Spoiler: The numbers don't lie—and they're even better than we thought.
If you've ever stood in the baby aisle doing mental maths on yet another pack of wipes, this one's for you.
We get asked all the time: "Do cloth wipes actually save money, or is that just marketing spin?"
Fair question. So we grabbed a calculator, pulled up the supermarket prices, and did the hard work for you.
The short answer: Families save around $1,400 over two years by switching to reusable wipes.
Here's exactly how we got there.
First, Let's Talk About How Many Wipes You're Actually Using
This part might sting a little.
The average baby goes through a lot of nappy changes. And each change uses multiple wipes—especially during those newborn blowout days we all try to block from memory.
Here's what the numbers look like:
| Baby's Age | Nappy Changes/Day | Wipes per Change | Daily Wipes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn (0-3 months) | 10-12 | 3-4 | ~36 |
| Infant (3-12 months) | 8-10 | 3 | ~27 |
| Toddler (12-24 months) | 6-8 | 2-3 | ~18 |
Blended average across two years: about 27 wipes per day.
That works out to roughly 14,000 wipes before your little one is toilet trained.
Fourteen. Thousand. Wipes.
All going straight in the bin.
What Does That Cost in Disposables?
We checked prices at Woolies, Coles, and Aldi in late 2024. Here's what we found:
| Brand | Pack Size | Price | Cost per Wipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huggies Thick Baby Wipes | 80 | $7.00 | $0.09 |
| Huggies Pure (Sensitive) | 64 | $6.50 | $0.10 |
| Baby Love | 80 | $5.50 | $0.07 |
| Woolworths Homebrand | 80 | $4.00 | $0.05 |
| Aldi Mamia | 80 | $3.50 | $0.04 |
| WaterWipes (Premium) | 60 | $8.00 | $0.13 |
Most parents aren't buying the cheapest option—especially for sensitive baby skin. So we used a mid-range estimate of about $0.12 per wipe.
The two-year tally:
14,000 wipes × $0.12 = $1,650
That's over $800 a year on something you literally throw in the bin.
Now Let's Look at the Reusable Option
Our Reusable Cloth Wipes System costs $229 and includes everything you need:
- 25 organic cotton cloth wipes
- Hydrating cloth wipes solution
- Clean container (for fresh wipes)
- Messy container with wash bag hook
- Two mesh wash bags
- On-the-go travel bag
That's your complete setup—home and out-and-about—sorted in one kit.
The Savings Breakdown
Here's where it gets good:
| Disposable | Reusable | |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Year Cost | $1,650 | $229 |
| Wipes Used | 14,000+ | 25 (reused hundreds of times) |
Your savings: $1,421
And that's the conservative estimate. We didn't even factor in:
- The wipes you use for sticky hands and faces (that's thousands more)
- Bulk discounts you might get on disposables (we left those in to be fair)
- The resale value of the system when you're done
"But What About the Ongoing Costs?"
Good question. Let's address it head-on.
Solution refills: Our Hydrating Cloth Wipes Solution lasts about 3 months and costs $25 to replace. But here's the thing—it's totally optional. Plenty of parents just use water. The solution is lovely (and smells amazing), but it's not required.
Extra wipes: Some families grab an extra pack of 25 wipes ($45) for a bigger rotation. Also optional.
Washing costs: Minimal. You throw them in with your regular laundry or cloth nappies. We're talking maybe 50 cents a week in water and electricity.
Even with all the extras, you're still saving over $1,200.
When Do You Break Even?
This is the question that matters: how long until the system pays for itself?
Weekly disposable cost: $1,650 ÷ 104 weeks = $15.87
Break-even: $229 ÷ $15.87 = about 14 weeks
You break even in roughly 3.5 months.
Everything after that? Pure savings. That's about $16 back in your pocket every single week for the next 20+ months.
Even Better with a Council Rebate
Here's something many parents don't know: dozens of Australian councils offer rebates for reusable baby products—including cloth wipes.
For example, Sutherland Shire Council offers a $50 rebate. That drops your system cost to $179 and your break-even to just 11 weeks.
Other councils offer even more—up to $150 in some areas.
Check if your council offers a rebate →
| With Rebate | Break-Even Point |
|---|---|
| No rebate | ~14 weeks |
| $50 rebate | ~11 weeks |
| $100 rebate | ~8 weeks |
| $150 rebate | ~5 weeks |
The Multi-Child Multiplier
Here's where cloth wipes become a no-brainer.
The system lasts for years. Cloth wipes can handle 300-500+ washes. The containers last a decade.
So when baby #2 (or #3) comes along, your setup cost is basically zero—maybe $45 for some extra wipes.
| Children | Your Cost | Disposable Cost | Total Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $229 | $1,650 | $1,421 |
| 2 children | $274 | $3,300 | $3,026 |
| 3 children | $319 | $4,950 | $4,631 |
Three kids? You're looking at nearly $5,000 in savings.
It's Not Just About the Money
We'd be lying if we said the environmental impact wasn't a huge part of why we do this.
Every child in cloth wipes keeps roughly 14,000 wipes out of landfill. That's about 28 kilograms of waste—per child—that won't spend the next 100+ years slowly breaking down (and releasing microplastics along the way).
Those 175 plastic packets you're not buying? They matter too.
The Real Win: Never Running Out
Here's something the spreadsheet doesn't capture: the sheer relief of never being caught without wipes again.
No more realising the packet's empty mid-change. No more emergency dashes to the shops. No more that-was-the-last-one panic.
Your cloth wipes are always there. Pre-moistened in the container. Ready to go.
Parents tell us this is actually the biggest benefit—even more than the savings.
The Bottom Line
| What You Get | Disposable | Reusable |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year cost | $1,650 | $229 |
| Wipes to landfill | 14,000+ | 0 |
| Convenience | Run out constantly | Always ready |
| Skin-friendly | Varies (chemicals) | Organic cotton, no nasties |
| Total savings | — | $1,421 |
The maths is clear. The environmental case is obvious. And the convenience factor is real.
Ready to join the families saving $1,400+ while doing right by the planet?
Shop the Reusable Cloth Wipes System →
Last updated: December 2025. Pricing based on Australian supermarket research. Individual savings may vary based on usage patterns and product choices.