Baby on a budget

[Missus84]

I'm not sure if this is the right section, but here goes

I'm pregnant with my first baby, and am mildly concerned about finances. We're on a very limited budget and live in a tiny flat, so I don't want to buy (or acquire) anything unnecessary. I know everyone says babies don't need to cost much, but I'd like to know what they definitely do need!

So, my questions are - what really are essentials? Where can we cut corners/save money? And, where are good places to find things second hand (and what, if anything, should we definitely buy new)?

RhinestoneCowgirl - I tried searching with the Nearly New sale finder on the NCT website and the only results I got were for Chippenham, Trowbridge and Cardiff! Do they advertise them anywhere else?

We're in Bristol too and there's usually quite a few NCT sales on - if you do go, get there early though for the good stuff. I just had a look at the website and there's inexplicably none in the next three months. Maybe worth giving the local branch a buzz and seeing if there are any coming up but not on the website yet? There was non-NCT nearly new sale at Redland High School a few months ago, will try and remember the name

you can use a maclaren triumph (so small and light) from around 4-5 months so if you can manage with a sling until then....

otherwise if you want to use from birth need a bigger maclaren...

yes its ok having the baby facing away, obviously nicer if they face you but buggies facing backwards generally take up more space.

if you don't have a tumble drier don't consider washable nappies or your whole flat will be covered in drying laundry!

When the baby is very small a sling is great, then when they get a bit bigger and the weather gets warmer and they get more interested in looking around, the buggy is a good bet. If you have no way of easily drying nappies, I would use disposable. Otherwise your flat will be constantly festooned with nappies in varying states of wetness and stinkiness.

We got loads of beautiful baby clothes as presents but a lot of them were impractical or too many things for ages 0-3mths. I brought the things we didn't need back to the stores and exchanged them for useful essentials. Stores don't ask for receipts so you don't need to ask people for them. I felt a bit guilty but needs must i'm afraid.
Also Boots give out a baby bag free with a voucher from the Bounty book.
If you know or get to know mums of small children you might be able to borrow things as you need them and lend stuff you don't need anymore to clear space.
Charity shops after Christmas are often full of bargains.
Enjoy

It was a Curly Cow Children's Nearly New Sale at Redland High School. Can't see any more scheduled but the contact numbers were - Katharin on 07967 077729 or Katie on 07810 796 298.

Definitely another vote for Freecycle and car boot sales - I don't think you know what you need until you have a baby, so it's a waste spending a lot of money on anything until you've tried it and seen whether it works - and it really depends on your circumstances - if you don't have a car, you don't need a pushchair that folds up really small (unless you have storage problems in your flat).

Try to breastfeed if you can - saves a fortune on formula.

I got rid of my steriliser because it took up so much room, I now use an ice cream tub (it uses half a sterilising tablet instead of a whole one, so I save money as well as space).

Please buy a mattress and car seat new. They dont need to be expensive but are the only things I would say buy new.

I have nearly brought the Zia myself but didnt really need a new buggy. If you do go for it check out nurseryvalue.com . They are the manufacteur and have a reworked section. Very cheap on there and the Zia is one buggy I would recommend after several friends having it.

If you want to try washable look at your local real nappy project you can often hire trial kits

Missus, my SIL had a pushchair that laid flat (so suitable from tiny) from Mothercare - cheaper than McClaren and more streamline too

Thanks crumpetsolo - I'll try them and the NCT.

I'll definitely try breastfeeding - is it sensible to have a bottle or two and some formula at home anyway just in case I'm not successful?

I guess I'll abandon the idea of washable nappies though!

I saved money ready for DC1 in all sorts of little ways but it all added up.

I cut up some old, spare double bed sheets to make cot sheets. I cut up old, spare towels to make smaller, baby sized towels.

I bought my cot mattress online www.babymattressesonline.co.uk/products/cot-mattresses/7-cm-foam-mattress-products.html for £18.99 which was lots cheaper than I cold find in a shop.

You don't need a change bag, use a cheap rucksack and buy a travel change mat (mothercare £2.99) to put in it. I then use sandwich bags to hold a few spare nappies and some wet wipes and I have the rest of the bag free to fill with anything else.

Breastfeed if at all possible, formula is expensive. I BF for about8 months and had to change to formula and couldn't believe how much it costs.

If you do bottlefeed, don't bother with a steriliser, just buy a big tupperware type container and use that. Put 1 cm of water in the bottom, add all your bottles etc and microwave on full power for about 6mins (850W microwave, more if lower powered). Just make sure to leave the lid slightly ajar or even better punch a small hole in the lid for the built up steam to escape.

Look on Freecycle as often as possible, I picked up loads from there, you can freecycle it on when you are done.

You can manage with just a baby carrier for the first few months and after that get a secondhand Maclaren buggy tehy last for ages, again try freecycle or maybe ebay.
There are instructions online to make a sling out of a length of fabric, tying it around you www.justmommies.com/articles/make-baby-sling.shtml. A friend made one out of some fabric from dunelm and it looked great.

You don't need a babygym-arch thingy, just a clean blanket on the floor is fine. Asda does some fleece blankets for about £2 which are great. They are big and if they get puked on they wash and dry really quickly.

Don't bother with baby toys, wait and see what gifts you get and then buy a few items if you need too. Baby won't need toys straight away.

Thats all I can think of at the moment!

Roughly how many cot sheets/sleepsuits/vests etc should I be looking for? Baby will be born in July.

missus, haven't read whole thread but I use tots bots fluffles as re-useable nappies. They dry overnight in my airing cupboard as they are polyester microfibre and as long as they have a good spin dry really quick it's why I got them as I didn't have time/space to wait for weeks for them to dry . Also only had to get size 2's as they go from birth to potty unless you have a teeny weeny bubs.

Loads of stuff you think you'll need is media propeganda, I think essentials are:

Pushchair (check the size of it when folded if you want to fit it in a boot and make sure it's OK to fold / lift and carry if you intend to use public transport - we didn't check the measurement on ours and spent the next 2 years jamming it - literally - into the boot of our small car )

Cot remember small babies can sleep in a large cot, just put them feet to end. We did find sleeping bags were absolutely fantastic with dc2 and wished we'd had them for dc1! We managed on 2 sleeping bags and 2 cot sheets plus 2 spare blankets for the bedding and of course a mattress.

Clothes a few, my dcs lived in vests and sleep suites for the first 6 months of their lives, then with DC2 I discovered wool covers for my cloth nappies and got knitting - DC2 has survived on about 5 pairs of wool longies and a lot of second hand/recycled t-shirts, a few jumpers and coats, plus a few bits and bobs like socks

Nappies whichever you choose, disposable or cloth - lots. I did manage on about 10 cloth to start with, but only started using them when DC2 was 3 months old and did have o wash them every night. 15/20 is easier, but if you google you can get pre-loved cloth nappies, or check out some of the sew your own sites on the net - some enterprising mums make up their own cloth nappies from old towels and things, wish I had known that when I started with cloth and some make their own covers too, either wool PUL or fleece!

Muslins have been really useful, as wipe ups, covers for cots when DCs have snotty noses (saves washing a whole sheet), impromptu sun(ish) shades, burping over the shoulder etc. or extra stuffing for nappies.

Sling but again if you don't want to go to the expense of a commercial one there are sites dedicated to 'baby wearing' which will show you how to make your own sling, or how to baby wear using just a length of appropriate cloth. I am hoping for DC3 to join my family one day so I can try that one out!

storage for the clothes etc, agree a smallish chest of drawers.

Cot Mobile. Seems an unecessary expense, but we did find ours amazing for snatching a few minutes - I could shower while DC2 watched the swirling shapes above his head - and helping dcs off to sleep - plus I probably found the music calming

car seat, obviously if u use a car. You can get a birth - 4 yeas one which is what we did this time around, it saved us a lot of money when having to keep 'moving up' a size, but does mean you can't lug the baby around in it.

Complete and utter waste of money, unless you happen to live in a mansion, or spend you entire life at the end of the garden while bubs is asleep - a baby monitor/listener. I have NEVER had an ishoo hearing my baby crying, even at the bottom of the garden , tho we did get a breathing monitor as we are fraidy cats and a bit paranoid

Nice to have - some kind of bouncy seat or bumbo thing so baby can sit up a bit and see what you're up to, and they seem to enjoy being able to wiggle their legs and bounce, tho we've only ever bothered with the really basic ones. A highchair type thing for when they're a bit bigger. Baby gym / few bits and bobs for toys - heuristic play is good for this eg using everyday (safe) objects as play things rather than needing a huge box of specialist plastic stuff.

Have you got any playgroups near you as they sometimes have nearly new sales? Plus I can only re-itterate check out freecycle, they get loads of baby stuff on there.

Sorry to go on so much, I am starting to get wildly enthusiastic about trying to expand my tribe again and found your thread inspirational. Have the best time ever with your little one and getting your bits together - hats off to you, I wasted soo much money with my PFB buying things new, looking back it was a shocking way to use up hard earned savings, although DC2 has had to put up with 'antique' baby gear as there is a 12 year age gap...

Congratulations and good luck!!

We are a very frugal family too by necessity: Boot sales are absolutely fantastic. I was too much of a (fat, waddling) snob to go round when pregnant, however necessity drove me to it a few weeks later when we were desperately in need of clothes gender suited to our boy.

First of all if you are buying new clothes for your unborn baby just buy a few essentials: get up to 10 sleepsuits and bodies and a few cardies and pramsuits. You don't need to spend a lot, Primark and supermarkets do really good ranges. If you don't know the sex, don't go nuts in neutrals. Whites and beiges really show up every poo and sick stain, and you will have a primal urge to advertise your child's gender because you will be so fed up of strangers asking 'is that a boy or a girl?...'

Don't bother with cute mini-me outfits for newborns. They are cute but they are overpriced and inpractical when your baby will have suprisingly explosive newborn poos and sick ups. And newborns appear terrifyingly fragile so that putting a t shirt on their frail, wobbly heads may make you break out in a sweat. Just stick to basic sleepsuits for a while - they are comfy and you can have fun with outfits later.

Go to boot sales when you are able. It is particularly fun to go round when you have your baby so you can choose gender clothes. When you buy, choose clothes you will need later as well as now. You can find lovely babywear with big brand names such as Next, John Lewis, Jasper Conran etc, and haggle - sellers expect it - ask if they will do a deal if you buy a big bundle. Expect to pay 20 - 30p per item.

Get a few sleeping bags - they are great when your baby is heavy enough to use one. You can pick them up cheaply at boot sales or on ebay if 0-6 months. Expect to pay around £1 with p&p.

Get a really good cosytoes for your buggy. They are great and mean you can take your baby out in the cold weather. A good one should feel like a good quality sleeping bag. Mamas and Papas do nice ones that are v v expensive new but you can pick them up for a couple of quid at boot sales or ebay.

Ask friends and family to buy 3-6 month clothing or older. You will get given a lot of newborn clothing anyway which will be barely worn if at all as grown out of so quick. For that reason don't bother with newborn sizes unless you have a tiny baby. Your newborn may look a little baggy in 0-3 but they will grow very fast!

Boot sales are very useful for picking up great baby toys with bright colours and flashing lights which your baby will love when it is a few months old. Don't bother with cuddly toys at this stage - they are not particularly interesting to a baby - although a baby might like one comforter to hug onto as a newborn.

A travel system is very handy which means that there is a car seat which you can put directly onto your buggy without waking your little one. These are very expensive new, however if you look on ebay for buggies near you for collection only you can pick up a bargain (I paid £3 for a mamas and papas o3 system). It is advised that you buy a new car seat however they are very expensive if you want it as part of a travel system in case it has been in an accident. With the car seats I have bought on ebay I have always sought an assurance from the seller that it hasn't been involved in an accident.

You don't really need a moses basket - they are in them for such a short time that unless you can borrow one they are not worth having.

Don't go nuts with blankets: just have a few cellular ones as you will get given so many fleece ones.

The only toy I would recommend for a very young baby is some kind of projector that has a light show on the ceiling and plays a soft tune and which can be set up for up to 20 mins at a time. These can be picked up in charity shops or ebay for a couple of pounds.

Do a lot of net research to find out what are the best travel systems / car seats / toys / clothes etc for your lifestyle. Once you know what you are looking for, ebay is your friend. You can get the best but for a small budget price. Pre-owned? So what - it's pre-loved!

Finally, check out what you are entitled to. If you are on a low income you may be entitled to child and working family tax credit which can really help. You may also be entitled to free prescriptions and eyecare for your family as well. They will initially make calculations on you and your partner's past yearly income, but if your cirumstances change, like SMP- you will be entitled to more.

xx

Agree about sleeping bags and the argos clearance site on ebay has some cheap grobags on there.

Looks like there's an email for Bristol NCT nearly new sale on this link:
www.nct.org.uk/in-your-area/bristol

Re pram, I started off with sling and only got a pram when DS was nearly 3mo. So buy a pram when you think you need one (or if you spot a bargain) but check them out before so you know what you want. We live in a v small studio flat, so our Maclaren Techno lives folded up just outside our front door (our hall is secure entry). There are also 2nd hand sling sites/exchanges if you find the one you have isn't working for you.

Nappies - little flannels are great, we still use them for DS and he's over 2 now. Use wipes for trips out only, easier then. I also use clothes to clean his face (obv not same cloth as used for his bum!). We started off with washable nappies - Bumbles, which dried fairly quickly as they are fleece on one side. We got advice on which nappies would be suitable from www.TheNappyLady.co.uk and bought some new, but got more 2nd hand from other sites eg www.thenappysite.co.uk. I think you can get grants for washable nappies from some areas.
I didn't bother soaking them, you can 'dry pail' instead (ie put them into a bag and wash every other day). I didn't notice a bad smell but then perhaps I just got used to it! NB If you dry pail, hang the bag up; I was lazy and left it on the floor until I realised that the amonia was bleaching the wood .

Otherwise if you have Lidls nearby their nappies get good rating and we've used them from time to time.

NCT sales are great for everything - but also check out 'pick up only' listings on eBay for stuff like cot, I figured it meant there were fewer people bidding on them and we got a really great deal on a cot bed.

Don't buy too much in advance - only what you need (ie immediate clothes - 0-3m better than newborn; nappies; somewhere for baby to sleep etc) as you might find you get presents from unexpected people, eg we got toys from people who worked in the same building as my DH (didn't know them at all!).

We had the baby in a cot horizontally rather than vertically from the beginning.

We had a maclaren tecno xt (suitable from birth and robust) - we bought this in the Christmas sale too and saved loads.

I have always changed our babies on my lap - just do a quick swap of nappies, once the baby is clean (boys and girls). I have only been wet once when I was too slow.

Have always bathed with the baby myself until old enough to lean over and bathe.

You can get basic baby clothes so cheaply now from Penneys (Primark to you), Asda and Tescos. We always used tea towels instead of baby muslins (I had very sicky babies).

We have never had a changing mat, changing station, special towels (apart from hooded ponchos now DS is a bit older) bath doodah or anything else really.

Breastfeed if you can ( I didn't though) and Ebay for everything else. Even BNWT like I do. I always look for deals in supermarkets for nappies/wipes and stock up.

I also always shop in the sales in advance (for example I have bought

I think we have about 5 homemade cot sheets, but I could easily get by with fewer.

Initially, we had about 7 short sleeve vests, about 4 sleepsuits (all in ones), a few long sleeve t-shirts and a cardi. As it was February we also had a snowsuit. All the vests etc were in constant rotation in the laundry but we didn't need as many as we thought we would. A few pairs of socks too, they can double as scratch mits if needed.

Thanks all, really good advice here. I'll try to get things bit by bit over the next six months - certainly won't be spending more than the pregnancy grant money!

Does anyone have any ideas about whether I should get some bottles and formula in advance, just in case breastfeeding doesn't work out, or should I wait and see?

Missus, I've had three in washable nappies (not all at the same time, lol), and we've never had a tumble drier. I used to hang the nappies on a rack next to the boiler, or on a radiator, and they'd dry overnight.

For maximum cheapness and quick drying-ness old-fashioned terry nappies are brilliant (use muslins for very little babies as terries are too bulky).

There are loads of forums where people obsess about cloth nappies if you want to research it.

Re car seat, might be worth checking out sales just now to see if there are cheap '2009' models on offer. I think you said you don't have a car -? Friends of ours are in similar position but did decide to get a car seat because it put their mind at rest for longer taxi journeys, and also meant they could get lifts from friends. Obviously it's easier doing this with a 0+ car seat than with a 0-4yr!

However you don't legally need a car seat in a taxi - there were occasions when I got a taxi wearing DS in a sling on my front, and I'd put the seatbelt around me but not him (ie under him/over my lap and above him/over my chest). Not ideal, but better than nothing. NEVER put your seatbelt OVER your baby! Also, black cabs have extender straps which they use to buckle in wheelchairs etc, these can also be used to secure a pram, so you'd have your DC strapped in the pram, and the pram strapped in. Again, not ideal but better than nothing.

Does anyone have any ideas about whether I should get some bottles and formula in advance, just in case breastfeeding doesn't work out, or should I wait and see?

I would just wait and see how it goes.....

I would wait and see!

Someone mentioned moneysavingexpert website, when I was pregnant they also had a pregnancy/babies chat forum which was great for money saving tips.

We live in a 2 bed flat and dd was born in August. We had her in a Baby Bjorn carrier until she was 8 months old. We then splurged on a Bugaboo Bee - the most expensive item we bought - but didn't buy any accessories. We got a 2nd hand Maclaren footmuff for £15 which fitted fine. We bought the Bee as it faces both ways - definitely wanted baby to be rear facing and it's light and narrow so ideal for city life.

Agree with pretty much all the advice here - especially clothing. Our dd lived in vests and sleep suits for the first 6 months. Not essential but made life easier - mobile over the cot and a bouncy chair. Best of luck.

next years clothes in this years sales) .... would help to finish posts!