What are YOUR Price Points for Baby Items?
Check out this email I recently received from reader, Madison…
My hubby and I are currently pregnant with our first baby. I would love to hear from your readers and get their input on how to save money when it comes to everything baby. Freebies, nurseries, diapers, formula, clothes, organization, etc… Any and all information would be greatly welcomed and appreciated! Your blog is the best and I know you and your readers will give me tremendous advice!
Since all of my kiddos are out of diapers and I don’t regularly purchase baby items (except for my new niece Charlie 🙂 ), I am having a hard time coming up with good price points for the mentioned items above. So if you have a baby or toddler, please help Madison and other new mommies out by sharing your stock-up prices and any other money-saving tips/advice that you can offer a first-time mom. I would also love for you to suggest must-have baby items (i.e. for me, it was my Sling and a Bumbo Baby seat) and baby items that you may feel are totally unnecessary.
And congratulations to Madison and all the other expectant Hip2Savers! 😀
For your baby shower you will be tempted to register for blankets and onesies and what not but I promise you, you will get more than you think! When my cousin had her first, she registered for all decorative things for the nursery and blankets. But she didn’t have a car seat! Its so easy to get caught up in the cuteness of baby things. Especially for girls. I think I registered for every dress at Target. But the truth was people bought stuff not on my registery because they felt I should have it. Like the wipes warmer. My sister had to have the matching changer that matched her crib. She spent months planning the layout, color, etc. of her son’s nursery. He didn’t sleep in it until he was almost 9 months. I got tons of clothes and blankets and socks. Some I asked for and some I didn’t. So for your registry stick with the essentials. Bottles, breast pump, stroller.
Smart advice. I didn’t even register for blankets adn ended up with so many. Especially with a girl, people want to buy pretty pink blankets and dresses. Tell them what you need!
Oh yeah, a noise machine for sleeping has been a total must! And for clothes everything should be under $10. Even special stuff. Clothes are just available so cheap I think. Oh, we had GERD and so we used those cloth diapers as burp rags because there was no burping only throwing up. So if that is a concern, just forgo those cute ones and get a couple packs of those cheap cloth diapers to use.
I would say NOT to go crazy buying things that you will only use for six months or a year…you don’t have to have everything. I have two boys who are now three and four and I can’t believe the amount of money I spent on cribs, clothes, strollers..etc and they are all gone now. Borrow things from family and friends…check craig’s list too!
I stock up on diapers as ling as they’re under $4 a pack. Preferably not more than $3.50. I hardly ever get new clothes for my kiddos. When thrift stores are running sales is the time I get clothes and what not. Even bottles. My dd likes the playtex nursers so I’d keep my eyes open at second hand stores and was often able to find nice ones there. Go get a brand new nipple, sterilize it all and you’re good to go! Congrats on the new baby!
Register for different sizes of diapers for your baby shower. Ask around for used clothing, I got caught up in purchasing cute clothes, my daughter only got to wear some of the outfits I purchased one time. I purchased formula and diapers from BJs. Having a new baby you don’t have time to always run to the store to catch sales or deals. Buying in bulk helped me to stay stocked. HTH
Great idea with the different-sized clothing!
Save, save and save. You never know what may happen down the road. I learned the hard way by spending waaay too much on pre-baby and other debt (our child has special medical needs but we were unaware of it when we went crazy with the spending otherwise I would have been MUCH more frugal. I am still buying diapers at age 6.5! LOL). However, there are certain things I refused to go cheap on such as organic food, a good mattress, etc. but other items you can spend very little on such as clothing and toys and even some furniture. Thrift stores are the best for baby clothes! Looks for stores that you can “trade up” with as your baby grows so you can continue trading in items as they get older. Also see if friends or neighbors ever want to “swap” toys! 🙂 Love those garage sales too. And as always, keep up with Hip2Save!
1st big way to save is to breastfeed if you’re able. Formula is expensive and this will cut costs. If you’re going the formula route you can register with some of the major companies and receive free samples and coupons. Also ask your pediatrician if they have any samples for you. After a few months we had to supplement with an expensive specialty formula for my son’s food allergies and the nurses at my pediatrician’s office would check for samples for me at each visit. Big savings there. As others have said, register for what you need and try to skip the non-essentials. You’ll be given loads of those anyway. I’ve had friends that did cost comparisons on diapers and they found that they saved the most by buying in bulk at BJ’s or COSTCO. In our area we have huge consignment sales each season as fundraisers for local schools and preschools. I’ve found some good deals there. I borrowed a breast pump from a friend and bought new tubing and sterilized the rest of the parts. Also, check out freecycle in your area. I always see postings for free baby gear, toys and books in my area. You can also post that you’re looking for a specific item. Congratulations.
Breastfeed. You don’t have to worry about the cost of formula, mixing/heating bottles, BPA in plastic bottles, etc…breastfeeding was so very helpful at eliminating costs for us. It’s difficult. Emotions/hormones are running high, you’re tired…Purpose to stick it out for three weeks and re-evaluate how you feel about continuing. I found after the first three days, nursing was downhill but after putting in three weeks I did the math and saw how much we were saving, I also dropped about 20 lbs(!) and was able to fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes. If you do plan on breastfeeding get a boppy, they’re totally irreplaceable:)
I’ve nursed exclusively for six months for both of my children and plan on doing so with our third, due in June.
Congratulations!
My favorite item was also my breastfeeding pillow. You need to be comfortable during all the hours of feedings – 4 boys x 4 years for me. Another great thing my mother in law gave me was a digital thermometer I still use after 21 yrs.
Because of the affordable care act, many health insurance policies offer free breast pumps. I am expecting my first child and called my insurance company and ordered mine today. This is definitely something to check into, as it saved me $200.
That is awesome!!
What insurance do you have?
I have BCBS Federal, but a lot of other insurance companies are doing it too.
I truly think a lot of things are things you should probably not stock up on until you have your baby. My little guy was an ounce shy of 9 pounds, and the newborn diapers didn’t fit him for more than a week. We were lucky that he took to the Tommee Tippee bottles we bought, but we also had to end up getting a few special bottles with the hanging thing in the middle that prevented colic because he would projectile vomit with anything other than these bottles. Since he was my first child, I went ahead and bought everything new because his crib is now his toddler bed, and in a year or two, it will become his fullsize bed he will keep until he moves out or takes it with him, the Chicco carseat doesn’t expire until 2016, which is more than enough time to get use out of it with future children, and his dresser also doubles as his changing table. We bought a changing thing to put on top, screwed it to the back of the dresser, and there we go. It depends on the type of person you are whether or not you want a changing table. For me, I am on the shorter side, and to me, it’s more difficult to change him on the floor than it is the table. I got a Arm & Hammer Munchkin diaper pail, and as soon as he’s done with diapers, we are getting rid of it and buying one that uses normal garbage bags for the next kid. Having to buy specialty bags for a diaper pail is just stupid in my book.
I took advantage of diaper sales babies r us has had. They some times offer a $25 gift card when you purchase 2 jumbo boxes of diapers & if I had any manuf. coupons I would also use them then. So when they had these sales I would end up buying a minimum of 6 boxes, which is $75 in gift card & I wouldnt worry about diapers for a while.
I usually buy my daughters clothes at JCP or Macys, I guarantee if you shope their clearance racks you will end up with compelte outfits for under $5 max, I usually get lucky enought to always find her complete outfits under $4. Another thing… do notttttt be afraid to price match!! Babies r us, walmart, target… they all do it! so if you have a coupons for something you need and its cheaper elsewhere just price match it and use your coupons! 🙂 Good luck with baby!
You musttt must mustttttt own the Fisher Price Rock N Play Sleeper!! Its a must!! Baby can sleep in it & baby can just relax there when awake too!! Its the best thing I can honestly say I owned!!
Just a heads up that the Rock N Play sleeper was recently recalled. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/fisher-price-newborn-rockn-play-sleeper-recall_n_2433256.html
Fyi… 🙂 Yes it was recalled due to mold possibly growing under the pad after use….. But it is still on the market. It’s recommended to wash more frequently because of drool or urine. And they supposedly updated the design.
People get way to caught up in this recall. It was definitely a user error in my opinion. I have had mine since 2011, has gone through two babies! Best piece of baby furniture we received as a gift! As long as you take care of and properly clean after a spit up, or any other accident, you will be good to go!!
Completely agree Kacee. I just had my first baby in December and she has reflux. The Rock N Play is a complete lifesaver. I honestly don’t know what I would do without it!!
I got the recall notice. I inspected ours and found nothing. I disinfected it to be sure. Our daughter has reflux & this is invaluable! Love, love it.
100% agree… Get the rock & play!!!!! It’s light weight & folds up easy to move wherever you need it & my son LOVED IT!
I have twin boys & we had plenty of nice things without spending much $$!! I asked everyone to please but diapers/wipes for my baby showers…I even included that on my invitations (Special gift request: diapers and wipes)…..we bought the cribs that convert into toddler beds so we could use them longer….also asked friends/family for any baby items they didn’t need….we got two nice swings, changing table & high chairs FREE that way. Also ask about local groups that have have sales to sale all their old/gently used baby clothes/stuff! It’s an awesome way to get clothes inexpensively bc they grow so so so fast!! My mother-in-law bought us a double stroller!! Honestly it was wonderful! We ended up meeting a couple that had twins that were a year older than ours so they passed down all play toys, 360 turn bouncy seats, and anything you can imagine! We were truly blessed!!!!
This is going to be about figuring out what works for you and your family. For example, I think the wipe warmers are silly and I have no desire for a diaper pail as I don’t really want wet diapers sitting in my house for more than a day or two. My son doesn’t like the swing but he loves the carrier. To each his own.
Some suggestions–don’t register for a bedding set–you won’t use most of it, ever, so it’s a waste. Instead, pick out some nice sheets and then register for at least 2 or 3 if you can. Matress pads are nice too. Don’t register for blankets or clothes because you will receive more than you’ll imagine. Register for an infant carrier and a car seat for later on. So many other things can be found used or you’ll receive from friends who are hoping to clear out stuff from their own homes.
I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but I wrote in this same question to Collin last year. I was pregnant with twins and so overwhelmed about what I should or shouldn’t register for and what I should pick up beforehand. Well, I ended up delivering at 24 weeks and 3 days. Yes, 24 weeks and 3 days. My son spent 4 1/2 months in the NICU and my daughter passed away after 8 days. If I can offer you one piece of advice, it would be that none of this stuff matters. It’s just stuff. Needless to say, we didn’t have a big shower. Enjoy this time and your pregnancy but don’t spend one second worrying about it:) As long as your child has food in his/her belly, a clean diaper, a roof over their heads and love from you, you’ll be fine!! Good luck!!
Thank you for putting this question in perspective. I’m so sorry about your baby girl.
I’m sorry Melanie about your loss. I had a preemie in December when my water broke unexpectedly. She is doing well, but I agree with you.
sorry for your loss
Melanie, I am so sorry about your daughter and I hope your son is doing well. My daughter was born at 25 weeks almost 10 years ago, she weighed 1.6 pounds (I can’t believe it has been that long). I would not wish a premature delivery on my worst enemy!
Thanks you guys. Jenn–that’s what my daughter weighed as well. My son was 1 lb 7 oz. It’s horrific to say the least, isn’t it? This year has been the happiest and saddest of my life…all at the same time. And yes, my son is doing amazing. He’s a miracle in every way!
I am also expecting my first child and have gotten so many great deals from Collin’s posts. Watch for the Pampers & Huggies coupons, print as many as you can, and then match them up with a Target deal ($5 gift card if you buy 2 packs of diapers). I have a huge stockpile of diapers and wipes now and didn’t pay full price for any of them. Plus, I’d pair the wipes coupons with a sale and my grocery store doubles coupons, so most of the packs of wipes that I have were $1.00 (Pampers). Last, I registered at Amazon because shipping is free over $25, the prices were better, and return shipping was also free.
I have one boy ….. I would say def sign up on similac and enfamil websites….. Be aware that enfamil definitely sends more samples and coupons over similac. Also I got tons of use out of the fisher price rock n play sleeper (especially because baby had reflux) I used tommee tippee bottles. *also… My pediatrician has tons of samples of formula …. I got 6 cans of enfamil at every visit and coupons for formula and other stuff
I never bought a big high chair. When my baby was old enough to start solids I fed him in his bouncy seat until he was big enough to sit at the table with a booster.
One of the best gift I received (That I at first thought was totally crazy) was an battery operated nose sucker, let me tell you it got those goobers out better than anything, now don’t get me wrong the blue one from the hospital is really good but this battery operated one just rocked!
So with you on that one. Biggest regret was waiting till son was almost 1.5 years old! $20 well spent!!!
First for your baby shower don’t be disappointed if you get nothing you need! i got a whole bunch of clothes…which I returned all of them and got Store credit. Either for larger size clothes down the road or to get diapers/etc! If you are formula feeding contact all the formula companies they send great coupons. I usually get about $50 worth of formula for $4. Otherwise Kirkland formula all the way from Costco. Clothes I spend no more than $5 on a top/bottom. So a dress $10 or less. Believe it or not Macy’s and Old Navy has a lot of good deals! Don’t go too crazy buying clothes though because my daughter never wore 9 month stuff. Diapers size 1-2 are great prices but as they get into bigger ones you get less and they cost more. But my price point is 15 cents! I refuse to pay more than 15 cents a diaper. I love Luvs!
Nicole, I agree about the registry. I spent a lot of time researching everything for my registry and besides my mom and mother-in-law everyone bought only clothes. I know this isn’t the case for many people though. My sister in law just had a baby shower on Saturday and almost everything on her registry was bought.
Nosefrida—best ever! You can get it at Amazon. Looks gross but I have gone through two with my two kids-https://www.amazon.com/Nosefrida-The-Snotsucker-Nasal-Aspirator/dp/B00171WXII/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363818287&sr=8-1&keywords=nose+frida+snot+sucker
I agree. The best thing ever. I could survive without many baby essentials but it. My friend recommended it and I seriously think that it was the best advice in my life. My son is 26 months and we still use it (he gets colds very often).
Kohls.com has a good selection of baby items not available in their stores. If you have a Kohl’s card, use a 30% off coupon and get $10 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent, you can greatly beat about any sale on the same items elsewhere. I prefer Aldi’s wipes because they are bigger/thicker, don’t have a weird scent and are only $0.99 (72ct). I aim for 18 cents/diaper, but have been doing even better than that w/ CVS sales, stacking coupons, and Extra Bucks. We usually get Huggies, but we like Costco or CVS brand fine if they are a better deal. We used cloth diapers soon after she was born because it pretty much eliminated diaper rash and may have saved us a little $ overall. We went back to disposables by the time she was 9 months old because it seemed like she was always wetting through (it may have been partly because we used bleach on them sometimes which can damage the fibers and make them less absorbent). Diaper rash was no longer a problem and A&D ointment worked well if we had any issues. Costco’s Kirkland signature brand of formula was about 1/2 price of anywhere else, but I think it has went up a lot since we used it. Born Free bottles were well worth the extra expense because they greatly reduced spit up and gas for us. I buy clothes on clearance and save for the next season. I rarely spend more than $5 per piece and most are in the $1-$3 range. Besides discount stores, check Macys, Kohls, JCP, The Children’s Place, and Gymboree (and their websites). If you live in an area that has big consignment sales a couple times a year, they usually have a huge selection at great prices and after your baby has outgrown stuff, participate as a seller to make some money back-a lot more than having a garage sale!
A few items I loved when I had my son last spring:
Adian and Anis Blankets – you can really swaddle them good and it’s not bulky.
Cloth Diapers (Gerber Brand) – we went threw so many between spit up and drool and they really absorb well
Breast Pump – loved my medela pump, I exclusively nurse but am able to work from home. On days where I need to go into the office this is a life saver not to mention I was able to pump extra each day so that when I needed to go out of town we had plenty of milk on hand.
Rock N Play Sleeper – He slept in this for the first 3 months and its so convient to travel with.
Video Moniter – not a must have but so nice to have! I don’t know that I could have had my baby in his own room at 3 months without this!
A few tips when registering:
Register for different size diapers – I got so many size 1 diapers that I never had to buy any but then when I got to size 2 I had none.
Clothes – the above applies to this too, I actually didn’t register for any clothes but ended up returning a bunch because again they were all 0-3 months.
Don’t register for the bedding set, not worth it and the baby won’t use it for a long time anyways.
Do your research – look up the brands and try them out in stores.
Register at Buy Buy Baby – I didn’t do this because there wasn’t one nearby but they always have coupons (bed bath and beyond coupons work here too!)
Hope this helps!
Thank you! Thank you! A Buy Buy Baby is going in 4 blocks from me and I had no idea I could use my stack of BBB coupons there! so excited!
Just so you know they take bbb coupons ….. But only ones that are not expired
Glad to help! 🙂
If you can, don’t waste your time on fancy large, contraption toys, like saucers and johnny jumps, our infant chiropractor indicates these are bad for baby’s developing spine. Encourage free play and crawling which increases brain development and is FREE. I too would wait on big items to see if your baby will need them, every baby & family is different so just stick w/ the basics, there is a ton you don’t need. A Sophie teether is safe and the small one is reasonable at $15, wonderful accessory!
Read BabyWise with perspective, it does seem to work, best to get an early start though!
My mom works at a daycare/preschool said the same thing about those saucers and bumbo seats. The state wouldn’t even allow the exersaucer to be in their school.
As a child psychologist, I want to point out all the dangers of the Babywise method. 99% of those in the medical and mental health fields would tell you NOT to read this book. The authors are in no way experts or qualified to write such a book, and this method has been associated with lack of proper nutrition, poor attachment, child deaths, and mental health issues. Please do NOT damage your child this way.
@ Jessica I just want to thank you for that tip about Babywise. It was very popular when I had my first child 4 years ago and SO many people told me to get it because he was a bad sleeper. I looked at it at the book store and was horrified by their methods. I didn’t get much sleep the first 6 months of my son’s life but we made it through and I think he is more secure that we gave him the extra attention that he seemed to need.
I also read Babywise and agree it needs perspective. Some people will tell you it will damage your child’s psyche. Others will tell you it will set your child up for a lifetime of healthy sleep habits. I say it depends on you and your child. What I got most out of the book is the idea of a full feeding and the idea that it is ok to wake your baby during the day to eat if it has been a certain amount of time since the last feeding. The book’s main theory is that if you feed your child based on a schedule and you make sure your child has enough to eat during the day, then your child will naturally sleep through the night.
I breast fed and used cloth diapers. I spent $0 on formula and $400-$500 on cloth, which I can recover at least half of. We bought clothes from garage sales. An overnight soak in 5 scoops of oxiclean made them look brand new!
Wow. I just read the comment about reading babywise. Also, read about the child deaths associated with the babywise method. The author is NOT a doctor and some of his children ARE NOT SPEAKING TO HIM. HIs wife’s ideas about breastfeeding (scheduling, etc…) are a quick way to make sure your kid is formula fed.
Doctors have tried to get that book taken off the shelf. Some people can report *success* but it is at the expense of their child. Google “harvard cry it out” and see what the studies have to say.
I am a child psychologist. Please DO NOT read/follow Babywise. This is proven to create poor attachment for children, lack of adequate calories/nutrition, and even mental health issues down the road. The authors are in no way qualified to even write such a book. It should not be allowed to be sold.
Completely agree! This is an absolutely terrible book.
Amen! It is not based in science. I have a degree in child development, and Babywise is basically like taking everything we know to be true about infant development and telling parents to do the opposite. It’s crazy.
And, yes, you are running a serious risk of your milk supply diminishing. Everyone I know who has used it hasn’t been able to nurse at all beyond 4 months — and supplemented before that.
That’s because a baby nurses on demand in the beginning – or should if you don’t follow advice to schedule. That on demand feeding literally establishes the milk supply for the duration of your nursing. Incredible how mom and baby work together in that way – as long as you don’t interfere and schedule and ruin it.
We used babywise methods with my son, who is now 2. I exclusively breast feed over a year and we have a well adjusted child. It is not for everyone, but do what works best for your family! Like the comment above, read all books with perspective. Congratulations to you and enjoy being a mom!
I was so excited about baby that I cut the tags off and washed everything, then if it wasn’t the right size at the right season I just missed out (lucky I’ve had another boys since and have another on the way so everything has been used by now). I recommend keeping tags on so that you can return things for store credit.
Be sure to check return policies. I had gift receipts for items I was waiting to see if things would fit. When I went to return items I got for my shower it was too late even with the gift receipt. Sears was one that wouldn’t return the outfit with a receipt, very disappointing!
I know Carters will accept returns at any time. or at least this is what I was told by the cashier at my local Carters (ogden, UT)
I always shop at consignment stores, ebay, and craigslist. Go onto websites like Enfamil and Similac and register. They will send you checks towards formula. save every diaper coupon you can find and wait for those big sales. Like others have said buy different sizes.
A little expensive but I would not have survived without my cradle sing (goes side to side). They are pricey but you can get good deals on amazon and Walmart.com, or you can get a gently used one fom a consignment shop. We also got a toys r us credit card that is a MasterCard you can use anywhere. You rack up points for $5 coupons at babies/toys r us. Plus they are always giving 20% off coupons with their receipts. I never pay full price there. They often have great deals on clearance clothing. They often have extra 40 or 50% off already reduced prices. Never ever ever pay full price for clothes. Someone said pay less than $5 an item – that’s my general rule.
First of all congratulations for the addition to your family. In your life time you will only have a first baby once so enjoy that little one. Children grow too quick and even quicker after another one comes along. If you have access to a washer and dryer then your child really wont need a closet full of clothes. You can shop ahead on clearance racks for a lot of basic things that will get a lot of use. A few cute tops and some pants will get a lot of use plus give you the flexibility to splurge on the really cute things for pictures. Your child will not need shoes for a while. I got a matching bedroom sheet set for my child just because it was cute, made for great pictures in the room and it made me happy. If you can breastfeed then do it, nothing is more special as you look in the eyes of your child and have that connection. Keep your eyes out for a deal. Those sleep sacks are amazing when your child poops in the middle of the night and your are fighting to stay awake to change them. Stay organized. For the first few months your child won’t be able to really do anything so that gives family time to come visit and bring you stuff you need. You are already using this website so your are more educated than I was. For your baby shower instead of people buying cards that get trashed ask them to buy a book and put a special note inside for the baby. Also ask people to bring a pack of diapers to get in for a drawling for something special and the more diapers the more entries to the drawling. I had about $25 in a special gift for someone and we didn’t buy diapers for 9 months and that was only for size. It took 15 months before we were out of diapers. Enjoy your pregnancy and your baby.
I am 11 weeks pregnant with twins and I love the idea of the book instead of card and the Diaper drawing but I’m afraid it will look greedy. I guess im most worried about my mother-in-law because for my bridal shower she was quoting etiquette books and saying I was inviting people just to get gifts, etc. BUT I love both these ideas so much! I hate cards! They are such a waste of money and books can last forever! And diapers. . .guh with twins im gonna need a LOT 🙂
Congrats Madison!!
If you get a lot of diapers and your child grows out of them, a lot of stores will let you exchange unopened packages for a bigger size!
First of all,Congratulations,Madison!
I don’t have much too say since your ladies have said it all.
I hope this isn’t a duplicated post, currently,Kmart have Fisher Price toys on 50% off, and there are IPs on coupons.com($10.00 for Stride to ride puppy, $10.00 musical table).It will be $4.99 for the Puppy and $1.49 for musical table after coupons.HTH!!
OOP!!$14.99 for the Puppy and $11.49 for the musical table.
Look for consignment sales in your area. There are several where I live and you can get GREAT deals on clothes, toys, large ticket items, etc. I wish that someone had told me to look into consignment sales before having my first baby. And many of the clothes are practically brand new and very cheap! I highly recommend checking them out (and look soon as most spring sales are going on now!)
for baby shower, you can also ask for items for you like nursing bra
Check to see if there is a facebook classified for your area. We are on baby number 2 and I have completely clothed him until he is a year old for under $40. I was also able to sell things that we used with our first that we no longer needed to help cover those costs. My local facebook classifieds site has been a HUGE livesaver!!!
Breastfeeding will save you a ton, so if you can do it, do it! If you are able to do it and stick w/ it register for a manual breast pump b/c they are a lot cheaper than the electric ones. If you are going back to work though get an electric one. If you nurse, get the Boppy. Great tool! I found one at a garage sale (hardly used for $5). Garage sales will be your best friend too as well as consignment shops like Once Upon a Child. I did cloth diapers (Bumgenius) and that saved us a ton too!! Totally recommend Sophie the Giraffe. Register for it b/c it’s a pricey teether at $20, but it’s soooo worth it! I used a swing a lot. A great book to read too that helped me is “Baby Bargains.” Really lays things out that you are asking. Also written by two moms.
I buy most of my kids’ clothes at consignment sales in my area. As my son gets older (almost 6) it is harder to find stuff for him because kids wear them longer, but I still never pay retail. Breast feeding seriously saves money. I agree with giving it a couple of weeks. The first week or so is always painful until you get used to it (at least in my experience with my 2 kids), but after that it gets better and I fed both of mine for a year. You may have to try out diaper brands to see which fit your baby’s shape. My daughter was a chubby baby and wearing Huggies or Pampers resulted in blowouts. Target brand worked the best for her. I loved my My Brest Friend pillow. Also, a lot of people can now get breast pumps through their insurance for free. I never really swaddled either kid after we got home from the hospital so those blankets were useless to me. I like Huggies wipes the best because they’re thick. I never used the swing we had, but my bouncy seat was a necessity. My kids just spit up a ton in the Bumbo so I never used it either. Have fun!!
Biggest ways to save are 1.) breastfeed if you are able (I tried so hard with my daughter but it didn’t work out and I was devestated but I was able to nurse my son for 6 months before work and health issues got in the way)
2.) Use cloth diapers! (You can get AWESOME dipes for $5 a piece @ sunbabydiapers.com – these are actually my favorite & even my husband and grandma can use them)
and 3.) Goodwill for clothes – our goodwills have kids clothes for $2 and every week a different color is half off AND they always have Gymboree, Gap, Children’s place, etc…
But keep in mind that you’ll get tons of advice and you’ll have to figure out what will work for you and your family! Best wishes!
I want to echo what others have said about breastfeeding but add that for me it took a good 6 weeks to get in a comfortable rhythm with my first. Yes breastfeeding is “natural” but that doesn’t mean it’s easy for you or your baby. Especially your first because you’re both new at it! With my second it was like riding a bike for me. Super easy to get her to latch with no problem!
Personally I found the diaper Genie more trouble than it was worth. Hassle to get everything set up.
I tried to breastfeed and never really got much milk in. I finally had to do formula and was shocked at the cost. The lactation specialist I was seeing said not to feel bad and that all the formulas are regulated by the FDA and made by the same 2 or 3 companies. She recommended using a store brand. It was so much cheaper.
Don’t get small 4 ounce bottles, they are not used for very long. Get the bigger ones that will take you to a year.
I agree with all the people who say buying less is better. My first born outgrew stuff and some stuff he never wore. Big business is a business, most of what they sell we don’t need and they try to guilt us into buying it.
Stay simple, the buttons and gizmos look good, but break easily and you don’t use most of them anyway.
Oh- I had several smaller matress pads- like the Good Nite disposible matress sheets, but washable. They were big enough the baby could sleep on them but just layed on top of the sheet. If the diaper leaked or wet through I didn’t to change the sheets right them. I just plucked of the matress pad and put down a new one. It saved so much hassle and time. Check to see how they feel, some of them can be really scratchy.
I agree that Diaper Genie is more trouble than it’s worth. After manufacturer coupon, store 20% off and rebate offer I paid $1. Refills were expensive because they barely lasted and it was a pain to cut off and retie the bag. I tried the “hack” of using a regular garbage bag you rubberband to the used refill and that was a pain. In the end, I tossed it and used a regular garbage bag. Breast fed baby poop doesn’t even smell. I thought my dog would mess with the diapers because he would steal things from the bathroom garbage but he is smarter than I thought. Not even once!
Also CVS diapers only have a thin absorbency strip, stay away! I prefer Walgreens over Huggies and Pampers. Haven’t tried other brands.
On a side topic, where have all of you gotten maternity clothes for great deals? I’ve been getting great deals on things for my baby, but dread having to spend so much on things for myself that I will also only wear for a few weeks.
I thought the Motherhood Maternity clothes were of poor quality but expensive. I ended up buying from Target & Walmart. The local stores had little selection. I got most online & would return in store what didn’t work. Liz Lange for target maternity t-shirts are so comfortable & soft!
I agree- very pricey- not well made
I went to garage sales for maternity clothes. I usually paid $1 per shirt or pair of pants. I got so many nice looking clothes and I’ve been able to wear them for 2 pregnancies.
My SIL bought a box of stuff in her size on Ebay. I think she paid like $40 for the box and it is a lot of the stuff she wears.
Something I wish someone had told me when I shopped for maternity clothes was to get at least some shirts that are nursing friendly. Especially in the beginning, it is really convenient to have shirts that let you easily nurse. Most nursing tops are also maternity tops so it would have saved me money to just buy them while still pregnant.
This is a great tip! Thanks so much!
Layer! Buy a few long tank tops a size or 2 larger and wear those under your regular shirts so you can wear your regular clothes longer. Also, a few normal sized cardigans jazz up plain maternity t-shirts and you can keep wearing those after pregnancy. Kids consignment shops often have maternity sections. I also found out that my Goodwill had a small rack of maternity clothes (call around and ask). Old Navy, Target, and Walmart all have good maternity clearances. Keep an eye open for Old Navy coupons and Target often has $5 or 20% coupons off that work on maternity clothes.
Look on Craigslist! I have literally saved hundreds of dollars by looking on there first for an item I needed instead of purchasing it at a store. And if you do formula feed, I would go to their websites and sign up, they will send you rebate checks in the mail that you can use 🙂 Oh! and if you have a Once Upon a Child by you that is the best place to get clothes!
Ask your pediatrician & your OBGYN both for formula samples. Saved me a lot. Also register with all formula companies for coupons. Once you are set with one brand you can trade the unneeded coupons on Craigslist for the ones you need. Check Craigslist for items you want. I found a brand new pack n play for half price.
I agree with lots of the advice given above the one point that I totally disagree with is used clothing. If you are a smart shopper and shop clearance racks and use a coupon you should be able to get cute adorable new cloths at the same price points then second hand ( detergent and water also cost $ so the $.50-$1 it looks like you are saving is not real) best times to shop are when stores have additional % off clearance ex. Gaps 30% store wide , Macy’s one day sale, old navy take additional 50% clearance … Price points for diapers are $.15 for the size 4 (that is the most popular size so usually the one pictured in the ad advertising a sale) which comes out slightly less in smaller sizes and slightly more for bigger sizes wipes should come out to 1.5 cents a wipe to get the most for your $ stock up at gc or cats sales and use coupons in addition to the store promotion I fully nursed so no clue at prices for formula.for both my colicky babies the swings where a life saver I have the cradle like ones that swing from side to side as well as back and forth I hated the poppy for nursing but it was sooo useful to prop baby in for tummy time when they are really little or as a seat when they are slightly older wipes warmer was a total waste I barley used it and as a by the way people have very different taste in clothing and linens so if you put cloths and bedding as items you wish to receive be prepared to make lots of returns
I agree to shop clearance racks and with coupons and what-not, but I also buy thrift/used stuff too. I guess since I wash even new clothes, your water/detergent savings doesnt apply to me.
I’ve read most comments and agree with most people, great advice here! Anything you can buy that isn’t from the baby section is going to be less expensive (kind of like getting married). If you don’t care about everything super matching in the nursery (and I’ve heard that even when you buy the matching set, often the wood is just a little off in color anyway between pieces), buy a crib, then buy the dresser from the not baby section. My husband is pretty handy, so we just bought one for $30 on Craigslist and he repainted it white to match the crib and put on new drawer pulls. I recommend the book Baby Bargains. I checked it out from our local library and ended up buying it because they’ve got GREAT advice on what you need and don’t need. They also have done extensive testing and rate all baby gear based on price and quality. It helped a lot buying a car seat and crib!
Thank you so much for all of the great tips and advice. Collin, thanks for posting this for me. You are the best!
If you are planning to use formula, sign up with Similac Strong Moms. They send coupons and full size formula to you for free! I got a large tub, and a medium can of formula, a free bottle, a coupon for another bottle and 5 $5 checks you can use on any Similac formula. As a reference the tub is $23 at Kroger or Walmart.
Do not register for fluff (ie. clothes other than basic onesies, etc., blankets, toys) because you will get it anyways. Register for what you need! Make sure to put ALL your big ticket items on your registry; a lot of people like to go in together and buy a bigger gift. Plus a lot of registry places will give you a discount on remaining items on your registry. Go to garage sales and Goodwill!!!! I hardly think my son knows that new clothes come with tags on them.:) And hook up with a friend who has children of the same gender who are a year or two ahead of you. I would give her a nice gift card in exchange for hand-me-downs!
Garage sales! I get clothes for 10 cents to a dollar each! I got our bouncer for $3 at a gsale. I spend very minimal on diapers. I get amazon gift cards from sites like Swagbucks and purchase all my diapers with those. Amazons Subscribe and save helps me save even more! Craigslist is great, but can be a hassle at times.
Here is my experience……If i were you I wouldnt buy too many clothes until after your shower because people give you plenty of clothes!!!!…also sign up for gerber, efamil, similac coupons on their website, dont buy too many newborn diapers and 0-3 clothes cause they grow out of them very fast!!!..never pay for more than 10 cent a diaper, make sure u check hip2sae for deals on baby clothes, diapers, etc…try co-signment stores as well….its clothes that are in good condition that department stores give away or people donate them and they are good prices….sign up for childrens place, carters, gymboree, and other childrens stores …i get coupons all of the time, always shop clearance, ..make your own baby food if u like, also stock up on diapers and wipes…when i was pregnant i would get 2, 3, 4, 5 diapers when they were on sale and stocked up but be careful because some brands dont work for every baby, wait to buy shampoo, lotions, and washes…my baby was allergic and needs all hypoallergenic stuff and i wish i waited to get all those items and had to give some it away.also check with your insurance company to see if ou can get a free breastpump…some companies do and some dont…hope my information helped…congrats on your new bundle of joy!!!
We had our little girl a year ago and got most of her toys at garage sales, consignment shops, or as hand-me-downs. We also borrowed most of her clothes from her older cousin. If there’s someone in your family who is a year or two older you could see if that would be an option for you. Make sure to get your car seat new, though, it’s a serious safety hazard if it’s been in a car crash or if it’s expired. You also have to be careful if you’re using a used crib. Cloth diapering can save you money as well. If you use disposable diapers, sign up for the Pampers gifts to grow and/or Huggies rewards programs. Many stores have registry completion discounts that you can use to buy items you don’t receive at your shower.
Must-have items for me were: the boppy pillow, my tablet (something to do one-handed while breastfeeding, a breast pump (I went back to work after 6 weeks,) and convenience food for those first few months.
Request clothes from CARTER’S!!! (If there is a local store near you)
They have the best and easiest return policy!! no receipt, no problem. They take it back so long as the tag is still on it for store credit.
I agree with NOT taking tags off all the new clothes you get as gifts. I did that with my 1st child (daughter), then things do happen were you don’t wear every price of new clothes and now you can’t return them.
I have my 2nd child now (son) who’s 4 months old and growing in the 98% for height and weight. Yeah, he wears 12mo clothes already!! And weighs over 17lbs.
You can’t predict how fast or slow your kiddo will grow. This time around I asked family who wanted to give gifts of clothes for Christmas, ect. To buy at Carter’s. so glad I did. I’ve had so many outfits that my son didn’t even get to wear before he grew too big too fast. I just take the clothes with tags still on without a receipt and Carter’s lets me exchange them all for store credit which I use to get bigger sizes. I’ve honestly already done this twice in the past 4 months of my son’s life because he’s grown so quickly.
An exasaucer is a must have!!! Fortunately we got one that adjusts pretty tall (some are very short). My daughter is almost 18 mo and is in the 99% for height. She still fits in it. If I need to get something done or take a shower I put her right in that thing and I know she is safe.
For size 1 n 2 diaps I would buy at .12 and stock up at .10. My son is in 3s now n I buy at .13 n stock up at anything below that. For wipes I buy at .02 n I stock up at .01. Before my son was born I was completely stocked up on diapers n wipes. My wipe stock is just now getting low after 8 mths.
As far as saving money on items Buy Buy baby takes unexpired bed bath n beyond qs. if your buy buy baby is close to BRU the Bru will usually take their qs. Also if you register at BRU in store you get an additional 5%(15%vs10) off completion coupon. At my bru they were able to piggy back the completion coupon and a store coupon for 35% off. I did that for my big ticket items,