Tuesday
Aug302011
Baby on a Budget – The Barest Bare Essentials
I love websites that list the essentials baby items you'll need and list a wipe warmer – I've got nothing against wipe warmers but I'd hardly call them a necessity when you have baby.
So I decided to make my own list and try to figure out what is the least you could get by with and not lose your mind. I mean, sure, we could all forgo the toys and bouncy chairs but if you factor in all the money you'll have to spend on your mental breakdown, then you're still ahead of the game if you spring for them.
So here goes:
The Barest Baby Essentials
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Johnson's Baby Head to Toe Baby Lotion: There are good baby lotions out there that are super expensive, and cheap baby lotions that are full of shit. So I checked out Skin Deep Cosmetics Database (awesome site) to find a baby lotion that was reasonably priced, not too full of gunk and fairly easy to find. This is what I came up with. Around $3
Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap Baby Mild: This stuff can be used for EVERYTHING including baths, soaking clothes and washing hair. It is fantastic. It seems a little more expensive but a little goes a long way. It comes in two sizes – big and fucking huge. I'm not sure how widely available it is but you can find it online in the States and Canada. Around $15 depending on the size
Vaseline: It's a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin and microcrystalline waxes that has a melting point just above body temperature and it's cheap, cheap. You can use it on bums to prevent diaper rash and cheeks to stop chapping in winter. Some people aren't big fans because it's not as environmentally friendly as other options, but it's one of those staples that you can't beat if you're on a budget. Around $2
Receiving Blankets 4-Pack: I can't believe I almost forgot these. They were such a staple for both of my kids. Use them as burp cloths, boob covers, floor mats, change pads and, well, blankets. Get a neutral colour if you plan on having more than one kid. Around $8
Used Clothes: Babies fly through clothes in their first year and parents often overbuy in the beginning so you can find some barely worn duds at almost all second hand and consignment stores or buy them as lots online.
My Little Seat: If you don't have a lot of room or you find you're on the go a lot, this is a great option. After all, kids don't care what they're in – look at that baby in the picture, he doesn't give a shit – he's like a honey badger– so why drop a ton of dough on on a highchair? Some of the fancier ones can get up there but I found this one for $20
IKEA ANTILOP Highchair with safety belt: Don't think you could skip the highchair? Well, I had this highchair. I loved this highchair. It is easy to hose down and chisel cereal off that has dried to the consistency of cement. It is no frills, no screwing around and awesome. I would recommend this highchair to anyone whether they were trying to save money or not. Around $19
Note: some of these chairs that were sold between July 2006 and November 2009 from supplier 17389 and a production date 0607-0911(YYMM) need a new safety belt. You can see the deets at IKEA here.
Evenflo BabyGo Dash Infant Carrier: I think everyone needs a baby carrier and this one seemed to get really good reviews and you certainly can't beat the price at $15. Hopefully the woman strapped to the baby comes with the carrier as well – that would be super helpful too. *Or* I even found to this link to a neat no sew baby wrap.
Gerber 5-pack Onsies: Onsies are one of those items that rarely makes it into the hand-me-down piles because they get ratty fast. Plus, if the weather is warm, this is all they really need to hang out and sleep in. Around $10
Especially for Baby Sea Creatures Sling: Sure, I am a big fan of the fancy french bath chair that was whittled by fairies, but this is about $30 cheaper and does pretty much the same thing. Now some people skip the bathchair all together and just put their baby on a folded facecloth in about 2" of water in the bath which will do the job just as well. I was just too twitchy about freestylin' like that so I thought I'd include it in case you were too. Around $9
Digital Fever Thermometer: At first I had an ear thermometer here because I couldn't figure out how you could take their temperature before they could hold a thermometer in their mouth and after they decided that they aren't too crazy about having something stuck in their bum. Well, a wise reader told me you could use an oral thermometer in their armpit and just add a degree for an accurate reading. Certainly worth a shot and it's a heck of a lot cheaper. Around $5
Bright Starts – Fun On Safari Bouncer: I'm sure there are a few people that say you don't need one of these but this is a bit of a sanity saver. If you have other children or pets running around, you may not want to put an infant on the floor and propping them up on the couch has topple-off-head-crack potential, so this is a nice solution to keep them put and give them something to look at. Around $19
Gerber First Essentials Bottle Set: 5oz - 9 Pack: Even if you are breastfeeding there may be times when you want to have a bottle on hand. As long as you're willing to wash them frequently you can't beat just over a dollar a bottle for something that's BPA free. Around $10
Costco – Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes - 900 count: Costco will forever piss me off that they charge you to shop at their store, but these wipes are so damn cheap when you need something on the go that it may be worth getting a membership or finding someone that has one already (yeah, stick it to the man). $30
Luvable Friends Washcloths 12 pack: Use these with some water in lieu of disposable wipes to save some cash and give your baby's bum a break at the same time. These are also great for wiping hands, bathtime, or wet in a ziploc for a quick mouth wipe when they decide to eat sand at the park. Around $6
Receiving Blankets 4-Pack: I can't believe I almost forgot these. They were such a staple for both of my kids. Use them as burp cloths, boob covers, floor mats, change pads and, well, blankets. Get a neutral colour if you plan on having more than one kid. Around $8up & up Baby Diapers Jumbo Pack – Newborn: Hands down, the cheapest way to diaper a baby is with cloth, but I saw a few sites that recommended disposable when they were newborns because they are in them for such short period of time. Around $6
Pack n' Play Graco Portable Playard: I'm going to get a little kooky here, and suggest you use this as a bassinet when they are a newborn, then co-sleep and use it as a playard when they are bigger. I couldn't find anywhere that said one of these couldn't be your full time crib and they are cheaper and fully portable. Get a gender neutral colour so it will work for subsequent children and it will be easier to sell down the road. Around $70
All 2x Ultra Free Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent 150 oz: Forget baby detergent and get a detergent that is free of dyes and perfume and you're good to go. All isn't available everywhere but I found a post here and here that can point you in the right direction. Around $10
Cloth Diapers: there is no doubt that cloth diapering is a big money saver. It's a large up front cost but it is far more cost efficient in the long run especially if you want to have more than one child. Many people will even sell their cloth diapers on Craigslist, Kijiji and eBay where you can get them at a fraction of the cost. Some people get a little queasy about buying used diapers but I say wash the things and get the hell over it. Finding the right ones is a whole post onto itself so I found a few sites that I found helpful at Your Baby Booty, Cloth Diaper Basics and Mom Advice.
Used Clothes: Babies fly through clothes in their first year and parents often overbuy in the beginning so you can find some barely worn duds at almost all second hand and consignment stores or buy them as lots online.Timing: Lastly, my best tip of all, have a baby just as all your friends' kids turn one. They will be banging down your door with clothes, strollers and exersaucers (or as I like to call it, "the glorious circle of neglect" ) and they will thank you for taking them – a baby swing is a godsend when your baby likes it and a piece of plastic shit that is taking up your living room the second they outgrow it.
Now, I know this may not be the most practical tip, but I thought it was worth a mention.
I left out strollers because, depending on what you use them for (hiking through snow vs. zipping through a hot mall) really changes what you need.
I also left out car seats because if you don't have a car, well, you don't need one but it is a must if you are putting a baby in a vehicle. All new car seats are safe as they have to meet governement standards so go for the least expensive one. If someone offers you a relatively new car seat (nothing over 10 years) and it is in good condition and it's never been in an accident – you can go for that too.
I want to keep honeing this list so it's nimble as a thimble so post stuff you think would be helpful.
Happy saving!
38 Comments
Reader Comments (38)
VASELINE is so great! It also helps with the tarry newborn poop from sticking to the baby's bum. That way your not scrubbing his bum every change.
The little seat looks awesome, too. I've never seen that and will look into it!
Thanks for the great article!
This is a fantastic list! I tell all my friends to go the Costco route for wipes. BEST EVER.
Great post! I'm due with my first in about a month and trying to decide what we actually NEED to have on hand. Thanks for the info.
The cheap carrier is AWESOME, I have one. Its a godsend. Also though, ripping up an old sheet and making a wrap worked when he was newborn (I called it the new womb, put it in there he went right to sleep) but now that he want to interact he loooves the carrier he can face frontwards in too. And $15 is a can't beat em price!
Bouncy seat- awesome. It was totally a baby trap when he was littler, he'd start to wake up but end up gently bouncing himself back to sleep! Hehe
Aaaannnd Up and Up diapers are the BEST I've tried. I live in an apartment with no washer so cloth wasn't really the best option and with Up and Up we haven't had as many blow outs (theres nothing you can do sometimes, if its launching up the back it is launching up the back), no rashes, and they don't start to dissolve in the front if he sleeps longer then 4hours like Luvs did.
This is an awesome list. I really want the cloth highchair. Right now kiddo is eating in his bumbo (also a must have, register for it :))
Great post. So much baby stuff is useful but not really necessary. And so much more is a complete waste of space and money. That being said, I would cut the bitch who tried to tell me my "My Lil Lamb" swing was a luxury and not a necessity.
Oh and Gerber 3 pack sleep and plays- they have zippers not snaps which I found very useful in the middle of the night.
Good list- although there was one thing that really stood out to me. I would never suggest a carrier like that to someone. They've been nicknamed "crotch danglers" because that's exactly what they do- dangle the baby from their crotch. It's really unhealthy for their hip and spine development. Sure, you can't beat the price at $15, but I'm willing to pay a little more for something that's not going to potentially hurt my baby. If you can't afford to pay more for a carrier, you could always make your own Moby or ring sling- there are lots of tutorials online. Or check ebay, craigslist, consignment shops, you get the drift.
Other than that, good list!!! We love the Up and Up diapers here whenever we're not using cloth. :)
One item missing from the list that I found essential was burp cloths. I didn't buy anything fancy, just a few packs of the most basic cloth diapers (see the Gerber 12 packs). Not everyone has a baby that spits up as much as mine did, but it's good to have something to protect your outfit (and baby's), just in case. I also used the cloths while breastfeeding for wiping up. Please tell me I'm not the only Mom that sometimes made a mess of my baby or the general area around us when switching baby from one side to another! (I figure it's kind of like sitting in the first couple of rows at a SeaWorld show, you might want to wear those nifty little ponchos, or in this case, have a couple of burp cloths on hand).
I don't care, that bouncer is a GOD SEND and necessity!! When you need to get a shower and there is nobody there to help out bring it with you into the bathroom and shower up mama!
Also I didn't like the newborn target diapers, but all the other sizes are freakin' awesome and cheap!!! So far no problems with sizes 2-3. Our babysitter swears by the target wipes too although I don't like them because they are thin (some people like thin so get on with your bad selves!) I think you get three refill packs for like $6.
I still swear by the fancy french bath chair though...worth a splurge for me and my piece of mind!
Craigslist & Facebook swap groups have tons of baby equipment at low prices. You can always find a swing `that was never used` for a fraction of the cost of new. Also, I go garage saleing to areas that have young families in nice neighborhoods. Tons of great deals on new or nearly new cloths, toys, baby equipment for cheap. A Bumbo isn`t a necessity, but a $15 used bumbo looks exactly the same as a $60 new one. Also, don`t buy pink or girly stuff if you are planning on more kids...a pink stroller might be cute now, but you probably feel bad putting her little brother in it later.
Good list, but instead of the ear thermometer, I recommend a temporal thermometer. You just swipe it across the forehead. Its the easiest, most accurate reading I've ever had, and after three kids I've been through just about every thermometer on the market. Definitely worth the $30 I paid for it!
Be careful with the All Free & Clear. We use it on our and our baby's clothing and bedding and his skin is fine. We used it on our cloth diapers and it was diaper rash city in no time. We switched to Rockin' Green and have had no problems since then.
Also, Vaseline has paraffin, which does not always agree with cloth diapers.
actually, olive oil works just as great at getting meconium off & for moisturizing baby, and so much better for their skin than petroleum jelly!
Just make sure that if you're going to go the cloth diaper route that you do not use Vaseline or anything with zinc oxide. Vaseline and/or zinc oxide will coat the fibers and keep the diapers from absorbing wetness.
In addition to shopping on Craigslist, Ebay and Kijiji...look for local area KidSwaps that are often advertised in Community Events section of your newspaper. I went to my first one last week and came home with 8 onesies and a handful of t-shirts , a terrific hat/shoe combo and a brand new cloth diaper for a measly $18 and all look brand new.
I second the burp cloths, like Mamacita suggested. I've always used cloth diapers for this purpose, too. They're absorbant, durable and bleachable. You think if you're going to breastfeed that you'll never have anything to clean up. But nobody ever tells you that when baby feeds from one bewb, the other leaks like crazy and you either have to pinch it shut or wrap it in a cloth diaper.
I refer to our exersaucer as the "Overstimulation Station" but your "Glorious Circle of Neglect" made me snort my drink up my nose laughing!
Just found you and this cracked me the heck up. Great list!
I just wanted to add that the gerber onesies tend to run really small, so stock up on bigger sizes. the 3-6 run about the same size as the carter's newborn. my son was out of them before he even wore them all.
Temporal thermometers are the best! Just swipe it across the forehead and its very accurate. The hospital I go to uses them too. I found mine on amazon.com for $30 and amazon does a free shipping program for new moms.
Before I had my first son, someone suggested a giant, inflatable yoga ball (from any sporting goods store). This was hands down the best $19.99 I have ever spent. When your sweet, precious bundle of joy is screaming bloody murder, snuggle him up and bounce on the ball. The more upset he is, the harder you bounce. This worked to calm both of my kids down 99% of the time.
Granted, I spent A LOT of time bouncing each of my two kids, but boy was the ball a lifesaver.
btw, your website invariably makes me cackle every time I read it. San-Fran-Tastic!
Great post, as usual. You never disappoint! I'm a new mom of an 11 week old and I'd agree with adding the 'Gerber 2 pack zip front sleep n play' outfits. Even in the summer it's great to have baby's little feet covered (with AC in home and car) and the zip front makes diaper changes super quick. Especially those 4am ones. They are super comfy too, and only about $14 for two.
A bath chair is definitely not what I would consider essential. What I recommend instead is 2 inches of water in the bottom of your tub and your baby will have a ball, I promise.
Also, in my opinion, babies don't need lotion so skip that one too.
It took me to get to my second child to totally agree with you. I would add an exersaucer as they get older and want more freedom, but for a baby you got it right!
Thanks for these. I've already got a few of these things though, but im glad I got the cheap stuff. still good too!
- tork
<A href="http://torkona.blogspot.com">dad blog
Fantastic post! There are soooo many products on the market that want you to believe they are a must have. After having 3 kids, I have really learned what is necessary and what isn't.
For all new moms and to be moms, this list is invaluable! And Costco wipes are hands down the best price around. They were on sale for $4.40 off a box a few weeks ago and I bought 12 cases. Can you say two kids in diapers?
The IKEA high chair is the BEST!! I recommend it to everyone. I mean, NINETEEN $$$!!
Thanks for the post. Pregnant with our first so this list definitely helps.