Cloth diapering is expensive.
Cloth diapering is very affordable.
Disclosure: In 2017, I worked with a previous cloth diaper retailer to create this series on budget friendly options in town. This post contains affiliate links to cloth diaper retailers.
Creating a Budget Friendly Stash
Cloth diapers are an amazing way to save money on monthly baby and toddler expense. For many families, disposable diapers cost upwards of $1000 CDN per year, while a budget-friendly stash of cloth diapers will last from birth to potty training for under $300 CDN.
I’ve even cloth diapered my toddler for under $100 Canadian.
There are other costs associated with cloth diapering including a change in your water, laundry detergent, and electricity consumption. Honestly, I haven’t noticed any changes since having children that aren’t also attributed to the change in lifestyle and the addition of another body to my home. If you want to read some numbers, check out The Monarch Mommy – she crunched the numbers for the REAL cost of cloth diaper laundry.
There are many different ways to create a budget-friendly cloth diaper stash.
Looking for the 101 on Cloth Diapering? Check out this post instead.
- Purchase used cloth diapers – Facebook buy and sell groups, online trading forums, Craigslist/Kijiji, or other ideas.
- But be careful of scammers, diapers in poor/old condition and other defects that might leave with you a less than desirable product. Check out this post on the state of the cloth diaper market and this post about how cloth diapers go to heaven.
- Repurpose what you already own – materials such as receiving blankets and t-shirts make great diaper options.
- Even DIY fleece and wool covers from repurposed materials make great options for a low budget stash.
- Scope out sales at retailers and manufacturers – whether its Black Friday, Boxing Day or just the clearance section.
- Buy lower cost cloth diapers – yes, you can spend $30-40-50 + dollars on a diaper, but if that’s not in your budget, check out the other options at your local cloth diaper retailer. There are tons of options within the $10-$15 range that aren’t cheapies with less than ideal working conditions and consumer responsibility.
- Consider a system like a cloth diaper cover that allows for multiple uses. Swapping out inserts instead of the entire diaper can keep costs down.
Buying New on a Budget
Buying used cloth diapers and repurposing things might not be your style, or what you’re looking for. And that’s okay, I get it.
Or perhaps, you have $300 to spend on a cloth diaper stash and you’re wondering how to make the most out of it at your local cloth diaper retailer? Check out these Canadian Cloth Diaper Retailers for where to buy cloth diapers in your local area.
You could purchase cloth diapers from a co-op or directly from China, but these cheapie diapers have a less than impressive reputation for a variety of issues.
I recommend these brands because they have solid compliance in place, they also let me shop locally and spend my money with dedicated entrepreneurs. This is a value I hold closely, and maybe you do too?
8 Budget-Friendly Cloth Diapers
Check out these 8 budget-friendly and compliant options you can buy here in Canada without being dinged with duties, import fees, and exchange rates (with the exchange rate, a stash of 24 Alva’s will cost about $175 CDN plus the risk of duties and taxes upwards of 20%).
I’ve listed 8 different ideas for budget-friendly cloth diapers you can buy in Canada to build the perfect budget-friendly cloth diaper stash (total stash is 24 cloth diapers).
Never purchase an entire stash of one type of diaper.
You might hate all in one cloth diapers, or pockets, or flat diapers. Choose a variety of options to find out what works best for you and your family. I’ll start with the cheapest and work my way down into the options available in Canada in Canadian dollars. Prices might vary based on retailer and changes in MSRP or other costs.
Sweet Pea Covers & Prefolds – $172 CDN
This Canadian Brand makes a great cloth diaper cover for only $ 14.95.
Pair with my favourite Bummis Prefold Cloth Diapers for a full stash cost of $172 CDN.
Check out the full review.
Find Sweet Pea Cloth Diaper Products at these Retailers
LagoonBaby (Canada)
Kelly’s Closet and Diaper Junction (USA)
Omaiki Cabrio – $200
Made in Canada, Omaiki Cabrio Cloth Diapers diapers win my heart as a perfect fit cover.
Buy a kit of 6 shells for $112, plus 24 Bummis Prefold cloth diapers.
Read a full review here.
Find Omaiki Products in Canada:
LagoonBaby – Cloth Diaper Kids – Omaiki
GroVia Hybrid – $244.68
These mighty cloth diapers are available in an economy package to give you the best price.
Choose the size 2 prefold and these will last from babyhood to toddlers.
Buy it Here:
LagoonBaby – Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot The Baby Foot Print – Cloth Diaper Kids (Canada)
Kelly’s Closet GroVia Diaper Junction (USA)
Flip & Stay Dry Inserts – $275.95 CDN
The Flip Cloth Diaper Day Pack provides a day worth of changes for $75.80.
A full stash would cost $275.95 (an extra bonus discount for the bulk order).
Buy it Here
LagoonBaby Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot Cloth Diaper Kids (Canada)
Cotton Babies Kelly’s Closet Diaper Junction (USA)
Elemental Joy – $316.80 CDN
Made in the USA, this budget-friendly cloth diaper costs only $13.20 CDN each.
Check out my full review.
Buy it Here
LagoonBaby Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot Cloth Diaper Kids (Canada)
Cotton Babies Kelly’s Closet Diaper Junction (USA)
Sweet Pea Pockets – $394.95 CDN
These mightly little diapers offer a great punch at only $17.95 CDN.
Ask about buying a package for only $395 instead of the full $430 CDN stash cost.
Sweet Pea Pocket cloth Diaper Review
Find Sweet Pea Cloth Diaper Products at these Retailers
LagoonBaby (Canada)
Kelly’s Closet and Diaper Junction (USA)
Imagine Baby Pockets – $406.80 CDN
Simple, sweet, and easy to use the Imagine Pocket is an affordable $16.95.
Read a full review here.
LagoonBaby (Canada)
Kelly’s Closet (USA)
Diaper Junction (USA)
Bummis AIO – $639.80 CDN – NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bummi’s went out of busines sin 2017, but at the time this was one of the most affordable mainstream AIO cloth diapers on the market. You might find a similiar price point now with the Mother-ease AIO.
Take the plunge and try something a little more expensive, but maybe a better fit.
Made in Canada and only $27.95, the Bummis AIO is a great addition to any stash.
Save even more buying the 6 pack at CozyBums.
Read a full review here.
Keep it Budget, Skip the Extras
Don’t get carried away with the extras. These little things can easily add up and make cloth diaper more expensive. But there are a few hacks to make it work.
- Not everyone needs a night time diaper. My youngest did. My second pees fairy dust at night. Learn if you have a heavy wetter.
- Skip the wet bag, most days I just use a laundry hamper anyways.
- Leaving the house, grocery bags work just as good as a fancy double pocket wet bag
- Dunk & Swish gets your hands dirty but saves $50 in buying a sprayer or liners.
- I can’t remember the last time I used a diaper rash cream; don’t buy it unless you need it.
- Boosters, Doublers, Inserts and more? Don’t get fancy unless you have a problem. Check in with your local retailer about what options might work best for you. The women at CozyBums Diapers they know their product inside and out and can offer you suggestions to make cloth diapering work for you without spending a ton of money.
How do you cloth diaper on a budget?
I know I’m missing out on many other affordable ways to cloth diaper. Leave me a comment with your best tips and suggestions because cloth diapering is a personal experience. What works for me and my family, might not work for you and yours.
As an American, I’ve always heard that it’s much more expensive to cloth diaper in Canada, but you blew that myth right out of the water. I also like how you pointed out that many families overbuy or waste money on things they don’t need just because other people have them (doublers, night diapers, etc.).
By the way, thanks for sharing my DIY fleece cover tutorial!
I do not know about Canada, but in the U.S. we can still get those old-fashioned plastic pants to cover up a pinned or snappied-on diaper. Gerber and Dappi pants are both available on Amazon for about $5 American for 2 pair. I would get 4 pair from each company, to see which works best. By the time the baby is out of the smallest size of plastic pants, 12 or 13 pounds, they may not need to buy 8 of the next size. But for $20 for 8 covers, a few bucks for pins, and 30 or forty flour sack towels (at a dollar apiece,) one could diaper a newborn, and be able to save a little money for more absorbent (and more expensive) flats, and maybe even fancier diaper covers, to add to the stash as baby grows. The flour sack towels would still be fine for day diapers, for doublers, or doubled themselves as needed. (also for pee surprizes when changing baby, burp towels, etc. I think everyone should have a supply of them, even if they use disposables. )
(Personally, I like pins; I never poked my daughter. I remember how she would howl as a child if so much as scratched by a sewing pin as I fitted a dress to her. But she didn’t get stuck as a baby )
In Canada those prices just don’t really exist. It’s not really an option. I’m also a strong advocate for products that actually work. I don’t like recommending brands without stories and brands that may or may not be manufactured in overseas factories without checks and balances. Finding cheap diapers in Canada means 10-14$ a diapers nd importing cheap diapers like you mention comes with a n 18% duty and 40% conversion on the dollar.