Keeping the costs down when expecting a baby

When I was pregnant with my first child, I read a whole load of baby magazines, and they were always full of lists of everything you need for a newborn. These lists went on and on, page after page of things that you ‘just can’t live without’. Young, naive, and absolutely clueless about babies I believed them. Of course, I needed a nappy bin, a baby bath, thermometer, and a zillion other things.

Fast forward 16 years, and with baby number five on the way, and I laugh looking back at younger me. Those lists are obviously put together by the makers of all this baby paraphernalia, trying to encourage parents-to-be to buy their products. If you bought all of the things on these lists, you would spend a fortune.

Thankfully, I am older and wiser and have learned a lot through the last sixteen years of parenting. As it happens, babies need very little really, and if you are sensible it really doesn’t have to cost the earth to have a baby.

Here are a few ways to keep costs down

Make your own list

Forget what every magazine/website tells you that you need, and make a list of what you really need. All a baby actually needs are nappies, some clothes, someplace to sleep and your boobs.

Buy second hand clothing

Babies grow out of clothes SO fast, buying second hand is a far better way of kitting out a baby – not only will you spend less, but it’s also far better environmentally than buying all new.

Hand-me-downs

I LOVE hand-me-downs. I saved everything and passed them down between my three girls. I’ve been super lucky this time to have some amazing friends who have passed on their old baby clothing that they no longer need, maternity clothes they still had, a moses basket, car seat, baby toys… this baby has his wardrobe sorted for at least the first year already!

Think washable

Opting for cloth nappies and wipes can save a fortune. both in terms of money as well as environmental factors. While brand new cloth nappies can be expensive, they thankfully last for years, and buying them second hand saves even more money. I’ve kitted us out for this baby with a mixture of hand-me-downs from friends, a bundle of little lambs bought from a friend, and a few extras bought second hand on eBay. I’ve probably spent around £60 in total, and have enough nappies and liners to cloth nappy full time. Way less then I’d spend on disposables.

I also use cloth wipes rather than disposable wipes. For one, it’s such a waste of money plus I really hate creating waste that I don’t need to. I used a couple of old towels, cut them up into squares and I have a mountain of wipes. I usually keep a tub of chamomile tea, with a spoonful of olive oil in there, that I use as a bottom wash.

Look for second-hand bargains

eBay and Facebook marketplace are both fantastic ways of finding a bargain for those items you need. As your baby grows, and you need a highchair, a travel cot, a pushchair…. looking out for them second hand can save you a fortune. I just picked up a bath support that someone was giving away for free on facebook marketplace {something that isn’t essential, but through experience, I’ve learned makes live easier – babies are super slippy, and it’s a great way of bathing babies with their older siblings}, as well as a connecta carrier someone was selling at a fraction of the price of a new one.

Borrow, borrow, borrow

It’s always worth asking around if your friends have things that you can borrow, especially if it’s something that you won’t use for long. A lot of people hang on to baby stuff in between kids, or just in case… and are more than happy to lend things out if you ask. This is also a great way of trying something out before you do mi – the sling that suits one baby, might not suit another.

 

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