Top money saving tips when having a baby needed

[carriemumsnet]

Hi

I have to speak to a journalist tomorrow about getting ready for a baby and how you can save money on what you buy - and what you shouldn't skimp on - eg get second hand cot, but always buy a new mattress etc Borrow pram and buy a lightweight buggy later etc etc?

If you've got any pearls of wisdom and/or experience can you post them here before 10am tomorrow (Friday)?

Thanks in advance

Forgot

Breastfeed or express milk if you can.

and most importantly....

JOIN MUMSNET

It is full of money saving tips, folk selling cheaply/giving away baby stuff, Discount partnerships, and plenty of advice that means you'll never need wander in to Waterstones looking for advice.....

agree with baby wash etc. actually I think that bathing babies is a bit overrated....

Don't bother with a baby bath, they take ages to fill and are heavy, use a washing up bowl.

Don't have a changing table.....total waste of money and they can't fall off the floor!

You baby will not be impressed by having co-ordinated everything.

tie - on- bibs... what a waste. Go for ones with velcro or pop over type.

go to your local NCT second hand sale

do not buy anything anywhere else

buy your cloth nappies second hand and then sell em again when you're done

washable wipes = cheap face flannels

Don't bother with a moses basket-unless someone gives you one for nothing.

Oh they look lovely but only last about 5 mins....

oh yes, mb is quite right

The baby won't care
if the stuff you have is secondhand, uncoordinated, pink, blue or Tesco Value
if the nursery hasn't been specially decorated (or indeed decorated at all)
whether it's a specially-fitted cot sheet or a normal one folded in half
whether it's bathed in an expensive bath on a custom stand or a plastic washing up bowl on the kitchen counter...

My changing table...I used the top of an old (really old, it was handed on to me 12 years before DS!) and kept the nappies/wipes etc in the drawers.

I buy loads second hand now, wish I had at the start but I was new and naive.

And my baby bath was the bathroom sink!

OK - make a list of the bare essentials you do actually need at the beginning:
nappies of some sort (if disposables don't stockpile too many the baby will grow out of them).
baby vests and babygrowbags and some warm things (again, don't get too many til they arrive - you might have a whopping baby and never use the little ones)
baby car seat if you drive
pram or sling or both
cotton wool rolls and plastic bowl of water
wet wipes for out of the house
re-use plastic bags as nappy sacks
big plastic changing mat for indoors and litle one for going out.
Is that all?

whoops, bold

Tell people what to get you, and tell some people you want 6-12 month clothes to avoid the wear it only once phemonenom. Also hopefully avoid hundreds of useless teddy bears

You don't actually need a pram for a newborn - can take them everywhere in a sling if you prefer (I did).

That won't work for anyone post CS or with a bad back, but my point is - when people tell you you need XYZ, always question that. One person's essential kit is another's waste of money.

Best to buy as little as possible before they're born, then look at how you're actually doing things day-to-day, and what you need to make that work.

Don't waste a lot of time/money taking and printing pictures of your beloved firstborn. It will only make your subsequent children even more aware that there are only about 2 pictures of them.

Ask friends and family for mothercare or asda etc vouchers instead of gifts so you can get what you need when you need it, no unwanted unused useless gifts which you don't like and are too small

When your baby's grown out of items do a car boot sale - you'l get alot of money back (I always do)

Go to the M&S sale - I did and bought a all in one coat/suit thingy (the winter one IYKWIM) reduced from £25 to 50p!!!!!!

There are bargains to be had if you look for them

If it wasn't for charity shops I would never have managed to dress my kids. Always full of excellent baby clothes as they grow out of them before they wear them out.

I also got an original coach built Silvercross from a charity shop for £10 and bought a handy buggy for trip son the bus.

Don't buy a 'nappy' bag, lots of cheaper bags will do the job fine.

wow - thanks this is all great stuff - must make sure I get the tip in about making sure you have a PC and broadband

Will try and find out when/if article appears.

Thanks again

Carrie