Babies are EXPENSIVE!!! But having a baby on a budget is totally doable!
They are worth every penny but that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t try to save a few bucks along the way!
One thing I learned so far is that babies come with a TON of gear, and that gear costs MOOLAH! Fear not Mom! There are many ways you can prepare for a new baby on a tight budget when expecting your little bundle of joy!
Updated September 13, 2020
That being said, there are things you THINK you will need and NEVER, EVER use, and there are things that you won’t be able to live without! Everyone’s list is a little different, and you really won’t know until you get there.
Being a first-time mom makes it especially challenging. I know I had no clue about how much it would cost to have a baby. Or maybe you have a gap between kids and are a little rusty on the cost of baby items.
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Here Are Some Awesome Tips To Prepare For Baby On A Budget!
Now like I mentioned, everyone’s list will vary and this is only MY personal opinion based on my experience as a first time Mom. Now, let’s get to it.
The Scoop On Diapers
Diapers are crazy expensive, period. If you can go the cloth route, you can save a ton of money but will also have WAY more laundry to do. I just couldn’t do it myself and stuck with the disposables. We tried the cheaper brands but it is Pampers for the win in this house, followed closely by Huggies.
We found them to be the best fitting, most absorbent, and least leaky of all. Also, Pampers has the reward system where you scan the codes on their products and save points to get free rewards and awesome products.
Recently I tried the Costco diapers and I actually like them too! Buying baby items in bulk can be a great budget saver, and you will need diapers for quite a while. I really like having a Diaper Genie in the beginning as well. It keeps the odors at bay, and they are not really that expensive.
Throw A Baby Shower
Throw a baby shower with a registry. It is a great way to help ease the financial burden of all the baby-related gear you will need.
Actually, we did a Jack and Jill style shower where it was more of a party, not three hours of everyone having to sit there and watch me open the gifts. It was more enjoyable for everybody that way (I think), it turned out fantastic, and would totally do it again.
Also, return any unused or duplicate gifts from your shower promptly for store credit.
If you are having a baby shower, consider holding a diaper raffle! Best. Thing. Ever. On your invites, let each guest know that for every box of diapers they bring to your shower, they will receive a ballot to win a great prize! It could be a gift basket you make up or a gift certificate for a product or service.
Reach out to your peeps! Guaranteed someone will donate something to you! We all know SOMEBODY who sells or makes something right? Younique, Scentsy, Arbonne, Tupperware… the list goes on.
When I was expecting, my husband owned a craft-your-own-wine shop. We’ve since sold it ( BOO!!). Our prize was a batch of 30 bottles of wine valued at around $150.
Pretty much every single guest brought a box of diapers, and yes that was on top of the regular shower gift. The support from our friends and family was overwhelming! Honestly guys, we did not have to buy any diapers until my son was 7 months old.
Also, speaking of diapers, don’t buy excess of the Newborn size (but do buy some) until you know how big or small your kid is. Mine is a little Viking (8lbs 7oz at birth) and he was in size 1 almost immediately.
Do NOT Buy A Lot Of Baby Clothes
I know it is SO FUN and they are so stinking cute!! Of course, buy something if you absolutely fall in love with it and it’s reasonably priced. Again, if you are holding a baby shower, you will get clothes. LOTS and LOTS of clothes.
You are not the only one who loves buying those adorable little onesies, trust me on this!
Also, check out your local children’s resale shops and thrift stores. If you are fortunate enough to have a friend with an older toddler that is giving away hand me downs, bonus! This is a great way to stay on budget!
Lastly, skip the shoes. Babies don’t need them right away so in my opinion, a senseless waste of money. Booties and socks will be just fine for the first little bit. Besides, the odds are someone will buy you a cute little pair as a baby gift.
Maternity Clothes
Hit up your thrift store again. I found the majority of mine at Value Village ( a large chain second-hand retailer). For so CHEAP! I also shopped Old Navy and other price-conscious shops for tank tops, stretchy shorts and flowy sundresses.
Being pregnant in the heat of the summer, I basically lived in tank tops. I simply bought extra large stretchy ones and they worked fine for me throughout. Cute and comfortable! When a higher-end company labels something maternity, apparently they can get away with charging an arm and a leg.
EXCEPTION to this rule, I did indulge in a good pair of maternity jean shorts and one pair of yoga shorts from Thyme Maternity. I still wear the yoga ones now and the jean ones were because they made my bum look not quite so big. I wore them the following summer too. They were that comfortable.
What Maternity Clothes Do I REALLY Need?
Consider Breastfeeding
Breastfeed or pump as much or as long as you can! I didn’t have a lot of luck with breastfeeding my son, but fortunately, I was able to pump. This is one of the simplest ways to keep your baby budget in check. Breastmilk is free and it’s perfectly balanced nutrition. This isn’t to debate the pros and cons of nursing (we supplemented with formula and it was absolutely fine) but no one can disagree that breastfeeding is more cost-effective.
Insurance
Check into the delivery charges that your hospitals or birthing centers have and also be sure to see which is covered by your insurance. Here in Canada, it is covered by our government (fortunately) so this was something we didn’t have to worry about.
Skip The Changing Table
Just lay a towel or changing pad down on the bed. Before they start getting too squirmy it is especially easy to do it this way. Once the baby starts rolling over, have some safeguards in place like bumpers of some sort to prevent a roll-off situation!! The floor will work too. I did have a changing table but only because it came in the bedroom set I bought for CHEAP.
You Won’t Need A Crib Right Away
A bassinet will do just fine, and it is quite possible to find one gently used since the baby won’t even be in it that long. Again, check your local buy and sell marketplace.
We moved our son into his crib right around 3.5 months because he grew like a weed! And as a bonus, we snagged his whole bedroom set off Kijiji with crib, dresser and change table ( which I now use for storage) for $350 and it did us just fine! Compared to a new set at upwards of $1000, we were beyond happy with that sweet deal!
Buy Just A Few Bottles
Photo by Irina Murza
If you are planning on using formula or pumping and bottle feeding baby breastmilk, don’t buy a kazillion baby bottles! Pick up a couple of test ones (different brands) and see which one your baby takes to. You may or may not want to get a bottle warmer (we found it unnecessary) but we did buy a microwave bottle sterilizer.
The Avent brand turned out to be our favorite with Tommee Tippee coming in a close second.
Second-hand Shop Til You Drop!
Mom to Mom sales are fantastic!! I didn’t feel comfortable getting a second-hand infant car seat but for so many other items, it is a great idea and will save you a ton of money! Do stock up on receiving blankets. Again, we got all of ours at our local Mom to Mom.
I feel Iike I just keep going back to this but it did save us SO much money buying almost everything from there. I must have gotten 20 receiving blankets for ten bucks. Used them for spit-ups, spills, diaper changes, runny noses… one in the car, one in the diaper bag. Basically one everywhere. I still use them.
I did have to buy a few muslin ones new, but only because my son was born in a heatwave and I needed something lightweight and breathable.
Don’t go hog wild on a baby swing or bouncy chair either if you can help it. We ended up getting an expensive one at my shower and my son couldn’t stand it! Instead, see if a friend whose baby has outgrown theirs can loan it or sell it to you at a discount.
Make Your Own Baby Food
I did it all in the beginning, then gradually added in some great organic fruit and veggie pouches that I liked especially in the winter months when the fresh fruit where I live is yucky and not so fresh. Smash up some banana and avocado, for this one you don’t even need a blender!! You can find a million recipes on Pinterest.
Reach Out To Friends
Need to run out for an hour? I will bet you have a friend who can sit with your little one for that amount of time instead of hiring a sitter.
Seek Out Free Services In Your Community
Where we live in we have an Early Years program across the city and county where you can go with your child age 0-5. There are tons of art activities, toys, books and it is a great way to help babies and toddlers socialize. Also, it gets YOU out of the house to connect with other Moms. Look for free Mommy and Me groups in your area.
Ask Your Doctor Or Pediatrician For Freebies
When we switched to formula, we were lucky enough to get around 5 free large cans from our doc. Great savings, and don’t be shy! It doesn’t hurt to ask!
Go Easy On The Pricey Toys
Preparing for a new baby on a tight budget doesn’t have to be hard. Do you think a baby would rather play with some high tech, loud, obnoxiously colored toy or a household item like a cardboard box or a wooden spoon? Try it and see. They’ll take the spoon or the box every time.
Just remember, babies really don’t need a lot of fancy-schmancy things. They need nutrition, shelter, clothing, and most importantly love and affection.
When you ARE shopping for baby and want to stick to your budget, always look for sales. And while you DO want quality items, you don’t have to pay top dollar for designer labels, especially on clothing. Your baby honestly won’t care if the label says Baby Gap or Gucci.
Just ask them, they’ll tell you. 😉
Until next time, K.
Kelly Blakely is the founder and creative force behind Just Our View From Here. As a first-time mom over 40, she brings a fresh perspective to parenting and family life on her blog. Kelly also explores a wide range of lifestyle topics in her writing, including fashion, beauty, self-care, and well-being.
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