What are YOUR Price Points for Baby Items?
Calling all you moms and moms-to-be (and dads, grandparents etc)! I posted this question last year on Hip2Save and received over 200 helpful comments… so I thought it would be worth reposting again, especially since all of my kiddos are out of diapers and I don’t regularly purchase baby items (except for when I want to spoil my adorable niece Charlie đ ). SO, if you have a baby or toddler, please help new Hip2Save mommies/daddies by sharing YOUR stock-up prices and any other money-saving tips/advice that you can offer a first-time parent. I would also love for you to suggest your 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 all the expectant Hip2Savers! đ
The best thing I can say is call the companies who’s products you love and ask for samples and coupons. They offer times send you free product coupons. I was never able to breastfeed so the formula checks were a huge help.
Agreed Amy! Enfamil, Similac, Gerber were all great with sending coupons and formula checks. Also sign up for Pampers Gifts to Grow and Huggies enjoy the ride to enter codes off diapers and wipes, you can use the rewards to get free stuff like Shutterfly, which was extremely helpful with birth announcements, birthdays, thank you notes.
I usually stock up on diapers and wipes when I see deals on here through amazon mom. They seem to always have the best prices per diapers for huggies with subscribe and save and amazon coupons. We’ve only had good luck with huggies snugglers so far.
As for baby items: We regularly use our swing, beco front pack (like an ergo but with forward facing out option) and our truwomb blanket for the night. We like the space saver high chairs, especially the one that just snaps on to the table!
I never use the sling, and only used the moby wrap when baby was really little.
If I’ve learned anything though about advice on baby gear, it’s that everyone uses things differently for different babies. So many people told me things I wouldn’t be able to live without that we never used more than once. So my advice is to buy everything used, or borrow to try it out first!
I have a five week old…I have been combining the Similac $5 coupons you get in the mail with CVS %off/$ off coupons they send to your emails…to save a few dollars on formula. Of course they are a few dollars more than Walmart but after the coupons I save money plus I get quarterly cash back. Every penny helps.
I am currently pregnant with #3.
Stock up prices: 50% off or more on diapers, wipes, etc. If I am buying big items (swing, etc) I need a coupon at the minimum, but always check consignment sales/craigslist first.
I think it is hard to tell someone what items are necessary/unnecessary as it is different for every family/baby. #1 LOVED her bouncy seat and we took it with us whenever we went to someone elses house. #2 absolutely hated the bouncy seat and it was a waste of money. #1 wanted to be in a baby carrier all the time, #2 did not. So it really just depends!
Many congrats on #3 – I just had our third *and last haha*. đ
We had our third and last Nov 2012. I am currently 9 weeks pregnant with #4 thanks to birth control. Everyone says it gets much easier after 3. Guess we will see:)
Ha..our third was thanks to a failure of my pills…he was a “surprise” for sure! đ
I am also 10 weeks with number 4 thanks to birth control pills. All my kids loved their swings, moby, and swaddle blankets. I really want a rock n play sleeper for this one. I love when target offers a diaper sale with gift card and use red card. Then I buy a lot.
Well looks like I’m gonna use the pill after this one arrives! I’m 25 weeks w/#2 and I want a 3rd but DH does not…!
Little Keeper Sleepers are a MUST HAVE! I have a daughter with special needs and still use these even though she is not a toddler anymore (they now make bigger sizes). They are bodysuit pjs that zip up the back with snaps and are escape proof, really they are! No more “surprises” in the crib/bed after she wakes up when she takes her diaper off. God sent! I wish I had found them when my son was little, he always took his diaper off in bed and always managed to get out of the footed pjs with the feet cut off worn backwards, little stinker he is!
Add some duct tape to those diapers and they stay on. Your option is definitely more aesthetically pleasing though haha
Homemade baby wipes have been a huge money saver for us having an 18-month old and 3-month-old in diapers. I look for a good deal on Bounty paper towels and add water, baby shampoo, and baby oil! They feel and smell just like regular wipes. If you buy the select-a-size paper towels they’re also a little smaller which I find to be the perfect sized wipe đ
Perfect timing! My first is due June 9th and I’ve been wondering about this stuff. I’m stocking up on diapers and wipes now using price points I’ve found online (basically about $0.13-$0.19 per diaper, depending on size and $0.02 or less per wipe). I also have a Google Docs spreadsheet to track what brands and sizes I’m buying (and what others are getting for me). This spreadsheet totals the diapers by size and then tells me how many more of each size I should purchase (based on average baby size and growth – info I found online).
Uhhhhh I am due in July with baby #3 and I’ve never been so organized! Your amazing! I want that spreadsheet!!! đ
Super OCD organizing is the way I keep myself sane and calm. : ) I’ll see about making the spreadsheet available for others though if you would like.
Cassy that would be awesome!! im so spreadsheet illiterate and keeping track of what I have and have spent would be amazing!
I would recommend a swing that does not require batteries bc you don’t want to end up spending a lot of money on batteries (like me), a great high chair bc trust me it’s going to be messy, sound machine, and always try to aim around 10-16 cents per diaper by either amazon, target cartwheels, or close out deals! Ps don’t go crazy buying newborn sizes bc they grow fast!
Rechargables are a lifesaver! I watch my niece a lot, as well as my husband’s cousin’s little boy, and they both love the swing. I’d go broke having to replace the batteries every few weeks!!
We bought GRACO swing which run on batteries. After purchasing batteries for a couple times (each set lasted for 2 weeks if not less) I realized that something needs to be done. I bought a set of rechargeable batteries with a charger. It made us REALLY happy. Didn’t know it was that simple )))
The hand crank swings are fantastic.
Love my space saver high chair, it goes from newborn all the way up. I will be getting another one for the baby on the way ( just waiting to see if its a girl or boy).
My advice- get as much as possible from garage sales and the like! Exception- cribs, car seats. I hated the Bumbo- kids legs were always to fat! Cloth diaper if you can. Breastfeed if you can, believe me it’s the lazy and easy way! We formula fed the last 5/8 and it sucks, lol.
And make as much as possible! We used cloth wipes, coconut oil for diaper cream, made lotion. Make their food, it’s so stinkin’ easy.
Garage sales are great for baby clothes. The small sizes they wear for such a short time it’s impossible for them to get worn out. Craigslist is a great place to look for baby items as well. I once scored 3 huge boxes of clothes for my son for $50! I have found many baby/kid items on there.
I have never paid more than 25cents a piece for clothes on any of my kids for their first 3 years!
I absolutely loved the mesh feeders for when they were teething. I would put frozen bananas in them and all four would gum them like crazy. The cold helped their pain and they loved the taste of the bananas! MESSY! But worth it:)
Oh thanks for the idea! I forgot I had one of the mesh things, my little one is teething like crazy.
My little one loved those mesh feeders with frozen watermelon!
oh and frozen applesauce… i would freeze pureed baby food in ice cube trays, perfect to put one of those cubes in the mesh teether
Five dollars or less a package for diapers. With the Walgreens deal this week I scored size 4 diapers for $3.50 each which I loved! We regularly get price matches around here for $.79 a package of generic baby wipes. They’ve gone as low as $.59 a package. The generic Enfamil premium has been perfect for my kids that loved and Enfamil.
My youngest is 3 months old. With my first, I stored my milk in the Lansinoh milk bags. With my second, I began using ice cube trays with lids. This worked out SO much better! We didn’t have to worry about thawing out too much milk when someone watched the baby and we were able to thaw a couple cubes at a time to mix with baby food. To store the cubes, I use gallon freezer bags. This is also cheaper than having to buy all of those milk bags.
Forgot to add that our youngest is our 3rd. So this method is “tried and true” for us.
I totally second the ice cube trays for frozen breast milk! I found some that were 1 oz sticks so they could fit into a bottle while they were still frozen and thaw in the fridge that way. I also stored the frozen sticks in gallon freezer bags, labled with the date so that I could use the first in first out method đ
So glad I read this! I like to think I am in the know with price points, but struggled with my last two with the cost of milk bags for the freezer- I wish I’d have read this then! #3 due in June and I WILL be doing this! Thanks for sharing!! Going to save lots of money and wasting the precious liquid gold!
I have 2 kids and 1 is still on diapers and I usually stock up on diapers when target gives away a gf. I don’t usually buy luvs but I bought those last wk and got 4 big boxes for 40!!
With diapers and wipes, I don’t have a price point, but I always make sure that I have a stacking deal. For example, the target brand diapers- I make sure I have a coupon, cartwheel, and only buy when I am getting a gift card. I use huggies over nights for bed time, but its the same thing- I have to be able to stack coupons/discounts (cartwheel/ECBs etc) in order to purchase. That being said, I am really hoping for a huggies wipes deal soon!
The Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Sleep was an absolute must-have for our little preemie with acid reflux. Also, check your area for Facebook Mom’s groups that sell used items. Found some really good deals that way and it feels safer to me than Craigslist.
YES! ABSOLUTELY! The Fisher-Price Rock âN Sleeper was a life saver for us. My preemie had horrible reflux and vomiting and he would not sleep longer than 20min until we got it. It was the most blissful 4 hrs EVER! Worth every penny!
I got the FP rock sleeper for my second and I love it! Folds up easily to move out of the way and she just snuggles right in without being flat on her back. I also bought all my kids books from Ross/Marshall’s or yard sales, don’t pay full price for those!!
Rock n play for sure!!! Best item ever! My 3 mo old loves his tummy time mat too!
Absolutely second this!! Our first had what they called “extreme colic” and reflux and this was a God send!!
Thanks for this! I’m expect baby #2, and even though my daughter is only 4, there are so many new baby items on the market!
I was the same as you! We just had DS in November and DD just turned 4. I can’t believe all the new things and gadgets that I came across! I’m glad that we saved a lot of things from having her. We used the Rock n Play sleeper for her and for him. And the bouncy seat has been a life saver. As for price point, I like to get diapers at Target when I have one of their coupons and a manufacturer coupon, or when they have a gift card deal.
The miracle swaddle was wonderful for my little guy. He was very wiggly and could escape most swaddles but this one wraps around his body twice and is secured by his own weight. Also, I bought the Ergo on clearance from REI when I was pregnant and it’s been amazing! We tried another carrier when he was a newborn and it wasn’t nearly as comfortable and easy to use as the Ergo.
I am pregnant with baby #2…baby #1 is only 9 months, so we have had a lot of expenses in a very short amount of time. I started stocking up for diapers for baby #1 almost the second I found out I was pregnant, and I am doing the same thing this time. MY price point for diapers is under $0.10 if possible. For wipes, I like to pay less than $8 for over 600+ wipes – doing this requires waiting for the right deals! Also, AMAZON MOM IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. Sign up, use it, thank me later!! That and Amazon Prime will save you so many headaches, I promise!! I would say our “must have” items were Aden+Anais swaddle blankets, the Bumbo seat, Avent bottles (make sure you purchase the next size up in nipple as your baby gets older), and our Fisher Price Jumper. I shopped consignment sales for a LOT of our stuff, including clothing. They are a true hidden gem. Make sure to google local yearly consignment sales in your area, too. We are in Central PA and there are no less than 4 bi-annual consignment sales (one for summer, one for winter) that last 2-3 days each. A lot of them have special “new mom” preview nights, where you can go and get first dibs on some amazing stuff!!
Where are these sales at? I live in central pa too and would like to go to some!
There is one in Enola, PA this week I believe called Tykes to Teens and another one coming up in about 2 weeks in New Cumberland, PA called New for You Kids.
The next one on my calendar is 4 The Kids – starts next Thursday in Dillsburg
There is one next week in York PA called Weeusables and one in May in Reading called Just Between Friends.
I’m mommy to 6 children and my price point for diapers is 3.50$ a pack . Also the same for pull ups. I’d say 1$ on wipes but really some are free with the doubling of coupons. A swing for sure! Definitely swap , find used kids stores and join mops !
One tip I learned for breastfeeding moms is when your child gets poop or milk stains on their clothes—treat the stain like you normally would and wash it in the washing machine, then instead of drying it in the dryer hang it up outside to dry. The sun will naturally bleach out the stain. I was told this only worked with breast fed babies. I’m not positive if that’s true or not but I did breast feed my babies and it did work.:-)
I use Dawn and hydrogen peroxide mixture. I buy the small bottle of Dawn and pour half out into another container for later. Then I take the hydrogen peroxide and fill the Dawn bottle (1/2 Dawn and 1/2 hydrogen peroxide) Shake it up and it’s ready to go. I use it as a pretreat when we have a diaper leak or spit up. Put a little on the spot, add some warm water and rub it into the fabric. Let it sit for about an hour and the throw it in the wash. This works EVERYTIME (even gets red wine out of clothes!) The small bottle is great to throw in the diaper bag for accidents on the go. And thanks to Collin and her deals on the hydrogen peroxide for $0.08/bottle I am stocked up!
Going to try! My 5 month old just got formula all over her brand new monogrammed onsie! Hoping it works on formula fed!
Fels-naptha is a bar soap that has been around forever. It gets EVERY stain out every time! I even got dried blackberry juice off of my white linen/cotton blend shorts! It’s cheap too! I swear by it and many of my friends now use it!
Hip2Save is AWESOME! I love Hip2Save! Hip2Save is the best coupon site in the universe.
Seconding the Fels-naptha!! (Thanks, Collin, for bombing my previous attempted reply haha)
I just had #2 and agree with others that each is sooo different. But with both I love the Aden + Anais blankets because they are nice and cool when hot outside. Kind of pricey but I have seen them at Ross/Marshall’s before, even Burlington coat factory. Price point for diapers is $4 or less per jumbo pack. Each size has a different number of diapers so this is easiest for me Wipes $1 or less per pack.
If anyone has any simalac checks they aren’t using I would really appreciate them!! Formula is so expensive!! Anything helps!! Thank you
Email me @ hannahrashel91@hotmail.com
Hannah, there is a facebook group that you can trade coupons/formula checks. It’s called Baby Cheapskate Baby Gear, Toy and Coupon Exchange. Whenever I get a check or coupon I won’t use for formula, I post it to the site and someone will trade with a coupon or check that I can use. It has been extremely helpful for me!
Thanks I’ll check it out !!
Oh and I LOVE LOVE LOVE zutano booties. They are kinda funky looking but have some adorable patterns. I could never get any socks to stay on my little one and these snapped on and were a lifesaver in keeping her little toes nice and toasty.
My biggest must have is my Ergo Baby Carrier! It was THE BEST investment. My daughter is a very clingy child, and I could never get anything done unless I had her in this.
Stock up prices for me: .09-.11 per diaper (target always has a lot of great giftcard deals that lead to these savings)
Wipes: .50 or less per 72ct pack
I hated the carrier, it was so hard to put on. I just carried my baby and did a lot one handed! I even breast fed while cooking dinner! Lol
If you’re talking about putting the baby on your back then I totally agree. That is difficult but not as bad now that my daughter is a toddler. I mostly wore her in the front facing me though, and I thought it was incredibly easy to put it on. It just took a little time to get a method down đ
This exactly. Practice makes perfect! It’s such a great thing and my daughter LOVES it !
I only buy diapers or wipes when Target does a gift card deal. Check out consignment sales for clothes and toys. A lot of times you can find brand new items! No need to buy Dreft detergent. Any free and clear detergent is just as good, if not better. Plus it’s way cheaper. I have recently started making my own diaper rash creams, washes, detergents, etc to save even more money. If breastfeeding, look up all the uses for breastmilk. Some of the uses may seem gross, but it is amazing stuff! You can use it for eczema cream, pimples, pink eye, and diaper rash cream. Make your own baby food! Or look into baby led weaning. Talk to your friends (that have kids) to see if they have any tips or hand me downs!
My best suggestion if your pregnant is to start buying diapers and wipes now. I started buying diapers when I found out I was pregnant (8wks). I would buy 1 pkg./week of wipes and diapers which really adds up over 32wks. That way you can buy as you come across great coupons and sales instead of getting stuck needing more and not having a coupon or a sale. Price point for me on diapers (Huggies/Pampers) is $0.17/diaper and my price point for wipes (Huggies) is $0.01/wipe. The large 648ct box on Amazon’s subscribe and save is by far the best deal.
My best DIY deal that I have found has been on blankets. The nice soft fuzzy blankets run $12-$25! And who can afford the amount you need at that price. Instead I went to JoAnne’s (with 40% coupon in hand) and purchased several yards of anti-peel fleece. They had tons of cute baby designs like Mickey and Sesame Street or monsters and puppies. The fleece runs about $11-14/yd and I ended up paying about $7/yd with coupon. I purchased 4 different designs and got 1yd of each. When I got home I cut each yd in half, giving me 8 blankets–no need to sew the edges as they don’t fray. They end up being about the size of receiving blankets. They’re warm yet thin enough that you can still swaddle the baby, perfect for preemies or winter babies. I ended up with 8 blankets for under $30! Such a great deal. And if you have a girl, then you can keep them for her to use with her baby dolls đ
Funny that you should ask, as I just wrote a post about my favorite items for my new twins thus far! I’m still learning my price points for everything but under 15 cents for diapers is good and totally easy to find, 11 cents is great! Wipes, under 2 cents per wipe is awesome. A product that I totally swear by are the little disposable bags for diapers from the dollar tree, you get 75 for $1!!! Usually holds 2-4 sinky diapers and I think easier to have on hand than a bulky genie. Great for car and on the go too!!
I’m all about natural. It’s alarming the chemicals used in baby products. Check out ewg.org/skindeep/ to find the toxicity ratings on some of the most common baby care products. Instead of buying baby oil and baby shampoo, I’ve made my own unless I find an incredible price for Shea Moisture (usually around $4 each at Walgreens when on sale and have coupons) and some other natural brands. Also I’ve found great deals on seventh generation diapers and fred meyer carries Comforts for Baby that has a natural option that is chlorine-free. With frequent coupons and sales, these can be as low as $4 a package. Hosting the 7th Generation Baby Party has been a blessing because they sent a ton of coupons to for me to use and hand out to friends.
My first baby was born in Fall and I used the moby wrap a ton (had a sling but found I couldn’t use it til she was bigger and by that time she was too heavy to carry around for much long in the sling – I find the moby wrap a lot more ergonomical). However with baby number #2 due summer I’m not sure how often I will use the moby wrap at first because it will be hotter.
Also a good teether is essential. A lot of people recommend Sophia the Giraffe but I liked these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N45DM2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001N45DM2&linkCode=as2&tag=sweroo-20 and I liked that there were two. One to keep in my bag and one to leave at home.
Also keep alcohol-free hand sanitizing wipes in your diaper bag! So handy when you or baby drops something (like the infamous teether or pacifier) and you have nowhere to wash it).
A good quality carrier is a must have! I love my Boba and it has been a lifesaver with baby #3. Beco is also a fantastic carrier. Spend the money on one that is ergonomic so the babies are sitting in proper position for their hips! No crotch danglers! Also a baby swing! I’d take a baby swing over a bouncer any day.
Definitely hit up garage sales for baby clothes. Babies grow so fast so you will find like new clothing for super cheap! Our FP Sunggabunny swing was a lifesaver (definitely splurge for a swing that plugs in!) My stock up price for disposable diapers is 15 cents each, but I use mostly cloth. I belong to a local “Mom Swap” page on FB and have found baby stuff for cheap and have even sold stuff that I don’t use anymore. I also hit up clearance sections in local consignment shops, I’ve scored some great deals on clothing there. Also, Target always seems to have at least one 70% clothing rack in the baby/toddler section. I buy clothing for the next season for rock bottom prices.
My daughter is 5 months and my husband is a firefighter for 24 hour shifts so I am a single parent for 3-4 whole days a week and I could not have lived without The BOPPY! I think my arms would have fallen off by now lol, and she is only 15lbs now! Also my price points for diapers is definatly 15 cents and under and 10 cents is a major stock up price (like the Walgreens deal this week!) we have had really good deals with getting Enfamil formula when target offers a gift card combined with coupons(both target and manufacturer) and formula checks!
I’m a ff’er wifey too! Three kiddos all under five years old…those 24 hour shifts can sometimes seem like 3 days. ;). Hehe!
cloth diapering! saves around $1,000, is better for baby and the environment! win-win-win
$.157 is the price I pay for a diaper at Costco. This achieved by purchasing when they offer the $5 off. They typically alternate brands so this price is always available. Anything less thank that is a good deal in my mind. Great deal/ stock up price is about $.08/.09 per diaper which can easily be achieved with Walgreens sales and coupons stacked with clearance sales at Target. Yesterday I paid .07 per at Walgreens. Stocking up for diaper cakes!
Diapers-under $5/pack
Wipes – under $1/pack
Clothes- garages sales $.75 per item
Baby food – make your own. I know I thought it would be far to much work and bought it with #1. #2 I made my own and it was much easier than I thought.
If you are planning to breast feed a boppy pillow.
I like getting diapers at CVS when they have the buy $30 worth of products get $10 in ExtraBucks. Combine that deal with Manufacturer coupons you can use, usually comes out to a pretty good deal.
I would say the fisher price jumperoo is an absolute must have, more so than a swing really to me. If you can find one used, great, but they are snapped up quick! If you have to buy new, you’ll get almost full price selling it used. It works from the time they can hold their head up as just an activity station, to full on jumping that will last till they are around 1 year or so and builds those leg muscles! Diapers I always went for $4 or less name brand or $2 or less off brand. Wipes I aimed for 1.5 cents a wipe. Ps, if you get wic, fill at Winn Dixie or another store with true bogo to double your cereal with a bogo sale, and Winn Dixie baby club used to give $10 cats for every 200 points. Now I think it’s fuel rewards, but still nice
I totally agree with the Rainforest Jumperoo – best investment I made. Kept her busy and happily entertained for at least 30 minutes to an hour at a time when I need to get things done around the house. She started using it at 4 months old and is still loving it at 8 months old.
For me, one of the do not buy items is a diaper genie. Several other moms I know said the same thing. No matter what bags or deodorizers you use, they make th room smell bad. Even pee-only diapers smell after several days. If you really really want to try it, buy a used one and sanitize it with some kind of cleaner. I just tie up the messy diapers in a bag and put all diapers in my kitchen trash. It gets emptied at least every other day, if not every day. Just my opinion. Im pregnant with my 3rd.
I also think the diaper genie is just a waste of money, time, and space. I just folded the diaper up and used the tabs to hold it closed and threw it away in the regular trash. No problem with smells at all.
I agree, what a dumb invention. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with a diaper genie after their first kid lol
I agree! I hated that diaper genie.
Respectfully disagree đ we love our diaper genie and at 2 years old still use it for the poopy diapers!! Works great in my opinion as long as you throw them out at least twice a week!
I’m with you–we have 3 throughout the house and I love them!
I’m trying for a baby. So, this was a great thing for me to read
Breast feeding, BLW(baby-lead-weaning), baby sling (mine was a Hava sling), cloth diapers and co-sleeping.
Educate yourself on these topics and you will save yourself so much money and there are endless health benefits for mom and baby. There are so many resources available. Check your library for books, on-line research and support groups.
We did do a combination of cloth and disposable diapers. I would not spend more than $3.50 oop for a pack of diapers, but tried to use ups, ecb, rr, etc to make the oop even lower. Not more than $.01/ wipe.
We never spent a penny on baby food, cereals or snacks marketed to babies/parents – just baby led weaning method. Try to buy as much food local as possible. Checkout localharvest.com to find CSA, farms, farmers markets in your area.
We purchase clothes at garage sales or consignment stores. In our area, $.50-$1 per article of clothing. $1-$5 per pair of shoes. Sign up for JCPenny and Kohls email and mail offers. You can score free/cheap kids clothes by combing clearance with the coupon offers from these stores.
Highly recommend reading the following books:
Beyond the Sling by Mayim Bialik, PhD
The Complete Book of Breastfeeding by Marvin S. Eiger, MD & Sally Wendkos Olds
The Baby-Led Weaning Book by Gill Rapley and Tracy Murkett
The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley and Tracy Murkett
The Baby-Led Weaning website and Facebook page
What to Eat by Marion Nestle
Baby lead weaning is the way to go on weaning, soooo much easier! We Breastfed 3/8 kids and it is so much easier than formula feeding, definitely the lazy method. Loved it!
With my son I bought diapers in advance. I got about 2 packs of newborn, 10 of size 1, 10 of size 2, 10 of size 3 and 10 of size 4. The diapers really go quickly. Same story with the wipes.
I found tjmaxx and marshalls had good deals and very good clearance sales in Jan/Feb and end of summer. I bought 4 packs of swaddles for $3, lots of onesies, and outfits between 1-3 dollars each. The most useful were the outfits that had either a zipper or snaps on the front. Since children grow quickly you may end up buying 7 sets of different sized clothing by the time they are 10 months. In some cases they outgrow the outfit in 1-2 weeks.
Personally I avoided buy buy baby as the prices are too high. I saw a bedding set for $500 there that was only $39.99 in TJmaxx. A stroller and car seat were $800 found the exact same one online for $200. And most importantly do your research before you buy.
I’m in love with the Honest Co for diapers, wipes, laundry detergent & some household cleaners. Our baby has sensitive skin and their chemical free, plant based diapers are great! They’re really cute too. There is a monthly fee but I’ve found that the month lasts us about 6 weeks and due to referral credits and winning a fb contest we’ve only paid for diapers once in 7 months! You can check them out here https://honest.com/accept_invitation/371402
The Ergo baby carrier is a must have for me. We got a random carrier and a moby. By far the ergo was the easiest and most comfortable for my husband and I. As far as toys go, don’t buy anything new, especially when they are older. Consignment shops and join buy and trade groups in your area on Facebook. My toddlers could care less if their toys were new or old or if all the pieces were there. And definitely stock up on diaper and wipe sales. Also, if you have the time, make baby food. It freezes well and is easy. It’s a big money saver. I used to buy produce in bulk at Costco, and make a bunch in one day and freeze it.
IMO-a wipes warmer and diaper genie are a waste of money. A good swing is worth it’s weight in gold-look on Craigslist to score one for half the price of retail.
Diaper genie is a must have for me. I live in an apt building and they recently locked the incinerator rooms, which means we have to take our garbage outside to the dumpsters. My fiancé works insane hrs so the diaper genie helps me to not have to take a baby and preschooler up and down 3 flights of stairs to take out a stinky diaper. It can stay in the diaper genie until my fiancé gets home to take it out.
I bought barley used G-Diapers on ebay for $110, used them for 6 months and then resold them on ebay for $112. How crazy is that!
I’ve switched to generic brands for diapering. SAMs club diapers are the best. As far as wipes go, Targets up&up brand is awesome! Also, I’ve made baby food for both of my babies. Don’t waste your $ on the baby bullet, just buy a nice 3 cup food processor that you can continue to use after the baby food stages. After research on quality and warranty I found that the cuisinart 3 cup processor was the best. The sleep n rock is the one baby product that I could not live without.
The boppy is a life saver for me, not only at feeding time, but when my baby has belly time on the floor and starts to sit up. You can buy the cheaper version at Walmart, but it is an absolute must for me!
I price by diaper and I won’t get them unless they are .09 or .10 per diaper and then I stock up! The best price for wipes is .01 a wipe.
I buy CVS brand formula for my son and it is typically $5-$10 dollars cheaper a container. All formulas are essentially the same (unless you need hypoallergenic or something) and all formulas have to meet the same FDA requirements. He does just fine on it. I buy him the one that mimics Similac Advance and CVS will give me coupons for formula at the red machine now, which is also nice! And they sometimes will do a BIG1 50% off sale on CVS brand items, formula included. Once it was B2G1 on CVS formula and it worked out to about $10 for a 23 oz container, which is my stockup price. I dream of that sale coming around again sometimes… Definitely get the formula checks from the formula companies though, you never know when they will come in handy – I typically use the Similac ones on the 32 oz. containers of ready-to-go Similac at Babies R Us, which makes them about $2 for me and they’re nice to have for a daytrip or a night away from home. If there is an ECB deal on formula then you will be happy you have those formula checks!
I was told by a store employee that CVS brand diapers are made by Luvs, and they’re typically a lot cheaper than the brand name diapers (unless it’s an ECB deal and you have coupons), so if you need diapers I’d say try those. I have gotten them in the past and they are good (although I have to admit I like the Pampers swaddlers with the pee line best). I second the suggestion of stocking up on diapers before the baby is born, I did that and it saved a lot of hassle in the first few weeks of his life (although he was a skinny little thing and I needed way more newborn sized diapers than I thought!)
I am not too proud to put my kid in other people’s hand me down clothes, either! He’s so cute it doesn’t matter if the clothes he wears are new!
Boppy pillow, sophie the giraffe teether & corner changing table
Just fyi, walgreens has bogo on diapers and wipes this week. Good chance to stock up!