Cutting the Cost of Diapers -- Savings Experiment

Once you discover how much diapers cost, you may want to fasten your baby to a clothing line to drip-dry. But luckily for both parent and child, there are easy ways to save money on diapers.

Deciding on a Diaper

According to Consumer Reports, you can spend almost two thousand dollars on disposable diapers before your baby turns two.

Before you can start to save, you'll need to factor in what type of diaper you want to use. Each type has its sticking points (no pun intended): Cloth diapers, chlorine-free, eco-friendly brands, designer disposables, and generics all come with upsides and down. One of the easiest and most overlooked ways to save money and reduce your family's carbon footprint is to choose cloth diapers. In comparison to disposables, cloth can cost you as little as $300 for three years, and can be reused for future children.

Cloth Diapers

For cloth diapering, you'll need to buy around six-dozen diapers. The cost can vary considerably, so do compare prices. Organic cotton fitted diapers and wool covers are more expensive than more generic pre-folded ones, although they may reduce the need to purchase diaper cream.

There are myths about cloth diapers, despite a recent resurgence in popularity. Some ask if cloth diapers are less sanitary than disposables, but websites like Diaper Jungle debunk this notion. Cloth diapers certainly don't smell worse, and in any case new diaper pails with odor reducing fragrances have made this problem negligible.

Cloth diapers may require another load of laundry a week, but they're still a more environmentally friendly choice than plastic diapers. Cloth diapers don't need to be sterilized or washed with more care than their adult counterparts, or underpants, for that matter.

All Hail the Mommy Bloggers

Whether you go with cloth or disposable, name brand or generic, you can always find out how to get the best bang for your buck from mommy bloggers. They're thorough and thrifty. Take Amy Suzari, who created Frugal Mama and has painstakingly analyzed the cost of name brand disposable diapers so you don't have to. Suzari offers tips like starting with a generic brand first, then upgrading only if necessary.

If you decide to go with a designer label, she also suggests Luvs. Luvs are owned by Proctor & Gamble (PG), the parent company of Pampers, but are about five cents cheaper than Pampers or Huggies.

Mommy blogs can help you weigh what matters most to you and your child, without the pressure that asking your own folks or friends might bring, should you not take their advice. Plus, there are great pithy reviews of diapers out there, so be sure to check out blogs and websites like Babble, Babycheapskate and Thrifty Mama.

Coupons

Log onto the websites for name brand diapers and you'll find offers like giveaways, discounts for buying in bulk and more. Pampers, Luvs , Huggies and Seventh Generation offer a variety of saving options, as do Target (TGT), Babies R Us, Amazon (AMZN), and Costco (COST).

You're Not Alone

Even the most stylish parents try to cut costs when it comes to diapers. SaSaDi Odunsi, a mother of three and owner of the chic maternity clothing boutique Bump Brooklyn, says, "It's well worth trying to save a bit here and there when you have 2-3 years of diapers ahead of you, however many kiddos you plan to have!"