Why stock up on diapers in advance?

tinyhumantoe

I have one small package of newborn diapers, and one box of size 1.  Why do people stock up on so many before LO arrives? 

My friend has 30 boxes of diapers.  Is it a money issue (buy now so the cost is spread out)?  I understand stocking up when they are on sale, but I live 2 minutes from the grocery store, and DH can just pick them up on the way home.  I guess I don't see the point of stocking up when I don't know how many I need of each size, and what my brand preference is. 

Please enlighten me

starrysmile18

No enlightening here, but fwiw, we don't even have newborn diapers. I just have 2 boxes of 1's. If our babe is a teeny thing then we'll go get at least 1 box of NB's. But I agree with you, buy em as you need em, esp b/c you don't know when LO will grown out of that size.

tmungro1

Yeah, I think people stock up to spread out the expense. Diapers can get expensive and I've heard to look for boxes at a cost of 20 cents per diaper. So when I see them on sale at BRU or Target, I get some. I only have 3 boxes, 1 newborn and 2 size ones. 30 is A LOT! I don't think I'd go that far but my friend told me her son stayed in each size anywhere from 2-4 months.

chrissymazer

We didn't start stockpiling until DS reached size 1's.  And even then we just bought the ginormous box from Costco.  I agree that you never know what size baby will need/stay in when they first come home.  DH and I were given a couple of boxes of newborn size at hubby's work shower and we had to run out and buy preemies on the way home from the hospital.  You just never know.

MichelenDave06

I don't get it either.  There are stores nearby.  After you run out of a box, you can send DH out for more.  I have one 88 count box of newborns and just got a large box of size 1s.  DS was out of newborn diapers in a few weeks and he was pretty small when he was born 7lbs7oz.

Megroons

I have heard not to stock up in advance in case that certain brand doesn't work. DH's friends are throwing him a diaper party though so we'll have sooooo many diapers in advance. People will bring different brands though and we can return them if we need to!

mlf625

I don't see any reason to stock up.  Some diapers work better than other diapers for certain kids, and diapers aren't exactly a tough thing to find and buy.

Plus, I went into motherhood thinking I'd ONLY use the organic cotton super special diapers .... and found that the store brands were my favorites. 

MommaP12

I've got one package (not box) of NB and don't plan to buy anymore of that size because DS was born at 7lbs 10 oz and wore that size for like 2 weeks.

 I am stocking up on size 1 and size 2 but only because I have coupons to use, I can earn a $10 gift card at Target this week on top of using the coupons and honestly, my DH has an odd hours job and we have a 3 year old, so I don't want to be caught without diapers the first couple months.  So basically, I'm getting 2 boxes this week b/c of the deal and that will be it.

Demedoll

People stock up to spread out the expense and to get diapers when there are good deals. I think 30 boxes is excessive because you do not know how large or small your baby will be and whether the baby will have sensitive skin. We just "stocked up" with 2 size 1 and 3 size 2 diaper boxes because we got $20 off on 3 boxes and $14 off on the other 3. If we waited we would have missed the sale. The diapers came out to like 13 and 14 cents each which is better than I have found anywhere.

Buying at the grocery store can be really pricey. Bulk stores, diapers.com first time buyer discount, and some amazon promos are usually your best bet if you are buying name brand. If your child does not have sensitive skin there is not reason to pay more for the name brands. You can buy the CVS or costco brand diapers and save a ton.

samk213

I have 2 boxes of NB diapers.  88 count per box, I bought them because I got them on a very good sale and because we know we liked them with DS and I expect a baby of about the same size, the NB go up to 10lbs.  1 box of 88 will in all likelihood last 8-9 days at most with all the changing that goes on initially, sometimes even 2-3 diapers in 1 changing.

mamaHippo23

Convenience, mostly. It will be one less thing to worry about, especially since it will be the #1 thing you will need and run out of the most. If you stock up in advance it's less likely you'll run out at 4 am and since you'll be exhausted and pre-occupied most of the time it'll help to keep things as simple as possible. But as long as you have a few to start with and you don't mind running to the store alot, then you don't have to if you don't want to. I will say that buying 30 cases, like your friend, is very excessive and you don't have to go that extreme. A couple boxes in each size is plenty to get you started.

For some people (like us) it is a money issue. We've been buying the essential items like diapers, wipes, bottles, etc., a little bit each week since we rarely have large chunks of money to do it all at once. If I see a really good sale or find a great deal, I jump on it! Because knowing my luck it will be full price by the time the baby comes and I really need it LOL.

DerpityDog

I'm with you, I bought a small pack of NB and a small pack of size 1 this weekend, and that should be enough to determine what size is right when we need to go out and get more.  

gingerfamily

I'm stocked up through size 3's.  I mainly did it because we'll already have the additional expense of daycare and didn't want to throw diapers into the mix as well.  Plus I had a gift card that is going to expire in September from my credit cards rewards and used that to buy all the diapers. 

mrsjenni

I refuse to stcok up on anything, because you literally have NO IDEA how your baby will react to one brand diaper/formula/baby food/diaper cream, etc.  Why go through the hassel of buying (and storing... what a PITA) only to possibly have to return some things.

Um, no thanks. 

Jumpin4joy

I haven't purchased any diapers yet! I didn't get any at my shower this past Saturday but I have another shower this coming Saturday and if I don't get any there then I will buy 1 pkg of NB and 1 pkg of size 1s.  I'd go nuts with stacks of stuff everywhere.  My SO is already grumbling about all the stuff "sitting around" and my shower was barely Saturday. 

Mom2Mack1

MommaP12:

I've got one package (not box) of NB and don't plan to buy anymore of that size because DS was born at 7lbs 10 oz and wore that size for like 2 weeks.

 I am stocking up on size 1 and size 2 but only because I have coupons to use, I can earn a $10 gift card at Target this week on top of using the coupons and honestly, my DH has an odd hours job and we have a 3 year old, so I don't want to be caught without diapers the first couple months.  So basically, I'm getting 2 boxes this week b/c of the deal and that will be it.

I did the same thing.  DD was almost 9lbs so I didn't even bother with NB diapers.  I've got a few sz 1 and more sz 2.  Worst case I can return them if LO doesn't use them.  I'd rather get them now on sale.  The Target deal was way too good to pass up!

tinyhumantoe

Thanks, all!  This helps.  I feel better now   I have a feeling my friend will have some excess diapers.  Her LO is due a month before mine, so maybe the unused diapers will come to me!  muahhhh!

hmp1

I don't stock up. I have 2 packs of NB and 2 packs of 1. I don't even think DS has used 30 boxes of diapers in his life yet.

melody921

While I have neither the inclination nor the space to stock up on 30 boxes, I do like to buy them when they're on sale or I have extra coupons. So I've bought a couple of boxes, usually to get a store gift card in return or something.

bosha711

We've never stock piled, either. We buy as needed or just a little ahead. As the baby nears 1 yr, their growth slows & will be in the same size longer. That's when we felt it was safe to buy like 2 boxes at a time when on sale.