Diaper Saving Guide: Tips And Tricks For Frugal Parents

Jess-Miller-Sunglasses
Published by 
Jess Miller
Last updated: 
March 10, 2023
Baby Diaper

Life with a newborn is supposed to be a magical time for you and your love, but sometimes it may seem like you’re doing anything other than changing stinky diapers. Believe it or not, you should be happy each time you have to change a diaper because it means that your baby is healthy.

There is a common question that all new mothers ask, though. How many diapers does a baby use in a year? How about in a single day? Babies do not come with instruction manuals, but fortunately we have the experience of those around us to learn from.

Every baby is different so we cannot give you an exact number, but we can give you an estimated number that’s pretty close.

On average, you will go through 6-8 diapers per day - that’s 2,200-2,900 in a single year.

Newborns under a month old need to have at least 6 wet diapers every day, and they typically have 3 to 4 bowel movements as well.  With a newborn, parents should expect to change at least 10 diapers daily during the first month.

How To Save On Diapers

The price of one diaper box may not seem like a lot, but an entire year’s worth of diapers isn’t cheap. That’s why it’s important to find ways to save on all costs. Let’s look at some efficient ways you can save on diapers for your infant.

First and foremost, remember to stockpile on diapers! When you buy them ahead of time, you will have the luxury of waiting to purchase diapers when they are at their lowest prices. This can help cut down on costs in the long term.

Say you’ve already stocked up on diapers, but you’re still looking for some additional ways to save. Today reusable diapers are becoming increasingly popular among parents. Instead of having to throw out every single diaper your baby uses, you can wash them and reuse them instead. That way, you buy less diapers which means lower costs.

It's possible to get set up with reusable diapers and accessories for around $350 to $500 for two-and-a-half years of use. Disposable diapers can cost upward of $1,800 during that same time frame.

Related Post: The Best Overnight Diapers for your Baby

Tips For Healthy Diaper Changing At Home

No mother likes to deal with an angry, screaming baby. A calm diaper changing routine is healthy for the both of you. Listed below are some things that I’ve found make the process go more smoothly.

Be Prepared

Always be prepared. You never know what kind of situation you could be dealing with, therefore you should always start a diaper change with everything you need. Stopping midway to open the cabinet to grab a fresh diaper is an easy way to spread germs as well.

Choose a Good Location

If you're a parent with an infant, you want to have some type of designated spot for diaper changing. By throwing down a diaper pad in any location of the house you could be spreading germs. That's why if you have a specific changing station, you could easily wash it down with some disinfectant every once and a while.

Besides the nursery, bathrooms are a great place for changing diapers. You're always close to a sink and disinfectant. A place you should never change your baby in is the kitchen. It is close to a sink, but it's also near where you prepare your food. Enough said.

Use Distractions

I've found that using some sort of distraction can help with the process.

Keep a couple of toys up on the changing table that you can use to divert their attention, giving you an few extra seconds. Once the diaper change is over, make sure to wash off or disinfect the toys afterward.

Buy a Diaper Pail

They way diaper pails are designed, they help reduce the spread of germs. They're also really helpful when it comes to keeping kid's hands away from dirty diapers.

They come in all shapes, colors and sizes so pick the one that suits you best! Most parents use special diaper pails like Diaper Champ, Diaper Dekor or Diaper Genie because they smell less like a latrine.

Reusable Diapers

Reusable diapers have come a long way over the years. With all of the amount of reusable diaper brands on the rise, accessing these once hard to find luxuries is easier than ever.

Most reusable diapers consist of natural fibers, man-made materials, or a combination of both. They are often made from industrial cotton. Other natural fiber cloth materials include wool, bamboo, and unbleached hemp. These ingredients used together make this diaper washable so you can use it next time!

Related Post: The Best Swim Diapers

Reusable diapers are the obvious way to go if you're looking to lower your costs, but with all of the options out there how do you know which one to pick? Listed below are some of my 5 Top-Rated Picks.

GroVia Hybrid

  • Flexible fit
  • Adjustable cover
  • Easily add absorbents 

GroVia diapers are easy to use because the changing process is most similar to traditional disposable baby diapers when it comes to putting on and taking off the diaper.

Each one uses an adjustable cover fit for infants that are 8 to 30 pounds. They are flexible and use a thermal laminate that does not contain chemical solvents like formaldehyde.

Initially, they are the most absorbent diaper on the roster, but you can easily add absorbency with one of their many different types of pads.

The only thing that may get some mothers is that it takes a long time for the insert to dry. Besides that, GroVia diapers are a cute and comfy option for your infant.

Gerber Prefold Diapers

  • 100% Cotton
  • Good Reputation
  • Environmentally Friendly
  • thumbs-upMultiple uses

Gerber makes prefold cloth diapers that are super comfortable thanks to being made out of 100% cotton. You may initially wonder whether it is absorbent or not since it's cotton, but each diaper is woven from tightly twisted yarns to prevent leakage. They also have a six-ply layer of fabric in the center to provide extra protection.

These diapers pertain the trifecta: they are soft, sturdy and environmentally friendly. Gerber hit the nail on the head with these.

The feature that sets them apart from the rest, though, is that they can also serve as a burp cloth, head pad, cleaning cloth and changing pad.

Ultimately this diaper is great for anyone wanting a bang for their buck. These are one of my personal favorites because of that!

Asenappy All In One

  • Waist and hip snaps
  • Durable
  • thumbs-upAbsorbent material sown in

Each diaper is lined with a soft, polar fleece rayon material. The use of bamboo in the formula adds an extra sense of dryness and comfort.

Aside from comfort, they are also great when it comes to tailoring to your baby's size. A waist tab overlap snaps provide a snug fit for babies with smaller waists, and hip snaps prevent wing drooping.

Asenappy diapers are super easy to use. They have the absorbent material sown in, so no keeping track of pads. There is a pocket opening for additional cloth and diaper inserts, though, so you can customize you diaper's absorbency. Additional cloth diaper inserts are sold separately.

Overall, Asenappy diapers are great for moms who want a cute diaper that is durable and fits well.

The Rundown

I think that we can all agree that no parent can ever be too prepared. That’s why I love to share with you some tips that I have learned over years of experience being a mother.

When it comes down to it, you'll be going through a lot of diapers when you have an infant - it's a given. With a bulk supply of diapers comes a large bill, but by utilizing the tips and tricks I've shared with you, you'll be far better off.

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