Diaper Service: Cloth Diapers Without the Laundry
How does diaper service work, and how much does it cost? Diaper delivery services offer the ultimate in convenience. If you want to understand more about what to expect, this article will help!
How Does It Work?
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Diaper service companies deliver sanitized cloth diapers to your door
on a regular schedule, and pick up the soiled ones for laundering. |
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What Type of Diapers Can I Expect?
Most diaper delivery companies use either fitted or prefold diapers made of high quality cotton. These diapers require a cover to be waterproof.
Some services rent covers or wraps with their diapers, while with others, you are expected to provide your own diaper covers.
Usually these companies offer sized diapers, so you get a good fit every time.
How Much Does Diaper Service Cost?
Costs usually run between $18 to $24 per week, with the added benefit of delivery right to your doorstep!
- Cost is higher than if you were to buy and wash your own cloth diapers, but is usually comparable or less than the cost of disposables.
- If you have more than 1 child in diapers, cost per child can be much lower, since they only charge you the delivery fee once. For parents of multiples, delivery can be much more affordable than disposables, and without the challenges of keeping up with the laundry needed to use cloth diapers for multiples
It is important to keep in mind:
- You'll need to compare what "extras" are included in the service since packages can range from a specific number of diapers to a flat fee, and may or may not include wipes, pails, reusable bags, covers, etc.
- Some companies offer discounts for new customers, discounts when you refer new clients, and loyalty discounts (for example, if you use the service for more than a year)
- While it isn't a standard, some companies even offer "toilet training" guarantees, where if your child isn't toilet trained by a certain age, your service is free after that point
Photo courtesy of Cheerful Cheeks, servicing London, Ontario
What is Included in the Weekly Fees?
Most companies are usually independent operators, so details of the service can vary from company to company.
The
standard provided by services include delivery, diapers, and
deodorizing disks to be inserted into your diaper pail. The remaining
items needed to diaper your baby are not always standard, so here's what
you should find out when you're comparing services:
- Do you need to rent or buy your own covers? Is there an additional fee for this rental? Read more about baby diaper covers here
- Will you need to provide your own diaper pail, or is this included in the rental fee? Some companies have a start-up charge that includes the cost to purchase a pail.
- Will the service include cloth or disposable wipes? Is there an extra charge for these?
- Does the fee vary based on the number of diapers that are delivered or is it a fixed fee plan?
What are the Benefits of Cloth Diaper Services?
The biggest benefits are:
- Convenience
- Delivered to your doorstep, even if you are not home
- Diapers are sterilized with up to a dozen water rinses. These companies use commercial laundry detergents and machines, usually no rinsing or flushing of waste is necessary
- Lower environmental footprint - due to economies of scale, less water and energy used than cloth diapers laundered at home, no impact to landfill when compared to disposable diapers
Some other benefits to consider:
- Less time in diapers - children in cloth diapers usually toilet train earlier than children who wear disposables
- Contribute to your local economy: the diaper service industry is made up mostly of small, local companies
- Diaper service can also be a great short-term option if you want to start out with cloth diapers with your newborn but don't want to invest in newborn cloth diapers or you don't want to tackle loads of laundry right away
What are the Cons of Cloth Diaper Services?
- Once a booming industry, diaper delivery companies are not as easy to find today, especially outside of major cities
- Details of the service can vary from company to company
How Can I Find a Diaper Delivery Service Near Me?
Because diaper delivery companies are usually small and locally owned, you may need to do a little ground work to find one you want to work with. Check out the following:
- Search engines
- Phone directories (Yellow Pages, etc)
- Local directories from your city, county
- Local service listings from your hospital, public health or prenatal programs
- Word of mouth
Are cloth diapers really better for the environment?
If you want to find out more about the environmental impact of cloth diapers, Eco-Friendly Diapers: Cloth vs Disposable can help you understand the environmental debate better.
More in Our Laundry Series
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Overcoming Hard Water: An Understanding of How to Get Your Cloth Diapers Clean How to Store Your Diapers Until Wash Day Off on the Right Foot: Prepping Your New Diapers |
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Cloth diapers don’t have to be hard, but with so much information available, they can seem overwhelming! My name is Jenn, and I'm also the mom behind the site All About Cloth Diapers. I hope this site helps you easily find the information you need to start using (and keep using) cloth diapers! [More]
