Comments on: Reducing the Cost of Birth and Babies: Part Two – Babies http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/ The Cloth Diapering, Babywearing, Breastfeeding Mommy Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:28:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mary http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-40486 Mary Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:54:21 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-40486 As the owner of a children's resale shop...I TOTALLY agree with the "keep the tags on everything" advice! More than half...probably closer to 75% of what you receive in the way of clothing will be the wrong season, duplicate, or just plain impractical for your baby. If you keep the tags on clothing you KNOW you won't be able to use, you can return it and get 100% of the money someone spent on it back - to use for important things like diapers, socks, and bigger clothes. If you take the tags off, wash it, etc. - you will be bringing it to a consignment shop or putting it in a garage sale and getting a fraction of the price originally paid for it. Oh, keep the tags on and RETURN promptly anything you don't think you'll use! You can always get gift cards from that particular store and re-buy an item if you decide you really have to have it. Just my two cents after seeing 1000's of items, unworn, sold at my shop over the years. As the owner of a children’s resale shop…I TOTALLY agree with the “keep the tags on everything” advice!

More than half…probably closer to 75% of what you receive in the way of clothing will be the wrong season, duplicate, or just plain impractical for your baby.

If you keep the tags on clothing you KNOW you won’t be able to use, you can return it and get 100% of the money someone spent on it back – to use for important things like diapers, socks, and bigger clothes.

If you take the tags off, wash it, etc. – you will be bringing it to a consignment shop or putting it in a garage sale and getting a fraction of the price originally paid for it.

Oh, keep the tags on and RETURN promptly anything you don’t think you’ll use! You can always get gift cards from that particular store and re-buy an item if you decide you really have to have it.

Just my two cents after seeing 1000′s of items, unworn, sold at my shop over the years.

]]> By: Having a Baby Without Breaking the Bank: List of essentials :: Money Saving Mom℠ http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-39803 Having a Baby Without Breaking the Bank: List of essentials :: Money Saving Mom℠ Tue, 25 May 2010 21:43:41 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-39803 [...] series up on Reducing the Cost of Birth and Babies which I highly recommend you check out here and here. You might not agree with all her conclusions (just like you probably don’t with mine!) but [...] [...] series up on Reducing the Cost of Birth and Babies which I highly recommend you check out here and here. You might not agree with all her conclusions (just like you probably don’t with mine!) but [...]

]]> By: Organic baby crib http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-20898 Organic baby crib Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:37:26 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-20898 We're doing a lot of reading preparing for our new child ... good article! We’re doing a lot of reading preparing for our new child … good article!

]]> By: Julie http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-10695 Julie Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:56:23 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-10695 I counted once that I had loaned my swing to 8 different babies. Now with my fourth, it's done which is fine since my baby isn't nuts about it. I haven't even done a nursery with kids 2-4. Even once I had a girl. You're not suppose to use those comforters or bumper pads anyway so why buy them? I had a twin bed in my daughter's room so instead I bought a cute twin quilt and really enjoyed laying down to nurse her in her room so I didn't disturb dad. I cannot give up the disposable diapers. But I do use cheap ones for day time and expensive ones for night time. I counted once that I had loaned my swing to 8 different babies. Now with my fourth, it’s done which is fine since my baby isn’t nuts about it.

I haven’t even done a nursery with kids 2-4. Even once I had a girl. You’re not suppose to use those comforters or bumper pads anyway so why buy them? I had a twin bed in my daughter’s room so instead I bought a cute twin quilt and really enjoyed laying down to nurse her in her room so I didn’t disturb dad.

I cannot give up the disposable diapers. But I do use cheap ones for day time and expensive ones for night time.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-10657 Dawn Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:45:22 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-10657 Very good post! It's so easy, as a new mom, to think you should register for one (or two...) of everything! I tried to keep our list minimal, borrow from friends, and check out the garage sales before baby #1 was born. Thank goodness! Our little guy never liked the swing, so I'm glad we had a hand-me-down rather than an expensive new one! My bunco group is always passing around baby gear - Bumbo seats, travel swings, ride-on toys, etc...these things are usually in use by some member of the group! We all benefit by sharing these items! We bought our baby's bedding and room decor used from e-bay. For $60, we got the sheets, quilt, lamp, wall decorations, night light, and a few other things. All we needed was a can of light green paint for a gender-neutral nursery! If you're not into garage sales, e-bay is also a great source for buying a bundle of baby clothes at a reasonable price. As for the glider, I will admit that this was one nice splurge! I don't know what we'd do without that wonderfully comfortable glider! Very good post! It’s so easy, as a new mom, to think you should register for one (or two…) of everything!

I tried to keep our list minimal, borrow from friends, and check out the garage sales before baby #1 was born. Thank goodness! Our little guy never liked the swing, so I’m glad we had a hand-me-down rather than an expensive new one!

My bunco group is always passing around baby gear – Bumbo seats, travel swings, ride-on toys, etc…these things are usually in use by some member of the group! We all benefit by sharing these items!

We bought our baby’s bedding and room decor used from e-bay. For $60, we got the sheets, quilt, lamp, wall decorations, night light, and a few other things. All we needed was a can of light green paint for a gender-neutral nursery!

If you’re not into garage sales, e-bay is also a great source for buying a bundle of baby clothes at a reasonable price.

As for the glider, I will admit that this was one nice splurge! I don’t know what we’d do without that wonderfully comfortable glider!

]]> By: Lenetta http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-10654 Lenetta Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:39:18 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-10654 I'm late to the party here :>) but I wanted to provide a site referenced above. The Ergo carriers are available on www.myfavoritebabycarrier.com with the money-back guarantee and they sell the used ones at a discount (when they have them). Mine was barely used, if at all. I didn't care for the sling as I couldn't raise the one arm. I started trying to make a moby type wrap out of a piece of jersey cloth but that was about the time I got my ergo and I didn't look back! I’m late to the party here :>) but I wanted to provide a site referenced above. The Ergo carriers are available on http://www.myfavoritebabycarrier.com with the money-back guarantee and they sell the used ones at a discount (when they have them). Mine was barely used, if at all.

I didn’t care for the sling as I couldn’t raise the one arm. I started trying to make a moby type wrap out of a piece of jersey cloth but that was about the time I got my ergo and I didn’t look back!

]]> By: Dana http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-10651 Dana Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:13:15 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-10651 I agree on having a gender-neutral nursery. For our first (a girl), we just had yellow walls with a cute Winnie the Pooh theme. Now, with our second (a boy) on the way that will need the nursery room, we don't have to make any changes. What a money saver. I would recommend perhaps borrowing slings from friends to "test drive" on your baby before actually buying one. Our daughter never could stand being in any kind of sling or carrier. She's always been extremely active, and I think slings/carriers were just a little too confining rather than comforting for her tastes. Great tips! I agree on having a gender-neutral nursery. For our first (a girl), we just had yellow walls with a cute Winnie the Pooh theme. Now, with our second (a boy) on the way that will need the nursery room, we don’t have to make any changes. What a money saver.

I would recommend perhaps borrowing slings from friends to “test drive” on your baby before actually buying one. Our daughter never could stand being in any kind of sling or carrier. She’s always been extremely active, and I think slings/carriers were just a little too confining rather than comforting for her tastes.

Great tips!

]]> By: Ruth http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-9381 Ruth Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:58:50 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-9381 We're on baby #3 here, and the best investments we've made : definitely the Ergo, I used it almost every day with our second baby; baby monitor to use when they're a bit older and don't stay up late to watch too much TV with momma and daddy; exersaucer (borrowed from SIL); swing for naps and "i gotta go to the bathroom!!"; nursing tank tops for mommy (not technically a baby item, but necessary to me when I have a little one that needs to nurse no matter where we are). We have the whole nursery set up and guess what? So far our 6 week old has never slept in the crib and I have no idea when/if he will. He's in bed with us and sometimes in the cosleeper. We’re on baby #3 here, and the best investments we’ve made : definitely the Ergo, I used it almost every day with our second baby; baby monitor to use when they’re a bit older and don’t stay up late to watch too much TV with momma and daddy; exersaucer (borrowed from SIL); swing for naps and “i gotta go to the bathroom!!”; nursing tank tops for mommy (not technically a baby item, but necessary to me when I have a little one that needs to nurse no matter where we are). We have the whole nursery set up and guess what? So far our 6 week old has never slept in the crib and I have no idea when/if he will. He’s in bed with us and sometimes in the cosleeper.

]]> By: Katherine http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-9376 Katherine Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:38:50 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-9376 One thing I did this time around was make my own breast pads -- I used disposable last time because all the ones I tried before stuck to me (ouch!). If you can sew, 4 layers of flannel, (I used scraps!!) satin-stitch a circle, trim the edges -- best breast pads I've ever used! (although lots of my friends didn't even need them -- but I have OALD, so leaking is just part of my life) :) LOL Great tips, Beth! Oh - another place you can save money (or spend way too much if you're not careful) is carseats! Everyone wants to register for a cute carrer/carseat -- which were wonderful for us -- but talk to friends who have babies, first. Many little ones will outgrow the most popular ones (SnugRide, or most of the evenflo ones) by the time they're 4 or 5 months old - so either borrow one from a trustworthy friend (check the expiration dates and have them inspected!) or buy one of the ones that will fit your little one until after their first birthday. OR . . . just get a good convertible car seat and skip the "bucket" altogether. One thing I did this time around was make my own breast pads — I used disposable last time because all the ones I tried before stuck to me (ouch!). If you can sew, 4 layers of flannel, (I used scraps!!) satin-stitch a circle, trim the edges — best breast pads I’ve ever used! (although lots of my friends didn’t even need them — but I have OALD, so leaking is just part of my life) :) LOL

Great tips, Beth!

Oh – another place you can save money (or spend way too much if you’re not careful) is carseats! Everyone wants to register for a cute carrer/carseat — which were wonderful for us — but talk to friends who have babies, first. Many little ones will outgrow the most popular ones (SnugRide, or most of the evenflo ones) by the time they’re 4 or 5 months old – so either borrow one from a trustworthy friend (check the expiration dates and have them inspected!) or buy one of the ones that will fit your little one until after their first birthday. OR . . . just get a good convertible car seat and skip the “bucket” altogether.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/2008/12/04/reducing-the-cost-of-birth-and-babies-part-two-babies/comment-page-1/#comment-9267 Rachel Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:58:59 +0000 http://www.thenaturalmommy.com/?p=855#comment-9267 I second all the furniture suggestions except the sling. Tried it with both my babies and they both hated it. Keep in mind, children don't need that much. Period. Ask yourself twice if your baby really needs it. That will save you more money than anything. As for cloth-diapers, be sure you talk to your husband before you take off on that front. Mine won't change them. Disposable it is. I second all the furniture suggestions except the sling. Tried it with both my babies and they both hated it.
Keep in mind, children don’t need that much. Period. Ask yourself twice if your baby really needs it. That will save you more money than anything.
As for cloth-diapers, be sure you talk to your husband before you take off on that front. Mine won’t change them. Disposable it is.

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