Comparing Diaper Brands and Cost

Even before you bring your cute new bundle of joy home, there are things to worry about. You need to plan a nursery, decide whether you're going to breast or bottle-feed, and a million other not so important things. One of those "other things" that might not seem so important is choosing a diaper for your baby to wear. But believe it or not, this can be one of the toughest chores you have to face, and it can either save you some real money or cost you a bunch in the long run.

For our purposes, let's look at only disposible diapers. There are many people who say that cloth is better, even cheaper, but it requires a pretty elaborate setup or access to a diaper service that will work with you in your town. Not everyone has these resources, so we'll just talk about the normal disposibles at this time.

When you start out, you'll want to sign up at as many diaper websites as possible. That way, if you find the advice here isn't to your liking, you can try all the brands for yourself. Pampers has a program that sends out periodic coupons, so does Huggies. Luvs does not offer coupons on their site, but you can find coupons for this brand as well as the others mentioned in Sunday local newspapers, so getting one a week can save you some cash.

Don't buy too many diapers before you actually bring baby home, as they might be the wrong size. You might be tempted to buy a bunch of Newborn (N) size diapers on sale, only to find out you have had a 10+ pound baby, who can't fit into those diapers. Or, you buy size 1's expecting a larger baby and end up with a preemie. So just buy one package each of size N and size 1 to start out.

Pampers New Baby Swaddlers are the way to go for most babies on their way home from the hospital. Although they aren't as cheap as store brands, at this size you get a sufficient quantity to the package so you don't feel as though you're paying too much. These are available in sizes N-2, and they have a nice soft feel and stretchiness that makes it easy for an inexperienced mom to get them on a little one. They also are dipped slightly in the front and fold down easily to allow the area around the navel to heal. The average price on these is about $10 a package.

After your baby isn't so "new", you can start playing around with other brands to see what you like and what works for your baby. Boys are going to need different things from a diaper than girls, so keep that in mind when trying different brands. Typically, Pampers and Huggies are the most expensive, at about $10 per small package. Pampers come in two styles: Baby-Dry and the line that includes Swaddlers and Cruisers. The Baby-Dry type seems to be a bit thinner than Pampers' other varieties.

Then come Luvs, which are a couple of dollars cheaper for the same package. This brand is loved by many, but does have its drawbacks, as Luvs do tend to have a quite strong baby-powder scent, and they are by far thinner than Pampers or Huggies. Pampers also have a faint scent, but it is less than that of Luvs.

Huggies are very soft, and do not seem to be scented. They come in the same amounts per package and roughly the same size as Pampers, and like Pampers there are two types. Huggies has a Supreme and a Baby-Shaped style, and the Supreme seems to be the better of the two. The only issue is that Huggies seem to be a bit smaller than Pampers.

Store brands can be tricky. Target makes two different store brands, one to emulate Huggies and one for Pampers. If you get those which are supposed to be like Pampers, they are useable but thinner than the actual brand. There is no scent and the tabs that hold the diaper shut are a bit stiffer, but these diapers definitely do the job (at least for girls, not sure about boys). They are less than $7 for the same size package, and if you are looking to try a store brand, they are one you should try.

Walmart also has a store brand, Parents' Choice, as well as White Cloud brand (which may be available elsewhere but in this area is only found at Walmart). The Parents' Choice brand is quite frankly horrible. They make a plastic crinkle sound and are extremely thin. The tabs at the front are hard to work with and don't want to stick to the diaper. White Cloud, however, is by far the best choice for a low-priced or store brand. These diapers are thick, scentless, and decorated with John Lennon's Imagine pattern. They are about $6 a package and have performed well under many conditions, such as long car rides and walks through the mall in a stroller. In all, they are truly recommended for those who are looking for a cheaper alternative to the costly Pampers and Huggies.

The best advice, though, is to try them all yourself. There may be a store brand in your area that is different than in this one (Northeast), and that brand might be excellent. But be prepared to have diapers laying around that don't work out. Think of donating those diapers that you don't care for to homeless shelters or on Freecycle, and remember that if all else fails, go with the expensive brands and try coupon hunting online (Coupon Forum is one such place). Diaper mysteries solved!