What items did you live without?

**rasilla** · 01-02-2009, 12:01 PM

As this is a place to brag about frugal adventures... or really cheap & simple living... I figure I'd share the list of normal baby things that we've gotten by just fine without. Yes, they may be handy, but they would also require money and space that we don't have.

* a bassinet/crib: we used a laundry basket with our first and the bathtub with our second until we were gifted a hand-me-down crib. Once they are mobile they move to a mattress on the floor. We'd rather spend the money on a bed one time.

* A highchair: we use the booster seats that attach to a regular chair once they are able to sit independently and use a bouncy seat until then. We had purchased a highchair but it took up too much space in our tiny kitchen. I found the booster on trash p/u day - our neighbor's kiddos grew out of it.

* special bath seat: we just lay a rag down in the sink (washed it first

) and bathe our kiddos on that. The rag provides enough friction so they don't slip around.

* infant socks & shoes: The onsies/sleepers with footies are more convenient and cheaper too.

What other normal or expected baby gear have you lived without?

**Jayne** · 01-02-2009, 12:09 PM

Wow..its been 30 years since my girls were born...and we had NOTHING!!!...my dad built a cradle for my first..then I was given a crib that was old as me for her when she got bigger...when dd#2 came along 18 months later she slept in the cradle...all their clothes were handme downs or things my mom and mil bought...about the only new thing we bought were bottles....I washed my girls on the table too, using my dutch oven to put soap and water in...Those were good days!!..I was happy just being a mommy!!

**Grayce** · 01-02-2009, 12:39 PM

We realized after we had our 1st that you did not need 1/2 the stuff they say you do. We did not have a cradle, crib (the baby slept with us), we did not have bottles, bottle brushes, sterilizers, rubber nipples etc. (I breast fed). I did not have a exersaucer, bath seat, changetable or diaper genie. I did not buy baby food (made my own).

Things that I had that were well worth the money was a baby swing, car seat and stroller. I had a high chair but did not really use it. When he was really small we fed him in the car seat. When he was bigger we put him right into a booster seat. I did buy a pack and play playpen but never used it.

**elphie** · 01-02-2009, 02:36 PM

We borrowed a changing table and never used it for anything but storage. The pack-n-play was only used for a few weeks and we really could have done without it. The majority of the "cute" clothes were never worn, they wore gowns, onesies, and eventually Garanimals most of the time.

The swing, convertable stroller, vibrating bouncy seat, and exersaucer were well worth it though.

**Dancing Lotus** · 01-02-2009, 03:32 PM

The changing table was a total waist. We needed the swing for my sanity. Forget the tub, we used the sink.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-02-2009, 04:09 PM

My first child made due with baths in the kitchen sink,
a Twenty-five cent!!! wooden playpen,
a baby swing that was so old it wound (Spelling? Why can't I remember how to spell that word????!!!!!) up for fifty cents!!!
The same for the high chair, diaper pail and stroller. Everything was old and had been through a few babies, but I didn't care I was just so thankful to have ANYTHING for my baby. I had to have stroller since we had no car. Found them all at rummage sales just prior to closing. They were glad to get rid of them and I was glad to have them.

I had no crib, he slept with me in bed. He had only 3 bottles his entire babyhood. no special dishes or silverware. All clothes were hand me downs or church rummage sales. He had very few toys but certainly enough. I never had a diaper bag, I used an old big carry all bag also from a rummage sale. I never used wipes I carried a plastic dish filled with a bit of soapy water and a wash cloth. I never bought any of those special baby foods, made teething biscuits, froze wet wash cloths for him to chew on.

I think what I had the most of were cloth diapers and plastic pants and pins.

It is amazing just how much they sell for babies now. When my second child was born my MIL had a surprise baby shower for us. I got one of everything, it was outragous and we didn't even use a 1/3 of it. I was very happy to pass it along to others to use. Too much stuff it just cluttered our tiny apartment and made it hard to function.

**spyzvixxen** · 01-08-2009, 01:09 AM

I agree with the clutter and hard to function in our 1 br apt. but on the same note I feel really blessed we received the abundance of gifts that we did. Of course, getting "scan happy" at Babies R Us didn't help either. There are a quite a few items I could do without.

**sunshine** · 01-08-2009, 06:19 AM

We had no money when we had our first, so we did without a lot. . . by the time we had 2 & 3, we realized we didn't need most baby stuff. Here's what we did without :

- bassinet

- changing table

- wipes warmer

- disposable wipes (I used soft wash cloths)

- disposable diapers

- high chair

- play pen

- baby food (I made our own)

- teething rings (I put our spoons in the fridge and let them chew on a cold, metal spoon to sooth sore gums)

**sunshine** · 01-08-2009, 06:21 AM

Oh yeah - no baby bath tub either. . .

**IntlMom** · 01-08-2009, 06:38 AM

no changing table......the floor works just fine

**Grayce** · 01-08-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

no changing table......the floor works just fine

And no worries about falling off the floor when they are squirming around.

**Ashie06** · 02-04-2009, 02:13 PM

With my daughter we did w/o a playpen but had a crib and used it maybe 2x, did w/o bottles bc I breastfed..I had a few but just for pumping. With both we did w/o a changing table and a nursery.

**MoonMommy** · 02-04-2009, 02:27 PM

With our first, my friend lent me a bassinet...we barely used it. So, I was REALLY glad that I didn't buy one.
We did get one of those vibrating chairs for a gift, and even though the kids still like to sit in it (it is a rocker as well) they HATED the vibration. So, I was glad I didn't buy it.
My same friend also gave me a swing with my second. She loved it. But, I wouldn't have bought one. They are too bulky and expensive.

I think for me, what worked out best and were the most "frugal" were items that could be used multiple ways. So, my playpen also worked as a changing table when the kids were little as well as a basinett (if you wanted it too).

In the bedroom, I didn't have a "changing table" but I bought a dresser from JCPenney's that matched the crib that had an area that was designated for a changing area. Now that the kids are older, the dresser is used as just a dresser and you can't really tell that it was a baby's dresser.

Finally, the crib can (an will one day) be converted into a full size bed.

Most of the stuff that I thought were real wastes of money were things like baby sized washclothes. Baby sized towels. Dreft (the baby friendly laundry detergent). An expensive diaper bag. Baby shoes (especially when they can't walk). Really fancy baby clothes. A baby sized comforter for the crib (your not supposed to use one anyways). Boppy (I got this with my son and while we did get a ton of use out of it, I think you could make one or just use a pillow just as easily).

**santoria** · 02-04-2009, 02:28 PM

my girls started out in a drawer...ok #3 didn't but I was given a cradle for her (its been passed onto the cousins for their babies)

change table...was a handmedown from when dh was a baby - hand made by FIL.

wipes warmer - they're supposed to be WARM????

wipes - used cloth

I use cloth diapers so no diaper genie or other gadget - plain ol pail with a lid!

swing - never had the room

bouncer - no room

fancy schmancy baby safety feeder thingy

a fancy schmancy baby food grinder/processor - I spent $2 at walmart on a cheap mini one - that I use to this day for small stuff like garlic

pacifiers

potty chairs - bought a $5 seat cover that works just dandy

drives me nuts to see people buy all these fancy gidgets and gadgets that you KNOW is a waste of money.

I did have a playpen..but its only for camping.

**georgiamom** · 02-04-2009, 09:38 PM

O.k. this is weird. My first child all I had new was a crib. My dm decided that since she had bought a new crib for my oldest db she and was raising his son she could at least help out with that since we were to say it bluntly flat broke and living in a sardine can. I had my high chair that was used with all my dm children who were frist born in 1958 that was passed down to her from one of her sisters. It was an antique. Had Walt Disney characters on it. I had a used bassinet that my husband had to repair. I had a hand me down swing manually swing dd hated it loud noises scared her. Hand me down hand on the edge booster seat scared me to death. Never used but about once or twice. The only thing new was a car seat never had a stroller. Just remembered that wonder why? Most of her cloths and a lot of other thing were given to use used and I loved that because it was from family and I knew where it came from. Our second child 14 years later it was different. I tried the diaper genie hated it. Had an exercise saucer loved it. I had a new bassinet do to my daughter having medical problems (slight jaundice) needed a light for a while, it vibrated and played music. Loved it. Finally got a regular stroller and a jogging stroller ( oldest dd ran cross country had to keep up to get my figure back.) took 6 years. No changing table for either, no wipe warmer or bottle warmer was given one gave it back, baby like cool formula dr said let her drink it like she likes it. Had used play pen first time no play pen second. Used same baby bed dm had it in storage for my youngest db who had been trying to have a child for a while. My youngest dd slept in it till she wanted a daybed. It was a convertible crib/toddlerbed. I used