It’s a sad reality that one in three mothers in the U.S. need more diapers than they can afford, according to the results of a study published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Not surprisingly, the report correlated a child’s diaper needs to maternal stress.
The good news is, if you need help buying diapers right now, you have options.
In this post, we cover 9 ways to get free or cheap diapers:
- National Diaper Bank Network
- United Way's 211
- Doctors' offices
- Food pantries
- Churches
- County social services
- Samples
- Huggies Rewards
- Amazon Family
- Healthybaby
1. National Diaper Bank Network
The National Diaper Bank Network, which distributes free diapers to low-income families, has more than 225 nonprofit members and diaper banks in 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Find a diaper network provider in your state.
“Diapers near me:” National Diaper Bank Network’s member directory
Using your smartphone, search the phrase “free diapers near me.” This is an easy way to locate your nearest National Diaper Bank Network provider, or other local resources in your community.
2. United Way’s 211
If you urgently need diapers, dial 211 on your cellphone to speak with a United Way representative, who can connect you with local resources and organizations that provide free diapers in your area.
Ask for “baby essentials” or “basic needs items” to be connected with local sources with free diapers. If there are no free diaper services nearby, ask about local churches and food pantries that may offer free diapers or help offset the cost of diapers.
You can also search for local 211 resources by visiting 211.org and clicking “Your Local 211.”
3. Doctors’ offices
Ask your child’s pediatrician about free diaper samples or programs to get free or cheap diapers. You can also call nearby pediatric or women’s hospitals and medical centers to ask for help. Find a pediatric doctor near you.
4. Food pantries
Local food pantries are another great resource for free diapers and baby wipes. Some people even donate open packs of diapers if their baby has outgrown them. Because of the unmet need for diapers in the United States, food banks and pantries are working to educate the public about the importance of diaper donations. Find a local food pantry.
5. Churches
Check with local churches or religious organizations like Catholic Charities USA to ask about annual drives for diapers and other baby items. For example, a Catholic Charities branch in DuBois, Pa., offers free diapers, baby items, and parenting support to pregnant moms and mothers with children under the age of one, regardless of income. Find your local Catholic Charities or locate a church near you.
6. County social services
Your local department of social services office can help you find free or cheap diapers. Each county or city social services office has its own programs for helping parents in need of diapers and other baby items.
If you meet eligibility requirements, you may be able to apply for financial assistance such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to get extra cash for diapers.
Low-income households may also be eligible to cut back on food costs through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). While you can’t use SNAP or WIC to purchase diapers, these programs can free up money that would have been spent on food to get the diapers you need. Find your local social services office.
Both TANF and SNAP benefits are loaded onto EBT cards. Learn more about EBT cash benefits.
7. Samples
Many diaper companies will send you diaper samples if you request them via customer service. It’s a goodwill action in hopes that you’ll become a customer if you like their products.
Diaper manufacturers often have rewards programs you can sign up for to get free diapers or coupons. Follow diaper brands on social media, and sign up for newsletters to stay on top of special offers, diaper giveaways, and sales promotions.
Connect with the following brands:
8. Huggies Rewards
Huggies’ program through Fetch Rewards allows members to earn rewards points for Huggies purchases. These points can be exchanged for retail gift cards and cash cards to purchase more diapers or other baby items.
For example, you can earn a gift card to Amazon and then sign up with Amazon Family (learn more below) to purchase things you need for your baby. To get started, download the Fetch Rewards app.
Sign up for Fetch Rewards to start collecting points toward free diapers
Not only can the Fetch Rewards app help you earn points you can exchange for gift cards to buy free diapers, but you can also choose from a wide variety of rewards for your family.
You can also earn points on everyday purchases such as groceries, clothing, and dining out. Scan your paper receipts, linking the email you use with participating retailers like Sam’s Club, and also linking to your Amazon account. Sign up for a free Fetch Rewards account on your smartphone.
9. Cheap diapers from Amazon when you sign up for Amazon Family
Amazon Family offers exclusive discounts on diaper subscriptions, tips on parenting, and perks for setting up a baby registry. Create a free baby registry and get a welcome box filled with samples designed to take care of you and your baby. Sign up for Amazon Family to get discounts on diapers now. Or, see if you qualify for 50% off a Prime membership for EBT clients.
These are some of the diaper brands you can get on subscription through Amazon Family (based on Size 1 diapers):
- Huggies – $50.80 for 198 diapers (about $0.25 per diaper)
- Pampers – $51.02 for 198 diapers (about $0.26 per diaper)
- Luvz – $37.94 for 294 diapers (about $0.13 per diaper)
- Pampers Pure Protection – $62.20 for 198 diapers
- Mama Bear Gentle Touch – $29.44 196 diapers
- Honest – $27.54 for 76 diapers
10. Healthybaby diaper subscription
Healthybaby diapers are verified by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization that advocates for healthy living. According to Healthybaby, their diapers are:
- 9x more effective at keeping baby dry and preventing leaks
- 25% more absorbent with 15% less materials
Healthybaby diapers come in six sizes, ranging from $0.50-$0.70 cents per diaper:
- Size 1 – 210 diapers
- Size 2 – 210 diapers
- Size 3 – 200 diapers
- Size 4 – 180 diapers
- Size 5 – 160 diapers
- Size 6 – 150 diapers
For $105/month, you can get their plant-based, organic cotton diapers delivered to your door.
Get your first diaper bundle from Healthybaby today >>
Free diaper FAQs
Have questions about how to get free diapers? We’ve provided answers to some popular questions below:
Does WIC give free diapers?
WIC does not give out free diapers. WIC is a supplemental nutrition program that provides financial help to purchase food items like baby formula, infant cereal, eggs, milk, baby food, and whole-wheat bread.
However, you can contact your local WIC office and ask if they can point you in the direction of programs in your community that provide free or cheap diapers.
Can you use SNAP for diapers?
No, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy diapers. They can be used to purchase eligible food items, much like WIC. Still, you can check with your local social services office to ask about resources to help you get free or discounted diapers.
And since many grocery stores and retailers take SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, you can still take advantage of rewards programs. Amazon even allows you to add your SNAP EBT card to shop online (Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Montana are excluded) and get groceries conveniently delivered to your home to save you time.
Other ways to find helpful and free resources for low-income families and individuals:
WIC does not give out free diapers. WIC is a supplemental nutrition program that provides financial help to purchase food items like baby formula, infant cereal, eggs, milk, baby food, and whole-wheat bread.
No, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy diapers. Still, you can check with your local social services office to ask about resources to help you get free or discounted diapers.
