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7 Things Frugal New Parents Should Avoid Buying at CVS

January 26, 2025

4 min Read

Written by Terence Loose

Edited by Rebekah Evans

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - May 21, 2014: CVS began in 1963 in Lowell Mass.

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Babies cost a lot of money — like, a lot. According to WebMD, the cost of one-time baby supplies is $3,000 or more. And the first two years of raising a baby will set you back more than $25,000, according to the 2015 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, the latest available. So, when you factor in inflation — yeah, babies are a lot.

All the more reason to get really frugal on baby supplies. And although CVS is a parent’s best friend when a child runs a fever in the middle of the night or a prescription needs to be filled ASAP, it might not be the spot to buy everything for your newborn. Here is a sample of some items you might want to price check at other nationwide retailers.

Also experts say don’t shop at CVS on a specific day of the week, find out why.

Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes

CVS price: $11.79 (7 cents per wipe)

Cleanliness is next to godliness, right? Maybe, but one thing is for sure: godliness can add up. So buy wipes in bulk and shop around before these wipe out your budget. Try this 168-count Huggies pack.

Retailers that sell it for less:

Walmart price: $7.12 (approximately 4 cents per wipe)
Target price: $6.99 (approximately 4 cents per wipe)
Amazon price: $6.77 (just under 4 cents per wipe)

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Infants’ Tylenol Oral Suspension

CVS price: $14.49 ($7.25 per ounce)

There is nothing worse than seeing your little one suffer. So, you might want to have some remedies on hand, especially for those late night stretches when a doctor’s visit is hours away. One suggestion is this cherry-flavored infants’ Tylenol that comes in a 2-ounce bottle.

Retailers that sell it for less:

Target price: $11.69 ($5.85 per ounce)
Walmart price: $10.97 ($5.49 per ounce)
Amazon price: $10.64 ($5.32 per ounce)

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo

CVS price: $6.59 (49 cents per ounce)

There is probably nothing more ear-piercing than a baby’s cry when in a small, tiled bathroom. So do yourself a favor and load up on this tear-free, 13.6-ounce baby shampoo bottle. And if you buy too much, don’t worry, it makes great dive mask defog for that Caribbean vacation all this savings will pay for — in eighteen years when you’re finally free.

Retailers that sell it for less:

Target price: $4.79 (35 cents per ounce)
Walmart price: $4.78 (35 cents per ounce)
Amazon price: $4.78 (35 cents per ounce)

Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers

CVS price: $13.79 (43 cents per diaper)

Babies are basically little filters. Cute filters, but filters just the same. Stuff goes in one end and comes out the other — a lot. So, you’ll need a lot of diapers, which can really punch a hole in the budget if you’re not careful. We like this pack of Huggies that come with 32 diapers.

Retailers that sell it for less:

Walmart price: $15.90 (50 cents per diaper)
Target price: $9.99 (31 cents per diaper)
Amazon price: $9.94 (31 cents per diaper)

Philips Avent Natural Feeding Bottle

CVS price: $11.99

For the cuter end of the filter, a good baby bottle is essential — like this Philips Avent 9-ounce bottle. Especially if mom doesn’t plan to be an on call milk stand 24 hours a day.

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Retailers that sell it for less:

Walmart price: $11.48
Target price: $9.99
Amazon price: $17.99 (two pack at $9 each)

Similac Advance Baby Formula

CVS price: $22.49 ($1.81 per ounce)

If you decide to or must use baby formula rather than breast milk, you are going to need to stock up. By the time infants are six months old, they’re feeding four to five times a day, according to KidsHealth.org. So saving money here is critical for the budget. This Similac formula comes in a generous 12.4-ounce can and is fortified with iron.

Retailers that sell it for less:

Target price: $18.89 ($1.52 per ounce)
Walmart price: $18.88 ($1.52 per ounce)
Amazon price: $34.18 for 30.8 ounces ($1.11 per ounce)

Nature Made Melatonin Extra Strength Tablets

CVS price: $13.49 (15 cents per pill)

Like the label says, this is not for your baby. But for those nights when baby won’t sleep but you have to, these 5mg melatonin tablets (that come in 90 count) will come in handy. Let your partner take a shift for once, while you take a trip to Z-Town.