If you have run out of diapers and can’t afford to buy more, it’s okay Mama! Things happen and it’s going to be alright! Here are a few ideas to help you buy diapers for your baby when you really can’t afford to!
Sometimes things happen that cause you to have money issues. Maybe you had a budget failure. Perhaps you lost your job. It’s possible it wasn’t anything like that and you just don’t make enough money to survive because prices are rising too much.
For a parent, these situations can be absolutely awful. When you start to run out of things – like if you have run out of diapers and can’t afford more – you start to feel like a failure as a parent.
You’re not. Promise.
In today’s economy, it is becoming a sad norm for a lot of families to find themselves in a situation where they have run out of diapers and can’t afford to buy more. Just as struggling to pay for gas and groceries are rapidly becoming normal as well.
If you have run out of diapers and can’t afford to buy more, check the list of ideas below. One of them is bound to help you cover your baby’s bum until you can get to the store.
Earn a Gift Card or Paypal Cash
When you run out of diapers and can’t afford more, your biggest problem is a lack of money.
I know. Tell you something you don’t know.
The simplest solution to the answer is to make the money you need and to make it fast. When I am in a situation like this, I use a site called InstaGC to earn a free gift card or PayPal cash to Walmart or wherever I need to shop.
When you sign up for an InstaGC account, you’ll be able to complete offers, take surveys, watch videos and so much more to earn points. These points can be exchanged for gift cards or PayPal! that are paid INSTANTLY! This is a great way to earn quick cash when you need to buy diapers.
Sign up for an InstaGC account with THIS link and you’ll get 10 free points!
Scrape Change
My Emma may be eighteen now, but once upon a time, I ran out of diapers and couldn’t afford to buy more pretty frequently.
Life was drastically different for us back then and I once paid for diapers using nothing but pennies I had scraped together.
Yes. It took forever.
But, if you have run out of diapers and can’t afford more, dig out the couch cushions, the car seats and the dirty laundry to find all the change you can. You never know. You may just find enough to buy a small pack of diapers.
Sell Something
I don’t know a single person who doesn’t have at least a handful of things in their home that they no longer need or want. Grab them and get them listed in your local buy, sell groups and on Facebook Marketplace!
If you keep your prices reasonable and make sure the items are clean, usable things, you should be able to sell them pretty quickly to earn the diaper money you need.
Visit a Diaper Bank
Have you ever heard of a diaper bank? They’re basically food pantries that only give out diapers. The National Diaper Bank Network has helped star over 200 diaper banks nationwide. You can check HERE to see if there is one near you and if so, they may be able to help you get diapers when you’ve run out.
Ask Friends and Family
Like I said when I shared homemade baby formula recipes, when your baby needs something, you do it. That includes asking friends and family for help if you need diapers but can’t afford them. They may tell you no and that is their right, but call your parents, bestie or great aunt Ruth and explain the situation.
Be polite, honest and humble and you’ll will likely find someone who can help your little one out.
Ask Your Church for Help
Local churches may be able to help you buy diapers when you have no money, especially if you already attend there. Talk to your preacher or their spouse and see if they are able to help. Most churches will usually help you once.
Don’t make it a habit and take advantage of their help. Their beliefs are the reason they help and no one wants to feel as if someone is using what they believe against them.
Check Local Food Pantries
While food pantries deal primarily in food, some also offer diapers and other baby items to those in need. I am not ashamed to say that a local pantry helped me when Emma was an infant with diapers, baby gear and even clothing for her.
You’ll need to call around to the different pantries in your area and ask if they help with diapers before you run out and go. It may take a little bit of time but eventually you’ll find one that can help.
Get Creative
If, after all of the above, you still need diapers, it’s time to get creative. To be honest, all you really need is something to cover your baby’s bum. This could be something as simple as a towel folded correctly and held on by diaper pins.
Ideally, cloth diaper inserts would be best as they are meant to be folded into a diaper, but you use what you got. You can also use diapers in a larger size if necessary. They may require more tape to help them fit than what they are made with, but you should be able to work with it in an emergency.
Just watch out for baby’s skin.
If you can’t figure something out, it won’t kill your little one to run around bare butt for an hour or so while you get some help. You’ll have messes to clean most likely, but that is just part of running out of diapers.
Tip: You can make your own diaper rash ointment using THIS recipe. It’s toxin-free and works better than any store bought I have ever seen.
How to Prevent Running Out of Diapers
Without trying to sound preachy, this is a situation where having a stockpile can really help. Having a couple spare packs of diapers on hand at all times will keep you from ever finding yourself in a situation where you have run out of diapers and can’t afford to buy more.
You don’t have to go crazy stocking up on them either. Wait until you have a diaper coupon or an Ibotta rebate and buy an extra two or three packs in their current and future sizes. If you use a package, replace it.
It may take you a bit, but you’ll eventually build up enough of a stockpile to cover yourself in emergencies.
Disposable Diaper Alternatives
Finally, another option that will keep you from finding yourself in a situation where you can’t afford diapers, is to keep a few cloth diapers and wet pants on hand. This doesn’t mean you need to use cloth diapers exclusively. They can be kept in a drawer until you need them.
But if you’re struggling to make ends meet, someday you may be grateful you bought them.
