Would anyone like to share some tips on cutting costs for baby items (diapers, formula, wipes, etc)? Thanks. :)
2007-03-28 06:55:05 · 24 answers · asked by ♥Lucky♥ 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Buy in bulk--especially when they go on sale. Hopefully there's a Costco or Sam's Club nearby that you can become a member of. Our Costco carries Carter's clothes and PJs for less than half what they cost at Macys or JCPenney ($5.49 vs $16). Also, try different brands and learn where you're willing to go generic. For us, we're not willing to use generic diapers because they don't work well for us, but I know other people who think that the Walmart generic work better than Huggies or Pamers. We use the Kirkland (Costco) brand formula, which costs half the price of Enfamil at Costco. Then we actually bought a year's supply off of eBay and saved an additional 20% off the in store price for Kirkland formula. Wipes are another area where you'll want to use trial to find the best for you. We use the Kirkland brand wipes, but after those we've found that the Parent's Choice wipes are the best, then Pampers, and Huggies are last.
Also, you can buy baby stuff on Amazon.com. They periodically run sales on diapers (in Jan they had $30 off $99 Huggies, and in Feb they had $25 off $99 Pampers). They have free shipping on orders over $25, and no sales tax. Depending on what state you live in the sales tax alone could save you 6-9% off diapers. Another online diaper site is www.1800diapers.com
Coupons are great of course as well. Just make sure that you put them into your purse as soon as you get them, they do you no good if you get to the checkout counter and they are sitting on your computer desk at home.
2007-03-28 07:12:15 · answer #1 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buy in bulk.......take a look and non-name brand items.....the Wal-Mart brand formula has the same mixture as the same brand stuff and is about 5-6 bucks cheaper per container.....also their wipes are good also....the only think that I would stick to name brand things on is diapers....I never had much luck with the cheap ones......Just read the ingrediants......95% of the time you will see that things are the exact same and you are just paying more for the name not whats in the product.....
For clothes and such check out garage sales....baby clothes don't get worn very long so you can usually find great stuff for really cheap.
2007-03-28 07:02:42 · answer #2 · answered by yetti 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Coupons are wonderful!!! Dri bottoms from wal-mart are the best diapers ever and they are very resonable!! Formula can be substituted with either breast milk, OR apply for WIC to help cover the costs there. Again dont buy name brand diapers and wipes, this is the biggest lesson to be learnt by ALOT of first time parents. Im telling you from experience that the cheaper ones work just as good if not better than any other brand out there!!!!!! Baby clothes and items like swings bouncers walkers all those things can be bough second hand, or off of ebay, and they work just as good, and are much much cheaper.
Mom of 4 boys and 29 weeks with boy 5!!
2007-03-28 07:01:03 · answer #3 · answered by jess_n_flip 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Costco and Walmart. I have only bought diapers in a regular store twice and my son is 2 1/2 now. You can get a huge box of diapers at Costco for $30 starting at I believe size 1-2. Wipes are much cheaper at Walmart. You can get a case of six packages for around $8. Walmart's Parent's Choice Formula is the same as the more expensive brands for almost half the price. My son was a preemie and I pumped breastmilk for the 10 weeks he was in the hospital and the Parent's choice Soy was the only formula he could keep down (Acid Reflux) As for toys I bought a lot of high end toys (Electronic baby gyms, saucers, walkers, etc) and a lot of clothes at either thrift stores or yard sales. I loved it when I saw the same thing I paid $5 for at a yard sale priced for $30 at a regular store.
2007-03-28 07:02:48 · answer #4 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i go with store brand names....like wal-mart has a brand for formula, diapers, wipes, food, etc. it's called Parents Choice. The formula is SOO much cheaper, and if you read the back labels, it tells you "compare to Similac or Enfimil" - the only thing that i don't cut costs on, is diapers. I try not to be cheap with the diapers - i usually go with pampers or huggies. they have the little stretch tabs and i really like that on a diaper.
If your really thinking that you want to cut costs, then you should go to your local health department and apply for W.I.C. (women, infants, and children) - it's a government-run organization that helps mothers out with food and nutrition needs. they give you formula to last baby until it's 1 year old. then they put you on a nutrition plan you get milk, cheese, eggs, juice, cereal, peanut butter and beans. I would call before i go up there though. there is a monthly income limit. you can be married too, you just have to meet their monthly income standards. ( i think it's like if you make more than $600 a week, then you cant be on the program) (don't take my word on that though, i could be wrong)
sorry if i couldn't be of more help. good luck!
2007-03-28 07:11:36 · answer #5 · answered by Mandy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just a tought...so many people say coupons...
But If you see a coupon, and you don't really needed that thing before (which is on sale now)
You'll still buy it because you save a lot of money on it, but You didn't think about if you wouldn have seen the coupon, you wouldn't have bought that at all ...that would have saved you more :-)
If you have Friends with Baby's they'll probably lead you to the cheapest stores, and if you buy wholesale diapers etc... you're probably off cheaper anyways!!
Best Of luck to you and your baby!!!
2007-03-28 11:58:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy them in bulk
I like the Kirkland brand from Costco, holds leaks. The more I cheap out on diapers, the more laundry I have to do!
Formula, check with WIC, if yyou don't qualify, then buy that in bulk as well. If you aren't going to use the whole bulk can, you can vacumme seal what you may not use, or vacumme seal between uses.
For toys check second hand stores, shipping from Ebay is too expensive.
Clothes...MAN you can get some good deals on Ebay, even with shipping. Search LOTS for boys or girls. I got a years worth of clothes for my daughter for under $150 ;)
2007-03-28 06:59:54 · answer #7 · answered by OOgaCHucka 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Clip coupons for diapers/wipes and/or buy from bulk stores like Sam's. As for formula, the store brands are exactly the same as name brands, and about half price. WIC is always available for anyone despite financial status. Think about breastfeeding!!! It saves on money immediately, your baby has a better immune system, saving on medical bills later, and you lose all your baby weight much, much faster!!! Ask for these items at your baby shower instead of gifts, or have hostess of shower ask for diapers in lieu of cards. Good luck! Kids are expensive. Shop around and buy store brands.
2007-03-28 06:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by Stephene 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Wipes can be cut in half to assist with expanding their usage. You can make your own baby food and if you are breast feeding, freeze some of your milk. Write to companies for coupons on the products you use. Price shop and speak with others who may have coupons you could use or swap for. Cloth diapers mean washing regularly but save on buying diposable ones. Check with you local discount store and thrift store. Many brand new items get donated regularly.
2007-03-28 07:05:29 · answer #9 · answered by xoxodolphin 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Contact the companies--usually they have links on their websites, and sign up for any free samples or coupons. Ebay often has great coupon lots for baby items. Generic is fine in most things--the generic tylenol from wal-mart is great. Buy in bulk on some items like wipes--Sam's or Costco are great for this. Even at walmart you can get a case of parent's choice wipes for like $7 and I like them a lot better than the Pampers wipes. Stock up when things are on sale. If you find a product you really like then write a letter to the company, they will often send you some freebies or coupons.
2007-03-28 07:00:28 · answer #10 · answered by jilldaniel_wv 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋