Pregnancy is a wonderful time for couples, filled with exciting “firsts” and big decisions. But it can also be an incredibly expensive time. Whether you simply don’t have the money to spend extravagantly on your coming baby or want to step away from the consumer mentality that says you must spend thousands of dollars on your little bundle of joy, here are some tips on how to go bare-bones, while still creating a safe and happy environment for your child.
4 Items You Absolutely Must Have
Crib. Even if you plan to have your baby share a bed with you, he or she still needs a crib for naptimes. Also, sleep-sharing doesn’t work for everyone, and you don’t want to be caught without options at 3 a.m. The good news is that cribs made today by U.S. manufacturers are remarkably safe, so there’s no need to worry about whether that $99 model is as safe as the $999 crib. It is. A hand-me-down crib is a great option for saving even more money, but make sure your used crib is safe. Specifically, make sure it isn’t covered in lead paint, that the slats are no more than 2 3/8” apart, that the corners aren’t raised, and that there are no cut-outs on the headboard or footboard. With a good crib on hand, there’s no need to shell out for a bassinet, baby Moses basket, co-sleeper, or play yard. And your baby may even develop better earlier sleep habits if he associates “crib” with “sleep” from the beginning.
Car seat. You can’t go anywhere in a car without one of these suckers. The only exception is if you always take public transportation. But if you plan to drive with your child even once, you need to pick up a car seat. Like other baby products, car seats made today in the U.S. have to meet stringent safety standards, so purchase one that meets your needs and is within your budget. Forget about the $300 designer models. And to get the most mileage out of a car seat, purchase a convertible seat that can accommodate newborns through toddlers. Warning: This is the one piece of baby gear that shouldn’t be purchased second-hand unless you really, really know the previous owner. Car seats that have been damaged in any way (primarily as the result of a car accident) can’t be used again safely.
Clothing. No doubt about it, your baby is going to need something to wear home from the hospital…and the next day…and the next day. The difference between you and your neighbors, however, is that you may not feel the need to spend $50 on baby’s coming home outfit and another $1,000 on newborn clothing. The truth is that babies grow out of clothing so quickly that it doesn’t make sense to spend a lot outfitting them. Hit up garage sales and online auction sites for gender-neutral baby clothing (or pink or blue if you know the gender ahead of time). You’ll likely get almost-new baby clothing for next to nothing because unlike you, the sellers probably bought it all new and only used each garment once or twice!
Diapers. Diapers are a fact of life for at least the first two years of your baby’s life, so there’s no getting around the need for them. You can save a considerable amount of money by going the cloth diaper route, and with the products available today, cloth diapers are nearly as convenient as disposable diapers. If you’re interested in this method, check out some web sites that are dedicated to the cloth diapering lifestyle for tips on what you really need, what products are available, and what it’s really like to cloth diaper. It may take an initial outlay of up to $100 to get started (considerably less for the less-convenient methods of cloth diapering), but you’ll save hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the years. Tip: Make sure your childcare provider (if you’ll use one) is able to accommodate cloth diapers before you invest in the start-up essentials.
But what about all of the other gear that my friends have, you may wonder? There’s no getting around the fact that while the four things above are the most important, no-doing-without-them items you need for your baby, there’s a whole world of “stuff” out there. You can shop yard sales or eBay for great deals on other equipment that you think you’ll need for your baby’s arrival. But if you’re really dedicated to paring down - or need to financially - here’s the real deal on how to cope with less.
Feeding time
Of course, you want to be prepared to feed your baby when he comes home from the hospital. I discuss how to save money on food and feeding equipment in a related article on “The Thrifty Mom’s Guide to the First Year.”
Bath time
Preparing for baby usually means socking up on hooded towels, little ducky-themed wash cloths, an infant tub, and perhaps a bath seat. Strictly speaking, however, you don’t need any of that. Your baby doesn’t care if she’s washed with the same wash cloths that are used by the rest of the family or if she’s dried off in a froggy towel or a white towel from the linen closet.
What you don’t receive as a gift, you probably don’t need to buy. Baby soaps, shampoos, and lotions seem like a necessity, but many of them contain the same chemicals as the adult versions; they’re simply marketed in cute bottles with a trusted name on the front. If your baby ends up having a skin condition or extremely sensitive skin, however, you’ll definitely need to purchase specialty products that your pediatrician recommends.
As for infant tubs and bath seats, they can be nice for a few months, but they’re not even close to being a necessity. If you have a kitchen counter and a sink, you can successfully bathe your baby until he’s ready for a real bathtub. For the first few weeks, you probably won’t submerge your baby anyway because of a healing cord stump - not to mention nerves on the part of first-time parents. So you can simply lay your baby on a clean towel and do a sponge bath. After that, you can use the kitchen sink for the job, and around six months (when he’s sitting up well), you can move bath time to a regular tub.
Changing time
I’ve already covered the need for diapers, but there are many other items that parents usually buy to make changing easier. The first is a changing table. This certainly makes diaper changes easier, but it’s by no means a necessity. With a waterproof pad, you can change your baby’s diaper on the floor of his nursery, on your bed - anywhere, really! And if you don’t purchase a changing table, there’s no need for a changing pad, changing pad cover, etc.
As for baby wipes, those helpful little pre-moistened cloths are great. But you’re throwing money away with every swipe. Instead, consider using some of the thousands of wash cloths you receive as baby gifts as washable, reusable baby wipes.
Lastly, most parents throw away their baby’s used diaper in a diaper pail made specifically for that purpose. But I can tell you from experience that it’s just as convenient to use a regular garbage can with a foot pedal. This prevents the need for expensive diaper pail liners, and when you’re done using the garbage can in the nursery, you can put it to use anywhere in the house.
Entertaining time
From swings to bouncers to walkers to playstations, there’s no end to the products that retailers try to convince us are “must-haves.” The truth is that one of these pieces of equipment is probably plenty. While you don’t absolutely need it, it’s incredibly nice to have a safe spot to set your baby down when you need to attend to things around the house. Whether you think you’ll get the most use out of a swing or bouncer (ideal until around four months) or something like a playstation (ideal from four months up) is really an individual choice. Many pediatricians don’t recommend walkers, as they’re considered potentially dangerous for curious babies, so that’s one purchase you can cross off with zero guilt!
Again, because these items aren’t used long enough to become worn out, you can get fabulous deals - on nearly-new products - by purchasing them second-hand.
And don’t even think about purchasing toys for your newborn. They need love and attention from you - but not a choo-choo train or doll. Besides, friends and family members will shower you with more toys over the next months and years than you know what to do with.
Other gear
When making any purchase for your coming baby, it’s important to be completely honest with yourself. Always think in terms of what your current lifestyle is and what you really need in a piece of baby equipment. For instance, if you think you’ll use a baby carrier, you’ll notice that there are huge price differences between the models. The lower-priced carriers are absolutely fine for everyday activities with your baby. Do you really need to pay $100 more on the off chance that you’ll take your baby hiking - even though you’ve never gone hiking in your life?
Similarly, when considering a stroller, for example, be realistic. If you live in a rural area with no sidewalks anywhere - or an urban center where you would have to lug a stroller onto the subway every time you used it - ask yourself how likely it is that you’ll really use a stroller. It seems like essential baby equipment, and it certainly is for some people, but you may not be one of those people.
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