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How many children are you planning to have, and how long do you plan to keep them in diapers?
It really depends on your situation. Reusable diapers make economic sense if you use them for more than one child or keep them in rotation for a long time, because the initial cost is high (maybe 400-600 euros for a complete set) but then you basically don't spend anything else. If it's your first child and you think you'll only have one, the math works out less well, especially considering you'll have to wash them often, hang them to dry, iron them - it's extra work. Then there's the practical side: not all daycares accept them, some public facilities have logistical issues.
What a lot of people don't think about is that reusables require space (drying rack, dryer or sunlight), consistency in washing them properly to avoid skin problems, and on the environmental front it really depends on how you wash them - if you use cold water and run full loads, that's better; if you're someone who washes every load at 60 degrees, the environmental savings go down. Try to figure out if you'd actually have the routine to manage them without stress, not just with good intentions.
Bottom line: economically yes if it's a long-term investment, environmentally it depends on how you use resources, practically only if you're willing to add extra work to your daily routine.
giovanni62 asker
Two kids, and I'll use them as long as possible. I'm drawn to them mainly for environmental reasons, but I'll admit it'll require some organization.
the real savings come if you manage them properly, not just if you have multiple kids - lots of parents resell them or pass them on even after just one baby and still spend less than disposables over 2-3 years 🌱 what others don't see is that cloth diapers require a serious routine (frequent washing, drying, storage space) so if you're disorganized or living in tight spaces maybe it's not ideal, but from an environmental and long-term wallet perspective it really does work.
The thing is, reusable diapers only work if you can keep up with the washing, and that's not trivial! I was super convinced at first that they were the solution, then I ended up with piles of wet diapers in the bathroom and the washing machine running constantly. If you're the type who already has a solid laundry routine and does quite a few loads a week anyway, then adding them isn't a big deal. But if you're thinking you'll do laundry sporadically, you're in for a rough time.
Where I really think they're worth it is with your second child onwards, or if you know other mums who use them and can swap different sizes when your baby grows. At that point the savings are real! Just because those first few months are the toughest with frequent changes, and being able to reuse what you already have at home without spending money every month is such a relief.
What surprised me is how much it really depends on what kind of reusable diaper you pick - some dry quickly and are super practical, others don't. It's definitely worth trying one or two different brands before investing in ten pieces. And honestly, if you don't like the idea of handling wet poop daily, save yourself the hassle and use disposables without any guilt!
Don't make the mistake of thinking reusable diapers are an automatic solution just because they cost less in the long run. The reality is it depends a lot on how you live and how willing you are to invest in daily management. Anyone who says it's worth it economically just because you have more kids isn't always right, because if you can't keep up with the laundry you'll end up buying disposable diapers "for emergencies" anyway and then the savings disappear. The organizational side gets overlooked.
What really matters is whether you have space to dry them, a washing machine that won't drive you crazy, and above all the willingness to manage dirty laundry every two or three days without stress. If you live in a cramped damp apartment or you're away from home most of the time, reusables become a nightmare. But if you've got a big house, a convenient clothesline and an already solid laundry routine, then yeah, it's worth it. Some parents have gotten along great with them from the first kid, others tried them and gave up after three weeks. It's not a money thing, it's about real feasibility in your life.
Maybe try with one or two reusable diapers to start, don't get swept up in the idea of eliminating them completely right away. See how it works for you, whether the drying times are manageable, whether your skin reacts well. Then decide if you want to get more or go back to disposables, without feeling guilty about it.
I'm using them, and the trick nobody tells you about is to keep a bucket with a bit of baking soda soaking between washes - that way they don't smell, bacteria don't grow, and the laundry basically self-cleans, cutting down the actual number of washes you have to do. So you're actually saving more time and water than you would from the washing machine itself.
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