Understanding your cloth diaper comparison
The table generated by our simulator compares, line by line, the real cost of using cloth diapers versus disposable diapers over a three-year period.
This cloth diaper comparison highlights potential savings as well as environmental impacts related to water, energy, and raw material consumption.
Each row details the main cost items:
the initial Berceau® cloth diaper kit, washing costs (short and long cycles), and the total accumulated over three years.
On the disposable side, the average price of €0.27 per unit — based on ADEME 2025 — is applied to roughly 6,000 diaper changes per child.
At a glance, you visualise the budget difference:
cloth diapers become cost-effective within the first months of use, and savings increase even more if reused for a second child.
In nurseries, the impact is even clearer: shared washing reduces energy expenditure and waste output.
Finding the right balance between washing, budget and durability
Washing every day might seem, at first glance, like the most economical solution:
fewer diapers to buy, less stock, and a fast rotation.
However, this approach is less sustainable in the long run.
Daily washing stresses fibres, elastics and PUL more heavily,
shortening their lifespan and limiting reuse for future children.
The most balanced rhythm is a wash every 2 to 3 days.
Diapers dry properly, elastics retain their flexibility,
and energy costs remain reasonable.
It is the best compromise between savings, ease of use and long-term durability.
Conversely, owning a larger stock to wash only once per week requires a higher upfront investment.
But if planning to use these diapers for multiple children,
this option becomes highly cost-effective:
a well-maintained cloth diaper can serve 2 or even 3 babies,
reducing both environmental impact and overall cost.
The real cost of disposable diapers
Over three years, one child in disposable diapers produces nearly one tonne of unrecyclable waste, roughly 5,000 discarded diapers.
This waste is typically incinerated or landfilled, generating significant environmental and financial costs.
More and more municipalities apply pay-as-you-throw charges.
In these areas, every kilogram of disposable diapers increases household waste bills.
Choosing cloth diapers therefore reduces both long-term waste and expenses.
Beyond financial savings, switching to cloth is a meaningful ecological action:
it limits pollution linked to cellulose, petrochemicals and plastics in disposables,
while supporting a more circular and responsible consumption model.
Financial support to help families switch to cloth
Many local authorities now offer a subsidy for purchasing cloth diapers, up to €200.
Check our interactive subsidy map to find available support near you.
To go further, try our
cloth diaper quantity calculator
— it complements the simulator by helping you determine the ideal stock based on your washing rhythm and budget.
