How would you like to pay pennies on the dollar for the diapers you know you’ll need once baby arrives? Sounds too good to be true? It can be. But there are some “tricks of the trade” that you can use to stockpile in advance of a new baby without the risk.
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Stockpile. What am I talking about? Basically, stockpiling is buying a whole bunch of something you know you’re going to need. Stockpiling is typically done when your product (diapers, for instance) are at their rock-bottom price. Basically, you’re paying less for your diapers, because you’re able to stock up on what you will need when they’re on sale.
If you’re buying diapers as your baby needs them, a box of diapers at Target costs (for example) $38.99, roughly $.18/diaper. But if you find them on sale, stacked with a coupon, cartwheel deal and a gift card with purchase, you can buy them for much, much less. Many people report buying diapers for less than $.09 each.
But there can be some pitfalls with stockpiling diapers which add to the cost in a sneaky way. Buying diapers you don’t need or can’t use is just throwing money out the window. Storing them safely and smartly will keep your stockpile in good working order. Adding up ALL the costs, and recouping some of your money on the backside can improve your bottom line as well. (Do you like these puns? They just keep coming!)
How do you know how many diapers to buy? Well, you don’t really. There is just no way to know how many times your baby is going to poop/pee/explode between birth and potty training (or when that’ll be!). Here's a good resource to help you estimate how many diapers to buy in each size. They’ve got a handy FREE tool to help you estimate how many diapers you’ll need. But it will vary by your particular child, their weight, shape, and the diapers you choose.
Is it better to have too many or not enough?Since you’ll very likely have either too many or not enough diapers in each size, now is a good time to figure out what your plan is. When you’re stockpiling would you rather buy enough that you KNOW you’ll need and likely have to buy a few extras along the way? Or do you want to have more than enough to get you through to the next size and sell or donate the remainder? That’s a choice you’ll have to make for yourself, but it does affect your cost.
What brand(s) of diapers should I stockpile? Does it matter? The age-old question; how am I going to know which brand of diapers is right for my baby? Do you know if your baby will get a rash from this one brand, or if a particular brand will not fit right and leak? This is my first major trick of the trade. Buy the diapers you want in the store. Go get your best deals, whatever they are. Then, do yourself a favor and buy a variety package of diaper samplesto quickly and easily figure out which diaper brand works for your baby. Then you can take all those diapers you bought on sale and (if you need to) exchange brand for brand. Most stores like Target and Walmart have lenient diaper exchange policies PROVIDED THE DIAPERS ARE IN RESELLABLE CONDITION. If you open up each box and take a few out of each one to try, you might find you have a harder time getting the stores to take them back, because they can’t resell them!
I like to keep my receipts for these (not only because I like to look back at them and reminisce at the time I got diapers for $.06/diaper), but to return/exchange! Most stores don’t require it to exchange, but I’m an old Girl Scout, always prepared.
How do I get the best diaper deals? There’s some art and some science to finding the best price on diapers. Hardcore couponers will tell you that your best price per diaper will be buying in-store, with Target being the overwhelming choice for couponers. There are those, though, that contend the best price is at the drugstores (CVS in particular) due to their rebate or rewards programs.
I have also found really good deals on Amazon, but you’d need Amazon Family Prime (which is another $99 membership fee added to your total).
Your best prices will generally be had on name-brand diapers, because they often publish coupons that you can stack with sales and gift cards or rebates.
How do you know when to buy? There are websites (and empires) built on couponing. There are amazing and plentiful resources out there to help educate the masses and tell us where and when to buy what’s on sale. Tracie at Penny Pinchin’ Momputs out a fantastic Diaper Deals roundup each week. The Krazy Coupon Ladyis all over the best deals, too. Midwest Coupon Clippers and Totally Targetare two that are in my personal newsfeed. Follow your favorites on Facebook or check their websites weekly. They will let you know when the best deals are to be had and step-by-step how to do them.
Store your stockpile safely! There’s no savings to be had if your diaper stockpile gets wet and moldy sitting waiting for your little one to grow. Diapers need to be kept DRY. If you are storing them in your basement, and you have a flood, your whole stockpile is ruined. Put them up on pallets or on shelves. Or, just store them in baby’s closet. I do not open the bags or boxes prior to use if I can help it. Diapers store best as they are packaged.
What about "extra" diapers? After your baby is born and they grow through a few sizes, you may have extra or leftover diapers. Here’s where you can recoup a little on the backside. If you have unopened diapers, go ahead and exchange them for the next size up (or whatever you need). You can also sell them. I see Moms selling diapers all the time in the Facebook Marketplace or in Buy/Sell/Trade groups. You might not get what you paid for them, but it will be better than nothing. If you have a pregnant friend, feel free to gift your extra diapers. You could even make up a fancy diaper cake with your opened packages of diapers. Or donate them to your local diaper bank. All over the country there are families that could use some extra diapers.
There you have it. My best “tricks and traps” for stockpiling diapers. Do you have any tips that I missed? Shout out in the comments and I’ll update the post.
