[Big Giant Head]

I laugh when I add up the cost of my last three children born at home, breastfed, and cloth diapered.

Birth tub (Extravagant, but great. 150 gallon rubbermaid stocktank) plus plumbing: $150 Room for two, priceless!

Sterile scissors, cord clamps, assorted "accessories" : $20 per child.

Three children born at home total: $210

Cloth diapers : $324 for ALL sizes, plus inserts. Still using them after 4 years. Total savings on diapers alone (using their numbers)$7,000+ and counting.

[RebelBanker]

Obviously none of your children lives up to your screen name. Had it not been for a competent hospital maternity ward (they call it "The Birth Place" or something now) my wife and son would have both died during his birth. His big head got firmly stuck in the birth canal and he had to be delivered by C-section.

[art_rocks]

My twins cost us a $100. Of course, my wife and I were active duty at the time. She got out right after the birth. I figured my taxes that year paid for it.

[GraceCoolidge]

I am profoundly grateful that I've been able to nurse my children, for the most part. When my younger son had to start getting formula around 9 or 10 months, I was pretty shocked by the price. As for cloth diapers, though, I am not as convinced of the savings. Do the comparisons include cost of detergent/borax, electricity, water for laundry (or diaper service)?

I wrote off the article as ridiculous when it included the "cost" of hospital stay. What percentage of parents actually pays, out of pocket, those costs?