Tariffs Might Make Diapers More Expensive. Here’s How to Trim Costs.

Consumer Reports’ recent diaper testing revealed something surprising: Our budget-friendly top pick beat out pricier boutique brands. This goes to show that store brands can deliver excellent quality, even at lower prices. Target’s Up & Up Absorbent Soft Diapers earned an impressive 97 rating for absorbency and dryness, proving that you don’t have to spend more for top performance.

Once you find a diaper brand that you and your baby both like, it’s tempting (and easy) to stick with the same brand forever. But if you’re looking to save money on diapers, it can pay off to be open to trying out new and different brands, based on what might be on sale (like if a different store brand is on discount this week), or what you might get from a friend or neighbor. Being open to new-to-you diaper options can mean more money stays in your wallet in the long run.  

Small savings can add up, especially since babies can go through as many as 12 diapers a day, the National Diaper Bank says. That’s why it can pay to look past the package price at the cost per diaper. Different brands may sell varying quantities of diapers in a pack or box, which can make a direct comparison tricky. By looking at the unit cost on the price sticker on the shelf, or dividing the total price by the number of diapers if you’re shopping online, you can get a more accurate comparison. CR’s roundup of the best diapers from our tests provides the cost per diaper for 19 popular brands.

Unlike with infant formula, diapers don’t expire (as long as they’re stored in a somewhat temperature-controlled environment), making them a good candidate for buying in bulk. Warehouse clubs often offer significant discounts on larger quantities. When you spot a sale or discount, it’s a smart idea to stock up, especially in the sizes your baby will grow into. 

Worried about stocking up on a diaper size your baby may soon outgrow? Buy one size up. Diaper sizing often overlaps slightly from one size to the next, which means there’s some wiggle room if your little one is on the verge of outgrowing their current pack—they could likely jump to the next size sooner than you think. And if you’ve got an unopened box of too-small diapers, you may be able to return or exchange them, or trade them within a community group (more on this below). 

Baby-focused “Buy Nothing” or “Give Freely” groups are on the rise—and while we don’t recommend seeking out secondhand safety-focused baby gear like car seats and high chairs, diapers are fair game. Hyperlocal give-away groups are great for saving money on essentials like new diapers and gently used clothing, toys, and books. Put out a call for diapers in your baby’s size and see what comes back. Then, when you have a pack of diapers in a too-small size, you can give them away to keep the cycle going.  

No local giveaway groups near you? You can still tap into your community by asking friends and family to keep an eye out for deals, sales, and coupons on diapers. New parents deserve all the extra “village” support they can get. 

Most major retailers and diaper brands offer loyalty programs that can cut your diaper costs. Sign up for store rewards at places you regularly shop in order to take advantage of loyalty discounts. Manufacturers like Pampers and Hello Bello also let you earn points by shopping or scanning codes from packages, which you can redeem for free diapers or discounts on future purchases. 

Installing a shopping browser extension like Rakuten, Honey, or Capital One Shopping (note that you don’t need to be a Capital One account holder to use it) can help you score online promotional deals or cashback savings without much effort. These browser add-ons can automatically add online promo codes before checkout or land you a cashback deal. 

Many direct-to-consumer diaper brands and big retailers like Amazon offer an auto-shipping option that also grants buyers savings of anywhere from 5 to 15 percent. These set-it-and-forget-it services can be helpful in terms of reducing your mental load (and saving you cash), but you’ll want to stay on top of your sizing needs in order to avoid having the wrong-size diaper end up on your doorstep. 

Overnight diapers are designed to last for a full night’s sleep, meaning you may end up using fewer as your child won’t be waking up in the middle of the night as frequently due to wetness.

Overnight diapers tend to start at size 3 (around 16 to 28 pounds), so you may need to wait until your little one is big enough, but it can be helpful to keep a pack of overnights on hand that you use just for nighttime sleep.

Some diaper brands offer free sample packs by request so that you can test out the diapers firsthand before buying a pack. It’s a good way to check out new brands before committing to a full box—and all those free diapers add up in terms of saving you money. Some may have a free sample offer on their site, like Millie Moon, but you can also call or email diaper companies to request free samples of their products.

You likely made a decision early on about whether you’d opt to use cloth or disposable diapers with your little one (read more about the differences in our Diaper Buying Guide), but it might be worth reconsidering, given that cloth diapers are cheaper than disposable diapers in the long run. A hybrid approach works well for some families, which could look like using disposable diapers for nighttime and/or day care, and cloth diapers for naps and at home. This best-of-both-worlds approach can mean more up-front costs when you’re buying cloth diapers, but it’s a onetime expense, and you’ll need fewer than if you were using reusable diapers full-time. 

Elimination communication doesn’t rely on diapers—instead, it involves following your infant’s signals and cues, and then helping them go in an appropriate spot. It’s also known as “natural infant hygiene,” and while it’s practiced in different communities across the globe, it may not be the right fit for every family. 

But once your little one can sit independently, you can start practicing early toilet training. Try helping them squat or sit on the potty at regular intervals, like when they wake up from a nap. It may just save you a few diapers. If you have more questions about early toilet training, speak with your child’s pediatrician.

Though diapers are an essential hygiene product for babies and toddlers, they aren’t covered by insurance or HSA/FSA plans, as they don’t treat a medical condition. However, if your child is over the age of 3 and you’re on a Medicaid plan, some states will cover the cost of pediatric diapers and pull-ups to address incontinence. You may first need a letter of necessity from your child’s doctor, and you can reach out to your insurance company for more information.

According to statistics from the National Diaper Bank, 1 in 2 families with young children struggle to afford the diapers they need to keep their child clean, dry, and healthy. The NDB runs a network of community diaper banks that give out free diapers to families in need, and there’s at least one in most states and Puerto Rico. 

While some diaper banks can fulfill walk-in requests, others may have income or other eligibility requirements. In some cases, you may be eligible to receive free diapers if you’re already receiving government assistance in the form of benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Unfortunately, SNAP and WIC programs don’t cover diapers, but they do cover infant formula and other baby food. It’s worth calling your local diaper bank to get more details on eligibility requirements.

Diapers are expensive, but because they’re directly tied to babies’ hygiene, some cost-cutting measures could inadvertently put your child’s health at risk. Reusing soiled diapers or lengthening the time between diaper changes could lead to irritation, rash, or infection in your little one. If you have more questions about diaper hygiene or are worried about affording diapers, reach out to your child’s pediatrician, who can recommend best practices and more resources in your community.