Or get a warehouse club membership and buy your diapers (name brand or generic) there.

In a pinch you can also rent space for advertising on your baby's forehead... just don't let Clear Channel get control of it.

We've used the El-Cheapo brand disposable diapers, and trust me, it's worth that extra $108 a year.

"Who cares"? Well, you'll probably care if a cheap diaper leaks right after a particularly thunderous baby poop.

Sometimes I think the CR folks need to get out of the lab and into the real world once in a while.

How about breastfeeding? Formula is expensive.

Buy secondhand. Baby doesn't care. The only thing I wouldn't buy second hand is a car seat.

If you want, cloth diapering is pretty inexpensive. Especially if you rent like us and your landlord pays the water bill.

@Segador:

I completely agree. The diaper advice was clearly written by someone who has no kids.

You will end up spending more in laundry costs because the cheap diapers LEAK!!!

Luv's were the best bang for the buck. Pampers were great, but they do cost too much.

@Segador: @mythago: I find that the "Supreme" version of the off-name diapers generally work just as well as Pampers or Huggies.

LUVS are off the table since they are scented and bad for sensitive baby bottoms.

@Segador: I agree. Never skimp on diapers, formula or baby lotions/creams.

Dress them in rummage sale clothes if you have to, but get a diaper that fits and is easy to change.

@Fujikopez: I would maybe add crib to the buy new list unless you do serious homework on the used one before you purchase. Especially considering Storkcraft just recalled every crib they made in a seven year period.

@Fujikopez: Breastfeeding doesn't work for everyone. Some women don't produce as much as others.

Breast milk is the best option, but formula will feed a hungry (screaming) baby.

@Fujikopez:
I would add crib mattresses to that list.
Reused mattresses lead to a hirer rate of
SIDs....

@Spaceman Bill Leah: Zombie Fighting Dinosaur: Luvs were the worst diapers we tried - leaky and caused horrible diaper rash.

Where diapers are concerned, try several different types and stick with the ones that work. We tried just about every diaper would could find (including cloth) and ended up loving the generic Costco diapers and Pampers.

Oh, and CR? No child wears size 1 diapers for a whole year. More like, 2 weeks. Why don't you look at the costs of say, size 3 or size 4, which most babies/toddlers stay in for a looong time and which sizes seem to be hit with the grocery shrink ray every 8 months (see babycheapskate blog for a comparison chart).

I will add a third vote for more expensive brand name diapers. When our baby was just born the worked fine. . . until the baby had a thunderous poo (in our bed) at three AM. That meant changing the diaper, the baby clothes, all our sheets, blankets etc at 3am. That night of sleep ALONE was worth the $108. We are never going back.

How about saving tons of money AND helping the environment by skipping disposables altogether?

If you have a washer/dryer you can wash diapers yourself, or weekly diaper services are usually cheaper than buying tons of disposable diapers every week.

Or at least get those washable diaper covers that have smaller, disposable pads for the inserts. [www.gdiapers.com]

And how about skipping expensive cribs and baby furniture altogether by co-sleeping? [www.nd.edu]

You could even skip the shopping cart wipes and let your kid develop some immunities.

@geekgrrl77: Because what works for some, doesn't work for others. Especially with co-sleeping.

1) Toys. Kids are just as happy with a cardboard box, crayons on rummage paper, or old paintbrush and water on the driveway as they are with even a $10 toy.

2) Clothes. While not too expensive it adds up, hand-me-downs and seconds are just as good for kids.

Places you should think twice before skimping.

1) Diapers. I have yet to find a store brand that hold up as well. Who cares if they are half the price if you are changing them twice as often and cleaning up a huge mess.

2) Safety gear. Good seats/carriers/strollers may be a little pricey, but they are one time costs.

@mythago: We've tried a few different brands and found that we liked the store brand the best. None of them did so well against "thunderous baby poop". Just pack a bag and a spare outfit when you're out. When it comes to diapers, try a few brands and find what works well. Then always buy the large club packs at a cheaper unit price.

I spent $300 on cloth dipes 2 yrs ago and I'm still good. I wash in homemade laundry detergent that costs me .03cents per load, and I hang in the sun to dry (and sunout stains).
I wish I knew about it with my 1st 2 babes - I blew almost $3200 on diapers and wipes with those 2!

I got a new crib mattress(+$75) but skipped the crib(-$150). Our queen mattress is off the frame and on the floor, and the crib mattress is sidecar'd next to it.

breastfeeding works for being cheap too. Plus it is better. maybe not all moms can do it (all tho medically only %5 or less of the population can;t) but SOME is better then none - and helps cut the cost of formula to boot.

2nd hand clothes for any kid under 4 are usually in teriffic shape since at that age they alwasy outgrow before they where out. Why spend $30 at Gymboree for a new shirt, when you can get the same "liek new" shirt for $8 at the resale adn know it will still look nice 3 kids later??

I usually use a good quality used umbrella stroller (liek a nice used Chicco or PegPerego...but for $30 off craigslist instead of brand new) and a cheapo baby sling or soft carrier instead of shelling out $100's of dollars on soem huge fancy stroller.

Carseats are one thign you shouldnt; skimp on when it comes to quality and safety. But I do liek to buy ONE carseat thast good from 5 lbs to 60 lbs or higher so that the one expense will cover my chld from birth to booster age. (instead of $80 baby bucket, $130-$150 convertable, $80 booster seat).

We used the Target brand when our twins were infants, but once they got out of the newborn size we switched to Huggies, because the cheapers ones, at that stage, just didn't cut it.

We also use cloth diapers most of the time so I think that helps, if you have the means of cleaning them in your own washing machine.

@Segador: I totally agree. Pampers are the way to go, and they are worth it due to reduced leaks, etc.

@Segador: At the BJs where we purchase diapers, Pampers (yes, I would prefer them if I were wealthier) cost $40 for 156. BJs brand costs $25 for 156. A box lasts about a month for a savings of $180 per year.

The only disposable diapers that seem to be universally well liked are Pampers. I usually advise people to at least try the store brands.

I have found in general that if you aren't satisfied with a store brands performance, the store will give you a refund (if you bring back the unused portion).

@lincolnparadox: And, uh, sometimes it hurts like all get out. Just sayin' Different strokes for different folks. The bottom line is to do what works best for you. If it means spending a little extra on a less-leaky diaper, do it. If it means setting your child on fire, maybe you should reevaluate.

Whoever wrote "Who cares" with diapers hasn't had a baby... we used store brand once when we ran out of what we normally use, and they leaked half the time. I'd gladly pay a slight premium ($9 a month? come on, really?) to not have a pee-soaked baby.

My godson wore the cheap diapers for MAYBE a day before his mom said to hell with it - and he was only in a size 1 for maybe 3 weeks.

That little amazon baby (his mother is 6' and grandpa is 6'7") leaked right through the cheap ones when he's roll over (which he did as soon as he came out), scoot, shimmy, teeter, crawl - basically MOVE.

Like an above commenter said, one should never skimp on diapers, formula, or skincare/healthcare products. Babies are too sensitive and unpredictable.

@Fuzzy_duffel_bag: Buh-wha!? Logic? Reason? Asking that parents permit their oozing bundles to develop a powerful built-in defense system? MADNESS.

/sarcasm

Thank you, Fuzzy person. I worry that some of the illnesses and allergies felling kids have a lot to do with a failure of little immune systems to develop properly. I'm all for lack of colds and yucky flus, but if it means your kid is better equipped to fend of illnesses and viruses in the future, HMM. Ponder.

@xay: Yep: [www.parentdish.com]

@Fuzzy_duffel_bag: This. I didn't even know those covers existed until my twins were well past the age for using them, and they managed to stay alive despite that. They're just another way for companies to prey on parental fear of OMG GERRRRRRMS.

For the amount of baby stuff I see at yard sales here you could outfit a mother and have them ready for octuplets for probably pennies on the dollar. Some people even give it to you for free because they just want it gone.

There are some things you shouldn't skimp on, like a car seat or a crib. A used high chair or stroller are stepping into the gray areas as well because some high chairs have been recalled due to stability issues. You will probably get these things as gifts anyways so you likely will not have to pay for them.

You could buy almost all your clothes second hand off craigslist, people sell bundles of clothing cheap, and you could probably outfit a kid for a couple years off just one purchase possibly. I would look for a big lot that includes several sizes of clothes. Second hand clothes are easier to get in smaller sizes, so keep that in mind for the newborn. Babies grow out of clothes FAST so a lot of times you will find brand new clothing at rock bottom prices if you just shop second hand. I think it would be very convienent for the parent to have a big stock of clothes on hand and not have to go to the store every time your baby changes sizes just to buy new clothes for them, not to mention you will save a ton of money in the process from buying retail. Around here baby clothes go for 25 cents a piece, and they aren't even selling at that price. You will end up having to pay more for clothes later on, as people simply do not have as much of the larger sizes available at least from my experience. The baby doesn't care what it has on.

Also, you will probably want to stock up BEFORE you have the kid. Or have friends and family do your yard sale shopping for you. You won't be able to do much shopping when your pregnant, so it would be wise to start stocking up on yard sale baby goods ASAP after you find out you are pregnant. The stuff will also have to be cleaned, and this takes time and energy, as well as yard sale shopping takes more energy than going to one single store and paying retail for everything.

Those 3 tips are really lame. A shopping cart cover can't cost you that much and is a one time purchase, and you could probably make your own very easily. So you would be saving a whole $10-20 by not purchasing one.

@xay: In fact I'm pretty sure the diapers at costco are made by huggies.

Protip: the cheapest diapers are at Aldi grocery stores. They work fine.

@geekgrrl77: Weekly diaper services, with their delivery costs and harsh chemicals, typically are as environmentally damaging as modern disposables.

The AAP and most doctors recommend against co-sleeping due to the higher risk of SIDS.

cloth diapers FTW!

@alexawesome: I have read quite a few theories that today's weird kid allergies have a lot to do with germophobic parenting. This is why my kid is allowed to lick the dog's butt. I am breeding him to be super-resistant.

I nth the "don't skimp on diapers" comments - I use Pampers Swaddlers and when I use cheaper diapers, they get soggy so quick I have to use twice as many of them!

I think in parenting there's a lot of pressure to buy the most expensive brands thinking they are better. So the best advice I would give is to really read reviews and check safety news on the cheaper strollers, swings and other gear, and don't feel pressured to buy Jeep or Maclaren just because you can, or because it showed up on the Babies R' Us recommendations for your registry list.

I personally also think the following are a waste of money:

-Bottle warmers (keep a tea kettle on the stove, it's no harder and just as fast).

-The Diaper Genie system (just get a $10 trash can with a pop-up lid and good generic bag liners).

-Expensive fancy baby clothes - buy a season ahead on sale and you can get outfits for $5 rather than $25. It all just ends up with spit-up stains on it anyway.

-Personally, I did not buy special burp cloths, just bought stacks of cheap receiving blankets so I could use them for either purpose, making packing a diaper bag lighter and easier. I like multi-purpose items rather than multiple single-purpose items.

My final suggestion is not to buy every piece of baby-related gear on the market ahead of time. We made the mistake of buying 3 different kinds of carriers, including wraparound slings and a Baby Bjorn, and our daughter just isn't into them. We bought a $400 Medela pump and due to medical problems I suffered at her birth, breastfeeding was not an option. So try to take the right balance between preparing ahead of time and buying out the entire Babies R Us store.

@Fuzzy_duffel_bag: Here is a story by a local columnist from a few days ago about the germ subject. I felt vindicated.

[www.dallasnews.com]

I guess I got very lucky, because we had great luck with the Toys R Us (of all places) store brand diapers. With twins, you look to reduce costs wherever you can, and that was great not to spend even more than needed on the diapers.

A lot of the expenses that everyone thinks are necessary can be reduced by doing some at-home versions. Example: invest a little in a mouli and spare yourself buying all those jars of baby food purée. Thrift store and hand-me-downs for clothes and books. All those "must have" baby gear items are not as necessary as the advertisers will tell you--there's no need for baby swings, bouncers, playpens, wipe warmers, cribs, and so on.

@Eyebrows McGee: Thank you for making both of those corrections, I think there's a lot of misinformation/propaganda about both co-sleeping and disposable diapers.

Skip disposables and go cloth - it's good for you pocket, your baby's bottom, and the environment.

I wanted to also add that I'm constantly in awe of people who are completely uneducated when it comes to breastfeeding. With proper education breastfeeding should not hurt, and it's rare that a healthy mother (medical problems aside) cannot produce enough milk for their baby. I'm sorry but the majority of the people who claim to have this problem are simply lazy. Breastfeeding takes hard work and dedication but the benefits make up for it!

@Casandra Camacho: If you buy the expensive stuff you can often resell it on ebay for close to what you paid for it. That or craigslist. There are some high-end baby products like strollers and high chairs that command a very good used price. This is another thing to consider, if you can afford to make the initial investment why not have the best? Especially if you can sell it off for a premium when you are done with it or can use it through multiple children and have it still look close to as good as the day you bought it. Cheapo stuff that breaks is not cool when you have kids. It may sound like I am promoting more spending here but it makes sense in a way.

Kmart and target brand diapers were not working for us but walmart and sams brand worked just fine. As for the kids clothes, sign up for the carter's newsletter if there is one close to you. Between the clearance sales and added coupons you can get an entire season's worth of clothes for about $100 .

@joe.glass: Your diaper knowledge is enviable.

@geekgrrl77: actually cloth diapers were recently proven less environmentally friendly than disposables.
[www.timesonline.co.uk]

My kids wore Toys R Us brand Diapers with no issues.

@Segador: Ohh absolutely...2 kids (one 8 one 3.5) and the cheapo store brands just don't cut it for us...Often the would not last though the night.

@mythago: As the proud parent of a 5 month old, I concur. After your kid goes 24 hours without pooping, you really want a high quality diaper in place for the explosion to come.

@Segador: It's been a few years since my own kids were in diapers, but I did watch my teen neighbor's son on and off for the past year.

My own experience- both my son and daughter got horrible rashes with store brand diapers, particularly Price Chopper's brand. Even with cream in place, the rash would appear.

Huggies were best and I could always get my hands on coupons. Luvs I never liked, they were pricey, rarely sent me coupons and leaked. Pampers were second best.

With my neighbor's son, they use the Walmart cheap version and he gets rashes a lot, even with cream. So I suggested they switch brands, but being teens they aren't willing to spend the extra.

@Cafezinha: Ditto on making your own baby food. I can't believe that didn't make the list. We splurged and got a variety of organic frozen veggies, pureed and strained them, and still spent less than those jars.