15 Ways To Save Money On Baby Items

January 9, 2019

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How on earth do you save money on baby items?

Let’s face it, babies are expensive.

Between the cribs, and the highchairs, and the swings, and the bouncy seats, and the million other items necessary for babies, the cost of having a baby can quickly get out of hand.

And that’s just to get started!

Comparatively, the items you need to buy before the baby arrives typically end up being less expensive than the day to day products you need. Items like diapers and wipes are big culprits when it comes to breaking the bank after baby arrives.

Once your baby outgrows any clothes you acquired at baby showers, baby and toddler clothes quickly become expensive. This is especially true if it’s your first baby and you don’t have any hand-me-downs to use!

Despite the costs of having a baby, it is totally possible to keep baby costs to a minimum.

That’s why today I want to share with you my top fifteen money saving tips on baby items.

This post may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosure here. I am not a medical professional, and this is not medical advice. Always consult your child’s pediatrician.

Ways To Save Money On Baby Items

For this post, I’m going to break up my saving tips into four categories: tips on diapers, clothes, food, and general saving tips. That way, if you have a specific item you want to save more money on, you can skip straight to that section!

If you find any of these tips helpful, don’t forget to share with your friends or follow me on Pinterest for more baby tips!

Save Money On Baby Diapers

1. Cloth diapers

The most economic way to go with diapers is definitely cloth diapers. This is especially true if you are planning to have more kids after your current baby.

While the upfront cost is greater, since you will have to buy all the diapers at once, the ultimate cost is much lower on cloth diapers than disposable ones.

Plus, cloth diapers are friendlier on the environment and create less waste.

We currently use cloth diapers on our toddler while we are at home. While I can remember a time when I definitely did not want to go this route, I have actually found cloth diapers to be very easy to change and clean.

My personal favorite cloth diapers and the ones we use are Nora’s Nursery diapers, which are all-in-one diapers that are very easy to use and wash.

2. Buy seasonal diapers

One trick to saving money on disposable diapers is to try to stock up on seasonal diapers.

Some diaper brands will issue holiday diapers, particularly around Christmas.

Then, right after Christmas, you can expect the leftover inventory of these seasonal diapers to be on sale.

Of course, you’ll have to be sure to jump right on the opportunity–these discounted diapers are typically not in stock for very long.

3. Buy diapers on Amazon subscribe & save

Another trick to saving money on diapers is to get them from Amazon.

If you’re a prime member, you can get free shipping and save between 5-20% on diapers if you sign up to have them regularly delivered.

You can choose how frequently you want them delivered, anywhere from every month to every six months.

This saves both time and money, and ensures you always have enough diapers on hand. One less thing to worry about for mom!

4. Use rewards programs

If you’re using a name brand diaper, chances are they have a rewards program.

When you sign up for a rewards program, you will be able to enter codes found on diaper and wipe packages, which will then give you points.

When you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for things like coupons, free diapers and wipes, or even toys, depending on the program.

If you’re very loyal to one brand, this is a great way to save money and get cool perks.

Save Money On Baby Clothes

5. Shop seasonal sales

One way to save money on baby clothes is to shop seasonal sales. I can 100% testify that this method works, because it’s what I do!

Rather than buying new clothes for you baby every season, try to shop ahead when sales happen.

For instance, rather than buying summer clothes during late spring or early summer, instead try to stock up on spring clothes for the following year.

Of course, you’ll have to estimate what size your little one will be in when that season comes around again. While this can be difficult, it’s not impossible.

To make this easier, try to avoid buying an entire wardrobe at seasonal sale prices. Instead, stock up on items that can be layered, such as short sleeve onesies or t-shirts and light weight jackets.

Typically, every time my local store switches out their baby and toddler clothes for the next season, I go through the sale racks and try to pick out a few items that can be used once my son is ready to move up to the next size.

6. Buy second hand

Another great way to save money on baby clothes is to buy second hand.

Since babies grow so fast, many thrift stores have practically new baby clothes that are in great condition.

Check out your local thrift stores and see what they have in stock. You might also try googling baby and toddler thrift stores near you to find thrift stores specifically geared toward kids.

Most the time, you can get cheap clothes that just need to be washed before your little one wears them.

Also, don’t forget to swap clothes with other moms you know who have children who are around the same age as you. Many parents are willing to give hand-me downs for free.

7. Buy gender neutral

If you plan to have more kids in the future, one great way to ultimately save on clothes is to stick to gender neutral clothes as much as possible.

This is relatively easy for baby clothes, and does get harder to do as your little one grows.

Grey, white, black, yellow, and green are all great gender neutral colors that can be used for both boys and girls.

Avoiding clothes with gender specific logos or words can also help you to stretch baby clothes across multiple babies.

If you’re looking for some ideas on gender neutral baby clothes, Carter’s has some super cute options at great prices!

Save Money On Baby Food

8. Breastfeed

If you want to save money feeding your baby, breastfeeding is definitely the way to go.

Breastfeeding is not only the healthiest option for your baby, but it is also the cheapest.

Even if you do not want to nurse, you can still breastfeed your baby by pumping breast milk.

In all likelihood, you won’t even have to buy a breast pump. As part of the affordable care act, insurance companies are required to help pay, in part or in full, the cost of a breast pump for moms who wish to pump.

Even better news–you can go through this process hassle free with Aeroflow Breast Pumps. All you have to do is fill out a very short application (seriously….it’s super short) and Aeroflow will check with your insurance to see what they will cover. They also take care of getting a prescription from your doctor.

Once they get all this information together, you will receive a call or email from a representative and you will be able to log onto the site and pick out the breast pump you want! I was able to order mine within 3 days of submitting my application, and my completely free breast pump arrived within a week of ordering.

9. Buy off brand

If you prefer to feed formula or your baby requires it for some reason, you can still save money on formula.

When it comes to formula, I recommend buying an inexpensive store brand. Of course, always check with your pediatrician first.

All formula is required to be FDA approved in order to be sold in stores, so you rest assured that even store brands are just as safe and healthy for your baby.

10. Make your own baby food

Once your baby begins to eat baby food and eventually solids, it can be difficult to keep the cost down.

One way you can do this and save money on baby food is to make as much of it as you can yourself.

This is something I’ve really just started to do, and wish I had done sooner.

When your baby is still eating pureed foods, and even when they become toddlers, one easy and inexpensive way to make their food is to make homemade pouches.

I recently got reusable squooshi pouches, and they are a game changer!

Now I can buy a large container of apple sauce or make my own blend of fruit or veggies and fill up these reusable pouches for my son.

The really great thing about these pouches are that older babies and toddlers can feed themselves with them. And they make great on-the-go, healthy snacks.

Buying fresh fruit and veggies and pureeing your own pouches is far cheaper than buying premade pouches from a grocery store. And, they are typically healthier too!

Other Money Saving Tips For Baby

11. Use coupons

This may seem like a no brainer, but seriously, keep an eye out for coupons.

Sometimes they are hidden in packages of diapers or wipes, sometimes they’re in the mail. You never know where one might show up, so look through all the coupon flyers you get in the mail before you throw them out!

You can also find coupons online as well.

12. Buy during baby deals

One of my local grocery stores does weekly deals, and every now and then they do a baby deal.

I’ve gotten this deal twice, and it’s so good! When they run this deal, all you have to do is buy one box of pampers diapers and you get 4-5 other baby items completely free! I’ve gotten free packs of refill wipes, baby soaps, and baby food all for the price of one box of diapers.

Now, I’ll be honest, I don’t normally buy Pampers on the regular, but we do use them as gifts for expecting moms. So when this deal comes around, I stock up on my go to baby shower gift of diapers and get free stuff to use for my own baby. It’s a win win.

Keep on eye on your own local grocery store for similar deals on baby items!

13. Buy sale items

I’ll admit, I’m slightly addicted to searching for deals on things. It’s almost a hobby for me, in a weird way.

So, when I do my weekly grocery shopping, I make it a habit to walk down the clearance aisle of the store, as well as the clearance shelf in the baby section.

You never know what you might find at discounted prices! I’ve gotten organic baby sunscreen, bug spray, and more from these sections.

If you don’t check these areas out regularly, definitely check them out when your store switches out it’s inventory for the next season. This is a great time to stock up on things like sunscreen, clothes, and even toys.

14. Subscribe for frequent purchases

Another great way to save money is to subscribe to items you buy regularly.

Amazon has a great program where you can subscribe to products you use regularly and have them shipped straight to your door every 1-6 months (depending on how often you want them delivered). The really great thing about this is that by subscribing, you can save anywhere from 5-20% on these items!

This is a great way to save money on things like diapers, wipes, baby food, and baby hygiene products.

15. Buy in bulk

One last tip!

When possible and realistic, buying in bulk can save you money.

For example, instead of getting a regular sized box of diapers, you can typically get a super sized box of diapers for less than the equivalent of regular sized boxes.

A super sized box will likely last you the whole month, while you will probably need two regular sized boxes of diapers. And a super sized box will probably be a few bucks cheaper!

You can also buy things like baby food in bulk, ultimately saving you more money.

Those are my top fifteen money saving tips for baby products. What about you? Do you have any tips not mentioned? Share them with me in the comments below, or send me a message on Instagram!