Television and magazine ads for diapers are everywhere. Turn on the TV anytime between 10:00AM and 3:00PM and you are bound to see ads for Pampers, Huggies and Luvs.
As a mom, I wanted to give my kids the very best in life, and somehow I thought that meant I should put my babies only in the most expensive diapers. Can you blame me? The moms on the Huggies commercials are smiling, as are their babies. The “dream mother” is happy to provide the most adorable, sweet-smelling, comfortable diaper for her little one, and her baby confirms her decision by bestowing the most adorable smiles and coos. The mother who uses that other diaper? She’s frowning and questioning her ability to nurture because her crying little guy is always suffering diaper rash from the leaks caused by cheap diapers.
After the new mother guilt haze began to clear, I was able to make better decisions about diapers which took into account not only my love for my children, but also a more practical matter: cost. Both Luvs and Walmart’s Parent’s Choice diapers are reasonably priced and have been the brands I have used over the years. Here is a brief review of each:
Parent’s Choice is my pick for an every day diaper. It is the least expensive option offered at Walmart, and cost tends to be a pretty big factor with the products I buy. The diaper is not low-quality because it is inexpensive. It is, however, purely functional. It has a soft feel, without a hint of plastic. It has the same stretchy tabs as other more expensive diapers, with no tape that can damage baby’s skin. The diaper is trim and not bulky. These diapers cost approximately $.14 each.
My complaints? When it comes to diapers, it is true that if you pay less you will get less. The diapers don’t have a great baby scent, like Luvs do. The tabs are also not very stretchy. In one package I bought, several of the diaper tabs ripped off when I went to fasten them. However, I have to brag on Walmart’s customer service. When I called the toll-free number on the package, they sent me a coupon for another free package. I did not have the same problem again. Another problem with these diapers is leaking. I do not notice leaks very often during the day. However, my kids do wake up soaked through their diapers on some mornings.
Luvs are the brand I would like to have all the time…if our budget would allow it. Luvs are much more reasonably priced than Huggies and Pampers, but they offer more in the way of extras than Parent’s Choice. I have to admit that the smell of Luvs is one of my favorite aspects. It has a new baby scent that gives me the “Good Mommy” feel as the commercials suggest. They are also cuter than Parent’s Choice, having the Blues Clues design presently. They are very trim and thin and I have not had any problems with leaks. The tabs on Luvs diapers are very strong, and I have never had one tear off while diapering my baby. Luvs are about $.17 per diaper. I have found that the best place to purchase them is at Target, where they frequently have cases of Luvs on sale for $16.99. I keep my eye out for coupons and get Luvs when I can.
Diapers are one of the most costly aspects of parenting young children. Second only to the cost of formula, diapers can set you back anywhere from $30-$70 a month, and this increases exponentially if you have more than one baby or toddler. I have found that alternating between Luvs and Parent’s Choice gives me the most for my money, while still providing good quality and comfort for my kids.
