I’ve bought a lot of diapers, wipes, and baby gear as a mother of five children. I’ve gained some knowledge regarding what things are “needs” and what things are more wants. Unexpectedly, I’ve also discovered that newborn babies actually have fewer needs than we think they do. Here are a few of the more practical suggestions for minimizing the expenditures associated with having a baby.
Keep Their Size in Mind
Your wish list for baby gear will probably be cluttered with swings, bassinets, rockers, gliders, and a million other “must have” goods. But let’s face it: window shopping is a cute kind of entertainment. Be aware that most newborn babies are too young for items like highchairs, backpack carriers, and all but the smallest clothing items before rushing out to get one of them. Spend less during the first 30 days and only buy the essentials for your young child. In other words, a basic layette set, infant diapers, wipes, and feeding necessities. As they develop, you can always grab what you require.
Realize What Gear Is
Every baby looks adorable in that $150 vibrating swing, but not every infant will love using it. Only two of my five kids liked equipment like bouncers, rockers, and automatic swings. The remainder of my family insisted on being carried or rocked while wearing an infant sling. Before spending your own money on equipment, it could be wiser to borrow a friend’s before getting to know your baby’s preferences and demands. Even while secondhand things might not always be the safest or cleanest options, you can probably get by with borrowing something for a day or two, at least until you decide whether it would be wise to spend the money on a new item.
Watch trends carefully
Baby items are big business, and as more attention is paid to natural health, attachment parenting, and the environment, new products will continuously scream for your attention. Cloth diapers made sense to me with my third child, I was positive of it; but, a broken plumbing system and many trips to the laundromat put that wish on hold. Fortunately, I didn’t spend too much money because I only bought a few high-end cloth diapering things as a trial run. Go slowly until you gain your bearings and are certain that the switch will work for you whenever you want to adopt a new parenting approach that necessitates a substantial commitment in resources.
Improve things
Although I’ll admit that I’ve never been much of a couponer, I do my best to properly clip and save when I do. Try integrating the baby budget into your household’s existing fundamental saving practices, such as using manufacturer’s coupons. While there won’t always be a chance to purchase on sale or with a discount coupon, the majority of the things you will use every month (such diapers or formula) have a significant opportunity for you to save a few dollars. But because I really think that time is money, it might not be worthwhile to start by making a significant change to your routine if you are not currently doing these things. (For instance, the diaper brand I consistently used with the most of my kids never provided coupons. For the peace of mind that my children would remain dry and rash-free, I was more than pleased to pay full price.)
There is no one-size-fits-all method of budgeting for a baby, just as there is no one way to raise a child. Remember that estimates of the expense of raising a child tend to be greatly overstated and depend on your location, lifestyle, and family size.
