Don’t let baby break the bank
photo by tiffanywashko
DEAR SARA: I just found out that I’m pregnant, and I want to be prepared for baby expenses. I don’t see the need to spend a lot of money, but it’s difficult to pinpoint where frugality stops and excess begins. It’s such an exciting time. Can you offer a few frugal baby tips? — Rachel, e-mail
DEAR RACHEL: Congratulations! There are many decisions to make when it comes to baby supplies and baby gear. One thing I would not be frugal on is safety, so keep that in mind when buying products. I don’t recommend buying a secondhand car seat unless you know it has not been compromised. If you purchase secondhand gear such as highchairs, toys and playpens, be sure to check for manufacturer recalls. You can find that information on the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
DIAPERING: Consider using cloth diapers. They’re not for everyone, but they have Velcro enclosures now that make them fairly convenient. Liners make changing much easier. If you opt for disposable diapers, register on manufacturer lists to receive coupons (these are often available at your doctor’s office) and ask around for diaper coupons. You can make homemade baby wipes by cutting a roll of heavy-duty paper towels in half (or your own cloth wipes by using flannel and sherpa or baby washcloths) and adding 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of baby oil and baby wash.
CLOTHING: Ask around, and see whether anyone has any baby clothes they don’t need. You can save a lot of money if you’re willing to clothe your baby in secondhand garments from friends, thrift stores, consignment shops and garage sales. Babies grow quickly, so be practical when it comes to newborns. For example, sleepers instead of fancy outfits would be money spent wisely. Remember that newborns don’t need shoes. That’s a want, not a need. Clothing options are even greater online, where you can swap clothes and buy new and used clothes inexpensively at places such as Freecycle.com, eBay.com, swaphandmedowns.com and swapthing.com.
Once your baby has outgrown the clothes, you can swap or resell them. Stay organized, and make a list of basic nursery necessities to prevent impulsive purchases.
FEEDING: Consider breast-feeding instead of bottle-feeding. If you prefer to bottle-feed, be sure to register with the formula company for free samples or ask your obstetrician for samples. You can also make your own baby food. I recommend the book “Super Baby Food” by Ruth Yaron (F.J. Roberts, 1998). If you plan to buy baby food, use coupons to lower the cost.
UNECESSARY ITEMS: It’s easy to splurge on baby items. If you want to stay on budget, don’t forget that some items just aren’t necessary. You don’t need a wipes warmer, Diaper Genie, tons of baby toys, baby detergent or even a changing table, if you think about it. However, only you can decide what you don’t want to live without.
What are your frugal baby tips?
Posted by Sara Noel
on October 30 2009. Filed under Home & family.Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook
You also don’t need baby monitors. I have become a human baby monitor after my baby was born.
1I just remembered 2 more things we didn’t need: a bottle warmer and one of those mirrors you can install to see your baby in the car while he/she is facing backwards. If you are breastfeeding buy the BPA free milk storage bags. You can put them in a glass of warm water to heat up the milk (DO NOT mircowave it). Same with formula. I never even figured out how to install the darn mirror. It remained unused…..
2I wish I had known earlier about consignment stores and (my FAVE) seasonal consignment sales, typically spring/fall. There are 2 types of these sales in MD: buying through a 3rd party ‘organizer;’ and buying directly from the seller. Most sales are through 3rd parties (just as the consignment stores), where mom consigns her clothes through this sale and the sale organizers take a portion. Direct from seller offers better prices. These are often held at fairgrounds where moms can rent a space within the building and sell her stuff. At those sale one can negotiate prices directly with the seller.
This site lists all the major ones I go to in my state, and appears to have info on other states: http://www.kidsconsignmentsales.com/
BTW – I must disagree re not needing a Diaper Genie. You probably need some type of diaper disposal system if you use disposable diapers (Genie requires special bags so I bought a diff diaper pail).
3You certainly don’t need any kind of magic system for disposables. Just get a bucket with a lid, and some small freezer bags. Remove disposable from child, roll up tightly, tie in small freezer bags, toss it into the bucket.
4You can probably get baby clothes for free on freecycle.
5I never ever used the diaper genie. We constantly have a ton of plastic grocery bags. I save them and put the soiled diaper in an old plastic bag, tie a knot and toss it in the trash. This works pretty well.
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