There are plenty of moms out there thanking the powers that be for disposable diapers. Raising children can be challenging, and disposable diapers definitely make things easier; but they can also get expensive. According to some statistics, a family with one child in diapers can spend around $50 a week at a minimum to keep their little one in clean drawers, while others purchasing more expensive brands can spend even more. Eventually, the bill adds up.
Normally, the cycle goes something like this: You have a baby and get a ton of high-quality disposable diapers at your baby shower that last your baby for a month or so. Then, they start growing out of them more quickly than ever, and you eventually find that your stock has dwindled. You go to the store, excited about purchasing diapers, so much so that you don’t even blink at the cost. Everything from how they smell (clean, of course) to how they look in your shopping cart makes you feel giddy inside. A few days later, you’re back, and a few days after that, you’re back again. Soon, before your baby even finishes their last pack of diapers, they no longer fit, and you’re back in the store. You get the point—it gets old and expensive!
Saving Money on Diapers: What Works?
Around the 4-5 month mark, your baby has probably settled into a nice size 4 diaper, where they will stay for a while. At this point, you begin realizing that there are cheaper brands. Store brand diapers, the diaper depot up the street, and coupons galore. You try them all and cross your fingers that your baby doesn’t end up with a diaper rash. You find, without a doubt, that there is a significant difference between name-brand and store-brand disposable diapers. Many store-brand diapers leave a gel-like residue on your baby’s bottom after an initial wetting, and many brands leak like crazy. Got a stinky one? You could have a real mess on your hands. The next move is to use the cheaper brands during the day and save the really good, absorbent ones for nighttime to save a little cash.
The problem is that no one can really recommend one brand of diaper over another. The reason is simple: Babies come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and certain diapers—especially those with sticky tape-like fasteners—just don’t fit chunkier babies. As soon as the diaper is wet, the tape just falls apart, and next thing you know, your baby’s diaper is falling down to their knees. If a diaper doesn’t fit just right, it can also leave red marks on your baby’s hips or upper legs. While brand A may work wonderfully for your neighbor, it won’t necessarily work for you. You’ll have to do a little trial and error, which can end up costing and wasting money in the meantime.
One option is to write to companies and ask for free samples to avoid buying a whole big pack that may not work. The bigger name brands are usually eager to please new customers and, along with your samples, may send you some valuable coupons. Another way to save money on disposable diapers is to shop around for sales. Grocery stores are not always the cheapest, although many grocery stores in the United States offer baby discount cards that allow you to save certain percentages on baby needs throughout the store. If you have multiples, a simple proof of birth can give you a heap of incredible coupons from companies like Huggies and Pampers. Additionally, they may even send you free diapers along the way.
Another viable option for saving money on diapers is to shop at discount grocery stores or salvage grocery stores. A pack of diapers that is ripped open by one of those mothers who has to inspect the diapers before purchasing (ugh) and then picks up a brand-new pack to take home cannot be sold in regular stores. These are sold to salvage grocery companies. It’s not uncommon to find brand-name diapers at half the price if a ripped package doesn’t offend you. The trick is to buy them up quickly, as they won’t last long! If you find a ripped package in your favorite grocery store, ask a manager if they can offer a discount as well (but please, don’t rip open packages just to get a deal). When you find discount diapers, it’s a good idea to buy a size up, especially if it’s a brand you’re fond of.
Unfortunately, some (not all) of the store brands really aren’t great buys. If you have to change diapers more often, you’ll end up spending the same amount of cash. And if your baby gets a rash, it isn’t worth saving a few bucks each week. A quick check at a local grocery store confirmed that for a package of size 4 diapers, the price discrepancy between the cheapest and the name-brand diapers was $4.83 for the same amount of diapers. When you shop, look at the labels on the shelf to see exactly what you’re paying per diaper. If it’s just a few cents per diaper, opting for the better-known versions may be worth it in the long run, especially if they fit better, don’t leak, absorb more, and save you frustration.
The older your baby gets, the more pressure there will be on your choice of disposable diapers. Your bigger baby will have bigger urinations and larger “loads” when they’re dirty. The diapers won’t last as long. If you aren’t close to potty training, some mom logic would tell you to stick with what works, saves the car seat from getting wet, and saves you from washing the sheets every day. BUT, as you look forward to potty training, realize that those uncomfortable, less absorbent diapers that don’t immediately absorb every dollop of pee can actually help you. One of the difficulties with potty training is that disposable diapers are made so well that your child may not feel themselves use the bathroom and has a hard time associating their urge to go with actually going. Remember, the sooner you potty train, the faster you can allocate all that cash to other things your toddler will need! Remember, the name “disposable diapers” indicates they aren’t supposed to stick around forever!
