Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Someone recently sent me one of those emails that shows you how much it costs to raise a child from birth to 18, and I just about fell over when I saw the six-figure dollar amount in front of me.  That’s not even including college!  With two kids of my own, it’s no wonder I never have any extra cash.

The good news is that you do have some control over how much you end up spending to care for your baby.  The actual amount of money you fork over is ultimately decided by the choices you make every day, especially at the store.  Small expenses add up to big spending faster than you could ever imagine.  Luckily, small savings add up pretty quickly, too.  Here are some painless ways to make it through the checkout line with more money in your pocket.

1. Skip the Newborn Diapers
They only fit babies up to 10 pounds and, for some odd reason, these teenie weenie nappies cost more per diaper than other sizes of the same brand.  Even hospital nurseries usually use size 1 diapers.  If you really must have some, because they’re so darn cute, just stick to one package.

2. Give Generic Diapers a Chance
I used a premium brand of diapers with my first child because my husband is a brand snob and convinced me that using less expensive diapers would be just short of child abuse.  With the second child, however, I listened to my much wiser friends and tried other brands that didn’t cost so much.  I did eventually find a couple of brands I really liked, but not all of the ones I tried were winners.  Even some of the brands my friends recommended just weren’t quite what I was looking for.  Some of them really weren’t much less expensive because I had to change them more often to prevent leaks.  Diapers are a huge expense, though, so finding a generic or store brand that makes you happy and saves you money is worth the your time.

3. Join a Wholesale Club
My Sam’s Club membership is $35 a year, but I save more than that annually on diapers alone.  If you’ve never used a club like Sam’s or Costco, you’re missing out!  Club membership gives you access to bulk and wholesale items that really can save you some cash.   Sam’s has a baby care aisle with enormous amounts of products for one low price.  You spend more up front buying a gallon of baby wash, but then you don’t have to buy baby wash again for years.  Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but bulk items do seem to last an amazing amount of time.  And they cost less per unit than the same product in a smaller package.  You’ll also find great deals on baby clothes and accessories from time to time. 

4. Don’t Fall for the Cutesie “Just for Baby” Packaging
Slick packaging is the oldest marketing trick in the book for separating people from their money.  Baby products are big business.  These companies are laughing all the way to the bank to deposit the money we spend unnecessarily on items that are supposedly milder, gentler, better for baby, etc.  Of course there are harsh chemicals, preservatives, and dyes that aren’t good for your baby, but you won’t necessarily avoid these ingredients by purchasing expensive products that are marketed for babies only.  When you check the ingredients lists, you’ll find that many baby products, even the pricey ones, contain components that aren’t good for any of us – especially babies.  Avoiding harmful ingredients is tricky business these days, but spending more on products just because of the cute package, or because of the promises printed on the package, isn’t the answer.  In general, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, so look for all-natural products that everyone in the family can use.

5. Join Company Mailing Lists
I’m careful about giving out my address and phone number because I really hate junk mail and calls from telemarketers.  However, I’ve found that it pays off to make an exception for companies that sell baby products.  Thanks to the mailing lists I’ve joined, I get valuable coupons for diapers, baby food, and all kinds of baby care products.  Sometimes these mailings come with free samples.  My mother-in-law joined a few lists, too, and gives me the coupons and samples that she gets in the mail.  Every little bit helps!  You can sign up for coupons and freebies on the companies’ websites.

6. Use Coupons More Effectively
Coupons are a great way to save money.  You see thrifty experts on TV who use coupons to save hundreds of dollars on one cart of groceries.  But let’s face it; coupons can be a pain to keep up with, especially when you have a baby.  I seem to do really well with coupons for awhile, and then I fall off the wagon.  Here are some things that help me when I’m having a good coupon month.

• Collect only coupons for products you use all the time.  Having too many coupons creates clutter, and clutter is overwhelming.
• Use a small, manageable organizer.  I use note card envelopes with labels written is Sharpie – not very fancy, but it works for me.
• Keep the organizer, or envelopes, in your purse or car so you don’t have to worry about forgetting them at home.  I keep mine in a zipper pocket inside my purse.
• Look through the coupons right before you go to the store and pull out the ones you can use.  I know some industrious moms who paperclip the coupons to their shopping lists, but I usually end up waiting until I’m in the store parking lot to frantically dig through my coupons.  To each his own.
• As you’re looking through your organizer, don’t forget to throw away expired coupons.

Being a savvy shopper takes some getting used to, but the financial rewards are well worth the effort.  It’s nice to know that you don’t have to spend a small fortune to give your baby the best care possible.  Hugs and kisses mean more to baby than name brand lotion, anyway, which proves that the best things in life really are free.