Our first baby is due in November. I will be a stay at home mom. So I need all the money saving advice I can get as to how to save momey with a newborn.
I plan to breastfeed and use cloth diapers/wipes and make my own wipe solution. I shop at yard sales for baby clothes, toys, etc. What else can I do?

When the baby starts to eat table food you can make your own food, there are websites online with recipes and directions.

babydogs3 - may I say CONGRATS!!!! You will find LOTS of ideas on here. My one suggestion other than those already mentioned would be to readily accept hand-me-down clothes & loaner large items such as exersaucer, baby swing, etc.

__________________
ncleslie4
mommy of 4 blessings :love: ages 6, 4, 2, & 1
ask me about adopting from Ethiopia

Congratulations on the baby. I would go to your library and look for Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields. It tells you what things you need and what you really do not need. I would get big items as loaners as well EXCEPT car seats. I guess I want to make sure that my child will be safe and know it has not been in an accident. Also ask other moms what they got and do not need/use. For our first child we did get alot from the baby shower and we held onto everything because we knew we would have another. So we use all the hand-me-downs for kiddo number 2. Best of luck.

Congratulations!! Yes, definitely have a baby shower and ask for the things that you will need that are pricey (like a stroller, crib, etc.). You are on the right track with yardsales, also look for children's consignment shops, thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, Vets,etc.) and tell people you know what you would like or need. That's how we got our barely used crib by telling a friend who had another friend looking to get rid of her crib (they decided after 4 months to co-sleep and she just wanted someone to pick it up and get it outta her house). Also, babies really don't need as much as we are lead to think. A clean diaper, full belly, a few sleepers, onesies, booties, bibs and a safe place to sleep work wonders. Also, consider putting off toys until he/she is older because all newborns do is look into your eyes and around the room anyway.

I would definitely start looking on craigslist and freecycle for stuff. The more pregnant you get, the less you are going to want to get out and go to yard sales. By looking online, you can still get some awesome deals without having to do any physical footwork first.

Congratulations!!

Wait until after any showers to buy things, I was given so much that what I did need to buy I used gift cards and returns to buy. Sign up for freebees. American baby and baby talk mags are free, register, go to baby product sites register, give them your name and address at the maternity stores. Company's that supply baby products want your buisness. Huggies sends all sorts of samples, Infimil sent me a case of formula that would have cost around $50 to buy, Good start sends formula. BRU sends some really nice coupons. Even Target sent a whole book of baby stuff coupons.

Congrats on planning to nurse my advice with that is don't spend a lot of money on nursing supplies. I waited until after nursing was working to buy a cheep $70 duel electric pump. Look into free support. One of my local hospitals has a nursing support group that is wonderful.

__________________
Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

I pretty much have the same advice as everyone else.

Sign up for freebies
Sign up with companies that make baby products - I get tons of coupons and I got free samples/containers. If I couldn't use it (like formula) I gave it to a friend or donated it to the women's shelter.
Wholesomebabyfoods.com is a great website when it comes to introducing food to baby
Never reject hand-me-downs - I haven't bought her a toy or clothing in months!
Really evaluate what you need - we bought a really nice glider and ottoman, since everyone told us to invest in one, and we haven't used it yet!
Don't buy a changing table - use a dresser instead, if you must have a changing surface.

You are already on the right path by looking into this now and planning to use cloth diapers and breastfeed!

__________________
Mom to Kaylee (10/2006)
Waiting on our second bundle of joy to arrive January 2009!

First of all, congrats on the baby coming!!

Ditto on the not buying a changing table. You may use it for a couple of months, but then the babies get too squirmy and then the changing table gets too dangerous. We just always used a blanket on the floor or bed.

Garage sales are great for used baby furniture in good condition. Babies are not hard on their stuff, except for the spit up stains on tshirts and onesies.

Look into some of the newer cloth diapers. Some have inserts that you just change, instead of changing the whole diaper.

You're already doing great with planning on breastfeeding. Don't get discouraged if it isn't as easy as you thought it would be. Seek out the advice of a lactation consultant or friend or family member that has gone through it. My first few months for both pregnancies were difficult breastfeeding months, but I got past it and the remaining year was incredible.

Good luck!!!

__________________
www.myspace.com/vioburn
My Blog ~ I am currently updating this with my favorite natural beauty routines (some are edible!) and more!


Frugal is being wise with your money and resources and cheap is forcing everyone else to.

If you qualify you can register with WIC (women, infants and children) starting as soon as you are pregnant. It is a program to assist with eating well, immunizations, breast feeding and general healthcare (dental, when to introduce solids, eating healthy,etc.). They give you checks for free milk, cheese, cereal, juice, beans or peanut butter and eggs. If you breastfeed you also receive canned tuna and carrots. I breastfed all 3 of my girls (still breastfeeding DD#3 who's 11 mos!). The oldest DD was a very sleepy baby and I didn't seek out any lactation consultants or help. She began losing weight and had to be put on formula during the day to supplement. I now know some of the problems I was going through could have been addressed and helped if I had been more persistant. With DD#3 I sought help immediately when we started having problems and after about the 2nd month it all became a smooth process and it wasn't hard at all, but those first 2 months I was thinking about quitting until we figured out what was wrong. The WIC office gave me a breastpump for free which helped a lot to build milk supply and to be able to hand her off sometimes at church or for a few hours away.