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The last thing you want to do with a new baby and a healing body is to have to trek to the store for toilet paper or baby wipes! This is where your stockpile comes in, planning to have a store of certain items on hand before the baby comes helps to make your leave time less stressful and less expensive! Let’s take a look at some of the items you should consider stockpiling, how to build a stash, and how much you need on hand.
Diapers
How Much: Most newborns go through approximately 70 diapers per week, considering a minimum 6-week maternity leave that is 420 diapers! The basic size box of size 1 diapers is approximately 120 diapers (the number of diapers in the box depends on the size of diaper and brand). So you need at least 4 boxes to get through a short leave.
How: First of all people will try to scare you away from doing this by telling you that you will get stuck with packages of the wrong size. If you buy name brand diapers (Luvs is usually the cheapest but look for sales and coupons) and buy all size 1 you will be able to exchange the unopened packages for a new size as you need to or if your baby does not do well with one brand you can switch out for another. Ideally, you can start doing this as soon as you find out you are pregnant, buy a box per pay period and you will easily build your stockpile. If you waited, no worries buy as many as you can afford per pay period and make sure to ask for diapers and gift cards as gifts.
Wipes
How Much: A safe guess would approximately 2 packages per week of leave time. Considering a 6-week leave that is 12 packages.
How: I would stick with the sensitive newborn styles for this stockpile, while they do have this style in some of the discount brands you can also look for coupons and sales. This is another item you can start buying right away, my husband and I each took on one stockpile item at the beginning of my last pregnancy, he bought diapers each pay period and I bought wipes. Once again if you start late do not worry, just buy as many as your budget allows and use gift cards you have received to help fill your stockpile.
Diaper Rash Cream
How Much: 2-3 tubes, if you have signed up for samples you probably already have a bit of this lying around (bonus tip: get baskets for each nursery item category and get those samples organized so you actually use them). I would get a variety of brands and small tubes until you know your preference. I know you are thinking that you don’t know if your baby will get a diaper rash so why stockpile? My babies never had diaper rash, my secret is that every night after bath and before bed I would put a thick layer of diaper cream on my babies. This way if they slept through a wet diaper (fingers crossed) they did not get diaper rash.
How: This is a cheap item after you arrange your samples if you feel like you still need a tube or two, just pick up one during your grocery run for a few trips.
Toilet Paper
How Much: This one is going to vary by your household, you will need to take a look at how much you use per week to get an idea of how much you need to cover your leave period.
How: Once you get a rough number, then start buying an extra package each time you buy it for your household. Alternately if you have a club membership you can just buy a case if your budget allows.
Paper Towels
How Much: Like toilet paper, this will be unique to your household and can be figured in the same manner.
How: Like toilet paper, simple buy an extra package each time until you reach your target amount.
Laundry Detergent
How Much: 2-3 extra packages depending on the length of your leave.
How: Shop sales and use coupons, if you are smart you can pick up name brand detergent for very little this way. Pay attention and you will easily build a stockpile of this item.
Personal Hygiene Items
How Much: I suggest 1-2 extra containers of everything, body wash, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, maxi pads, nursing pads etc…
How: Watch your sales and coupons and pick up an extra anytime you can budget it.
Basic Pantry Items
How Much: At least one extra of things like coffee, sugar, flour, this is another list that will be unique to your household.
How: Pick up an extra anytime there is a sale or your budget allows.
I know that this seems like this is going to be a large expense, but if you plan right and start early you will actually save money by shopping sales instead of buying the items at full price because you need them immediately. Also, if you are a two income household, most likely you will have a reduced income while on leave, so even if it is a bit tight to do this, it will take stress off of the budget during your leave and allow you to relax and enjoy it more which is priceless.
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