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It’s no secret that having a baby is expensive. At BabyCenter, our research found that new parents can expect to spend $20,384 on baby-related costs in their baby’s first year — including more than $1,000 on diapers alone! (Try our Toddler Income Calculator to estimate your family’s expenses.)
Some of the first year’s expenses are one-time purchases, such as a crib or car seat. Others add more. Diapers are one of the most affordable baby care items – you use them every day, and they can be a line item in your family’s budget for years. And for many families, the cost is high: About half of US families with young children struggle to afford enough diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network.
Fortunately, there are effective ways to save on diapers without sacrificing fit, comfort, or quality. If you’re trying to stretch your diaper budget, consider these money-saving tips:
1. Join loyalty and rewards programs
When you find a diaper that works well for your baby, check to see if the brand offers a rewards program. For example, Pampers offers the Pampers Rewards program, which allows parents to earn Pampers Cash on eligible purchases that you can use on future packs of diapers or wipes. Even a small discount can add up over time, because diapers are bought frequently.
2. Buy more
Buying a lot of diapers at once can be one of the easiest ways to save money. Usually, the bigger the box, the lower the price of the diaper. How can you tell? Compare the price per unit for the smaller and larger packages. You can usually find this on the price sticker at the store, or next to the price on the product page. For example, a 32-pack of one-size diapers on Amazon costs 31 cents per diaper, while a 164-pack of the same diaper costs 25 cents per diaper. If you have the space and your budget allows, consider expanding your purchase.
One warning: don’t overdo it! Babies have a way of growing overnight, and the last thing you want is to have a big box of diapers that no longer fit. A good rule of thumb: Don’t have more than two boxes in one size and one box in the next size (no need to jump further than that size).
When you make multiple purchases, scan your receipt for unopened boxes for safekeeping; even after the return date, most stores allow you to exchange unopened boxes of a different size.
3. Get access to subscriptions
Many online retailers offer discounts for repeat orders, so it’s one of the easiest ways to lower your diaper cost.
“We get one big box every six weeks, which keeps us in the store without having too many diapers to store,” says Mike Kern, a South Carolina father of two and founder of budgeting site FreeBudget. They use Amazon’s ‘Subscribe and Save’ feature to save 5% on every box. “If we had started using this program when our boys were born, we would have saved hundreds of dollars by the time we were out of diapers.”
4. Sign up, sign up, sign up!
Children’s pens are not just for big-ticket items. If you’d be happy to receive more must-haves than just goodies, let your friends and family know by adding items like diapers and wipes to your registry.
Not sure how much to add? Follow the 2-4-4 rule: two newborns, four size 1, and one size 2. And consider subscribing to a few different products to see what works best for your child (check fit, skin, and absorbency).
To avoid any problems, sign up with suppliers that allow easy exchange of unopened packages of diapers.
5. Click to remove the registry
If you put diapers on your registry but end up with a mountain of onesies instead, you’re not alone. It’s easy for registry items to get confused with beauty products.
The good news: Many retailers offer discounts for completing the registry. All Amazon Prime and Target Circle members get 15% off items not purchased at their registry as their due date approaches. So if diapers didn’t make your gift pile, this might be a great opportunity to stock up on the sizes you know you’ll need in the future — and save a little money while you’re at it.
6. Time your shopping around for sales
This process takes some planning, but diaper sales can be your wallet’s best friend. Check supermarket shelves, sales programs, and warehouse club promotions, so you can save when you see the best. For example, Target sometimes sells baby products that offer a $20 gift card with a $100 purchase in diapers and wipes. This can be a great opportunity to buy a few extra boxes now and grab those gift cards for when you want to redeem them.
The best price is a diaper that fits your baby well, works within your family’s budget, and makes everyday life easier.