How Many Diapers a Day Does a Baby Need? How to Stock Up Before Your Baby Arrives

So how many diapers a day does a baby go through? Thousands! Estimates range from 1,600 to 4,000 in the first year. Try not to panic as you start figuring out the cost of all. those. diapers. We get it; those kinds of numbers would scare anybody. But what if you didn’t have to buy a single diaper for the first 12 months of your baby’s life? Having all the diapers you’ll need for the first year before your baby is even born is totally possible, and we’ve done the math for you.

Use the KCL stock-up price list to determine when to buy at a stock-up price and pace yourself with coupon deals over the course of 38 weeks. We’ll show you how!

Keep in mind, every baby is different, and this plan is based on a 7-pound baby. If your baby is smaller at birth, you’ll need more Newborn-size, and if the baby is bigger — say, pushing 10 pounds, you may need very few Newborn-size diapers. Let’s do this.

For all the latest baby deals, tips, and money-saving coupons, be sure to download the KCL app.

 

Diaper Math: How many diapers a day you’ll need.

Although there are lots of diaper brands, we chose to go with Huggies and Pampers because they are the top two brands and can be found at major retailers like Target and Walmart. Prices are based on Huggies Little Snugglers line and Pampers Swaddlers. We used three diaper calculators for our figures — Huggies, Pampers, and Diaper Planner. Here are the estimates:

We’re going with the 2,457 from Diaper Planner because when it comes to diapers, it’s always better to have and not need than scrounging for something last minute to cover that hiney if you run out of them. If you end up with opened packs of diapers at the end of your baby’s first year, you can store them for your next little one, give them to a friend, or donate them to a local diaper bank.

The average price of a diaper across the two brands is $0.32, meaning you’ll pay about $786.24 for the first year of diapers.

 

Up to 12 weeks along: Buy at least 420 newborn-size diapers because your baby will go through about 10 diapers daily.

Congrats! You’re pregnant. Celebrate by eating your favorite food while it still sounds good.

With a 7-pound baby, you’re looking at close to 420 Newborn diapers. (Use Diaper Planner to firm up your numbers as you get closer to delivery.)

During the first trimester, focus on building your stockpile. While there are several combinations, we wanted to make things somewhat simple, so here are the combinations that’ll get you as close to the number calculated earlier.

• Buy five boxes of 84-count Huggies or Pampers Newborn diapers at Target or Walmart (420 diapers)

or

• buy 11 packs of 31-count packs of Huggies or Pampers Newborn diapers, plus one box of 84-count Huggies or Pampers Newborn diapers (425 total diapers) at Target or Walmart

or

• buy four boxes of 76-count Huggies Newborn diapers, plus four packs of the 31-count Huggies Newborn diapers at Walmart (428 diapers).

Also, sign up for all the baby freebies and free diaper deals. Subtract any free diapers you receive from the total amount you’re trying to buy before the baby arrives.

TIP: Look for Huggies coupons and Pampers coupons you can stack with a sale. Aim to save 50% on every pack.

 

13 – 20 weeks along: Buy 637 Size 1 diapers, which comes out to about nine diapers a day.

Ah, the glorious first half of the second trimester.

You’re probably feeling less nauseated, and your baby bump isn’t making it hard to get in and out of the car yet. #win.

Time to get more serious about stocking up. Focus on completing your size 1 stockpile with 637 diapers. Here’s how:

• Buy 20 packs of 32-count Huggies or Pampers diapers at Target or Walmart (640 diapers)

or

• buy two boxes of 198-count along with eight packs of 32-count size 1 diapers at Walmart (644 diapers).

or

• buy one box of 164-count size 1 Pampers, three boxes of 96-count size 1 diapers, and six packs of 32-count size 1 diapers at Target (644 diapers). Don’t forget to use your Target RedCard for an extra 5% off.

When you see a diaper coupon, ask your loved ones to print it for you, and plan to visit the store a few times while the coupon is good.

TIP: Look for Target or Walmart gift card deals like $10-off-a-$50 baby purchase that you can stack with a brand that’s on sale.

 

 

21 – 28 weeks along: Buy 593 Size 2 diapers because your baby will go through about six to seven diapers a day.

Get your game face on, mama, because you have to continue building your diaper stockpile during the remaining days of your second trimester. You’ll thank us when you’re putting your feet up and not buying a single diaper in the last few weeks before you give birth.

You need a total of 593 size 2 diapers in these seven weeks, which is just a tiny bit less than the last phase. Here’s a couple of combinations that’ll get you close:

• Buy four boxes of 128-count Huggies size 2 diapers and three packs of 29-count Huggies or Pampers size 2 diapers at Walmart (599 diapers)

or

• buy three boxes of 148-count Pampers or Huggies size 2 diapers and five packs of 29-count Huggies or Pampers at Target (604 diapers)

or

• buy four boxes of 144-count plus one pack of 32-count Pampers size 2 diapers at Walmart (608 diapers)

or

• buy two boxes of 148-count size 2 diapers, two boxes of 84-count, and five packs of 29-count Huggies or Pampers size 2 diapers at Target (609 diapers).

TIP: If you strike out finding diaper deals as quickly as you need them, consider other options like Amazon Household. Prime members save 20% on five or more items like diapers with a recurring (think: once a week) delivery date.

 

29 – 38 weeks along: Buy 805 Size 3 diapers, which is about five diapers daily.

Honestly? That’s a whole lot of diapers, about five a day. You’ll need to:

• Buy five packs of 156-count Huggies size 3 diapers, plus one pack of 26-count size 3 diapers or either brand at Target (806 diapers)

or

• buy six packs of 136-count Huggies or Pampers size 3 diapers (816 diapers) at Target

or

• buy five packs of 132-count Pampers size 3 diapers and six packs of 26-count Huggies or Pampers size 3 diapers at Walmart (816 diapers).

Since you’ll get a greater number of size 3 diapers, why not register for them when you’re first pregnant and also request them as gifts at showers?

If you do coupon deals, you’re looking at just one or two deals a week in order to get there.

Pat yourself on the back and don’t think about buying diapers for a whole year. (Unless you’ve got the couponing bug. In that case, keep getting those diaper deals, girl.)

TIP: Running out of space for all those diapers? Get creative with these small space hacks.