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On 22 February 2003 I went down to a local large supermarket and recorded the price of every size and brand of disposable nappies, baby wipes and Nappy Sacks on the shelf. These figures are based on the average price for 40 different brands or package sizes of disposables, 16 different brands or package sizes of baby wipes and two different brands/sizes of Nappy Sacks (little deodorised plastic bags with ties that fit one disposable nappy per bag).
If you were to use the most expensive name brand nappies and/or only purchase the smaller package sizes you can expect to pay significantly more than these average figures.
The average price for disposable nappies works out at $0.47 per nappy.
The average price for disposable baby wipes works at $0.06 per wipe.
The average price for disposable nappy sacks works out at $0.05 per sack.
The average price for the 12 most expensive disposable nappies was $0.60 cents each, excluding the over 18kg and pull up night-time nappies which range from $1.00 - $1.30 each.
The following calculations are based on seven nappy changes per day for the period of time babies normally wear nappies (listed in years)- your baby will require more changes during the first year, if you use the cheaper brands and during periods of illness/nappy rash. I have based these calaculations on seven changes per day to average the variation that occurs between newborns (10-16 changes per day) and toddlers (around six per day). Older babies may not need changing as frequently, however, if you look at changing your baby's nappy every three hours during the day and only use one nappy at night that will be five nappies in a 24 hour period - but please keep in mind that only five changes per day could be unhealthy for your baby. Another point to remember is that these figures are based on February 2003 prices which will increase over the period of time before your baby toilet trains.
Years |
No. of Nappies |
Average Cost |
1 |
2,492 |
$1,171.24 |
2 |
4,984 |
$2,342.48 |
3 |
7,476 |
$3,513.72 |
3.5 |
8,722 |
$4,099.34 |
4 |
9,968 |
$4,684.96 |
The average cost of the twelve most expensive brands/package sizes will add approximately $323.96 per year.
Years |
Average cost |
1 |
$1,495.20 |
2 |
$2,666.44 |
3 |
$3,837.68 |
3.5 |
$4,423.30 |
4 |
$5,008.92 |
Baby Wipes.
I have used the figure of 1.5 wipes per change to take into account the times you need three or four, particularly of the smaller cheaper ones. The average price was $0.06 per wipe ($0.09 for 1.5 wipes) multiplied by the number of changes per year.
Years |
Baby Wipe Cost |
1 |
$224.28 |
2 |
$448.56 |
3 |
$672.84 |
3.5 |
$784.98 |
4 |
$897.12 |
Nappy Sacks work out at $0.05 each - I don't have any prices for the bags that go in the nappy storage containers that are called Diaper Genies in America, but I assume they would probably cost more. This calculation has been worked out one sack per disposable nappy.
Years |
Nappy Sack cost |
1 |
$124.60 |
2 |
$249.20 |
3 |
$373.80 |
3.5 |
$436.10 |
4 |
$498.40 |
Total Costs for using Disposable Nappies based on the average average price of disposable nappies
Years |
Nappies |
Nappies & Wipes |
Nappies, Wipes & Sacks |
1 |
$1,171.24 |
$1,425.13 |
$2,750.58 |
2 |
$2,342.48 |
$2,791.04 |
$3,040.24 |
3 |
$3,513.72 |
$4,186.56 |
$4,560.36 |
3.5 |
$4,099.34 |
$4,884.35 |
$5,320.45 |
4 |
$4,684.96 |
$5,611.69 |
$6,110.09 |
Wow! Its no wonder disposable nappy companies have millions of dollars to spend on advertising!
You should probably also figure in the cost of some petrol for when you forget to get your disposables with your other shopping and need to make a special trip to the shop.
See also The Cost of Washing Cloth Nappies to compare costs.
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