6 Ways To Save Money on Baby Food, Diapers and Other Baby Essentials
Written by
Nicole Spector
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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When I was about six months pregnant with my first (and, to date, only) child, Milo, in 2021, a friend helped me make a baby gift registry. Among the some million items she told me I would absolutely need were things, it turned out, I would absolutely not need. At least, not pressingly. Toys, rattles, fancy lotions, pricey onesies … the list went on. Friends and family generously swooped in to buy, buy, buy.
I wound up with a nursery filled with quite a lot of stuff and, though grateful for it, I quickly learned, once Milo was born, that what I really needed were so many baby essentials. I’m talking about things like formula, diapers, baby wipes, diaper rash cream and pacifiers. I had these items, but not in a terribly large quantity. Once Milo was born, I was stunned by just how much more I needed and how often I needed it. I was even more taken aback by just how expensive everything was and how it appeared that none of it ever went on sale.
Fortunately, I had months of savings set aside to cover the exorbitant expenses that come with caring for a baby, but I wish I’d had better guidance on how to save on all the stuff I was constantly adding to my cart on Amazon. What could I have done differently? What tricks did I pick up along the way that I will absolutely hone should I have another baby? Here’s a look at how you can save as a parent.
Join Your Local Buy Nothing Group on Facebook
Perhaps the best tip I learned was to join my local Buy Nothing group on Facebook. I live in a large city (Los Angeles) and everyday people are posting gives in droves. I’m not sure how active these groups are in smaller or more rural areas, but I know they exist pretty much everywhere. Frequently, other parents would offer up easy porch pickup of not only used baby clothing, shoes and toys, but also unopened diapers when their child sized up. I wish I’d done this as soon as he was born, but I didn’t catch on until about nine months into my parenting journey.
Consider Cloth Diapers
I didn’t go the cloth diaper route, but some parenting experts, like Aghogho Oluese, food blogger at Baby-led Weaning for Busy Moms and a mom of two toddlers, recommended doing so to save money in the long run.
“Cloth diapers are cheaper in the long run than disposable ones,” Oluese said. “So if you can afford the upfront cost, then go for it.You won’t have to worry about spending $45 for a box of 30 diapers that will run out in two weeks.”
Make Your Own Purées
“Canned baby food might be convenient but it also comes with a higher cost,” Oluese said. “You’re paying for the time, equipment, shipping cost, additives and the profit margin of the manufacturer and the supermarket.”
To avoid all this nonsense, Oluese recommended making purées at home.
“You’ll be using fresh ingredients without any additives,” she said. “You’ll also save a lot of money.”
Get a Water Filter for Formula
This tip may be a little controversial, but it came directly from Milo’s Harvard-trained pediatrician in high demand, so I deem it sensible and safe. A lot of new parents buy distilled water for their baby’s formulas. Off the bat, Milo’s pediatrician told me to get a Brita and use that for prepping his formula. Of course, just be ahead of the curve and swap it out with a new filter before you need to. I recommend keeping this on the counter, as opposed to in the fridge, so you don’t have to spend as much time warming bottles up.
Shop Secondhand Baby Clothing (It’s All Going To Get Stained Anyway)
I remember the temptation to buy brand new baby clothing, not only because I felt my baby deserved “the best,” but because I was inundated with ads for so much adorable stuff on social media. Often this stuff was on sale, and often I’d cave solely because I thought I was getting such a great deal. But after a while, I started seeing how quickly Milo was outgrowing everything. Some of the oh-so-cute new things I bought him he never even got to wear!
So, I started going to secondhand stores to get his clothing. Some baby and toddler items at local thrift shops are only $1 — and that’s in Los Angeles. Most of what makes it to the rack has not a single stain on it, but even if I do notice a tiny one, I don’t mind much. Milo is only going to get it filthy anyway.
Remember To Ask Other Parents for Hand-Me-Downs
When I had Milo, I was so busy caring for him (and buying him things) that I didn’t think to ask parents with older children if they had anything their kids no longer needed. One day I had the idea to do so and I was flooded with offers of perfectly good apparel and toys that parents just had sitting around in their garages — too busy with child-rearing to put together to donate. Some of my favorite pieces of Milo’s came from fellow parents who no longer had use for them.
Pay More for Well-Made Items (The Cheap Stuff Breaks Fast)
With this tip you have to be pretty discerning. I’m not suggesting that you buy designer clothing for your kiddo (who will quickly outgrow them and not appreciate their value). I am, however, suggesting that you pay $22.99 for an OXO Tot Baby Wipes Dispenser (which has lasted me nearly 2 1/2 years and is still going strong), instead of buying the $5 knockoff option which lasted five days. I also recommend buying the expensive bottles, pacifiers and household appliances (like formula dispensers) that you’ll be using around the clock for your littlest one. The cheap stuff is cheap for a reason, and it’ll likely end up breaking not long after you start using it.
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