Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Geez, does the place in Co. do mail order?  :-)   $7 is pretty
    cheap!    I don't know of any place off hand that has consistently
    low-priced diapers.   I do know that Big D Supermarkets has Huggies
    this week for $8.99 and Bradlees has Pampers for $8.49.
    
    cj/

    I know BJ's Warehouse has the very large bags of Pampers (112 sticks to
    mind) for about $20. I've only seen Pampers there and they do take
    coupons. There seemed to be coupons in the Sunday paper every week.
    
    (If you don't know about BJ's, it's a volume warehouse basically and
    you need to be a member. Being a Digital employee allows you to become
    a member. Just show them your badge when you fill out the application.
    The closest one to Acton is on Rt 9 - Westboro (or is it one of those
    other "boro's" ;>)
    
    Andrea

    RE: .2   I thought that the free membership stuff at BJ's had
    expired at the turn of the year.   Can anyone confirm?
    
    cj/

    Hi,
    
    I never bought the name brands when I used disposables. Last week
    when we were on vacation, I used some biodegradable diapers that
    I found at the CVS (drug store...they are everywhere). They were
    only 8.99. I was a little leary of them, but was quite surprised.
    They kept my 19 mo old very dry, even through the night. I forget
    what they're called, but they have pastel colored bags. CVS also
    has it's own brand which is also quit good and is aonly 7.49. I
    have also used Stop&Shop brand, which might be exactly the same
    as the CVS brand and they were fine. They are about 7.99, and sometimes
    go on sale for 6.49!
    
    Child world used to have a diaper club where you would get money
    off toys if you bought their diapers. I'm not sure they still do.
    There is a Child World on rt 9 Shrewsbury, and rt 30 Framingham.
    I think there is one in the Fitchburg area also (I'm not sure though).
    
                                                              
    Good luck...hope you have a pleasant 9 months here in MA!
    
    Dottie

    RE: .3
    
    You are right.  There is no more free membership at BJ's.  To
    become a member, you must pay the membership fee.  I think is
    $35 (?) annually.
    
    Wendy

    
    We, too, were clipping coupons and grabbing them when they went on sale
    (so our average end-cost is around $7.50).   If you use this method,
    you had best consider keeping a few bags "on hand" for the duration
    when they are NOT on sale!
    
    Also, if we have coupons which are expiring, we leave them near the
    diapers in the store (for potential purchasers to use).
    
    My Mom stumbled on some biodegradable diapers at Woolworth's
    (Leominster?).  Medium (36) @ $5.99 (this is the regular price!!!).  
    They have the outlines of 3 animals (bear, elephant and bunny) in 
    pastel colors all-over-the-diaper (kind of cute) and PURPORTEDLY 
    these animals "disappear" when the diaper's wet (cute!).  I compared 
    them to a Huggie and saw no "visible" difference.  Haven't used them 
    yet, but I "see" no difference.
    
    I tend to prefer the "thinner" WHITE diapers (e.g. Pampers) over the
    thick-stuffed and PINK ones ... but I'll still buy the cheapest 
    (any brand!).
    
    JA went through a short-lived trend where she saturated diapers during
    the night, but now it's very rare if she creates a "water balloon" and
    doesn't seem to be allergic to any of them ... so we're lucky we can
    buy "anything which carries a good price tag" and works!
    
    I think Shaw's grocery store was advertising "regular price" as $8.99.
    Rest of stores usually charges $9.49-10.49.  My sister-in-law prefers
    Toys-R-Us's diaper club ($9 each?).  I clip coupons and wait for a
    sale.
    
    Dottie
    

    Re: .2, .3, .5
    
    yes, BJ's has done away with 'free' or 'corporate' memberships. Annual
    dues are $25, and allow you to brink one guest with you each time you
    visit. However, the guest is not allowed to pay by check. When we go
    with friends of ours, she writes BJ's a check on our behalf, and we
    write out a check to her.
    
    A word of caution regarding BJ's prices. People may sometimes assume
    that because a certain item is available in such a large package (as
    BJ's often carries... where else can you get gallon bottles of BBQ
    sauce, 4 Lb boxes of Oreos, and 5 lb jars of Skippy...:^), that they
    are getting a great bargain. While that's sometimes true, often it's
    not! Regarding the original subject of this note, BJ's had a 96-count
    package of Huggies (large) for $26.95. That works out to approx $9 per
    32 diapers, which is a typical price for the 32-pack in most stores.
    Furthermore, you would only be able to use one $1 coupon on the 96-pack, 
    whereas if you bought 3 32-packs in a store, you could use 3 $1 coupons. 
    In the end, that 96-pack in BJ's would cost you $25.95, while at CVS,
    for example, those same 96 diapers would cost you approx $24. 

    
    
    Yes, I had a similar situation with a friend who said she could
    buy diapers in bulk, too.  I tried to get her to divide the "cost"
    BY the "number" ... but she's too hung up on the fact that it's bulk
    and as such MUST be CHEAPER!  She, too, buys her groceries at BJ's.
    
    Dottie
    

    
    Yes BJ's is $25 for a member. Diapers vary very widely in price
    as these notes reflect. I have seen 10.49 for name brand and 7.49
    for a variety of store brands. As far as Wholesale/sale or comparative
    shopping goes... with or without coupon I find if you don't know
    your prices all stores have higher/lower priced items. A popular item
    in a geographical area will attract people  (ie Diapers) and while
    they are there a majority of them will but other items. Of course some are
    hi, lo or equal to others. Even SPAGS in SHR Mass has come in items
    so you'll keep going back. As far as the original note for a place
    to look just pick up a local paper (sunday and wednesday and thursday
    are the Stores big days) and see what is near you.
    
    					Happy changing

    
    Thanks for all the info, and if anyone has more, please keep it coming!
    
    Charlie

    Buying generics can also help cut your costs - buy a name brand for
    night time (when you really need the reliability) and use a generic
    during the day. I got a bulk package of generic diapers at BJ's for
    $2-4 less than they sold Pampers. I've also done the same at RiteAid or
    CVS.
    

    On the subject of cheap prices for diapers (in a VERY broad sense,
    I guess), I wonder how much of name-brand diaper prices is a
    product of licensing fees (Muppets, Disney, etc)?   Why not
    just make them white, absorbent, and CHEAPER!?!
    
    cj/

    Speaking of white, absorb........
    
    Why white ?????  That implies bleaching ... usually by chlorine
    which is also environmentally hazardous.  I'd be quite happy with
    woody (tan) coloured pulp ... un-bleached ... which should be
    cheaper anyway when sold in sufficient volume.
    
    Stuart

    oops, didn't think of that....by white, i meant not artifically
    colored (pink/blue) which i guess white is.  you get the point, tho...
    

Actually, for the most part, the visible parts of disposables are synthetics
(plastic and polypropylene).  Therefore, white does not imply bleach.

Dick

    Geez, I feel like an expert negotiator on this one.  First the note
    which said Shaw's advertised the "regular" price of 8something, forget
    it!  They too are up to 10.49 as of a couple weeks ago.  Second after
    seeing this I trotted down the street, in Auburn, to Toys R Us.  They
    sell the Ultra pampers for boy, girls, and "either".  I found the
    original ultra's (without a gender) to be $2. cheaper (17.98) than the ones
    specially for boys or girls, if you bought a double size bag 
    (64 large in one bag=2 regular bags).  I too used the store brands for
    a while, can't remember why I went back to pampers.   I seem to recall
    they were as good as the name brands, and many times there was a dollar
    coupon in the bag.  I also have several childless, or past diaper stages 
    friends who clip/save coupons for me, usually leaving me with enough 
    coupons to share with friends and relatives.
    
    As a quick note, this might also belong in the Premature labor note,
    Kimberley Clarke who makes Pampers will ship "premie" size pampers by
    the case only directly to your home, at competitive prices.  Gosh those
    "small" size diapers are huge on a 3-6 pounder :-)!!  And even better
    if you can share the leftovers with a sibling's Cabbage patch doll. 
    Perhaps I can find out if the manufacturer will ship a case of regular
    size to the house to save time, money and effort!

    Yea, the premie diapers do look big on a small baby.....  That's
    why they used to cut them in half and tape them on my son Richard 
    when he was at the Brighams!!
    
    Yes, they do ship them by the case.  However, don't go running out 
    and buy a few cases until you talk with your child's nurse....  The 
    nurses tend to be very generous to "their" kids...  Everytime we 
    turned around, they were sending us home with something else!!  Richard
    came home at 4.5lbs and we never had to buy premie diapers for him.
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    

    Usually the store brands are all made by Compare & Save.  They make
    CVS, DeMoulas, Thayer Drug, etc. brands.  I usually buy them, unless
    there's a good deal on Pampers and I have a coupon.  All you have to 
    do is look for the Compare & Save brand label (baby curled up - I
    think) on the label, and I know that they're OK.  Also, if you send
    in their proof of purchase label, they donate $1 to the SIDS
    (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Foundation!