How much does a Nappy Stash Cost?

I was actually doing this as part of my Cloth Vs Disposables tables.... so I was trying to work out the average price of nappies, wipes etc. to work out what an average stash of nappies could cost given average prices.  Since I was working it out, I thought people might like to have a list like this to see a comparison between the prices of particular types of nappies without having to search all over the web. Though prices are a bit outdated now.

Generally - To compare the systems price wise...
Taking a number of nappies needed to be 20 (plus stuffing/boosters and covers to be able to use them), using the average prices found under the tables below.  Obviously this is a rough guide only, using average prices...you can get cheaper stuffers for pocket nappies (and use stuff like handtowels you already have).

Pocket Nappies and Boosters:
Fitted Nappies and Boosters:
AIO Nappies and Boosters:
(Using bought boosters as stuffers, you could find cheaper stuffing options though)

20 Pockets  @ $20.52 = $410.40
20 Boosters @ $5.71 = $114.20
Total = $524.60
(Allowing boosters for half the nappies and a new cover every few changes)
20 Fitteds @ $21.68 = $433.60
10 Boosters @ $5.71 = $57.10
5 Covers @ $21.05 = $105.25
Total = $595.95 
(boosters for half the nappies, but you might need more depending on the nappies)

20 AIOs @ $24.70 = $494.00
10 Boosters @ $5.71 = $57.10
Total = $551.10
Each nappy type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so its not a simple case of going for the cheapest option.  You need to work out what system is best suited to your lifestyle and needs.  The Nappy Types page might help you to work out what style would suit you best.

Being a pocket lover, I wanted to plead the case of pockets for a moment..... ;)  You can use old hand-me-down terry flats, cut up towels, microfibre cleaning cloths and things you have lying around... You can even buy a metre of hemp and cut it into squares yourself (it won't really even need edging as it doesn't fray much).  So you could basically get all the stuffing for free or under $50.... making it probably the cheapest nappy system if you don't have to buy much stuffing.

If choosing fitteds (or any system for that matter) it's better value for money to buy one size nappies (ones that will fit from infant to toilet training) where possible, so save you having to buy a range of sizes.  But you also want to make sure you have a good fit.

Our stash cost approx $430 - for about 25 nappies all up (including postage on the bought nappies).  Which included the fabric (also touch tape, elastic and snaps) for the 12 pocket nappies I made myself, the hemp I bought to make into boosters, a few microfibre cloths we use as boosters and the 13 nappies (fitteds and pockets) and covers I have bought. Plus we also have a couple of old fashioned flats we occasionally used and we used some old hand towels and facewashers as boosters too (which I didn't include in the costs because we already had them).  So by making your own nappies, buying from ebay and chosing an inexpensive system, you can go cloth for very little money. (Want to know what my nappy stash was?  see my Nappy Stash page)

Don't forget also you can sell your nappies when bub outgrows them  (Can't do that with a disposable!)

Now.... I've mentioned it in various sections below and I'll say it again here....  price is not the only thing you should look at!  I know it's tempting to go for the cheapest one, but there is a huge difference in the fabrics, shape and style between nappies and a cheap one may not be as absorbent or as well fitting.  But for the purpose of working out what "a fitted" on average costs, I lumped them all together.  I'm not suggesting a cheap nappy is crap, but I'd suggest you look more to value for money than cost alone.  Some fitteds may come with a booster, some may not.  Some are thin flannelette, some thicker bamboo....Same goes for wipes and boosters.  A 1 piece of flannel wipe will be cheaper than a hemp + flannel one (which can double as a booster), a hand knitted wool cover will be more expensive than a fleece cover - yet they are all in the same list.... Do you want cheap, or something more practical/better suited?

However.... since I've generally marked hemp/fleece/PUL/wool etc. if you look through the tables you should be able to compare prices of similar items fairly easily.  Which will give you a better idea of the value for money.  For example, I bought some "Nice Nappy" nappies from ebay that worked out at something silly like $3 each (new).  But they don't work for us - at all (they didn't fit, kept undoing and weren't absorbent enough to hold even one small wee).  So those $3 nappies are a waste of money to me.  My $27 hemp nappy is fantastic, I've well and truly got my money worth on that, and and I'd happily buy more...


Nappies such as Bummis, Happy Heiny, Motherease etc may have a slight price difference between stores.
(Prices as of 16th jan 2006 - no "specials" prices included in this list.  Based on a "Medium"/5-11kg size)
Fitteds, Prefolds, AIO, Pockets & Covers | Boosters | Baby Wipes | Flats | Packs

Cloth Nappies & Covers
Note:  "Wool" refers to a 100% wool fabric made into a cover.  "Knitted" refers to a hand knitted "Soaker" style cover

Where the name didn't fit into the column I've given it a number and you can look below the table for the number to see the maker.


 
Fitteds - Brand
Price 
AIO - Brand
Price
Pocket - Brand
Price
 Prefold - Brand Price  Covers - Brand Price
1). Raphael $17.95 1). Honey Boy  $27.95 3).Pocket Hemp $23.95 4). Hemparoo $10.50 7). Polar Bummi $23.00
1). Honey Boy  $19.95 eeenappies $24.50  Fuzzi Buns $26.95  WeeWuns Hemp $10.00 7). Whisper Wrap $14.50
2). Erica Sherpa  $24.00 Greenbums $16.00 3) Swaddlebees $25.95  WeeWuns Cotton $5.50 7). Super Snap $15.00
2). Erica Print  $27.00 Motherease $35.00 Bubba J $22.00  Bubba J Hemp $9.00 6). Fleece $15.50
3). Swaddlebees Cotton Terry  $25.95 15b). Plain jane $24.95 9). B4B PUL $18.00  9). Hemp $9.00 6). Wool $33.95
Snappi Nappy @ Wee Wuns $11.50 Rumpsters $33.00 9). B4B Fleece $17.00 BubbleBubs Hemp $8.95 8). So Simple $20.95
5). Simply nights @ Wee Wuns  $32.00 Bubblebubs $26.95 Green Kids $22.00 Bugalugs $17.00 8). Single Fleece $23.95
Bubba J Hemp $25.00 Peenuts wool-in-1 $25.05 Greenbums $15.00  Baby beehinds $7.50 8). Deluxe Fleece $25.95
Bubba J Organic $29.00  Tinkle Tots $22.95 Fruit Salad $21.95  15). Contour $10.00 Disana Wool $36.00
9). BFB Hemp Pocket¹ $25.00 Little Hugs & Kisses $12.95 16).  PUL $19.95 18). Hemp $8.00 Bubba J PUL $17.00
9). BFB  Fitteds $19.00 Kushies Ultra. $22.50 16). Fleece $20.95 Eco baby $8.50 Bubba J Wool $21.00
BubbleBubs Hemp $26.95 . . Happy Heiny $25.95 Eco baby Contour $23.50 Bubba J Knitted $21.00
eeenappies hemp $19.49 . . 19). Terry/Flannel $10.00 Jam Tots 2layer $9.50 10). Knitted  $30.00
eeenappies terry $11.49 . . 19). Fleece $15.00 Jam Tots 3layer $10.80 eeenappies wool $22.49
Bugalugs Hemp $23.00 . . Bumwear $20.40 CuddleFolds $11.00 eeenappies Fleece $10.49
Bugalugs velour $18.00 . . Pico Pocket $22.95 Kushies Cotton $3.32 Bugalugs  $12.00
Greenbums hemp $14.00 . . Peenuts PUL $21.00 13). Newborn Contours $7.83 Bugalugs Wool $24.00
Babybeehinds Hemp $25.95 . .. . . . . Tot Bots $20.00
Motherease Sandy @ nip naps $20.95 . . . . . . 12). PUL $16.00
Motherease One size @ nip naps $21.00 . .. . . . . 12). Wool $20.00
Kushies Classic $23.50 . .. .. . . . Motherease Rikki $22.00
12). Growing Greens @ NN $25.00 . . . . . . Motherease Airflow $22.00
13), Bimble Terry @ NN $22.00 . . .. . . . Sckoon Wool $35.00
13). Bumble Terry @ NN $23.00 . . . . . . Lanacare Wool $38.00
13). Paddy T Terry @ NN $13.00 . . . . . . Modern baby PUL $22.00
Ella's House Hemp @ NN $26.00 . . . . . . Thumbprints $11.95
Ella's House Bum Hug @ NN $28.00 . . . . . . 15). Cashmere $30.00
Thumbprint Behinds $14.95 . . . . . . 15). PUL $15.00
Possum Pouch Ceejay $20.95 . . . . . . 15). Fleece $18
Sckoon Organic @ Wee Wuns $18.00 . .. . . . . 15). Knit Shorties $24.50
17). Hemp Growables $26.50 . . .. . . . 17). PUL $17.00
17). Cotton Terry/Hemp $15.00 . . . . . . 17). Fleece $11.00
17). Sherpa growables $23.00 . . . . . . 18). Wool $24.00
18). Hemp $23.00 . . . . . . 18). PUL $15.00
18). Hemp Pocket¹ $21.00 .. . . . . . Bummis original $12.95
Happy heiny fitted $22.95 . . . . . . Eco baby Wool $30.00
Happy heiny Hugger $19.95 . . . . . . Zappy Nappy $11.75
Kisaluvs $18.00 . . . . . . Woolies $27.50
Eco baby organic $22.95 . . . . . . 19).  Fleece $12.00
Zappy Nappy $15.25 .. . . . .. . Baa Bums $40.00
20). Hemp Stretch $26.95 . . . . . . Cuddlewool $29.95
20). Hemp Bikini $24.95 . . . . . . Greenbums $13.00
Tinkle Tots Fitted $19.95 . . . . . . . .
Nature baby Cotton $23.50 . . . . . . . .
Average cost of a nappy:  *

Fitted: $21.68 | AIO: $24.70 | Pocket: $20.52  |  Prefold: $9.99  | Cover: $21.05

Multi Sized nappies (either fit from birth to toilet train, or have 2 size for greater economy):
Baby beehinds, Fruit Salad, Bubba J, Motherease, Growing greens, Bumble, Posum Pouches, Bubba Nature growables, Eco baby organic, CuddleBuns, Zappy Nappy, Peenuts PUL pocket, Bumwear pockets.

¹ Its called a pocket nappy, but since it comes with a prefold it doesn't need additional boosters I am adding it to the fitteds column.
 

1). Cherub's Kiss
2). Erica's Nappies 
3). Swaddlebees at Wee Wuns
4). BabyKicks Hemparoo at Green Kids
5). Very baby at Wee Wuns
6). Wee Wuns
7). Bummis
8). Stacinator
9).  Bits for Bots
10). Bubble Bubs
11). Baby Beehinds
12). Baby Greens at Nurture Nappies
13). Easy Peasy at Nurture Nappies
14). Nurture Nappies
15). Possum Pouch
15b). Possum Pouch -  Keester Kover
16). Sandra's Stuffables
17). Bubba Nature / Cuddles n Cloth
18). New England Nappies
19). Pookey pockets
20). CuddleBuns

* averages taken by adding the prices of all nappies of that type and dividing it by the number of nappies.  This is just to get a figure to use for each nappy type.... All Fitteds, AIO's, Prefolds and Covers are different (in size, shape, absorbency and fabrics), so comparing prices between each type is not neccessarily an accurate picture of value for money.

"Traditional" Cloth Nappies - "Terry Flats"/ Squares
Note:  "Terry" can refer to a low pile flatter Flannelette type fabric or a towelling fabric.  So I am unsure of what fabrics these are.
I know actil and bright Bots are towelling.
 Brand
Price 
 Brand 
 Price 
Nurture Nappies Bamboo Terry $8.00 Canning vale ("Happies") Terry ($40 for 12) $3.33
Nurture Nappies Organic Cotton Terry $8.00 Actil Soft Touch ($36.00 for 12) $3.00
Nurture Nappies Cotton Terry $8.00 Bright Bots Coloured ($39.95 for 6) $6.66
Nature baby Cotton Terry ($21.00 for 6) $3.50 Imse Vimse Multi-purpose Oco-cotton ($59.95 for 6) $9.99
Nature baby Cotton Towelling ($41.50 for 12) $3.45 . .
 *Average cost of a Traditional/Flat nappy: $5.99

* averages taken by adding the prices of all nappies and dividing it by the number of nappies.  This is just to get a figure to use for "a nappy".... Nappies may be different in size, shape, absorbency and fabric, so just comparing prices is not neccessarily an accurate picture of value for money.

Boosters for cloth Nappies
While I have lumped all boosters together, they are not all equal.  They vary in size, shape, thickness, fabrics and absorbency.
So cheaper is not neccessarily better.  I lumped them all together because it was unnecessarily confusing otherwise.

I'm slowing going through and linking all these to their websites and filling in the details.


 
Booster Brand
Price 
Booster Brand 
 Price 
Swaddlebees Hemp $8.00 WeeWuns Terry/ Chenille $5.50
Swaddlebees Microfibre $6.00 WeeWuns Hemp trifold $6.00
Cherub's kiss Basic (3 layers hemp) $2.50 WeeWuns Night Hemp $8.50
Cherub's Kiss Deluxe (3 layers hemp, microfleece top) $3.50 Sckoon Organic Shaped Cotton $6.50
Bubba J hemp Mini $4.00 Disana Organic Cotton knit $5.95
Bubba J hemp Maxi $5.00 Sckoon Cotton Flat $6.50
Bits for Bots hemp (2 layer trifold) $5.50 Mother Of Eden 3 layer microfibre $6.00
eeenappies Fleece/hemp (3 layers hemp, microfleece top) $4.50 baby Kicks Joey Bunz $9.30
Bugalugs Hemp $5.00 WeeWuns Stuffers/Boosters $7.70
Baby Beehinds Hemp (3 layers hemp) $5.00 Motherease Snap in Cotton $3.50
Baby Beehinds Microfibre (3 layers microfibre) $5.00 Motherease Sandys Cotton $3.50
Fruit Salad Microfibre (3 layers microfibre) $5.50 Nurture Nappies Hemp $5.00
Fruit Salad Hemp (3 layers hemp) $5.00 Sandra's Stuffables hemp (2 layer trifold) $7.00
Fruit Salad Hemp (2 layer trifold) $7.00 Sandra's Stuffables Microfibre (trifold) $3.50
New England Nappies Hemp Bifold $7.00 Bubba Nature Hemp $4.50
New England Nappies hemp $4.50 Bubba Nature Pocket Stuffers $6.50
New England Nappies Hemp cloth $2.95 Happy heiny Microterry $8.00
baby Eco Sherpa $4.60 Happy heiny Stuffin  (Extra inserts $4) $11.00
Cotton babies Microfibre $8.80 Pookeypockets large hemp/cotton $8.00
Jam Tots Hemp/Fleece $6.90 Pookeypockets large terry/flannel $4.00
Jam Tots Hemp $6.00 Bumwear Microfibre $5.85
CuddleBuns Hemp/ Fleece Deluxe $4.00 CuddleBuns Standard Hemp/Fleece $3.00
* Average cost of a Booster: $5.71

* averages taken by adding the prices of all boosters and dividing it by the number of boosters.  This is just to get a figure to use for "a booster".... Boosters may be different in size, shape, absorbency and fabric, so just comparing prices is not neccessarily an accurate picture of value for money.


Cloth Baby Wipes
{Hemp wipes can double as an extra layer of stuffing in nappies if needed}
 Brand
Price 
 Brand 
 Price 
Cherub's Kiss Flannel $0.80 Fruit Salad Flannel $0.65
Wahmies organic $2.90 Nurture Nappies Flannel/Terry $3.50
Disana organic Muslin $3.31 Sandra's Stuffables Swipes $0.70
Mother of Eden Wonder Wipes $2.41 New England Nappies Fleece/hemp $1.00
Mother of Eden super micro wipes $3.32 New England Nappies Hemp $2.95
Bubba J Micro terry/velour  $1.80 Happy hempy  $2.50
Bits for Bots fleece/flannel $0.66 Pookeypockets Flanelette $0.42
eeenappies Terry Towelling $0.81 Baby Beehinds Terry Cloth $1.10
{Where wipes came in a pack, the price was divided by the number in the pack to obtain an individual price for this listing}

Average cost of a Baby Wipe: $1.80

* averages taken by adding the prices of all wipes and dividing it by the number of wipes.  This is just to get a figure to use for "a wipe".... Wipes may be different in size, shape, absorbency and fabric, so just comparing prices is not neccessarily an accurate picture of value for money.

Cloth Nappy Packs
(Not including the smaller "trial" packs)

These prices were not used in the price calculations, but I thought they might be useful for people to know.


 
 Brand
Price 
 Brand 
 Price 
Cherub's Kiss 3 x Raphael newborn Fitted $30.00 Nurture Nappies Part Time (12 nappies 3 covers) $325.00
Bubba J Birth - Toddler Covers (11 covers) $172.55 Nurture Nappies Full Time (24 nappies 4 covers) $625.00
Bubba J Hemp Birth- Toddler Fitted nappies (30) $637.50 Nurture Nappies Convenience (36 nappies 4 covers) $900.00
Bubble Bubs Newborn AIO (13) $263.40 Baby Greens Part Time (12 nappies 3 wool covers) $365.00
Baby beehinds standard (12 fitteds, 4 covers, 4 hemp boosters) $380.00 Baby Greens Full Time (24 nappies 4 covers) $670.00
Baby beehinds Full time (24 fitteds, 6 covers, 6 hemp boosters) $674.00 Baby Greens Convenience (36 nappies 6 covers) $1,000
Baby beehinds (36 fitteds, 8 covers, 8 hemp boosters) $945.00 Motherease Part Time One size (12 nappies, 3 covers) $310.00
Baby beehinds Covers (x 4 - your choice sizes) $61.00 Motherease Part Time One size (24 nappies, 4 covers) $555.00
Nurture Nappies Covers (4x Tot bots) $72.00 Motherease Part Time One size (36 nappies, 6 covers) $810.00
Nurture Nappies Covers (4x Motherease) $80.00 Bubba Nature Hemp/Terry Fitted (x10) $150.00
New England Nappies Rainbow Hemp (x5) $100.00 Bubba Nature Hemp/Terry Growables $269.50
New England Nappies hemp (3) $66.00 Eco baby organic (12 nappies + boosters) $275.00
New England Nappies Hemp Pocket (x3) $60.00 Zappy Nappy (24 nappies 2 covers) $392.00


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