My Frugal Baby Tips: Diapering

Image: Reading in Bed, by Squiggle, on Flickr

Image: Birdseye Flat Cloth Diapers 27x27 100% Cotton High Absorbency Birdseye Burp Cloth (6)

Have you got a bedwetter, but not enough money to afford those expensive cloth Bedwetter Pants, or the on-going expense of the disposable ones?

You can make your own - NO sewing required!

You will need: Two padded training pants (you can also use underpants, but padded training pants will be more absorbent), one or two flat or prefolded diapers, four diaper pins and a waterproof outer cover.

Or use a waterproof covered training pant for your outside layer - for a two-in-one combo!

Using the cloth diaper, fold it into a long thick rectangular pad. Lay this inside one of the training pants, so the folded diaper pad lays down the center of the training pant.

Image: Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist

Credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist.

Place another pin through the opposite short end of the diaper pad and back waist. Pin from the outside of the training pant, so as not to cause discomfort to your child.

Next, add the second training pant on the inside of the first, so you now have a training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant sandwich.

Add nylon, vinyl or other waterproof pull-on pants over top of everything. Or check into some of the newer fleece pull-on pants!

Image: Dappi Waterproof 100% Nylon Diaper Pants, White, Medium (2 Count)

Dappi Nylon Diaper Pants

These work great for kids embarrassed by the baby-like nylon or vinyl pants. Your bedwetter sandwich now has four layers - training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant | waterproof cover.

Use the two remaining diaper pins to pin through the three layers - two training pants and one waterproof outer cover - this time placing one diaper pin at each side waist.

Push the pins through the same area as the stitching on the waterproof cover to prevent damage.

These pins help to hold everything all together, and will allow your child the independence to quickly pull up and down their Bedwetter Pants when they need to go to the toilet.

If your child needs even more absorbency, you can add another layer of folded diaper, but this could be very bulky.

These Bedwetter Pants can also be used during the day, for older children not quite ready, or not completely potty-trained.

Image: MooMoo Baby 6 Packs Potty Training Underwear Absorbent Vehicle Training Pants for Toddler Boys Pee Pants 2T-9T

Potty Training Pants

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Gerber Birdseye Prefold Diapers

🚼 Birdseye Flatfold Cloth Diapers

🚼 Dappi Waterproof Diaper Cover

🚼 Toddler Training Pants

🚼 OsoCozy Diaper Pins

Image: Gustav in gDiaper, by Majorbonnet on Flickr

Here's a fast and simple way to make all your flat, prefold and shaped diapers into easy Velcro®-closing diapers!

Just cut one piece each of both hook and loop Velcro®.

Sizing: Small - cut 12" (31cm) long; Medium - cut 18" (46cm) long; Large - cut 24" (61cm) long; XLarge - cut 30" (76cm) long.

Trim off all the corners, into curves.

Place the Velcro® pieces back to back (with the hook and loop sides facing out, away from each other.)

Image: DIY Velcro(r) Diaper Fastener, by Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Sew together, around all four edges.

That's it! One fastener is all you need! If you wish, you could make one or two more, in case one gets soiled or lost.

Is that too much work??

Then you could just buy the One Wrap Velcro straps - no sewing involved!

Care: Wash by hand in the sink and hang to dry for longer wear.

To Use: Simply place the diaper on your baby as you normally would.

But, instead of using pins or clips, simply wrap this Velcro® diaper fastener around the diaper at your baby's waist, with the hook side facing the diaper, overlapping the Velcro® at baby's front (or back, if your baby can undo the strap!) to fasten.

The Velcro® hook part helps to hold the diaper in place.

Make sure the hooks are completely covered by the diaper, or they may irritate your baby's skin.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

One Wrap Velcro®

Shopping Suggestions:

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - White

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - Red

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - Green

Image: Smiling at a fresh delivery of diaper wipes, by Jessica Merz on Flickr

I prefer to use Puffs facial tissues for my baby's bottom rather than the homemade baby wipes to save money.

I have a squirt bottle filled with 2-3 tablespoons baby wash, 2-3 tablespoons baby oil and water.

I squirt his bottom, then wipe with the dry tissues.

Facial tissues are softer and much less expensive than paper towels - and I don't have to bother with cutting the paper towels in half (which can get quite bothersome).

Thanks to J. Buffett for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Prince Lionheart
Warmies Wipes Warmer

More Baby Wipes Recipes:

👶 Baby Wipes: Frugal Baby Wipes

👶🏻 Frugal Baby Wipes: Diaper Wipe Recipe

👶🏼 Frugal Baby Wipes: Simple Wipes Recipe

👶🏽 Diaper Sewing: Hand-sewing Doublers and Wipes

👶🏾 Frugal Diapering: Using Washcloths

👶🏿 Frugal Baby Wipes: Home-made Wipes

👶 Diapering: Saving Energy with Wipes Warmer

👶🏻 Baby Wipes: Avoid Mineral Oil

👶🏼 Baby Wipes: Re-using Disposable Baby Wipes

👶🏽 Frugal Baby Wipes: Handi-Wipes Baby Wipes

👶🏾 Frugal Baby Wipes: Reusable Wipes and Recipe

👶🏿 Frugal Baby Wipes Recipes

👶 Frugal Baby Wipes: Two Wipe Recipes

👶🏻 Frugal Baby Wipes: Another Diaper Wipes Recipe

👶🏼 Baby Wipes: Homemade Baby Wipes

👶🏽 Baby Wipes: Make your own wipes recipe

👶🏾 Baby Wipes: Frugal Bum Wipes

👶🏿 Frugal Baby Wipes: Using a Thermos

Image: Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong Facial Tissues | Two times stronger when wet vs the leading value tissue

Shopping Suggestions:

👶 Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong Facial Tissues

👶🏻 Tolco Flip Top Cylinder Bottle

👶🏼 Johnson Head-To-Toe Baby Wash

👶🏽 Johnson's Baby Oil

👶🏾 Offpring Baby Bum Spray

Image: What are Those? by Teresia, on Flickr

Place a pair of thermal training pants, that fit snugly, over your baby's cloth diapers - instead of a diaper cover.

With a good absorbent diaper, maybe with the addition of a diaper doubler or two, this will let your baby's skin breathe - yet help to keep the wetness inside.

Plus, you can use these pants again when your baby is ready for potty learning.

Thanks to Anne for this Frugal Baby Tip!

BIG ELEPHANT Unisex Baby Pure Cotton Potty Training Pants Ultra Wide Pee-Proof Wing Underwear 6-Pack Set

Pee-Proof Underwear

Shopping Suggestions:

🧒🏻 Pee-Proof Underwear

🧒🏻 Gerber Baby Training Pants

🧒🏻 OsoCozy Gauze Diaper Unbleached Doublers

🧒🏻 Bambino Mio, Mioboost (Booster Pads)

🧒🏻 Best Bottom Potty Training Kit

Image: Diaper Change on the Fountain Bench, by Sean Dreilinger on Flickr

Need a diaper cover in a hurry, and they're all in the wash!?

I used to keep nylon pull-on pants around for just such an emergency!

They are all in the wash too?? Use a plastic bag!

Cut a T-shape out of a grocery bag for a baby under about 16 lbs., or a kitchen garbage bag for a bigger baby.

Cut the bottom part of your T about 10" (25cm) wide on the bottom fold of the plastic bag.

This is the crotch part of your emergency diaper cover.

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Cut the top part of your T across the width of the plastic bag. This will be the waist ties.

Make your T about 8" (20cm) high for small, 10" (23cm) high for medium or 13" (33cm) for large.

Cut the sides of your T curved, for better coverage. Cut open the waist ties, so you can tie it on over baby's diaper.

Ties can be about 20" (51cm) long for small, 23" (58cm) for medium or 27" (69cm) for large.

Trust me, it sounds more complicated than it is . . .

When you open up the cover, you should have a giant H shape.

Place a folded prefold diaper inside, place baby on top, and tie at each side of baby's waist.

If you really like this style of diaper cover, you can cut some more out of waterproof, rip-stop nylon for no-sew, indestructible, washable tie-on diaper covers.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Diaper How-To Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Disposable Changing Pad

Shopping Suggestions:

👶 Diaper Quick Change Emergency Kit

👶 Safety 1st Oh Sh*t Kit

👶 Johnson's Tiny Traveler Baby Gift Set

👶 Daddy's Diaper Duty Apron

👶 Boudreaux's Complete Rash Kicking Kit, Diaper Rash Ointment and Applicator

👶 Disposable Diaper Changing Kit to Go

👶 Maki's Disposable Diaper Changing Kit to Go

Image: A Cool Dry Place, by Mark Gooding on Flickr

We love the fleece on Fuzzi Bunz (keeps the baby dry plus easy poop disposal).

Image: American Baby Company Fleece Blanket | Can be used in a baby carrier, stroller or as a traveling blanket | Ideal shower gift

American Baby Fleece Blanket

However we have a heavy wetter and can't stuff them enough with the Fuzzi Bunz diaper liners to prevent leaks, plus they are expensive.

So we cut up a $3.00 fleece baby blanket from the dollar store, to make fleece diaper liners.

Image: TotsBots Fleece Reusable Washable Nappy Liners (10 Pack) for use with TotsBots Reusable Washable Nappies

Reusable Nappy Liners

We used a flannel diaper liner as a pattern.

We add these to our regular prefold diapers and to our Kushies -- giving our regular diapers all the advantages of the pocket-style -- at a fraction of the cost.

Thanks to Kristin Verrill for this Frugal Baby Tips!

How To Make Cheap Re-usable Fleece Cloth Diaper Liners: How to make re-usable diaper liners out of Walmart fleece blankets. These are the $2.50 blankets that are stored in huge bins near the home area of the store. They have a ton of cute prints and make the PERFECT diaper liner.

Polar Fleece Fabric

More Do-It-Yourself Fleece Diaper Liners

✂️ How to Make DIY Cloth Diaper Liners – Cloth Diapers for Beginners

✂️ How to make your own Fleece Liners from a Walmart Blanket

✂️ Making your own fleece diaper liners - One Crunchy Square

✂️ The BEST Cloth Diaper Hack EVER: How to Make Fleece Liners for Cloth Diapers

✂️ DIY Cloth Diaper Inserts - Farmhouse on Boone

✂️ Making Cloth Diaper Inserts - Thinking About Cloth Diapers

✂️ How to Make Your Own Fleece Liners For Cloth Diapers

Image: The best second hand shop in Oxford, by Iona McNab, on PhotoBucket

Image: Danmeifu Baby Cloth Diaper Covers, Newborn One Size Adjustable Reusable Washable Nappy

Economical Diaper Covers

I had a blast today! There's a small second-hand children's store just down the street from me.

I decided to stop in and ask about cloth diapers/covers, and they showed me at least three bins of diapers and a basket full of covers.

At the second-hand store, the prices ranged from $1.29 for three liners, to $3.99 for a Kooshies...

I spent about fifteen dollars and came home with a bag full enough to make a full load for my washer.

I managed to pick up a couple of Dappi Contoured diapers, and a nice (unnamed) prefold.

I mostly got All-in-ones though for nighttime, and when my covers are in the wash.

Then I decided to check Amazon for their economical diapers and covers

- prices started as low as $0.59/each!!

I also checked out Ebay and found lots of great deals there!

Thanks to Ramona for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Shopping Suggestions:

🧷 Danmeifu Diaper Covers

🧷 Kushies/Kooshies Reusable Ultra Diapers

🧷 Dappi Brand--Pinless Contoured Cloth Diapers

🧷 OsoCozy Prefold Cloth Diapers

Image: Twin Girls with their dolls, on Pixabay

I made my own dolly diapers (though my daughter thinks all her dollies should be naked) from a cheap Gerber prefold.

It was pretty easy - just cut one in half, cut them into contour shapes sort of, and then put on some Velcro®.

Image: DC-BEAUTIFUL 4 Pack Baby Diapers Doll Underwear for 14-18 Inch Baby Dolls, American Girl Doll

Baby Doll Diapers

Here are a few patterns to make doll diapers:

🧷 Free Doll Nappy / Diaper Pattern and Tutorial | Willow and Stitch

🧷 Baby Doll Diapers and Accessories TUTORIAL

🧷 No-Sew Baby Doll Diaper | artsy-fartsy mama

🧷 Small Doll Crochet Diaper pattern by Victoria Stewart - Ravelry

Doll Diapers

🧷 Frilly pants/nappy/diaper cover knitting pattern for reborns and baby dolls

🧷 How To Make a Doll Diaper - Made Whimsy

🧷 How to make a diaper for a child's doll | Skip To My Lou

🧷 How to make cloth diapers for a baby doll

🧷 Goodness Gracious Preemie/doll diaper pattern

🧷 DIY Doll Diapers – Free Pattern + Tutorial!

🧷 Felt Baby Doll Diaper Pattern

One Size Diaper Patter

And if you want to make diapers for your own baby, here's a few great links:

🧷 Zany Zebra | Free Diaper Patterns

🧷 Making Baby Cloth Diapers – 18 wonderful Patterns {FREE}

🧷 Free Cloth Diaper PDF Patterns and Tutorials

🧷 Adorable Knitted Diaper Covers - DIYS.com

🧷 Make Your Own Diapers and Covers | BorntoLove.com

Thanks to Angela for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: zefen Reusable Baby Diaper Cover/Knit Co | Natural, so soft, breathable, waterproof. Perfect with prefolds for hot climate

Reusable Diaper Cover

More Frugal Diaper Covers and Soakers:

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Easy Homemade Soaker

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Free Crochet Wool Soaker patterns

🚼 FREEBIE: Knit/Crochet/Sew Soaker patterns

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Free Diaper and Cover Patterns

🚼 Frugal Sewing: Make your own diaper cover pull-ons

🚼 Diaper Sewing: Making a fleece pull-on pant

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters

🚼 Diaper Sewing: More Free Wool Soaker Patterns

🚼 Diaper Sewing: 2 layer fleece soaker

🚼 Diaper Washing: Washing Wool Soakers

Do you have any old, shrunk and matted wool sweaters?

Then you can make two excellent diaper covers per sweater. The more matted the sweater - the more waterproof the covers!

To Make: Cut equal-sided triangles from old, shrunk and matted 100% wool sweaters, and zigzag-stitch edges to prevent unraveling (optional).

You can usually get two small "baby bum sweaters" from one adult sweater, or one large baby bum sweater.

Sizing as follows:
Premie.....cut three sides of triangle by 10 inches (26cm)
Newborn....cut three sides of triangle by 12 inches (31cm)
Medium.....cut three sides of triangle by 16 inches (41cm)
Toddler....cut three sides of triangle by 20 inches (51cm)
Super......cut three sides of triangle by 24 inches (61cm)

Image: Cut along cutting lines for one baby bum sweater. Set aside the wrist-bands for use as leg bands on your baby bum sweater

Picture one

Picture one: Cut along cutting lines (red dashes in picture) for one baby bum sweater. Set aside the wrist-bands for use as leg bands on your baby bum sweater.

Image: This is what your pattern should look like - using the sweater's waistband as the baby bum sweater waistband

Picture two

Picture two: This is what your pattern should look like - using the sweater's waistband as the baby bum sweater waistband.

Image: Fold up the material towards the waist band. Bring waist-band sides together at front

Picture three

Picture three: Fold up the material towards the waist band. Bring waist-band sides together at front.

Image: Sew along lines, about halfway along sides to form leg-holes. Be careful not to sew the leg-holes completely shut. You can adjust the leg hole openings, larger or smaller, to fit your baby's legs

Picture four

Picture four: Sew along lines, about halfway along sides to form leg-holes. Be careful not to sew the leg-holes completely shut. You can adjust the leg hole openings, larger or smaller, to fit your baby's legs.

Image: Your bum sweater should look something like this. Now take the wrist-bands you set aside earlier, and sew around the leg openings

Picture five

Picture five: Your bum sweater should look something like this. Now take the wrist-bands you set aside earlier, and sew around the leg openings.You can thread a crochet tie through the waistband.

To use: Multi-layered or double diapers work best with these covers. Pull-on over diaper and tie in front.

TIP: Check out your local Goodwill, second-hand stores or other thrift stores for second-hand wool sweaters to use - very cheap!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip and instructional pics!

Reusable Diaper Cover

More Frugal Diaper Covers and Soakers:

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Easy Homemade Soaker

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Free Crochet Wool Soaker patterns

🚼 FREEBIE: Knit/Crochet/Sew Soaker patterns

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Free Diaper and Cover Patterns

🚼 Frugal Sewing: Make your own diaper cover pull-ons

🚼 Diaper Sewing: Making a fleece pull-on pant

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters

🚼 Diaper Sewing: More Free Wool Soaker Patterns

🚼 Diaper Sewing: 2 layer fleece soaker

🚼 Diaper Washing: Washing Wool Soakers

Knitting Baby Soakers

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Knitting Baby Soakers - features 13 vintage soakers, 2 shirts, and a bib.

🚼 Pea Patch Diaper Soaker Knitting Pattern - This pattern is for a knitted wool cloth diaper cover much like your grandma or great-grandma may have used!

🚼 Unisex Diaper Cover Pattern - This adorable knit diaper cover is perfect for baby to wear anytime, or for pictures.

🚼 PATTERN PDF - Little man diaper cover and bow tie set -- 2 sizes From CrochetMyLove

Image: Make your own diaper sprayer, by Nicole V. Bennett on NicoleVBennett.com

Dana asked: I found directions online on how to make your own Cloth Diaper Sprayer.

Here's the link: DIY Diaper Sprayer Tutorial

Cloth Diaper Sprayer

Anyone try this? Was it difficult?

Jen replied: I have something like that connected to our utility sink in the basement. I didn't even know they had this listed online.

I just went to the hardware store and told them what I was looking for, and the wonderful man set me up with all the parts I needed.

One nice thing about having it attached to the faucet is you can adjust the pressure. With the toilet, you can't.

You will also need plumbers tape if it isn't listed on the things to buy.

Oh, I love mine and no leaks.

Thanks to Dana and Jen for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Personal Creations | Baby Shower Diaper Cake

When your baby outgrows the need for diapers, and you still have disposables left or cloth still in decent condition, what do you do with them?

1. Make a heating pad
-- Soothe your aching neck. Or, for that matter, your aching back or shoulder. Use a disposable diaper's high level of absorbency to your advantage by creating a soft, pliant heating pad. Moisten a disposable diaper and place it in the microwave on medium-high setting for about 2 minutes. Make sure it's not too hot for comfort, then apply to your achy part.

2. Keep a plant watered longer
-- Before potting a plant, place a clean disposable diaper in the bottom of the flowerpot -- absorbent side up. It will absorb water which would otherwise drain out the bottom and will keep the plant from drying out too fast. You'll also cut back on how often you have to water the plant.

3. Pad a package
-- You want to mail your friend that lovely piece of china you know she will love. But you don't have any protective wrapping on hand. If you have disposable diapers, wrap the item in the diapers or insert them as padding before sealing the box. Diapers cost more than regular protective packaging wrap, but at least you will have gotten the package out today, and you can be assured your gift will arrive in one piece.

4. Protect an Injury
-- I once used a cloth prefold diaper to wrap up and protect a gaping wound till we got to the hospital.

5. More Uses
-- Flat and prefold diapers can be used as sunscreens, burp cloths, thin blankets, nursing cover-up, pot holders, Swiffer pads, dust rags, reuseable paper towels, window cleaners, face washies for after meals, traveling diaper changing pads, reusable travel washies, bibs, to wash the car, and so much more!

Wilton Diaper Cake Kit

And of course, there is always the diaper shower cake or diaper wreaths - there are patterns for both cloth and disposable diapers.

6. Cloth Diapering Fun and Printables
-- Diaper Quiz, Diaper Slime, Cloth Diaper Printables, Cloth Diaper Memes, Fluffy Bum on Board Clear Sticker, Diaper Friendly party, Funny Things Cloth-Diapering Moms Do, Baby's First Diaper Change, Cloth Diaper Cake Tutorial, Types of Diaper Loads, Diaper Quotes, Cloth Diaper Rap Song, Printable Cloth Diapering Cards, Cloth Diaper Charity Directory, Real Diaper Association Coloring Book, Celebrities Use Cloth Diapers, Unusual Uses for Disposable Diapers, Things You Should NEVER Ever Do to Cloth Diapers, and Make Diaper Changes Fun!

Make Other things into Diapers

👶 Make receiving blankets into new diapers
-- Too many receiving blankets? Make a couple dozen of them into great prefold diapers.

👶 More Free Diapers Sewing Projects

👶 Free Cloth Diaper Patterns
-- Free cloth diaper pattern links for everything you need to cloth diaper your child.

More cloth diaper ideas:

👶 The MANY Different Uses for a Prefold Cloth Diaper

👶 Quick Tip – Non-Cloth Diaper Uses for Flats and Prefolds

👶 Nine More Uses for Used Cloth Diapers

More disposable diaper ideas:

👶 16 Fun and Practical Uses for Clean Diapers

👶 9 Things Disposable Diapers Are Good for Besides Poop

👶 11 Unusual Uses for Diapers

👶 Other uses for Disposable Diapers?

And here's one more use for diapers...

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Painted pails, by Monica Arellano-Ongpin on Flickr

Just thought I would add to this tip...

Behrens Locking Lid Can

I too use this type of bucket, but being an artist, I can't stand to have things around that just aren't aesthetically pleasing.

Using regular acrylic paints that are non-toxic, I paint the entire bucket and lid to match the painting I did on the dresser and crib.

Once it's done and dry, you just put on a few coats of water-based polyurethane which is also non-toxic and it keeps it from chipping or peeling off.

Now you have a nice, one-of-a-kind, decorative diaper pail!!

Thanks to Karylann Love for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo credit: Painted pails, by Monica Arellano-Ongpin