Oh!, the memories! If there was anything that scared me about having my twins, it was the sheer number of diapers I would be changing. Remember–I also had a 2-year-old in diapers at the time! We’re way past those years now–thank goodness–but I’m back to researching how to save money on diapers because my sister is about to have her first baby. Some strategies I used have changed over the past five years, so here are your best bets:

  1. Use cloth diapers. Many moms of multiples use cloth diapers successfully. Look for used diaper covers at your local consignment sale or on Ebay, and get support from other moms in your multiples group. To learn how and why to use cloth, read Simple Mom’s series on Cloth Diapering.
  2. For disposables, know your per-diaper price. Do a little research (either on your own or by polling other moms in your multiples club) to find out what diapers cost at Target, Walmart, Costco, or wherever you plan to shop. Take the price of the pack and divide it by number of diapers (there are less diapers in the larger sizes). Once you have a target price, you’ll know when a sale is a good deal.
  3. Buy at warehouse stores. Some stores will allow you to use coupons along with those giant-sized-boxes of diapers, so you can shop less often, but you’ll pay a little more for the privilege. I’d lump ToysRUs/BabiesRUs into this category as well; they offer sales where you can use coupons and earn back gift cards, plus they have a store rewards program.
  4. Use coupons. You’ll find coupons for Pampers, Huggies and Luvs in the Sunday coupon inserts. Ask your neighbors, church members, and other moms for any coupons they’re not using. You can also sign up to receive coupons in the mail from Pampers, Huggies and Luvs. Remember to have grandparents sign up for the mailings, too.
  5. Try store-brand diapers. Many moms of multiples swear by Costco’s Kirkland brand, Walmart’s Parents Choice, and other store brands. To learn more, head over to BabyCheapskate and read through the readers’ reviews (with photos) of all the diaper brands.
  6. Buy diapers online. The Amazon Family recently changed; now you receive a 20% discount on diapers and wipes when you order using the Subscribe & Save option. If you’re not currently a member of the program, though, you’ll have to join the waiting list. In the meantime, take a look at Diapers.com; with their $10 off your first order and other online coupons you can find online, you’ll get a good price, at least with your first order. When the price is close to your target price (#2 above), it’s well worth it to have them delivered right to your door.

What works for you–how are you saving money on diapers?