Everyone always talks about how expensive it is to have a child, but that has not been my experience. I know that everyone’s situations are different with what support they have that can hand things down and buy baby shower gifts, but even if you are all on your own, you can easily have a baby on a budget.
Know What You Really Need
There are so many gadgets and gizmos on the market for babies. It is an industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars. While I am sure that there are things that will make every area of parenthood more convenient, they are not necessary to raise a happy and healthy child.
I like to always think about the thousands of years that people went without an item. If they can do it, so can I!
Some things that you can easily go without if money is tight that will save you big.
- Crib/bassinet/pack and play: If things are tight, skip a bassinet entirely; they are only slept in for a few months anyway. A real crib isn’t needed either. You can get a pack and play that is way cheaper and can most likely do the job of both.
- Diaper pail: Throw the diaper in the kitchen trash and call it a day.
- Bottle sanitizer: Wash bottles with soap and hot water. If you want to sanitize, boil some water on the stove.
- Baby holding contraptions: Half the time, babies hate the swing/bouncer/etc, and would be just as happy (or unhappy) sitting on the floor or in their bed.
- Baby bath: You can easily hold the baby in the shower with you or lay them right in the tub/sink. Put a towel down first for extra padding if desired.
Second Hand
It is so easy to find everything you need for your baby second-hand. People are always looking to get rid of their baby things. Asking around at church or work can get you more clothes and accessories than you know what to do with.
Thrift stores are fantastic places to get baby gear as well. There are even stores specifically dedicated to baby items. You can find everything you need for a significant discount.
Garage sales are great too. If you hit the sale right and the host is over it, they might be willing to give you all of their baby items for a ridiculously low price. It might even be worth giving them your number and asking them to call you if they want to give away what doesn’t sell.
Facebook Marketplace deserves an honorable mention as well. I have seen many people trying to get rid of all their baby clothes. It is a fantastic place to find larger items like strollers and swings.
Gender Specific
I was given lots of things by people at work. I offered some of them to a friend, and she said no because they were girly and she was having a boy. Especially if budgets are tight, if you are able to find a really good deal or someone offers, go for it. It doesn’t matter if the swing or pajamas, that no one will see, are blue for a baby girl.
If you are planning on having multiple children, I would recommend sticking with gender neutral colors and patterns as much as possible so you can reuse items from one baby to the next. When determining what clothes I want to hold on to, I stick primarily with neutral clothes.
Bottles
I have come to learn that there is a wide variety of bottles out there, and some babies are very picky, while others are not. If you have the ability to ask a friend or family member to borrow one to try and see if your baby will enjoy it, I would recommend doing so. It will save you a lot of money on trial and error.
If you are primarily nursing, a wide-neck bottle will be the best option. They do sell sample packs of different bottle types if you have no one to borrow from. Facebook Marketplace is once more an excellent resource to find people getting rid of a stash of bottles for very cheap.
Cloth Diapers
A way we have saved so much money is by cloth diapering. We put the diapers on our registry, so we didn’t need to buy any ourselves. All we have to spend is the cost of running the washing machine, which at most costs $15 a month, including the cost of detergent. I would highly recommend it.
Reusable Wipes
I figured since I was washing diapers, I might as well wash wipes too. They were a fantastic purchase and not only make wonderful wipes, but also excellent tissues. If you have extra flannel fabric, you could easily make your own by cutting out 6-inch squares and zig-zagging around the edge.
Breast Feeding
If you are able to nurse, I would highly recommend it from a purely financial aspect. You will save so much money on formula. If having to get a pump for when you go back to work is a concern, I would check with your insurance. Many of them cover breast pumps.
Interventions
One of the highest costs of having a baby comes from the hospital bill. Doing your best to avoid extra interventions during labor can save you thousands. I would highly recommend preparing ahead of time with something like the Bradley method to help. A simple book can save you lots of money.
I hope my tips will help you to save some money on your new baby and help relieve some of the financial anxiety you might be feeling. If you have any money-saving tips for babies, please share in a comment.
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