There is no doubt that the first few years of a child’s life can be very expensive for a parent. Every dollar is definitely worth it, but many families may feel overwhelmed by the extra expense that a new baby can bring. Luckily, there are many ways to save on baby essentials by using coupons. Companies that sell baby products issue tons of coupons, and by using these widely, a new mom or dad can purchase everything that a baby needs at a steep discount.

Disposable diapers can be a huge expense, if bought at retail price. The majority of children are in diapers for 2-3 years, luckily these coupons are plentiful. The key to using them is to wait until diapers go on sale, and then combine the coupons with the sale price. One of the best places to buy diapers at a cheap price is at drugstore, such as CVS or Walgreens, where they often offer in-store rewards on certain purchases (these vary each week). Drug stores also offer coupons, such as $4 off a $20 purchase, which can be used in conjunction with sales and manufacturer coupons. When you find a hot deal on diapers, stock up. There are usually several sales a year where jumbo packs of Pampers and Huggies can be purchased for as little as $2.75-$4.00 a pack. That is a huge savings over the regular retail price of $11-$12 per pack.

Wipes go along with diapers, and most families use many of them, especially if they have more than one child. Like diapers, there are many coupons available. The coupon values usually range between $0.50 to $1.00. Many stores offer single packs of wipes (56-72 count) on sale for as little as $0.99 several times a year. If you live in an area where stores double coupons, you can stock up on free wipes. But even $0.49 for a package of wipes is a great deal. A good rule of thumb is to calculate the price per wipe; anything under $0.02 is an excellent price.

If breastfeeding is not an option, you will also need to formula to feed their baby. First time parents may be shocked at how expensive formula is! One strategy to save money is to sign up for the different programs that formula companies offer. They will then send you formula checks, usually worth anywhere from $5 to $7 off a purchase. The best part is, these checks can be combined with manufacturer coupons. Formula coupons are not as abundant as diaper or wipes coupons, but they are available in the Sunday newspaper several times a year, and they are usually high value coupons (around $5). Most formula is good for at least a year on the shelf, unopened (but always check the expiration date before buying), so it is really worth stocking up on baby’s favorite brand when it is on sale, and there are coupons and formula checks available. Using this strategy, a can of formula that has a regular retail price of around $25 can be purchased for as little $9-$10.

Everyone knows that a baby is expensive, but with just a little bit of time and effort it is easy to drastically cut the monthly expense of items such as diapers, wipes, and formula. If you really want to stock up, try using a coupon clipping service, many times this can be the most cost effective way of stockpiling coupons.