SAN DIEGO -- Meet the new and improved cloth diaper.

It is definitely not the old, white cotton wraps held together by safety pins that your grandmother used to use.

The Happy Heinys brand diapers are the creation of Linda Byerline of La Mesa.

"My daughter was born prematurely. It was suggested to me to switch her to cloth diapers," said Byerline.

But when she couldn't find any that fit, she made her own.

"I made some for my daughter, made a few extra, put them on eBay. They sold for hundreds of dollars on eBay and it turned into a booming business," said Byerline.

Stacy Ciota is a new mother who initially started using cloth diapers to help the environment, but she soon discovered it was also saving her money.

"The cost is a huge thing. And with gas prices not only is the petroleum to make them, but shipping-wise, you're already spending," said Ciota.

And what about the "ick factor"?

"But the fact is, you're going to be playing with poop whether you like it or not. It really isn't much different," said Byerline.

Byerline said the cost of disposable diapers for one child from birth to potty training is about $5,000, and the prices are going up with the price of oil.

Huggies brand diapers announced it would increase prices by 6 to 8 percent this summer, after already increasing prices in February.

Cloth diapers are now becoming an alternative to parents.

"Now, for one child, you're looking at cloth diapers from birth to potty training about $450. You've got your gas and water on top of that, but you're looking at about a penny per diaper for washing and drying your diapers," said Byerline.

With increasing gas prices showing now sign of stopping, any way to cut costs is welcomed.