Our Research

We went to our local discount store to compare disposable diapers. We checked the prices of different sizes and different brands of disposables including the generic/store brand. We found that Huggies ® and Pampers ® cost about the same amount, give or take a few cents. So we used the least expensive of the two, which was $11.36 for a jumbo package. The store brand's jumbo packages were $8.97. Both the name brand and the store brand had the same amount of diapers in each package. We calculated the following cost using the jumbo packages because they were the most economical. We broke down the prices per size and diaper usage according to the development of the average child. Finally, we added them up so you can decide.

Please note: when we refer to the number of changes per day, it is for a typical 24 hour period. It does not include days when your baby may be sick and need more diaper changes due to diarrhea.

Realizing The Actual Cost Of Disposable Diapers

In Summary...

Over a 3 1/2 year time period, you will have used over 8,700 disposable diapers on one child, totaling $2358 for discounted name brands and $1862 for generic/store brands. If you have a baby who is large for his/her age, you will pay even more than the price in the above chart.

Here's what we call the catch 22. The larger size diaper is the same price per package but the amount of diapers in that package is less, making each diaper change more expensive. You use less diapers as time goes by, but you are paying more per diaper.

Hold on, the costs keep coming. Most children using disposable diapers toilet train a year to a year and a half later than their peers who were cloth diapered.

Wait!

We did not add the cost of disposable wipes, diaper rash ointments (your baby is more likely to have rashes if they are using disposable diapers), the extra trips to the store and the extra trash bags. Don't forget that you have to carry all those used disposables to the curb.