The price of diapers is not something that most people ever think about. But because of recent changes to the commodity prices, parents are paying an average of $1,000 per child for diapers a year. That is a lot more than many families can afford and it’s not just because there are more people buying them these days.
In this article, I am going to look at the possible reasons why diapers are now expensive, without further ado let’s jump in.
Why are Diapers so Expensive?
Commodity Prices Are Increasing:
Unsurprisingly, the price of commodity goods has increased over the years. So why are commodity prices increasing? The main culprit is inflation; it happens when there is an increase in the money supply without an equivalent rise in the demand for goods or services.
If this happens on a large scale, then prices will rise and become more expensive to make. This affects the pricing of Diapers as well.
Increased Demand for Diapers:
The world population has increased substantially in recent times, this increase in population has led to a demand for more goods and services, but with only a limited supply of goods and services available it means that the price of those goods and services is likely going to rise.
This is very relevant to the pricing of diapers as there is not an infinite amount of diapers available. The increased demand for diapers due to the ever-increasing popularity of disposable diapers means that there will eventually come a point where manufacturers cannot keep up with demand.
Less Supply:
As the supply of Diapers in the market reduces, the price is going to increase. There is a limited amount of diapers that manufacturers can produce at any one time; with increased demand for disposable diapers, manufacturers will be unable to meet this demand and this will lead to a decrease in supply.
Labour Costs:
The labour costs of production for Diapers are high, this means that manufacturers will want to make their profit from the price that they charge per diaper. This means that the price of diapers is going to increase in order to maintain profits.
Raw Material as Pulp increased Price:
The raw materials used to produce disposable diapers cost more over the past year, this raw material is used to make a plastic film that is wrapped around an absorbent polymer to form the disposable diaper. The raw material cost increased by 10% over the year but they are unlikely to return back to their original costs in the near future .
Transportation Costs:
Transporting the raw materials to manufacturing factories to make Diapers is expensive. If the raw materials cost increases significantly, this is going to also increase the price of Diapers.
How much does the average person spend on diapers?
The average person spends around $900 to $1300 on diapers in a year. This is equivalent to around $18.50 per week. However, there are some families out there that spend more on disposable diapers than that because they have more than one child or because they use a premium brand.
What to do if you can’t afford diapers?
Consider Cloth Diapers
Consider using cloth diapers rather than disposable diapers. Many people have to make the decision between using disposable diapers or cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are much more affordable and are a more eco-friendly option.
Some parents choose to use both cloth diapers and disposable diapers. There are also diaper services available for families who want them. Diapers for babies will be more expensive but can be used as a free option if you already have a baby or for those on low incomes.
Use Generic Brands than Premium:
Premium diapers cost more than most generic brand products. If you are already buying premium diapers, you may want to use them less or look at more generic brands. However, this option may not be for everyone as generic brands may have problems with leakage.
Buy in Bulk:
Most parents don’t buy their diapers in bulk or the same way that they buy multiple units of other goods. In order to save money on diapers, you should try and buy them in bulk. This way, you will pay less per diaper and you will only have one delivery every few months.
The Bottom Line
All in all, the price of diapers is increasing due to increased demand (people are buying more than they were before) caused by an increase in the population and decreased supply (production is decreasing). However, there are some ways that you can buy diapers at a more affordable price; you can either choose to use cloth diapers or use lesser premium disposable diaper brands.
As a mother of four very energetic children, Emilia knows how chaotic motherhood can be. She’s learned a lot of lessons along the journey so far and loves sharing the tips & tricks she’s picked up over the years with anybody else on the same life path.
