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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Baby on a budget

93 replies

Missus84 · 03/01/2010 19:42

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)?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
crumpette · 05/01/2010 11:43

btw most of the 'useful items' on my above list are not essential at all, DD didn't sleep in her cot, we accidentally co-slept and it worked really well... had buggy but when she was tiny she hated it...

wibblela · 05/01/2010 20:33

I have been lurking on this thread and am grateful it is here - thank you Missus84 for putting it up Please put any more tips on here MNers

Babybear1 · 06/01/2010 16:11

There's so much you can get second hand. We're about to have our 2nd baby & have bought cotbed 2nd hand off our local gumtree site, got a new matress in TK Maxx,( if you have a tk maxx near you well worth atrip for baby stuff.) We had paid out a fortune for a top of the range travel system with our DD, had to sell it to buy a 2nd hand phil & teds again bought on gumtree. If you keep your eye on your local site can have some great deals. the condition of both items were as good as new.
ebay is great for changing bags, & for toys later on when you need them.
We wish we had taken the 2nd hand option with DD, as we would have saved ourselves so much money.
Anothe tip is, when Asda or one of the other supermarkets do a baby event stock up on nappies, wipes etc, amd don't forget the non-bio washing powder when it's on sale, you'll be using a lot of it!!!

Babybear1 · 06/01/2010 16:14

meant to say about the steriliser, we went & bought a steam one, but got fed up with it, & ended up using a wee bucket/basin with milton tablets or fluid, much handier than the steam or electrical option, as the flluid lasts 24hrs so can take things out as you need them with a tongs, rather than having to take everything out together with the other types of steriliser.

Babybear1 · 06/01/2010 16:34

Have seen the Petit Star Zia mentioned a few times, you can't use this till the baby is 6 months old & to be honest after owning one I wouldn't recommend it. We bought it as a light weight buggy & initially thought it was great. Then startes to have real bother with the rain cover, never completly fitted 100% & we ended up having to buy a MacClaren ( which I would recommend that you go fot fromday 1) when we were on holiday during the summer as DD kept getting wet in the Zia, it didn't help that she could kick the rain cover off.

Another thing is Tesco do great body suits & vests for babies very very cheap & a good quality too.

With regard to the bottles, if you can hold off for a few days, what we did was return any doubles or clothes that were impratical or that we just didn't like that we got form boots, & we bought bottles in exchange! Sainsburies does some half rice baby events & we stocked up on teats when they were on.
Hope this helps & good luck. You'll be amazed at how generous folk are when you have a baby & how many presents you get, & remember you can always return some & get what you need in exchange.

fernie3 · 06/01/2010 16:50

hi I have made alot of things for my last baby especially. Mainly using old things we already have. For example cot sheets cut from bigger bedsheets etc. This has saved us quite alot!.

onadietcokebreak · 06/01/2010 17:16

If you do end up borrowing or getting a moses basket use normal pillow cases tucked in as the sheet

Bathsheba · 06/01/2010 18:52

I'm an NCT Sale organiser and, as such, I would REALLY recommend those as a starting point.

I've read on the thread that the Bristol ones aren't on the NCT website - I've asked on my Sales Organisers email group if someone would mind posting the details on here of the Bristol sales.

fotheringhay · 06/01/2010 19:44

Thanks Bathsheba, I'll be needing those soon!

nappyaddict · 08/01/2010 12:23

I use fleece baby wipes but if I do buy normal wipes for holidays, days out etc I buy Asda smart price (68p for 80), Superdrug's own (69p for 80) both are as good as the more expensive brands or I look in Home Bargains cos they sometimes have the Simple Baby wipes in there.

nikkisbump · 08/01/2010 12:58

This is a really useful thread, thanks everyone for all the helpful posts!

PootleTheFlump · 08/01/2010 13:59

Just to another voice adding that you really don't need much at all!! We hardly bought anything, anything we did get was 2nd hand/ebay/freecycle/NCT but we still ended up with way more clothes than she could wear (swapped those presents with tags on for larger sizes).

With regard to cloth nappies, I know the drying is an issue, but even if you only used them sometimes you will save a lot of money. I bought my nappies 2nd hand (off a kind mnetter!) so they only cost me the equiv of a few packets of disposables and they have pretty much paid for themselves already! I have also got some terry squares which dry overnight and were ridiculously cheap. If you can't face cloth nappies, just do wipes, which can dry on one of these (I got mine much cheaper in a pound shop). I got a huge remnant of fleece from my local fabric shop for £1 (I offered her more!) and have cut it into boosters, liners and wipe squares. I made wipe solution from recipes on here. I have also bought Tesco value flannels (25p each) to use as wipes.

DD has only ever been washed in the basin or a smart price washing up bowl I bought for the purpose! Don't forget you can bath them with you if you have someone on hand to take them while you wash (then you're saving water too!!) We haven't yet bought any toiletries as we got loads of samples in Bounty packs and they recommend just water for a bit anyway.

As others have said, join all the mum & baby clubs if you can bear the junk mail. The vouchers make a big difference and you get some great freebies.

I also second getting sorted on the benefits front and include your child benefit payments in your budgeting. We are not too badly off but still get £120 month in CB & tax credits which covers all extra water/heating cost etc. The TC form is v arduous (they make you work for it!) so someone recommended getting it and filling in what you can while on mat leave.

Good luck and enjoy!!!

cleanandclothed · 08/01/2010 14:09

Re bottles/breastfeeding - don't buy bottles or anything, see how it goes. See if you can get to a local breastfeeding cafe when you are pregnant. If you go a few times then you can drop into conversation that you are on a budget - people will fall over themselves to lend/give you things.

Also - check out the stuff your local council does for mothers and babies. You will find lots of free sessions, and you may find that you have a 'toy library' - you can pay about 20p - 50p to borrow a toy for a month or two, then return and get another one when the baby is ready for something different. Saves on space as well as cost

nappyaddict · 08/01/2010 14:48

Travel - I would start off with a sling (either mei tai, ergo or woven wrap) and if you get on with it great. If you find a buggy would be useful in addition to the sling (perhaps when shopping) get a second hand Maclaren XLR and get a carry cot for it if the baby is still young enough for one. The carry cots are quite a recent thing I think so you may have to get that part new. If you know you can easily borrow a car seat on the occasions you will need one do that. Otherwise see if you can buy one second hand off someone you know so you can guarantee it hasn't been in an accident.

Bedding - You don't need a cot. I know a few people who have just had a single mattress on the floor, covered with a fitted sheet, then used cotton blankets and cellular blankets on top. They put blankets around the edges in case they roll and a baby gate on the door. Usually though if they sleep on this from birth by the time they are rolling they are aware of the edge of the bed and don't roll out. Obviously they then made sure the room was very safe (basically making it into a giant play pen)

Changing - I change on the bed or sofa and use a wipe clean changing mat which came free with a changing bag when I signed up to Boots baby club. Also sign up to Bounty and Emma's diary and you get vouchers for stuff. I didn't like the changing bag much so I used a big handbag with lots of pockets that I already owned. I kept a few scrunched up carrier bags in there for wet stuff.

Clothes - Don't bother buying proper clothes. Just buy vests, babygros/rompers for the summer, a couple of hats and some cardigans (or perhaps you know someone who can knit?). They are cheaper, easier to wash and dry, you don't have to iron them and it's easier and more comfortable for a baby to get around in these until they are up and walking.

I started off with:

10 x bodysuits (wrap around kind - the other sort were too big on DS' shoulders and kept falling off)
4 x rompers
6 x babygros
6 x socks
2 x hats
2 x mittens
2 x cardigans
6 x light weight cotton blankets
2 x thicker cotton blankets
millions of muslin squares to be used for spillages, dribble, breast feeding, a comforter, as bibs etc

TBH I don't think I could have coped with less cos it would have meant having to wash much more often and working out how to get it dry quickly when it rained.

If you can find them kimono style or front fastening rompers and sleepsuits are best so you don't have to lie baby on their front to get them dressed. Do NOT get the sort which go over the head which just have poppers on the shoulders and nappy area. Whoever invented those has never changed a baby before!! Tesco and GAP do babygros with built in scratch mitts that fold over when needed so you can't lose them.

Buy the tiniest scratch mitts you can find cos any others will fall off. Failing that socks work just as well.

Storage - We used a big chest of drawers, a nappy stacker which hung on the back of the door to save space and some nice wicker storage boxes. We also used these in the living room as toy boxes.

wibblela · 08/01/2010 15:34

Pootletheflump Please can you point me in the right direction for the wipe solution recipes? I've looked and can't find them Our LO is not due until May, but I am trying to get information early save a rush for it later

nappyaddict · 08/01/2010 16:29

I use a cup of chamomile tea, manuka honey and aloe vera gel and then pour it into a sports bottle so its easy to use when out. It usually lasts quite a few days. I don't use oils because they can repel urine in resuable nappies and make them leak.

PootleTheFlump · 08/01/2010 21:32

Of course!

here

and here

and here

and here

I just bought camomile tea bags, made to 1 pint with boiling water and dissolved a bit of honey it it, then added lavender oil (couple of drops) or tea tree depending. Have also heard of people using camomile and honey tea bags or camomile and lemon. I have never added liquid soap or oils but know plenty of people who do, just think it goes a bit slimy!!

I think sites like The Nappy Lady have recipes too. For 2nd hand nappies try here I just got some really cheaply!

nappyaddict · 08/01/2010 21:34

BTW when I referred to oil I meant both essential oils and oil like olive oil.

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