Discount Diapers: 7 Must-know Tips For Spending Less

The costs of diapers is one of the largest costs associated with raising young children. Considering the fact that most children wear diapers for upwards of two years, the weekly purchase of diapers can really add up.

Here are seven must-know tips for saving money on diapers.

1. Use cloth diapers
Although the initial cost of cloth diapers can be prohibitive, they may actually save you money in the long run. Today's cloth diapers are well made and aren't as leaky and messy as diapers of yesteryear. They can cost anywhere from $15 to $50 each, but you'll only have to buy them once.

A good stash of about $250 should last you at least a year with your child. Once they grow out of the diapers, you can resell them to other parents who choose to cloth diaper. To wash the diapers, all you'll need is baking soda and regular washing detergent.

There are many cloth diaper related forums and guides available online to help you find out more about this inexpensive, and eco-friendly, way to diaper your baby.

Another option: the hybrid diapers on the market today (such as gDiapers), which feature flushable liners inside a reusable diaper pant. This can be more convenient than cloth without the environmental impact of disposables.

2. Keep your eye out for diaper sales
Whether you buy disposable diapers, cloth diapers, or some combination of the two, make a habit of never buying diapers at full price. When you find a diaper sale, be sure to stock up so you can save money. This way you won't have to pay full price when you run out of diapers. Watch your local newspapers for sale advertisements.

3. Clip coupons
You can also watch the newspapers for coupons for your diaper needs. Manufacturers and stores both issue coupons for a dollar off or more. You can really put this method to good use if you have a store nearby that offers double coupons on specific days.

4. Comparison shop
If there are no coupons or discounts to be found, at least make sure you are purchasing diapers from the least expensive place in town. Start keeping a price book of different locations around your area that carry diapers.

5. Buy diapers in bulk
This is the best way to save money on diapers if you don't want to go the cloth diaper route. With bulk diapers, you can save a few cents per diaper (which can really add up.) Warehouse shopping stores have bulk diapers for sale as well as many other baby related items.

6. Buy generic diapers
Generic diaper brands are consistently less expensive than name brands, though they don't always work as well as name brands. You may find that you have fewer messes if you use name brand diapers at night and then generic brands during the day. Alternately, you may find that generics work just as well as regular brand diapers for your baby. It all depends on their body shape. Try what works best for you and you'll always be able to save money.

7. Look online
The web is full of baby superstores, discount stores and even websites that specialize in providing diapers at the best prices. Comparison shop online before you buy your next pack of diapers and look for diaper coupons (including printable diaper coupons.) You might be surprised at the amount of money you can save.