Diapers and 4 Other Baby Items You Should Be Buying at Costco

Babies are lovable little bundles of new life, but they are also expensive. Caring for them does not come cheaply, and the necessities can easily threaten to break your budget if you don’t shop carefully for them.

Fortunately, Costco has great deals on common baby items you will need on a regular basis. While you can’t slow down your babies’ growth, or limit their needs, you can get the best deals on many of the things you need without worrying too much.

Here are five baby items you should be buying at Costco. Your bank account will thank you.

Costco is known for being a great place to buy diapers, according to Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com.

She said you’ll typically find multiple sizes and several brands of diapers at Costco such as the standard Kirkland Signature as well as brands like Huggies. 

“Selection can vary based on your location but prices will likely beat shopping anywhere else no matter what brand you choose,” she said. 

Kirkland Signature diapers come in sizes 1-2 as well as 3-6 and work out to around 18 cents or 20 cents per diaper depending on which size and how many diapers are contained in the box. 

“Note that you may be restricted to purchasing limits too — when I checked both sizes of Kirkland Signature diapers were limited to two boxes per member, so don’t anticipate being able to fully stock up.”

Still, they’re a great value and you’ll still save over shopping elsewhere, she said. 

“If you opt for name-brand diapers, then the price per diaper may be slightly higher, 24 to 27 cents per diaper, but that’s still better than what you’ll find elsewhere.”

For babies who are becoming toddlers and in that stage in between diapers and full potty training, Ramhold said it’s worth seeing if you can snag pull-ups training pants at Costco. 

“Currently they’re available in sizes 2T-3T and cost around $41.99 online for a box of 128. That works out to roughly 33 cents per training pant, but you also may be able to pick them up cheaper in-store depending on your local warehouse club.”

If you try to buy them elsewhere you’ll find smaller packages and higher prices, she said, around 38 to 43 cents per pant, so if you can get them at Costco, it’ll likely have the best price. 

“The problem will be if you need a different size — my initial search showed 4T-5T available as well, but when the actual product page was just more of the smaller size.”

If you’ve got a rash-prone baby or toddler, you might want to keep some diaper cream on hand.

“Costco may just be your best bet for saving on this surprisingly pricey product,” Ramhold said. 

Currently, Costco offers a three-pack of Desitin maximum strength for around $21.99. Each tube is 4.8 ounces and that works out to about $7.33 per tube, she said. 

“Shopping the same product elsewhere, a 4-ounce tube goes for $7.99 if not more.”

She did say that she “technically” found a better deal at Target for a tub of Desitin maximum strength –16 ounces for  $20.99 — so you are getting slightly more product for $1 less at Target, but it’s also in a tub, which is not everyone’s favorite way to handle messy, sticky diaper cream.

“So depending on how you prefer to dispense it, the $1 extra and slightly less amount may make Costco more worth it.”

There are usually a few different options for baby wipes at Costco, Ramhold said, with most current being Kirkland Signature fragrance-free, Kirkland Signature fresh spring scent and RICO wipes. 

The Kirkland Signature boxes both contain 900 wipes divided among nine 100-count soft packs for $21.99, which works out to 3 cents per wipe, she explained. The RICO wipes have 720 wipes total split among nine 80-count soft packs for $22.99, which also works out to 3 cents per wipe. 

“At that price, it’s really just about personal preference here — the fragrance-free Kirkland wipes are noted as being hypoallergenic, alcohol-free, and accepted by the National Eczema Association, while the scented ones are noted as being hypoallergenic and made with ‘ultra-soft plant-based fibers.’ The RICO wipes are noted as fragrance-free and ultra-moisturizing, so it may be the best of all picks.”

If you’re using a Diaper Genie in your nursery, inevitably you’ll need refills for it.

Ramhold shared that Costco has a package that includes four 270-count refills, plus two carbon filters for $19.99.

“So it’s an easy way to stock up without spending a fortune, as long as you’re OK with the clean laundry scent this product is available in.”