Why are diapers so expensive? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#41

Post by j4kp07 » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:55 AM UTC

cobalt wrote: post #38

shiftpgdn wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can hand wash them in a bucket with washboard (though we didn't) and line dry them. We actually line dried ours about once a month to air them out and sun-bleach the cloth. About 30 $5-15 cloth diapers lasts you 3-4 days between washes.

where are you line drying them? In your bathroom, most people are lucky if they have an outside space to do this when living paycheck to paycheck

Correct. In your bathroom.

Honestly, there is an epidemic of self defeatist in our day and age.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#42

Post by mattbee » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:56 AM UTC

djrogers wrote: post #28

There are a couple of ‘facts’ listed here that don’t line up with my current reality and very recent knowledge (3 kids, most recent is 18mo). First off, 12 changes a day is a huge outlier - even for a newborn. 8 would be a more reasonable number, and it drops down to the 4-6 range in the first year, and by now we’re at 3 if we don’t go swimming. Second item that sounds waaay off is $1000/yr for diapers. Again, that h…

I think you missed the part of the article where they talked about never having enough cash to buy in bulk, instead buying at 2 or 3x the unit cost in 5s and 10s from the corner shop.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#43

Post by nroach » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:59 AM UTC

djrogers wrote: post #28

There are a couple of ‘facts’ listed here that don’t line up with my current reality and very recent knowledge (3 kids, most recent is 18mo). First off, 12 changes a day is a huge outlier - even for a newborn. 8 would be a more reasonable number, and it drops down to the 4-6 range in the first year, and by now we’re at 3 if we don’t go swimming. Second item that sounds waaay off is $1000/yr for diapers. Again, that h…

This article was from Tampa Bay, Florida. Different states have very different social services nets. And it also varies by metro area. Also, prices are often (perversely) cheaper for basics like food, gas, and diapers in wealthy areas vs poor areas.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#44

Post by nroach » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 5:02 AM UTC

j4kp07 wrote: post #41

cobalt wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

where are you line drying them? In your bathroom, most people are lucky if they have an outside space to do this when living paycheck to paycheck

Correct. In your bathroom. Honestly, there is an epidemic of self defeatist in our day and age.

In my area, where relative humidity is often 60-90%, this form of drying would result in moldy cloth, not dry diapers. My guess is Tampa's microclimate is probably similar and line drying isn't an option.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#45

Post by j4kp07 » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 5:03 AM UTC

steve918 wrote: post #14

Hermel wrote: post #12

Even 50 cent diapers are less expensive than the time it costs you to change them. So I don't think they qualify as "so expensive".

Maybe you should have read the article. Maybe not expensive for a software developer making 6 figures a year, but that's not most people. For people living near poverty levels $1k a year is a lot of money.

> $1k a year

This person has never had kids.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#46

Post by j4kp07 » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 5:05 AM UTC

mantas wrote: post #32

craftyguy wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

folks living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford big upfront costs like this. even if it saves them money in the long term. too bad personal finance isn't a thing taught in public schools.

$30 is big upfront costs? Seriously? Of course, that may be a bigger sum in 3rd world countries. But they don't have Amazon there at all and probably don't use diapers either.

Don't you get it? Anecdotes and hypotheticals trump logic and common sense.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#47

Post by rubicon33 » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 5:06 AM UTC

djrogers wrote: post #28

There are a couple of ‘facts’ listed here that don’t line up with my current reality and very recent knowledge (3 kids, most recent is 18mo). First off, 12 changes a day is a huge outlier - even for a newborn. 8 would be a more reasonable number, and it drops down to the 4-6 range in the first year, and by now we’re at 3 if we don’t go swimming. Second item that sounds waaay off is $1000/yr for diapers. Again, that h…

Why would people bring a child into the world if they can't even afford diapers, will always blow my mind.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#48

Post by stevekemp » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 5:12 AM UTC

shiftpgdn wrote: post #2

My wife and I cloth diapered both of our children. In addition to being radically cheaper it also resolved rashes/eczema in both kids as well as accelerated potty training. There is an 'ick' factor but liners and a toilet sprayer take care of 99% of that.

We're also using cloth diapers, except when travelling (which is pretty rare), but it has had no impact on the childs exzema.

(As expected really, half of the rashes are on his arms/torso and completely away from the diaper-end!)

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#49

Post by taneq » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 5:13 AM UTC

ythn wrote: post #16

> Diapering a child now takes about $1,000 a year for an average product. That doesn't seem right. Are these people buying the smallest quantities possible? You can buy ~300 diapers for $30 on amazon. That's only $360 /year.

Not all disposable nappies are the same. The ones for $0.10 each are pretty horrible.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#50

Post by war1025 » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 5:21 AM UTC

mantas wrote: post #32

craftyguy wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

folks living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford big upfront costs like this. even if it saves them money in the long term. too bad personal finance isn't a thing taught in public schools.

$30 is big upfront costs? Seriously? Of course, that may be a bigger sum in 3rd world countries. But they don't have Amazon there at all and probably don't use diapers either.

When you are making minimum wage, which I believe is ~$7.50/hr, and are most likely not working full time, that is a good chunk of a day's pay. Granted, if you are in that situation, you are probably getting some government assistance.

Also, some people are just terrible at managing money.