How to Save Money With a Baby
Think that having a baby is expensive?
Well, you’re not wrong, but having a baby doesn’t have to cost you everything.
Businesses would have you believe you need to buy everything under the sun when you have a newborn, but you don’t have to.
There are ways you can radically cut down the costs of having a child.
In this article, we’ll give you seven different ways you can save on expenses when you have a baby so that you won’t be paying over and above what you should.
1. Try Breastfeeding
If you are able to breastfeed, it can save money on formula but does require the time from the mother.
There are numerous benefits to breastfeeding but sometimes you just can’t.
It could be due to certain physical or health conditions on your side or your baby’s.
Maybe it doesn’t work with the hours you have to do or your work isn’t conducive to pumping if you have to go back quickly.
Breastfeeding when it works can be a great way to save on formula but it isn’t the only way to save money with your baby.
2. Make Baby Food at Home
As soon as your baby moves on to solids, the price of having a little one jumps up significantly if you buy baby food.
Have you tasted it? In my experience, rarely did it taste as good as the homemade version of whatever it says on the jar or packet.
Making baby food is quick, easy and frugal.
It can seem a little intimidating, but it pays off in the long run.
All it requires is for you to cook foods and mash them, then if you’ve got leftovers, freeze them for later.
Start simple such as stewed fruits and vegetables then move on to blending things you are eating as a family, then mashing until your baby is old enough to eat what you are.
3. Return Unwanted Gifts ASAP
You can have a gift registry, but often people get you whatever they found useful when they had their kids or what they think is cute.
This means you might end up with gifts you don’t need or duplicates of things.
What do you do with the stuff you don’t want or need?
Return them, and do it as soon as you can because most stores will have a small window period in which gifts can be returned.
Not all stores allow you to return without receipts though and the giver might not take kindly to it if they know.
4. Skip the Breastfeeding Wardrobe
One area where businesses get you to spend your money unnecessarily is on a breastfeeding wardrobe.
Bras are essential but the rest is flexible.
If you buy maternity clothes, check to see if they are flexible for breastfeeding too.
Most maternity clothes, or regular clothes like loose-fitted tops, scarves and button-down tops do the job as well.
5. Don’t Buy Baby Clothes in Advance
One of the biggest temptations most new parents need to fight off is buying baby clothes in advance.
You walk into the shop, see the cutest little outfit and imagine how adorable they’d look in it.
But if you really want to make sure you’re spending wisely, wait.
Firstly, you don’t know how big your baby will be at birth e.g. my eldest was in 0000 my third and fourth babies were both 4kg each so weren’t even in 000 long.
How quickly they grow means most clothes don’t get worn, if you are in a warm environment, they might not need to wear much and you will likely be given a lot of clothes.
Accept hand me downs and gifts from friends and family to cut costs.
Once your baby is born and you have an idea of their size plus growth in the coming months or years, you can buy in end of season sales to save money too.
6. Skip Shoes
Baby shoes are adorable, but they’re not going to be of any use until your little one can walk, which will only typically be around the age of 12 months and up.
In fact, shoes that have hard, inflexible soles can make it harder for them to learn to walk because they restrict natural foot movement.
So save your money and skip the shoes.
7. Embrace Hand-Me-Downs
You do not need to get everything brand new.
Considering most baby products are only used for a few months, and then your baby outgrows them, embracing hand-me-downs can save you from spending a lot of money.
It also means you can get some top-tier products for free.
As great as hand-me-downs are, though, there are some products you should always try and get new for safety reasons.
Things like a baby car seat, a cot and a mattress are products you should buy new.
Before you spend a lot of money on these items, always do your research and check out baby product comparisons to ensure you’re buying something that is good quality and offers value for money.
8. Buy Multipurpose Items
To save money, you need to be thinking ahead when you’re buying baby products.
You don’t want to have to make a big purchase and not be able to use it in a few months.
The key is to buy multi-purpose items that can conveniently convert into other age-appropriate item.
For example, this can be:
- A high chair that converts to a booster seat
- A baby car seat that can be adapted to a toddler seat and a booster seat
- A 3-in-1 baby cot that can convert to a co-sleeper or toddler bed
Think carefully about your purchases and how useful they will be plus how they can be used differently to save money.
9. Skip Pillows, Cot Bumpers and Stuffed Toys
If there are a few products that you shouldn’t have to buy at all, they are pillows, cot bumpers, and toys for your baby’s cot.
Sure, they look super cute, but the reality is that are unnecessary and they increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Keep your baby’s sleep environment clutter-free, and stick to tight-fitted sheets and swaddling.
If you do want a few toys, keep them separate from the cot for the safety of your baby.
10. Back to Basics
Think about things previous generations did or things other cultures do to save money with babies.
A few examples are already listed such as making your own baby food but there are other things too.
Modern cloth nappies (also known as pocket nappies) are a great alternative to disposable nappies.
Making your own baby wipes or using clothes for small messes saves on general baby wipes.
Learning how to sew so you can repair clothes, refashion or upcycle them will save you thousands over the years.
Kids don’t need a million toys with bright lights either. Look up fun activities, natural toys and invest in books instead.
Final Thoughts
While there are some important things you will need to spend your money on, having a baby can be as expensive as you make it to be.
Hopefully, with these ten helpful tips, you’ll be able to save some cash.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you what you see as worth spending on, but always do your research and remember to look for quality over pricing when it comes to baby products.
You might also like:
9 tips for pregnancy on a budget
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The real cost of raising kids and how to reduce it
How to teach your kids about money
