What are YOUR Price Points for Baby Items?
Check out this email I recently received from reader, Jennifer…
Hi Collin! First, thanks for all you do to help us all save a bundle! Speaking of bundles, my husband and I just found out that we are expecting our first baby in September. 🙂 We are so happy and excited. Shortly after we found out, my husband said “you better start stocking up on baby freebies you know!” He has really come to love my couponing! LOL! I’m wondering if you might ask my fellow Hip2Savers to help me and other first time moms out there. I am totally lost on all things baby. What is a good price point for wipes, diapers, shampoo, lotion, formula etc.? Also, how far in advance can I stock up on certain items without worrying about spoiling? Can I stock up on wipes without worry that they will dry out? I have a million questions and know I can count on my Hip2Save community to help me out with the savings part!
Since all of my kiddos are finally out of diapers (Yippee!!), I am having a hard time coming up with good price points for the mentioned items above. So if you have a baby or toddler, please help Jennifer and other new mommies out by sharing your stock-up prices and any other money-saving tips/advice that you can offer a first-time mom. I would also love for you to suggest must-have baby items (i.e. for me, it was my sling and a Bumbo Baby seat) and baby items that you may feel are totally unnecessary.
And congratulations to Jennifer and all the other expectant Hip2Savers! 😀
Pretty new to this parenting thing myself, but I’ve found you can save money by making your own baby food….the best is bananas, you can mash one up super smooth and feed it to your baby as is, no cooking required! And, in our area, bananas are cheap, much cheaper than a jar of baby food!
I totally agree! It is generally healthy, cheaper and tastier! Another great food you don’t have to cook is avocado! This was my fav site for making baby food was: http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com
Oh yes! Good point! I made a lot of my own baby food and it’s really easy! I used a steamer and regular blender for everything, plus got ice trays with lids from BabysRUs. I used wholesomebabyfood too in addition to: https://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/
I try not to spend more than $4 on a jumbo pack of diapers. It’ll happen somehow somewhere at a drug store about once a month – and at that time I stock up. My daughter is just over a year now and I had to STOP buying diapers a few months ago because my stash was getting ridiculous.
It’s harder to get a good deal on wipes. I intend to spend about a $1 on a tub, but it’s hard to do. If I run out, instead of buying a tub at a premium price, I make my own with paper towels, baby lotion and baby wash – just google a “recipe” for wipes and you’ll find something similar.
For clothes I try not to spend more than $2 on anything (well, unless it’s REALLY cute) because there are so many consignment sales at churches and such in the fall and spring, it’s not worth paying much more for it.
I agree for the clothes! We have a second hand store (relies on drop off donations) and I buy a TON
OOPS! WASN’T FINISHED LOL. I buy lots of clothes name brand..Gymboree..Old Navy…The Childrens Place and much more for my baby. Some new with tags! Others maybe worn a few times. Can’t beat paying $1.00 for something that world easily cost $15 or more at the mall 🙂
if you have the room, stock up on those larger sizes. They only wear the bitty stuff for so long but as they grow it is harder to find nice stuff for cheap.
good advice Alicia! I am also expecting my first around September and this will be a good thing for me to remeber when garage saling this summer!
everyone always says don’t buy the small sizes they only wear it briefly, but in all honesty kids only wear all the sizes briefly…and a baby still needs clothes, and in fact maybe more because they poop/puke on them several times a day and have to be changed. Fall/Winter babies especially should have a stockpile of warm clothes and pj’s
I wanted to know the exact same things! I am due end of July and have no clue! Any insight would be awesome! Good questions Jennifer!
Congrats to all you new mommies! My little girl just made 15 months. I have always bought my daughter her Pampers on Amazon. I would get ABOUT 200 diaper for 15-20 bucks. And honestly, I would pay about $10 bucks for a 720 count wipe box. The bumbo seat is a MUST HAVE, and a pack n play. If you plan to use bottles at all, I am a huge fan of the Playtex drop-ins. They have been around forever, and the just work! I never bought the Playtex brand liners, i went with any generic and they were just as good and a ton less expensive. I agree with above-Make your own baby food! Something I did not do, but plan to do for my next baby. It’s healthier and cheaper. But I know it also is less convenient if you dont have the time!
If you are like me, and like the name brand clothes for baby, and the bows for the girls-Just wait for big sales. I really love Gap, and they have extra 40% off days, and that includes clearance. I score some great deals here! Also childrens place online has great promotions often! I am also a big fan of outlet malls, cuz they are much cheaper than regular. Boutiques are another story-they are very pricey!! My husband and I will check there end-of-season sales out and pick up maybe a couple unique items per season when they are clearanced out. I also started makes my daughters bows myself which saved some money! 🙂 It’s pretty easy, anyone can do it. (especially if I can)
If you are a germaphobe, kinda like me-carry antibacterial wipes in your diaper bag at all times-made me feel better often.. I was constantly wiping my hands and my babys, plus surfaces at restaurants and grocery stores. Also, my daughter dropped her pacifier constantly. I bought the pacifier wipes, and they were wonderful!! As far as brands for baby gear, I love Eddie Bauer, and Chicco. Look for sales ONLINE. you can always score great deals, and find coupon codes. Congrats!!!
I’m not good with price points. But I would just caution you that, especially if you or your hubby have sensitive skin, not all diapers/wipes work for all babies. I probably wouldn’t go too crazy stocking up beforehand until I knew if a particular brand worked well for my baby (good fit/minimal leakage/no skin reaction). JMHO.
My must have items included a glider (many hours spend nursing and holding my sleeping baby). A nursing cover and sling were the reason I kept my sanity and was able to get out of the house that first year.
I agree about the diapers. My older 2 kids wore whatever kind of diapers but my daughter who is 4 months old can’t wear Huggies or use Huggies wipes. I had a diaper show and had to get rid of a ton of stuff she could not use it.
Not to disagree but just to add, sometimes it can be a food that irritates their skin coming out the other side more than anything else. At least this has been my experience.
Though, you probably will just find a brand of diapers you like more.
I agree, do not stock up on diapers. We can’t use Huggies diapers because they leak on us, but I love their wipes. We use Luvs diapers during the day and 12hr night-time diapers from pampers at night. I only buy when Target has a sale and I can double my coupons, and sometimes Walgreens or CVS. I love my rocking chair also, it was a life saver at night. I buy most clothing at consignments or when on sale. I have noticed I keep my daughter in simple sleepers or onesies if we dont go out. Keep it simple. I wasted a lot of money on junk I thought I needed before she was born.
I agree as well! My son can’t wear Pampers but can’t use Huggies or Parent’s Choice wipes. We have to use either Luvs or Huggies diapers (Up & Up leaks for us) or Pampers or Up & Up wipes. He also still can’t eat carrots (they give him bad diaper rash if they are pureed), so I’m glad we didn’t stock up on anything before he was born except for clothes.
First off, research cloth diapering. It will easily save you a $1000-$2000 from birth to potty training. Again, with the cloth wipes… invest $40-60 into 5 dozen cloth wipes and you’ll never spend anything else on wipes again (and they clean your baby’s bum far better). And you can do baby registries for your cloth diapers!!! Seriously, register for the diapers and you just may get away with people buying your entire stash of dipes – meaning you’ll pay next to nothing out of pocket for diapers!
For more info check out the realdiaperassociation.org
Yes, make your own baby food! Fresh, healthy and cheap (breastfeeding is also nearly free).
Hand me downs and consignment/thrift shops are your friend ;0) Just remember that buying a used carseat is NOT a good idea unless you know the person you are buying it from very, very well.
Kids do not need to be nearly as expensive as our society likes to make them. Basic toys, natural choices are low cost, easy and good!
As far as price points on items for kids, just remember that (especially with little ones who put things in their mouths) be careful of quality. Cheap isn’t always good.
I have to agree completely on the cloth diapers. For about $500 we were set (for twins, no less). A great resource for stock up pricing otherwise is babycheapskate. They track the pricing weekly.
I also made baby food & found buying clothes on clearance was the way to go. Right now I’d be out buying all the newborn, 3 month & maybe 6 month winter clothes.
Just be careful because all babies grow at different rates…mine didn’t wear 0-3 hardly at all!
I know I’m probably going to be frowned upon, but carefully consider the cloth option. I have 2 SILs that were planning to cloth, spent the money, and changed their mind, wasting over $500. Plus, when you spend only $0.10/diaper or so, you won’t be saving that much money. For 3 kids in diaper, I only spent about $400 last year, and while that sounds like tons, make sure you consider washing the diapers. I hear from friends (and the SILs) that you need to run diapers thru the wash 3 times per load, running that daily or every other day. How much is that for detergent and electricity? I won’t argue the “good for the environment” concern, but sanity is also my #1. 3 kids in diapers would have sent me over the edge. I checked into it and would have spent tons on cloth vs disposable.
FYI, after carefully considering all option, Amazon Mom is the BEST prices for all diapers (cloth or disposable). You can order at around 12 cents or so each (depending on size) and stock up. Then I fill in and stash with cheap Walgreens/CVS where I stack coupons and get reward points. Good luck!
I cloth diapered two at the same time, and it saved my neck and sanity and budget. When you have an infant, it can be a huge hassle to get to Wags or RA before their sale stock is depleted, and your time and hauling your kiddos all over creation have to count for something. Washing cloth diapers was super easy, and I did it every two days. I just kept them in a big basket and didn’t even bother folding them because they’d get used right away again. Check out diaperpin.com because they have some really great experienced moms who can help you decide. Also, if you take good care of your diapers, you can resell them and recoup a good portion of your investment.
Not frowned upon, nothing is for everyone. 🙂
But really, the detergent used is beyond minimal, especially if you throw you’re own together w/Washing Soda, Borax and an inexpensive all natural bar of soap – even using a detergent like Country Save will cost you about $10-15 a year not using coupons/sales. As far as rinses, I do suggest using an extra rinse at the end. Washing cloth diapers is generally the equivalent of having an extra person using the toilet in your household. Running the dryer obviously will cost the electricity, but in the warmer months hanging the diapers outside in the sun will dry them for free AND get stains out! You also have to remember that with disposable diapers you are paying to throw them away – paying $5-15 more per month for a larger garbage can may be similar to the cost of the electricity to dry the diapers.
Cloth diapering does take commitment, especially if you’re not used to it. It is much easier than most realize and if you take good care to use appropriate detergent (to avoid buildup and find yourself needing to strip diapers) and minimal wear you can resell them for approx 25-50% of their new value price.
Meaning, if you invest in 24 $18 One Size Cloth diapers (you’ll likely need to wait until your baby is about 10lbs to use a one size diaper) you’ll spend $432, $30 for a diaper sprayer, $40 for cloth wipes, $20 for a wetbag (for dirty diapers when you’re out and about). Prices will be cheaper if you have coupons, use co-ops and buy the diapers in large packages. Use them for 2 years, sell everything for around 25% of the new value and you’ll come out with around $125 or so in cash.
Use simple prefolds and diaper covers and you could easily cloth diaper birth to potty training for under $250. Prefolds last forever and can be used for many, many kiddos.
In my opinion (and this is just mine, lol) being frugal, essential and minimal go hand in hand. Our main drive for cloth diapering originally was not wanting to throw away 6000-7000 disposable diapers over the first three years of my kiddos life or wanting her sitting in the chemicals all day. The financial benefits of cloth came when we realized she would need a special formula and were spending an easy $380 a month using coupons 😛
I cloth diapered my third baby, as far as wipes, don’t spend a lot on fancy ones, just go buy really cheap babywash clothes. Walmart has 4 packs for $1 and the dollar tree sells them too.
I agree. Look into cloth diapers. It saves you a ton and it better for your baby and the enviroment. It is not as scary as it sounds. We have been cloth diapering for 2 plus years and my husband said even it we could afford to buy posies he thinks he would still prefer cloth diapers. A great place to registar for cloth is Mom’s Milk Boutique. They always have free shipping and they will give you 10% back on your registery purchases. If you use this link I get 5% back. Plus, they have amazing customer service. https://momsmilkboutique.com/index.php?PARTNER=chelseygray
I feel bad, but cloth diapers gross me out, i tried them with my oldest and when the first batch needed to be washed they went in the garbage. I really admire ladies like my grandmother who had no option and no modern conveniences and thank goodness I am born in the era of technology:)
Did you have a diaper sprayer? And remember, until your baby is on solids (and having solid poos) you don’t have to rinse, just wash! I encourage you to find a local cloth diapering group or class in your area – there are so many wonderful technologies that make cloth diapering easier.
i won’t spend more than 10-12c per diaper. wipes i won’t pay more than .50 for a small tub or no more than 1c per wipe shampoo and lotions i will pay up to $1. i find it harder to find really good deals on them so when i do find them i stock up big time!!
You can save a TON of money on diapers and wipes by using cloth. It is a bigger upfront cost but there is no late night runs to the store because you realize you are low and need to buy a box and full price. Overall it is cheaper as long as you can control how many you buy (it gets addicting). Plus when you have another kid you already have all the diapers and wipes you need!
Collin – I love your site – but when I was pregnant I really looked to https://babycheapskate.com/ for all things baby. She has stock up prices per diaper brand – where to sign up for formula coupons, diaper / formula sales, etc…she even did a series on decorating a nursery on a budget.
Personally the Amazon Mom Subscribe and Save plus the 20% coupon from Parents has been the best diaper prices I’ve found – stock up prices depend on size! My son is wearing 4s and when I can get them for 16c a diaper for 7th Generation or Earth’s Best brand I go for it! (he has sensitive skin and scratches at Pampers – and for us Huggies leaked!) I wouldn’t stock up majorly on any 1 thing until your baby comes because you don’t have any idea what brand / formula type will work for him / her.
I get Huggies / Pampers wipes when they are cheaper (w/ coupons) than Target brand Up&Up – but for us – we aren’t picky on wipes! I like Up&Up and I get CVS brand when I have ECBs to blow.
I’ve never had any wipes dry up but I’m not a huge stockpiler either.
Register @ Target for baby stuff – because then you might get on the ‘baby’ coupon mailers. There is usually a Johnson & Johnson coupon in them which you can pair with a mani for really cheap lotion / soap, etc.
Congrats! Happy baby! They’re a blast!
i LOVE baby cheapskate !!ANYONE WHO IS PREGO OREXPECTING DEFDEFDEFREQUEST THEM ON FACEBOOK!!! you will save SO MUCH!!! I am a mommy of twins (6 months) and I have NEVER paid more then about 18$ (MOST) for over 150 diapers (all sizes!) I use AMAZON MOM, + the 20% magazine coupons 😀 … for wipes i would not pay more then .02cents a wipe about 14$ is a good price for 700+ wipes 🙂
I’ve also enjoyed making my own baby food by steaming various veggies, mashing them up in the food processor and then freezing them into cubes in an ice cube tray. When you are ready to serve just grab a few cubes and microwave them (obviously check the temp carefully before serving).
I found the bottle/wipes warmers to be unnecessary. But loved the jumperoo and low baby swing.
love the cubing baby food idea! I will be using this!
Jennifer,
Congratulations! I have found that by following the drug store ads I can generally pull off jumbo (regular) size diaper packs for $2.99 to $5.99. I would start stocking them now. Wipes stay moist a long time as long as you do not open the package (I’ve stored some packs for 2 years). I can usually pull up a tub size package for $1.00 at drug store sales. Jar baby food has dates. Most is well over a year. Hope that helps.
Even if wipes do dry up just add water! It’ll soak it right back up. No worries!
Biggest money saver — nurse your baby if you can (I know some women can’t — this is not a social comment, but an economic one). I have 7 kids and I can’t even begin to think of how much we have saved by nursing, and then only feeding the kids appropriate table food — never baby food, cereal or formula.
Another cost saver for us is co-sleeping with the baby. Instead of buying a crib and crib bedding, we invested in a good bed rail. It is safe to co-sleep with your baby as long as you nurse (although there is criticism of co-sleeping, only children who are bottle fed are ever “rolled upon” by mom — there have been studies about this).
agree on the co-sleeping. The ‘nursery’ approach was a total waste of money for us as none of the kids spent nearly any time in there until they were in their own twin sized beds.
Research co-sleeping a lot and get lots of opinions before you decide. I breast fed both my kids, but co-sleeping just did not work. It was rough getting up with them for about 6 months, but by 7 or 8 months both of my kids were sleeping soundly through the night, in their own crib, and more importantly, I WAS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT TOO! Co-sleeping is great if it works for you, but don’t feel bad if it doesn’t.
I agree with researching cosleeping, I too have breastfed all 4 of mine, but I decided against cosleeping (and the times we have had to cosleep have been very uncomfortable and with poor sleep).
*like* *like* *like* your comment!!! The price I was quoted (3 years ago) for a years worth of formula was $2.500. My husband was sold right then and there on breastfeeding. Haha! If you do choose to breastfeed, check out a class at your local hospital. Ask for a lactation consultant at the hospital when you deliver. You can also look for a local chapter of the Le Leche League, a GREAT resource.
We also co-slept for a while.
* In addition to the breastfeeding comment, if you can, purchase an electric pump. I breastfed AND pumped for 9 months and was able to pump and freeze milk (in canning jars in a deep freezer) so my son didn’t have to drink formula at all…. we used the pumped milk for the 3 months after I weaned him. It was great!!
That is AWESOME! I had a single advent pump, but wished I had sprung for the double Medela (especially worth it if you plan to go back to work).
My husband and I were just discussing last night, and trying to figure out how much money we saved not having to buy formula because of nursing. That means I’ve saved $10,000 on all 4 of our kids? That is amazing! Definitely agree – nurse if you can to save $$! Co-sleeping never worked for me though; I would never sleep for fear of rolling over on my baby!
I also agree that breastfeeding will save you a TON of money. I breastfed AND bottle fed both of mine (for different reasons).
Give breastfeeding an honest try but if it doesn’t work out, don’t feel like a failure. That is the best advice I can give.
Formula is sooo expensive, I really wish I could have only breastfed.
I agree breastfeeding can save a ton!!!!! Plus, it better for you and your baby. Do your research and make sure you are educated about breastfeeding and it will make a big difference. Congrats on the baby!!!!!!!!!!!
i slept with all 4 of my kids, mostly because i’m selfish and want their warm little bodies next to me, and it helped them sleep too. I breast fed two of them and bottle fed two of them and had no issues with either. I will caution that once they are toddlers, and need their own bed, it can be extremely difficult to break them from mom, and my 6 year old still climbs in bed with me at least 4 nights a week
Parents choice diapers are awesome! It is the walmart brand. Huggies gave my baby diaper rash and pampers leaked. Parents choice come in a box of 96 i believe and they are like 13 dollars.
I respectfully disagree with Parent’s Choice diapers – especially for newborns. With coupons and good sales – you can get diapers cheaper that are better quality.
i totally agree i find with a good sale and coupons there is no need to settle for cheaper/none name brand diaper i buy diapers when the come out at $5 or less for a jumbo pack.
also it is a good idea to sign up for coupon offers for expecting moms i got some amazing coupons from these offers and got diapers,shampoos and lotions for great prices( $1 for j&j’s baby lotions and shampoos,wipes about 1-2 cents a wipe and 30 cents or less baby jars)
I dont understand why people care about the name brand of a diaper…you baby poops in it. As long as it does not cause diaper rash and does its job (holding in the urine and poop) then I am fine. I have found that the quality of parents choice is better than that of huggies and pampers.
I love parents choice too! In fact many name brand and store brand diapers are manufactured at the same place with the same materials just have a Brand slapped on them. I with snag up the name brands when I have double coupons and find great deals but if not I buy walmart brand. If you change your child regularily you have no problem with “generic”.
I also didn’t like the Parent’s Choice diapers. They felt too… papery. Of course that decision was made when I had a tiny baby and was comparing to the pricey Pampers Swaddlers we got hooked on from the hospital! I might be fine with them now if I didn’t avoid going to my ghetto Walmart at all costs. 😉
Now the Target Up and Up, that was a diaper I chose a lot before I realized I could usually get name brands for cheaper. They’re reasonably priced, and are covered with cute polka dots!
We cloth diaper! (www.diaperswappers.com for a forum that can help you get started if you’re interested.) We have spent around $250 so far, to include prefolds (two sizes), covers, diaper sprayer, wetbag, natural diaper cream, and cloth wipes..cloth diapers have a market for resale also, so I just keep recycling my money when I sell (smaller size prefolds and covers) and buy new. There are oodles of options out there for cloth diapers these days, but we went the least expensive route and my husband raves about them – especially the wipes!
I second the consignment sales – you can find some awesome stuff at those!!
I would like to add that our favorite baby item is our twilight turtle (they have a ladybug, too!) because we use it to check on our little guy at night (less bright and therefore less intrusive than a nightlight) and he loves to look at the starts projected onto the ceiling. When he gets older, we can help him find constellations.
Oh! I saw one of those turtles at Babies R us yesterday! I want one for the nursery! Thanks for letting me know about that. 🙂
Disposable diapers: 10 cents or less/diaper for size 3-4, 8 cents/less diaper size N-2
Baby wipes: less than 1 cent/ wipe or $1 for 100
Wow! Good question! I just had my 4th, and last 4 months ago..and I’m still learning how to make a stock pile of baby items.
I take full advantage of baby samples..and I registered at Target and requested a zillion diapers all sizes. They gave me a gift bag loaded with high value Target coupons which I matched with manufacturer coupons..and signed up with my formula of choice (optional..This ol’ girl just wasn’t woring lol) to receive formula checks. Its sooooo fun scoring. Oh! And don’t forget to start a Rewards account with Pampers and/or Huggies for diaper and wipes coupons..and even non diapering items.
The list goes on and on! Congrats Jennifer!!
Congratulations to Jennifer! We’re expecting our second baby right now, due in June.
One thing that’s helped a LOT was cloth diapering-you spend a lot for start up (around $200, depending on what brands or types you buy-we have mostly bumGenius and Fuzzibunz one-sizes) but after that you don’t buy diapers. I believe disposables cost at least 1k per child, to diaper from birth to potty-training. My husband was REALLY excited when I pointed out we can use our son’s diapers for this baby, too, so if anyone is even considering it, I’d urge you to give it a try. I promise it’s not any more disgusting than disposables!
Other than cloth-diapering, making our own baby food helped a lot, and our son was breastfed until ten months. After that , we had to use formula and I’d suggest signing up for mail from formula companies because they sent us coupons and checks we could use (formula is PRICEY!). Same goes for baby food companies, signing up for their newsletters meant we occasionally got coupons for when I didn’t have time to make the food.
And other than the diapers, our biggest “must-haves” were the Moby wrap (sometimes the only way to get him to stop fussing was for us to wear him around the house) and swing (he’d sleep in it once in a while). Biggest waste was the wipes warmer.
Congratulations to all the expecting Mothers!!! It has been years since mine were in diapers…I’m waiting on grandkids! I do remember that you cannot have enough onezies (sp). Mine went thru a few a day, they spit up milk at every feeding.
Great deals—completely off subject! Just was at Target and they informed me that they had JUST marked down a ton of baby clothing, accessories and bottling items. When I went to check for myself, they were right! All 3 pack Carter onesies, sleep sacks, bibs, bottles etc were clearanced like crazy!!! Most stuff down from $8.99 to $1.98!
Just a heads up, but I thought this was a great post to mention on!!!!
I do not recommend stockpiling baby lotion or wipes. My child has sensitive skin and had to use unscented products, so I was stuck with a bunch of items I couldn’t use on her.
I tried not to spend over $6 for a jumbo pack of diapers only because I was not a big couponer like I am now.
Although, you can now use those extra lotions/shampoos for baby presents!
I agree with being careful about stockpiling on lotions. I received a TON of scented lotions and baby wash from my baby showers and my son ended up having eczema which became irritated with scented products.
My tip – many generic diapers are just as good or better than name brand diapers. Amazon Mom club is the best. I have purchased some cheap diapers through Amazon. Also, my must have was a baby swing.
You might not want to buy too many size Newborn diapers. My babies were born too big to fit in these altogether, plus you will get plenty of size Newborn and Size 1 at your diaper shower. Size 2 and 3 we stayed in for a long time it seemed. 10cents per diaper is a good stock up price. 1cent per wipe is good too. Store wipes upside down and flip in a few months or so to keep them moist. I breastfed all my babies so I cant be much help on formula but I would guess you dont want to stock up too much on this b/c you dont know what brand will be best for your baby plus expiration dates, etc. Best Wishes and Congratulations!
I never thought that I would make my own baby food, but I swear by it now. I have a two year old and am due in April, and I definitely plan to make my own again. It was so much easier to move into eating table foods because he was already eating the same thing we ate and was used to the same flavors. The “test” that sold me was when I pureed pears and compared them to the baby food pears — no comparison. I used a Magic Bullet because it was so compact and easy to use.
I try not to spend more than 10 cents a diaper or 2 cents a wipe. (I’m not very good at remembering how many come in jumbo/mega packs, etc., so I usually divide it out to per diaper/wipe.) This isn’t a “normal” price, but I’ve not spent more than that over the past year of couponing since I stock up with there are deals on Amazon, at Rite Aid, etc. I’ve not had a problem with wipes drying out. I think that Pampers or Luvs are the best diapers (Pampers Dry Max is my favorite!), and Huggies are by far the best wipes.
I loved our bouncer/bounce chair for young babies, the Exersaucer, and the Jumperoo. I spent between $5-10 on each at yard sales, etc. and sold them again for the same price when we were done. We’re a military family, so it doesn’t make sense to me to store anything for the next baby since we move so often. (Plus, then we have more room for storing stock-pile items!)
First of all don’t stock up on too many diapers in one size, because your baby will grow out of them and then you’ll be stuck with a bunch of diapers you can’t use! I usually try to stack coupons with deals at Rite Aid or Target for jumbo packs of diapers- I try not to pay more than $5 for one jumbo pack. If there are no deals going on and I really need diapers, I buy them off Amazon and get the 30% subscribe & save/amazon mom discount.
For wipes I just try to get them as cheap as I can. I have to buy sensitive wipes because my son has really sensitive skin, so I can’t just go out and purchase any wipes that are on sale. So I’m kind of limited in what I can get deals on. You can get good deals on wipes, but you have to keep your eye out for them and stock up when they come around! I’ve had good luck stacking coupons at Target and getting wipes for pretty reasonable prices.
As far as formula goes….the cheapest formula I found was at Sam’s Club. My son had reflux as an infant and I had to buy a gentle formula. Sam’s Club has a generic version of this, for half the price of name brands. They also sold the largest containers I could find (and were cheaper than Walmart). Another option for formula is the “checks” different companies send you when you sign up for them. Similac, Infamil, Gerber, they all send these out, ranging from $1 to $8 off. I’d still recommend generic, though. It is the same stuff as the name brands. Or better yet, if you are able to breast feed, avoid buying formula for as long as possible!!! Formula is expensive even with discounts.
Ok. Here are some suggestions.
1. Make a list of things you will be needing. (you can search online, they shoould have it available)
2. If you are a low income family, try to apply for WIC. You will save tons of money with formula when the baby is born (if you won’t breast feeding your baby). BUT I really STRONGLY recommend breast feed.
3. Stock up on diapers from now on. Any sales you see from WAGS, CVS or RITE or any other stores. Buy about 2 big boxes of New Born size and about 4 big boxes of every size (Like 1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Samething apply to Wipes, buy a lots. Try to use your extra buck to buy it. For example, buy something that is turn out to be FREE after extrabuck then use that extra buck to buy wipes. (I believe wipe can last longer than a year if you keep it sealed)
5. Go look around at Thrift store from now on from time to time. Try to get baby gear and other cheap baby stuff.
6. Don’t buy too much clothes. Baby first year grow too fast.
I will post some more ideas later.
Congratulations! I love Rite Aid for diapers. You can combine coupons, Video Value coupons and a sale and get good deals. Sometimes $3 for a smaller pack. If you can manage, try and start stocking up now. But don’t buy all small sizes because you’re baby will probably grow quickly. But some of size Newborn, size 1 and then more of size 2 should get you through the first couple of months. Also, I love the target wipes, but they’re all pretty similar so get whatever is cheaper, unless you have sensitive skin then you might want to get fragrance free.
A good baby swing is essential. Don’t buy one that you have to crank. I loved ours that swung side to side rather than front to back. A good car seat is essential too. Make sure that the handle moves from front to back easily and doesn’t weigh a ton.
Lansinoh wipes and cream are essential if you’re breastfeeding. Just remember, a lot of things are marketed to make your life easier with baby, but sometimes they don’t work. Always review products on amazon or somewhere like that to see if other Mom’s recommend the product. Relax, good luck and have fun.
I had no clue how ot save on baby items until I started using this website. I would have once thought that drug stores were the last place to get diapers but now I find them to be the best. One other thing I have learned is Target has coupons for various items on their website and there are manufacturers coupons you can stack to make it a good deal.. Add a sale to that and its awesome. I got Huggies wipes most of the time for $0.49 and $0.89 a tub at the right time. I have a stash. Instead of oh I have to buy babystuff I am thrilled to buy it cheap and save it for later. I don’t have to budget much money each month for baby supplies b/c we are good. You will learn and it will be second nature. Walmart as of recently has also started honoring any competitors coupons so you can have their price and manufacturers and store coupons. That is the best! Good Luck! Also Kohls.com has wonderful prices on baby equipment and if you get a Kohls card they offer random discounts of 15-30% usually once a month – I used my 30% to get ou Fisher Price Little Lamb Cradle and Swing for $75 and got Kohls cash and free shipping. Study now and play your cards right for the best deals. I stressed over baby expenses before I had him and it all worked out.
The Amazon Mom deals with the additional 20% off coupons have been a HUGE saver and there is NO running here & there hoping they are in stock & they are mailed to your door. I try to spend under $.15 per diaper. ($.10 or less is GREAT!!!) Wipes – I usually try to stock up on Black Friday at Babies R Us. They usually have a big boxes for $5. $1.00 is the price I look for baby shampoo, lotion, etc.
If you have sensitive skin, be sure anything you stock up on you could give as gifts!! Some babies are more sensitive & can’t use certain diapers, wipes, etc.
while we’re on the subject, does anyone have an amazon diaper code from parents/parenting. I need a code to buy some for my sister. if so please email to dealskth @ live dot com.
trade for formula checks if you can’t breast feed and remember you can stack coupons with forumula checks and store coupons! i even bought forumula from people on craigs list. never paid more than $4 a can.
Well I would say first of all sign up for your States WIC program if you can, “most” people qualify. My hubby is in the Military and we qualify. It helps Tremendously with the cost of formula etc. You can apply for WIC as soon as you find out your pregnant and you will get vouchers for fruits, dairy, whole grains and veggies. This really does help out alot, I found myself giving away things because I just had too much and I didnt want things to spoil.
As far as stocking up on Diapers, I have 3 children under the age of 3, they are all in different sizes etc. The best advice I can give you is to stock up on all sizes, dont get too many “newborn” sizes try to really stock up on size 1,2 and even 3’s. Wipes are hard to find on sale, well the kind I like. I am in love with Huggies brand wipes or Equate brand. You may want to see what kind you like first before you stock up, it would suck to have to use up like 2 or 3 boxes of horrible wipes.
Things I cant Live without- Baby Swing, Madela Baby Lotion (its expensive but it worked SOO good on thier dry skin some babies have in the first few weeks)
Things I didnt need- Wipes Warmer (I just hold the wipe in my hand for a few seconds), Those teddy bears that make a womb noise,.
I have a 4 year old and I’m due on Feb 28th with my second child. I agree with Betsy…I try not to spend over $5 on diapers. I’ve been stocking up since I found out that was pregnant…both times. As for wipes, I’ve noticed that they only will dry out once they are opened but only after a month or two…so you don’t need to worry there. I do have a great diaper poem that whomever is throwing your baby shower can put in the invitation. I used it for my first shower and got diapers & wipes to last us for atleast 6 months 🙂 What a help that was!!! Here it is for all your mommies out there that have a shower coming up or for anyone planning a shower…
New Mommy’s know that more than any other needs
Diapers and wipes are a must indeed
So let’s help (mom’s name) and (dad’s name) get ready
By stocking their closet for the new baby
Please bring a package of diapers or wipes
Along with your gift… that would be so nice
Wipes of any scent, and diapers of any size
And we will enter your name in a drawing for a prize!
For the prize…my friend bought a Large Yankee Candle. People tend to buy the smaller size diapers (ie…newborn, size 1 and size 2). So, what I did when I found a really great diaper deal was I bought larger sizes.
As for clothes…I like to go to Thrift stores, garage sales and resale shops. I also buy larger sizes. When I go to these places I get extremely picky. The clothes have to look almost new for me to buy them. You would be amazed how many clothes you can get though. Kids grow SO fast…just when you think you are in one size for a bit then they go and grow on ya. That is why I go ahead and buy larger sizes and store them in a plastic bin. I usually will wash them a few times before using them also.
Well…I hope that helps alittle bit! Good luck and CONGRATS!!!
cute poem! Might have to use that!
GO FOR IT!!! 😀
Thank you! So sweet of you to take the time to share the poem! I knew I could count on my Hip2Save family to help me out! 🙂
No problem! I hope it helps…even if it gets you a few packs of diapers and wipes…every little bit helps.
I searched and searched the web for something similar to this poem and didn’t find anything close. I was happy to share! 😀
my best advise is to get most of your diapers from CVS, Rite Aid or Amazon(w/AmazonMom.) of course, always trying to get the most out of your $. CONGRATS on the baby to be.
there are my $ goals:
diapers: less than 20c per diaper
wipes: as close to a penny per wipe
formula: (not always possible but) less than $10 a can
other than that ALWAYS a COUPON or at least on SALE.
I formula feed. Sam’s Club has their Member’s Mark formula in a 3 lb (yes, that’s 3 pound!) can for $19.96. I easily save the cost of the membership just by buying their formula. I don’t mind spending up to $5.00 on a Jumbo pack of diapers. Wipes are a different story… I haven’t really figured them out yet. Umm… how much are you guys paying baby sitters?
It probably depends on where you live. I live in Houston TX and I pay a “kid” under age 18 $8/hour, and an “adult” college aged or older $10/hour. I have 2 preschoolers.
Whoa! I’ve been paying $3 and thought that was steep! Aw, that poor girl!
$10/hour for a 2, 4, and 5 year old.
i don’t have babysitters for my kids but I am a babysitter for some others…I have two moms that are single moms and I help out by not charging them anything because I’m a sap, but the other little boy i babysit for about 4 hours and his mom pays 50 dollars which according to her and the other moms in her circle is less than the going rate. crazy!
Congrats Jennifer!!! My husband and I are expecting our first baby sometime around September too! I am looking forward to garage sale season, so I can start stocking up on cute baby cloths! You can find some really nice things and for so cheap! Good luck to guys and again Congratulations! 🙂
Congrats to you too Jamie! Looks like our Hip2Save family is giving us a ton of great suggestions!
Regarding diapers, I would stock up more on sizes 2 and up. I had tons of size 1 diapers that I didn’t even use them all because my baby grew out of them so fast. Also, I know quite a few babies who are sensitive to the Pampers Dry Max diapers, mine included. My son doesn’t have sensitive skin, but he breaks out in a rash whenever I put them on him. Pampers does make diapers without Dry Max though. One other thing to keep in mind is both Huggies and Pampers offer reward programs by entering codes from the packaging.
As far as wipes go, I always buy mine at Sam’s Club. I probably pay a little more, but I only have to buy them 2-3 times a year. They just never go on sale enough for me to warrant the time it takes to coupon for them.
I use AmazonMOM. They mailed me a $10 off certificate w/ the 30% off I paid $12.62 for 168 Huggies. Even Target diapers (which I have found to be the best of the cheapest) don’t come CLOSE to that. I also shop drug store deals, I agree with the other moms about not stockpiling too much because you run the risk of having too many of one size. For example, a lot of babies go through newborn and size 1 diapers quickly….well, some (like my kids) grow slow. My 4 month old is just in size 1s, where a lot of other kids are in size 2 or 3s. There is no way to predicate that.
I use target wipes they are the cheapest i have found with no coupons. I wanted to try cloth wipes but we don’t have a laundry machine so it would be a big pain.
Congrats.
I just had my son in September. I agree with a lot of the ladies. I wouldn’t go buying a bunch of stuff. You NEVER know what they will tolerate. My son is very picky about everything. He will only use one kind of pacifier, we had LOTS of problems with leaks early on with certain diapers. Thankfully I have had no problems with wipes yet. He wouldn’t wear mittens, he screams when you put him in a swing. I couldn’t nurse, and he has a milk protein allergy and has to be on special formula. He has to be on a special bottle with his formula. There is sooo many things you THINK you will need or want and they just end up being a HUGE waste of money. I was so excited when I found out we were pregnant. I got ALOT of things from other people and bought a lot of things myself and ALOT didn’t get used. Also do not buy a lot of one size of clothing, they grow FAST and if you have a lot of clothes of one size you will find that they maybe will only wear one item once or twice. Sleepers are the best you will find out.
CONGRATS on the new baby!!!
Hey, for all the expected mothers or ones that just had babies. For those of you that like Barnum and Bailey Circus, go to their website and search for “Baby’s First Circus”. Sign your child up and they will receive a free ticket voucher to attend a circus performance sometime during their lifetime. Also, for those that are having multiple or triplets, do a google as there are tons of companies out there that give specials for families with multiples and triplets. Like discounted diapers, wipes, formula, etc.
CONGRATS!!!
You can stock up on everything in advance. I had over 20 boxes, with 8 packs inside each, of refill wipes in my closet before my first was born. I also stocked up on diapers I stocked up on the larger sixes 3 -5. Babies grom up so fast you do not want too much of the smaller sizes. I learned that after my newest got here. He was only in newborn diapers for 1 week and was up to size three diapers by 2 monhts. You can stock up on formula as well. When you go to open a canister just make sure you use the one that expires earlist. Most do not expire for at least a year or two, and when you are going through at least a container every few days there is plenty of time to use them.
What I like to do is use pampers or huggies depending on what fits baby better for the first 6 months. First baby pampers worked better my newest my son huggies are working better. Thun I switch over to Luvs. Works just as well just cheaper. I have also discovered that the walmart brand works great for the ones being potty trained before going into pull ups.
I like to buy the garanimals brand for the children. Usually around 3 dollars per piece and really cute pieces. You can get the 800-numbers to companies and ask them to send you coupons. Also look into the free baby magazines for they love to give away freebies!!!
wow, your son must be a darling little chubber, my girls were in size 3 at over a year old and one of my daughters was potty trained and 2 and still wearing size 3
Ya he is a chubbers. He was born a week early and then still at 9lbs…..
You have some dainty little girls that is for sure, sounds like my girl. She was in size 3 diapers until just here recently and is now 2 and being potty trained as well.
Our little one is 5 months old now. I started stocking up on wipes/diapers soon after I found out we were expecting, and I didn’t have to purchase diapers until just last week thanks to the good deals I scored earlier–you’ll be so glad you did this before the baby comes since life as you know it turns upside-down when baby arrives! 🙂
Here’s what my price point goals are (I can’t always achieve them, but I usually come very close when I can’t):
Diapers: My price point for these is $.10/diaper or less. My favorite places to score these prices are CVS, Walgreens and Amazon.com. I actually just purchased a box of 120 Pampers diapers last night on Amazon for $8.18. I was able to get this price by using my Amazon Mom subscription (15% off), subscribe and save (15% off), a 20% off coupon from my American Baby magazine (which I receive for free-thanks Colin!), and $10 in Amazon gift cards that I earned through using Swagbucks.
Wipes: $.01/wipe. I’ve had a lot of luck with drugstores, Walmart, and Amazon.com.
Shampoo/Body Wash: I believe the most I have paid was less than $.25/bottle, and those bottles will last you a LONG time as babies little bodies don’t need a ton of soap/shampoo. We haven’t even made a dent in our first bottle, and we have a couple more on hand
Clothes: Garage sales & Craigslist are awesome!!! Children’s Place also often has good deals (check out the deal Colin posted today).
Toys & Books: Again, I must plug garage sales & Craigslist for these areas as well. We were able to get everything we wanted for baby (swing, mobile, etc.) by purchasing gently used (in some cases, new) items from families who no longer needed them.
I know not everyone is able to breastfeed, but if you can, it’s the cheapest way to nourish your baby, by far. I am so thankful we chose to go this route. It’s saved us so much money, and has been an incredible bonding experience for me and our daughter.
I’m also a big fan of making your own baby food. Buy whatever is in season, and when you make a batch, freeze the extra in ice cube trays for later. If you want to make sure you’re introducing your baby to a variety of flavors (encourage your adventurous eater early on), there are baby cookbooks available.
Enjoy your pregnancy, and cherish the early days/months with your new baby. They grow SO quickly!!!
I cloth diaper, buy cute homemade baby cloth wipes on etsy and make my own wipes solution. Check out http://www.punkinbootybits.com. And I make my own baby food. I love to get the higher priced baby items on craigslist. I got a ton of stuff on there that was barely used before for super cheap. I always offer less and see what happens..almost everyone is open to negotiations. 🙂
First of all, Congrats. Second, Don’t take everyone’s advice to a “T”. Do what works for you and your husband. Cloth diapers sounded great to me, but it was a hassle having to wash em(to me they were not very convenient) and i tried breast feeding but mine wouldn’t latch on then were put on soy for sensitive tummies. Every child is different and unique in their own way. You can stock up on diapers(i just saved mine for my registry) and toiletries. just make sure to get hypoallergenic. you can also get laundry soap. as for clothes you dont know how big or small your baby may be so i would just get the essentials like onsies, gowns and socks.however if you are not due till september i wouldnt stock up right now on things i would hold off a little longer. a few girl friends of mine got over zealous before the first trimester was over and “jinxed” it. right now just worry about taking care of yourself. rest, take your prenatals and make sure to go to those checkups
Congrats! My first baby is almost 3 months old now and I’ve learned a few things in the past year or so getting ready for him. Here they are:
I have really sensitive skin so we knew that might happen with our baby. I was able to get all name brand diapers for less than the cost of the store brand diapers. I would say anytime you can get the name brand at that price point or less (which isn’t hard at all) you’re paying an ok price.
I did decide to go the nursery route but I was able to use craft store coupons and find things (decor and what not) at thrift stores to decorate. I crafted instead of cleaning as part of my nesting and I like having a nursery that is decorated. Also, I have a local thrift store that buys all the unpurchased clearance new from Target and they always have a TON of baby stuff. I got a new sleep positioner for 8 bucks…best $8 I ever spent because my baby can sleep next to me when I nurse him and I don’t worry about rolling over on him. I’ve heard this type of thrift store is very common.
I usually find the best deals for baby care items at Target because they have many good in-store coupons to pair with man. coupons.
Another thing I would suggest is to join freecycle. I was able to get lots of baby clothes, a baby Bjorn, and a bassinet from other freecycle members.
I would check the clearance aisles every time I was in a store because you never know when you’ll find a great deal. Until you know what you’re having you can buy things in reds and yellows if the price is right.
I guess my best advice is to take it slow. Don’t go out and buy a ton of clothing or diapers all in the same size. The thing I’ve learned is that babies go through sizes FAST. You wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money on clothes the baby may only wear one time! Also, see what you get at your baby showers and you may not even need to buy a whole lot!
Lastly, the thing I use most for my new baby is my camera. If you don’t have a nice one, start looking now because the memories will really be the most important thing you can have!
Ask for formula samples at EVERY OBGYN and Pedi Appt. You just never know if you might need it, and you can always donate it.
I wanted to breastfeed but wasnt able to, so I was glad that I had 3 months worth of FREE formula stocked up! Sign up for the Enfamil and Similac programs as well.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Amazon Mom and subscribe and save. You save 30% on diapers, wipes and other baby supplies. It makes for a good price if you like Pampers or Huggies. (Pampers work the best for my son.) Shipping is free, and I never have to leave my house to buy diapers! Not having to make a late night run to the store makes it worth it to me.
Just a couple of things I’ve been made aware of!
Stock up on disposable diapers if that’s what you’re going to use!!! No matter what size – just make sure Walmart carries that brand that way if they don’t work for your little one or they grow out of them you can ALWAYS exchange them for a different size or a different brand. Pampers worked best for my little dude until he was 2 months old, then Huggies and now that Parents Choice brand changed to the old Pampers Cruiser style they work awesome!!! Luvs has always broken my son out and he doesn’t have sensitive skin!
I buy wipes once a year from Babys R Us the day after Thanksgiving and have never had a problem with them drying out! When my little guy was younger I bought about 7 boxes and that got me through the whole year now I buy 4 or 5!!!
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to breastfeed as my son was allergic to my milk – so they thought until they did further testing and it ended up being sever acid reflux – I spent a ton of money on Enfamil AR until I ran out 1 day and had to borrow formula (Signature Kirkland brand) and to thicken it up I added some rice cereal worked better than Enfamily anyday – I spoke with my dr and he said that’s 1 kind of off brand that he WOULD suggest!!! It saved me over $60 per month doing that!!! Sadly not all mother’s can breastfeed as they wished too but there’s always other options!!!
MY MUST HAVES: Bumbo, Rocking Chair, Mylicon
Hope this helps and good luck!!!
I stocked up when I found wipes for 80 cents a tub and I continue to stock up when I see similar sales so I don’t ever have to pay full price.
I pay about $4 per pack for jumbo diaper packs but if I see it cheaper I will stock up. The new walgreens premium diapers are great. I love them and I got them for $2 per pack after a bogo sale and register reward promo and wags coupon.
If you are going to breast feed buy a really good breast pump! Mine was $250 and worth every penny. I went back to work for a while and had a premie, so I used it all the time. Formula is way more expensive. (we started that at 9 months and I am so glad to move to milk!)
Garage sales! great toys, great clothes, bumbo seats, high chairs super cheap and great condition. Saves a ton.
diapers!!! you cant go wrong stocking up on diapers, even if you outgrow a size, you can always use as part of a baby shower gift for someone.
however i dont recommend more than 3 to 4 packs of newborn diapers, my children outgrew the new born diapers very fast. being born at 6 lbs, they still outgrew them very fast. even if they weigh within the newborn size diapers, sometime their legs are chunky (love fat babys) and the diapers are tight on their legs.
you can stock up on baby soap and lotions, however i recommend hypoallengic – since you wont know if your child with have skin concerns.
My kiddo is a little older so I can’t speak to the diapers and baby stock ups anymore but re clothes I usually spend about 3 dollars tops per item and I always look for freebies. I generally shop two seasons ahead. For example right now on target.com there are coupons for 2.00 toddler/infant apperal. I went today and got a newborn jacket on clearance for 2.00 – 2.00 Q = Free and a 5 pack of newborn onsies for 2.49 – 2.00 Q = .49 or less than 10cents per onsie. If you think out a few sizes you can usually wait and get better deals. After my above statement you might be wondering why newborn…..well they are for the babydolls. This is also a great way to dress you kids toys, much cheaper than doll chothes and they wash up better too. Congrats on your new baby and you have found a great resource on hipsave to help with the many baby/familypurchases.
I would agree that stockpiling diapers is iffy because you will not know which ones fit and work best for you and your baby until you’ve tried them out. wipes, however, can be used to clean with–ie clean the high chair, clean their face, clean the wall, clean the floor–whatever!! so, if they break out your baby, wipe up the spilled peas with them, or the overflowing poopy that landed onthe chair =)