Disposable diapers are one of the bigger baby expenses. While the average cost of the first year’s worth of disposables is about $700, remember that you will probably be using diapers for two to three years, thus doubling or tripling your expense. For that reason, it is especially helpful to save as much money as you can on diapers. The following strategies will help you get started.

Register with Diaper Companies

Disposable diaper companies offer membership programs that benefit both them and the consumer. To join the program, you provide your contact information plus the names and ages of your children. This helps the company to accurately target their marketing. In exchange, they send their members free samples, coupons, and other goodies from time to time. At least once a month, I receive a free diaper or two in the mail, a couple of coupons, and occasionally things like stickers or booklets. As your child gets older, you will begin to get training pants samples, too.

Pampers Savings Program
Huggies Savings Program
Luvs Savings Program

Mailing Lists

From the time you have your first prenatal appointment until the time you send your kids off to college, you will have opportunity after opportunity to get on parenting mailing lists. You will find sign up forms online, in parenting magazines, at the doctor’s office, in baby supply stores, and more. Sure, you’ll get some unwanted junk mail from time to time, but you will also receive samples and coupons beyond what you will get from the diaper companies, themselves.

Clip Coupons

Diaper coupons are readily available. Aside from the coupons you will receive in the mail when you register with diaper companies and get on mailing lists, you will find diaper coupons in baby and parenting magazines, the Sunday paper, store flyers (think Target and Babies R Us), and in the coupon packs that come in the mail. Also, be sure to check online. Do a Google search for “diaper coupons” and you will be amazed at what is out there. Coupons can also be found for sale on Ebay and for free through Freecycle.

Buy Generic

I have known a number of parents over the years who swear their babies can only wear Pampers because anything else is too harsh on their baby’s skin. If that’s you, then you can skip right over this section. For the rest of you who may be skeptical but not totally opposed to using generic, let me tell you what I have found. Some generic diapers are better than others. Some are simply not worth any amount of money. But some (and I have only found a few), are almost as good as their name brand counterparts. My personal recommendation? White Cloud brand diapers that are available at Walmart. They provide good leak protection, are softer than many generics, and cost about half the price of some name brands (depending upon size, they are around $14 for a case of about 100). I also like Target’s diapers relatively well and they are just as cheap as White Cloud. For those of you with nighttime wetters, consider buying generic for use during the day and pricier diapers for nighttime use.

Buy Used

Okay, there’s something a little icky about the idea of buying used diapers. But hear me out. What happens if you’ve bought a couple of cases of diapers and before you use them all, your baby moves into another size? Or what if you received way more newborn diapers from friends and family than you will ever be able to use? Or (and we should all be so lucky!), what if your toddler potty trains and you still have diapers left?

Some people solve this dilemma buy selling their unused diapers. You can find great deals on leftover diapers on eBay, at consignment sales, and at yard sales. One word of caution, though — only buy diapers that are still sealed in their original plastic packaging to ensure they are clean and sanitary.