How did I Prepare for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge? Day 2 #FlatsChallenge

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I'm participating in this years Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry and today's blog prompt is: How did you Prepare?  List your supplies, where you bought them, how you made them, how much you paid, etc.

It was actually pretty easy for me to prepare for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge. Since I had done the Flats and Handwashing Challenge with little Michael when he was little, I already had the flats and Snappis. I also already had all the diaper covers I needed, since I have been using covers with prefolds, fitteds and flats with little Riley since he was born. Everything was clean and ready to go too, since it was all already in my rotation. I simply took my pocket diapers, fitteds and prefolds and put them away for the week. 

 

With Riley, it has been so nice to see how reusing our initial cloth diaper investment is saving us money now!  Now, that's not to say that I refrained from buying Riley new diapers! Buying some key, sized pieces for Riley's first few months was definitely needed. But, reusing the flats and Snappis from when Micahel was a baby has been great! I really love having everything that I need for Riley! I can really see how buying cloth diapers and then being able to reuse them can save you sooo much money! 

So, what am I using (or, rather, re-using)? Here's a list of my supplies and how much they would cost, if I had had to buy them:

18 Swaddlebees/Blueberry Flats ($16.95 x 3 packages of 6 = $50.85 ) *I actually received these for free from Swaddlebees for the first Flats and Handwashing Challenge*

2 Hemp Babies Flats ($7.50 x 2 = $15)

1 Zabi Baby Bamboo Flat ($12.99)

2 Snappis ($3.97 x 2 = $7.94)

2 Blueberry One-Size Coveralls ($16.95 x 2 = $33.90)

2 Bummis Super Whisper Wraps - Sz Small ($12.97 x 2 = $25.94 )

18 Thirsties Wipes ($11.75/package of 6 = $35.25 )

Diaper Sprayer ($44.95)

Sample of Allen's Naturally to wash with (I received this in a swag bag at the Great Cloth Diaper Change) ($1.73)

Small bucket to wash diapers in

Gloves (pack of 2 = $3.99)

Frost Drying Rack from Ikea ($14.99)

Total Cost = $247.53 

Divided by 2, since I've used them on 2 children = $123.76

Not bad! Of course, you can always choose less expensive wipes, covers or flats and not use a diaper sprayer. Then there is the cost of detergent, which is a reoccurring cost, and more, since you're not just using it for a week. I also didn't go out and buy all of these things at once. I slowly added to my cloth diapers as I had extra money and as I had a need. I also received some things for free, like the flats. If I was looking to start cloth diapering with flats and covers, I think a dozen flats would be plenty and 4 covers are nice, but I would probably start with 2 or 3 covers. I would also get cheaper wipes. Some of my supplies have been invaluable though, like the drying rack from Ikea. Best $15 spent! I use it all the time and not just for diapers. It is so nice to be able to take it outside and sun some whites or dry a small load of laundry.

Also, even if you went out and bought everything I listed here for $250, imagine how quickly you would spend that on disposable diapers and wipes! Some families would spend that much in a few months on diapers and wipes. I have taken that $250 investment and used it for 2 diapering 2 children!

For this challenge though, all I spent was $3.99 for a pair of gloves! I had everything else!