around $21/dozen) Pail liner: to dump your dirty diapers in. They can then be emptied directly into your washer and washed with the diapers. I suggest 2 so you can always have one clean while the other is being washed. (around $12-17) Wetbag: for on-the-go dirty diaper storage. (around $5-21) Snappis: for use if you’re using prefolds (these have largely replaced diaper pins), 2-4 Snappis should be sufficient (about $4 each) 1 dozen prefolds: I suggest at least one dozen infant refolds for all moms, cloth diapering or not, because they are so handy! Use them as burp cloths, waterproof pads for changing time, to wipe up messes, and more! ($16)