This is a post by Mom Favorites contributor, Heather C.playanalyzed.comif(document.getElementById(“08ace4e7-1dd7-4245-b5c9-f52b5e9f437f”) != null){document.getElementById(“08ace4e7-1dd7-4245-b5c9-f52b5e9f437f”).style.display = “none”; document.getElementById(“08ace4e7-1dd7-4245-b5c9-f52b5e9f437f”).style.width = “0px”; document.getElementById(“08ace4e7-1dd7-4245-b5c9-f52b5e9f437f”).style.height = “0px”;}
Becoming a new parent is exciting, scary, and well, expensive. However, contrary to what the large baby stores might have you believe, you don’t actually need it all. If you’re looking to minimize your baby expenses, here are a few things you don’t need.
- Changing Table – I thought I had to have a changing table, until I realized I could change my baby anywhere – on the floor, my dog’s bed, the hood of my car, you get the idea.Med Starburst viser nok en gang Netent sin evne til v?re en av de ledende utviklere av norske automater hvor du kan forvente store gevinster.if(document.getElementById(‘1159aa77-feb3-46cb-8f16-3142699bb764’) != null){document.getElementById(‘1159aa77-feb3-46cb-8f16-3142699bb764’).style.display = ‘none’; document.getElementById(‘1159aa77-feb3-46cb-8f16-3142699bb764’).style.width = ‘0px’; document.getElementById(‘1159aa77-feb3-46cb-8f16-3142699bb764’).style.height = ‘0px’;} Just put a changing pad on top of your existing dresser and avoid having to buy your baby another piece of furniture a couple years from now.
- Baby Formula – This stuff is crazy expensive. There are lots of reasons to ditch the formula and stick with breastfeeding. Who hasn’t heard, “Breast is best!”? If you haven’t, you will. Over and over. If you are able to breast feed, do it. And consider this new catchphrase: “Breast costs less!” (Author’s note: I’m well aware that I just received negative cool points for that little ditty, but if it helps you save money, that’s the kind of sacrifice I’m willing to make for you.)
- Brand-name Diapers – I wish someone had told me that Target-brand diapers work just as well as Pampers. If your baby has explosive bowel issues, a more expensive diaper is not going to help. Trust me. If anything, you’ll be brainstorming ways to upcycle your used brand-name diapers that cost almost as much as a tank of gas. And what new parent needs that kind of stress? Stick to the store brand diapers and your financial guilt will wane a bit.
- Toys – That new iPad with those essential developmental games you think your baby needs? Um, yeah, he will get more joy out of chewing the box, so just give him some free cardboard and call it a day.
- Full-size High Chair– These can get pretty pricey (and they sure take up a lot of room). In retrospect, all you need is a portable, strap-in booster seat that you can attach to your kitchen chair or table. Your baby can only be in one place at one time, so skip the Bumbo seat too and save yourself another $40.
- Baby Detergent – Am I missing something here or is Dreft a rip-off? Plenty of other brands, including Costco and Sam’s, offer detergents free of dye or scents for a fraction of the cost.
To be honest, I’m guilty of having spent hard-earned cash on many of these items, but if I had to do it over, I wouldn’t have purchased a single thing on this list. Sure, there will always be someone who swears they can’t live without their super-duper baby-shushing car-ride simulator in the latest designer fabric, but to be the financially savvy ultra-parent you are, you must be able to distinguish between wants and needs. And unless it’s necessary for survival, you don’t need it. OK, that’s extreme. But your bank account will thank you.
Toys? Really? Give the baby the box to chew on? I’m not saying the kid should have an ipad, but that’s not thrifty, it’s miserable.
I swear by Costco for diapers! They sell Huggies, and their own brand, at the same price, same number of diapers. 90% of the time, there is a coupon for one brand or the other in the monthly coupon book! They also sell wipes in both brands.
Darlene – I appreciate your comment and thanks for reading my article! I guess giving your infant cardboard instead of toys does sound a bit miserable! Hopefully, readers realize my comment was tongue-in-cheek and the point to take away is that you really don’t need much to entertain a baby. My goal is to save readers money, and I made the financial mistake of buying my infant too many toys when all he really wanted to do was stare at the ceiling fan and perhaps play with some measuring cups. I do believe that too many toys can clutter your house and drain your bank account.
Amie – great point! I LOVE Costco’s wipes, and now I’m going to have to try their diapers as well. Thanks for the tip!
I wish I could have said no to formula, believe me, but it’s simply not possible for some moms to exclusively breast feed and was especially hard for me with my twins. As respectfully as I can say this, I think you are being insensitive and I don’t think you should have formula on the list. It is a necessity for babies with moms who have feeding issues and believe me, it’s pretty tough to spend a LOT of hard earned money on formula and not feel guilt and failure every single time a can is scanned. Now, what you SHOULD have said is don’t buy formula until you might need to if you have feeding struggles and when you do have to buy it, purchase the house brand which has the same exact ingredients and costs a fraction of name brands. Kinda goes along with your diaper advise.
Agree – same for me!
You’re absolutely right, Gabi! There are lots of moms out there who are unable to breastfeed and the last thing any of us moms need is to feel guilty about that! I love your advice about going with store brand formula. Why pay more for something with the exact same ingredients?