Frugal with babies?

[bekajoi]

Anyone else here have babies?? What do you do to keep things cheaper when it comes to your kids?? :)




Personally, I breastfeed exclusively as long as possible... and if they have ANY baby food, I make it by steaming and blending. My son went straight to table foods without any trouble. We cosleep and move straight to a big bed, so no need for a crib. We use cloth diapers, buy clothing at consignment shops... I could go on! :)

That's me... what about you?

[MaryC1999]

Mine are bigger now but I did the same things, except breastfeed. It just didn't work out for me.
We used cloth diapers, I made all their baby food (someone gave me baby cereal for the twins and the stuff was just nasty, I gave it all away). I don't shop consignment stores, around here they're the "in" thing and all charge top dollar, I shop off season. I buy out all the clearance stuff in a size or two bigger for next season! I've gotten coats for $5, pants and shirts for $1 each. I'll be heading out soon for some winter stuff but not too much because thankfully the baby is heading into 3T stuff and I saved all the twins clothing. Old Navy has awesome kids clearance.
Also I cycle shoes. I buy a new pair twice a year for the kids, sneakers in the winter, sandals in the summer. I buy them at the Payless BOGO sales and it works out that I never have to spend too much on shoes (except one of my boys has to have the XXX wide at Stride Rite at $40 for a pair of sneakers :eek:). I don't care how dirty and beat up those sneakers or sandals look, unless they're ripped in some manner, I don't buy a new pair until the next season. Not like the boys care much anyhow.
I invested in a hair clipper too and I cut the boys hair here (and my husbands). I used to make him cut mine but he finally put his foot down and sent me to a salon. :-/
We used small facecloths as baby wipes too. I snagged a plastic hinged container that they put mass made wipes in from a friend and I would put some wipes in it, add a small amount of baby soap and lotion and fill it 3/4 of the way with water.
Instead of flashy, blinky toys they lose interest in, we invested in books and train sets (made out of wood). They don't break as easily and, since they use their imaginations, it's not forgotten about 2 days after it was received.
Mary

[hippymama]

Everything that was already mentioned, plus, I trade at the consignment shop when I can. I bring all of Ben's stuff that i don't want to keep, and I find I get a lot better deals than when I buy and sell outright.

When buying clothes, I bought every other size. They start out a bit baggy, but they stay in them so much longer. I also buy gender neutral clothing as much as possible. Ben has both boy's and girl's clothes, but they are all just simple styles. It makes hand me downs and bargain shopping easier.

I didn't get into it for frugality reasons, but we use Elimination Communication (aka Infant potty training, Natural infant hygiene, Elimination timing, etc). Most of the world doesn't use diapers, it's really a very western pratice. I was totally baffled by the lack of diapers when I lived in Japan, and when I finally learned about the practice when Ben was 12 months, it all came together for me. Our diaper laundry plummeted, and he was in regular undies at 26 months--months before any of our friends kids were even thinking about using the potty. We'll be using it from birth with this baby and I anticipate being out of diapers in about a year.

[rainbowmoon]

I looked up the Elimination Communication thing online, and I am wondering how in God's name this worked! I am very interested how you got your children to communicate with you about the bathroom...or what signals you picked up on from them.

[soilman]

I don't see how breastfeeding is any cheaper than feeding them directly. Instead of feeding them directly, YOU eat the food, then, since the process of turning it into milk requires some energy, it should actually require more food going into you, than the amount that would need to go into them, to provide them with the same amount of matter and energy.

[MaryC1999]

I don't see how breastfeeding is any cheaper than feeding them directly. Instead of feeding them directly, YOU eat the food, then, since the process of turning it into milk requires some energy, it should actually require more food going into you, than the amount that would need to go into them, to provide them with the same amount of matter and energy.

Breastfeeding mothers only need to take in a small amount of calories and generally should just stay on their prenatal supplements. Even as a former formula feeder I can readily agree they probably saved tons of money over me. Women do not need to take in the extra amount of calories everyday equal to the amount of calories a infant needs, that's the beauty of it, her body just does what it's supposed to do.
Mary

[bekajoi]

Yes, breastfeeding mothers need maybe ONE more helping of veggies per meal than the average woman. Not much more at all, really. And the cost of formula is INSANE, just for the basic dairy-based stuff. I'm talking $20 a can and you go through 2-3 cans in a month. $60 a month for formula vs. MAYBE $10 extra in food for mom. I don't even think it would be that high.

And it's not just the cost, for breastfeeding... you are giving them extra protection against illness, so they're not sick as much... and when they DO get sick, they get better faster with all those awesome white blood cells you pass on to them. So it keeps things cheaper in other ways than just food itself too.

And cloth diapers... wow, I couldn't believe the difference when I sat down and figured it out!! Going with prefold diapers and covers, even needing all the different sizes for all stages = about $300 total. It was costing me $45 a month for disposables. I did the math and averaged it out for a 2.5 year diapering timeframe (including potty training up to training pants, and overnight after that) and I figured out I can save $1500 PER CHILD by cloth diapering. And actually it would be more like $1800 for the 2nd child since they can be used for more than one child.

Anyway! :) Just my 2 cents... a couple hours of inconvenience every few months (diaper laundry, learning to breastfeed so it's comfortable and easy on both of you) is soooo worth it. Saves money, is better for baby, and the environment too. :)

[soilman]

"And it's not just the cost, for breastfeeding... you are giving them extra protection against illness, so they're not sick as much... and when they DO get sick, they get better faster with all those awesome white blood cells you pass on to them. So it keeps things cheaper in other ways than just food itself too."

I absolutely agree that breastfeeding confers immunity and immunity can reduce the cost of medical care.

[hippymama]

I looked up the Elimination Communication thing online, and I am wondering how in God's name this worked! I am very interested how you got your children to communicate with you about the bathroom...or what signals you picked up on from them.

I lived in Japan for 4 years, left when I was 8 months pregnant with my first. There are really no diapers. Just tiny training pants with no waterproof covers. I never saw a baby in a diaper of any kind. All I could find were tiny panty and t shirt sets. I was totally baffled.

When Ben was just about to turn one, I finally learned about EC. I ordered a little potty http://www.theecstore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=26&zenid=9c72b77feb1b6498e52fe5c60ec15175
and started immediately. It was obvious when he needed to poop-had been since the very first time after birth- so DH whipped off the diaper, and sat him down on the potty. He never pooped in the diaper again unless he was strapped into a high chair, carseat etc.

Pees are a little harder. When he was 18 months, I was feeling unwell, so I was sitting on the floor playing with him for a few days. Everytime he sat down to play, watch tv, eat a snack, whatever, I slid the potty under him. If there was pee in it when he got up, I showed him and praised him. By the end of 3 days, he had the idea that pee goes in the potty, and he never peed on the floor again. He was diaperless-either naked or in a long t-shirt-at home, so he was able to handle his business by himself.

He was ready to ditch the diapers for outing before dh and I were, so we held onto them till he was just over 2. I did take him out diaperless sometimes, but I'd forget to take him potty often enough. It took me a couple of months to get into the habit of taking him everytime we arrived and everytime we left. By then he was talking a little (he signed before that), so he was able to communicate fairly well.

With a newborn, parents rely heavily on timing and cuing. Babies pee pretty regularly and pretty often. It's best to keep a potty handy so you aren't trying to run all over the house every 20 minutes. Newborns generally poop everytime they nurse, some at the beginning of a feeding, some at the end, some in the middle. You just have to figure out which one one yours prefers. And everyone pees within a few minutes of waking up, so that's an easy catch.

Cuing is pairing a sound with peeing, even if the baby pees in the diaper (or elsewhere). When Ben was little, I used ssst, and now that he's older I use 1, 2, 3, Go! The baby begins to associate the sound and the potty place with the feeling of releasing the bladder, and you get a Pavlov effect. If Ben is dawdling in front of the toilet, and I cue him, even if he's not really paying attention, he pees. Sometimes he seems quite surprised by it. It's amazingly handy. The baby starts out with a small part to play in the whole deal, but gradually takes over as he's ready-rather than learning to use a diaper, practicing that for 2-3 yrs, then suddenly having to shift to being completely in control of bladder and bowels all by himself. Babies will eventually use the cuing sound or sign to tell the parent that they need to go, as early as 4 months of age.

EC isn't a 100% pass or fail kind of a thing. We did it part time with Ben because i was still learning as we went. DH kept him in a diaper all the time while I was in school (5 hrs a day), but took the diaper off to poop. I left the diaper off at home even before I started EC because it was easier to clean up the messes than to wrestle him into a diaper. I'll start the new baby ecing right away, but I will use cloth diapers for backup, esp while we're out. It's a gradual learning process for both baby and parent and changes are to be expected as the baby grows. Most ec babies in the US are in diapers at first, then training pants for a long time (like 6 months to 2 yrs) and then in undies.
Much slower than in Asia, where babies are out of diapers by 6-9 months, but much faster than average in the US, and every pee in the potty saves one diaper in the laundry or trash.

[hippymama]

I don't see how breastfeeding is any cheaper than feeding them directly. Instead of feeding them directly, YOU eat the food, then, since the process of turning it into milk requires some energy, it should actually require more food going into you, than the amount that would need to go into them, to provide them with the same amount of matter and energy.

Most women don't need to eat any more while lactating than when not. The extra fat stored during pregnancy is intended to be burned by milk production over the first year. Even if extra calories are needed, 2 tbs of peanut butter a day will provide that extra calories and nutrients.

From personal experience, I neither gained nor lost weight while breastfeeding, but when I weaned my son, I immediately gained 20 pounds. Guess I was eating enough for both of us.

[bekajoi]

I just looked it up (to double check my own intake as I'm still nursing occasionally throughout the day) and according to kellymom.com (a widely regarded breastfeeding information site) you need to add 500 calories to your current diet.

The making of breastmilk is taxing on your body, so it's to make up for the extra energy your body uses to make the milk, and to ensure that mom gets what she needs as well as baby.

And really, 500 calories extra isn't that much~

[Coney]

There was another post on this forum someplace about using up old jeans for a baby sling:


FREE BABY CARRIER:
Turn your old jeans into a sturdy denim baby carrier! You'll need two pair of adult jeans, with no worn spots on the backside. Remove the backs from the fronts, leaving the thick side seams attached to the discarded fronts. Cut off waist-band, belt loops and leg hems. Make a T-shaped cut up the centre from each crotch, as follows: On one jean-back - "T" is through the centre of the back pockets.
On the other jean-back - "T" is midway between the crotch and bottom of back pockets. Fold the legs in on themselves to form 4" wide straps. Double-stitch along the length of both sides of these straps. Place one jean-back on top of the other, to form an "H" shape - lining up one jean-back along the top of the other's pockets. Double-stitch the two jean-backs together.
Tie the shorter straps around your waist. For a front carrier, have a friend help place baby's stomach against your stomach, baby's legs on either side of the carrier seat. For a back carrier, baby's stomach is against your back. Bring carrier and longer straps up over baby, with one strap over each of your shoulders.
For a front carrier, you could cross the straps at your back. While you hold securely on to the longer straps to support baby, have your friend mark or pin where these longer straps meet the seat part, making sure this is a comfortable position for baby and you.
Remove baby and carrier, double-stitch longer straps to marked spots, on the inside of the seat part. Finish by folding and hemming any remaining cut edges. Make sure all stitching seams are strong and sturdy for safety.
------------------

This looks like it's full of info:
http://www.mommysavers.com/money-saving-ideas/index.shtml

[hippymama]

There was another post on this forum someplace about using up old jeans for a baby sling:
This looks like it's full of info:
http://www.mommysavers.com/money-saving-ideas/index.shtml


That was my post. There is some good stuff on that site. http://www.borntolove.com/

Here's a better sling site, with super easy no-sew directions.
http://www.mamatoto.org/

[bekajoi]

I'm actually a sling vendor! :) You can make them using old bedsheets (knot if you can't sew)... there's actually a way to take exsisting jeans and make them work AS a carrier, without alterations.

And you can MYO carrier of almost every type for very very little, from home, with a little sewing know-how. Check out http://thebabywearer.com and look in "articles" then "sewing and improvising" and there are links to EVERY type of carrier you can imagine.

And if anyone has sewing carrier questions, just ask. I make them daily. :)

[MaryC1999]

I'm actually a sling vendor! :) You can make them using old bedsheets (knot if you can't sew)... there's actually a way to take exsisting jeans and make them work AS a carrier, without alterations.

And you can MYO carrier of almost every type for very very little, from home, with a little sewing know-how. Check out http://thebabywearer.com and look in "articles" then "sewing and improvising" and there are links to EVERY type of carrier you can imagine.

And if anyone has sewing carrier questions, just ask. I make them daily. :)

LOL
I so tried a sling with my last baby. I struggled with that thing for over an hour, when I finally got it to fit me right, I put the baby in and his neck was all crooked, then he rolled with his face plastered in the side.
After nearly smothering my 1 month old, I sent the sling (which was quite expensive IIRC) to another new mommy I met on the net with my best wishes and just held him until he could walk. Not easy when he was nearly 26 pounds by his first birthday! I figured if holding them until my arms felt ready to fall off worked with the twins maybe I shouldn't "fix" it now!
(A bit OT here but I'm still bitter that I was so sling handicapped when it seems to come so easy to everyone else! lol)
Mary

[hippymama]

Funny! I'm a sling maker! Here's some of my stuff http://photobucket.com/albums/y217/StrawberryBabySlings/

Different slings work for different ppl, and at diffferent stages. I have about 10 slings in my rotation. I started making slings when Ben was 5 months old, because he was over 25 pounds, and nothing I had was at all comfortable. I designed everything to be used from birth to about 40-50 pounds. It is expensive though to buy and try.

[bekajoi]

Very cool! Like your stuff.. very different from my own!

I'm http://annabearbabyware.com ~ the site is always in need of improvising, but it's all good. Slowly but surely getting there.

I do pouch style slings, non-adjustable so they fit just right for each person... and Mei Tai carriers (my own version of the traditional Chinese carrier). I've also made and used wraps, ring slings, Podaegi, and Onbuhimo...

I agree, different slings for different people, and different stages. I loved the pouch for the newborn stage, and for hip carrying, but prefer the Mei Tai for front carrying, back carrying, and heavier babies. I loved the Ring Sling while Pregnant, and there's nothing better for keeping a sleeping baby asleep and getting them in secure enough, now. :)

Anyway! Happy sling love all around. And as I said, if anyone wants help or info, more than happy to share. Well, everything but my patterns, LOL. ;)

[MTC]

I don't see how breastfeeding is any cheaper than feeding them directly. Instead of feeding them directly, YOU eat the food, then, since the process of turning it into milk requires some energy, it should actually require more food going into you, than the amount that would need to go into them, to provide them with the same amount of matter and energy.


To breastfeed a woman only needs an additional 500 cals, this is equivalent to a pbj and juice.

[Misty]

i once tied a sarong into an a baby sling when we decided to go bush walking on a day out in the car, worked well. Also if you worked out with a sarong how you wanted your baby sling to sit, it would be easier to make or get made for you.

[hippymama]

i once tied a sarong into an a baby sling when we decided to go bush walking on a day out in the car, worked well. Also if you worked out with a sarong how you wanted your baby sling to sit, it would be easier to make or get made for you.


That is pretty much what my Mini-Wraps are. before I started making them, I used sarongs. I found that cottons work better then the synthetic blends that are used for sarongs, and the dimensions are slightly different-a bit narrower, a tad longer, tapered ends. But the concept is the same.

[snowbunny]

I am also a breastfeeding mom, and we also do Elimination Communication which is really easy and has saved us a ton of $$ on dipes and the assortment of creams, powders and wipes that accompany dipes. We love EC.

We also resale his outgrown clothes on Ebay to help with money. We use slings instead of expensive strollers. We don't buy all the jazzy baby containers or expensive toys.

We are using a baby-led solids approach which means we spend no money on jarred baby food since DS just eats a little bit of what we eat.

Having a baby doesn't have to be as expensive as toy, crib, formula and babyfood manufacturers want to make it.

[sarahjayn1980]

I am prepping to be a foster mom. Since I live in a one bedroom, I can only have an infant (12 mo or younger) in my home. Obviously, I won't be breastfeeding the little one. Any ideas on how to save on the cost of formula? I get a feeding allowance, but I hear its not much.

[MaryC1999]

I am prepping to be a foster mom. Since I live in a one bedroom, I can only have an infant (12 mo or younger) in my home. Obviously, I won't be breastfeeding the little one. Any ideas on how to save on the cost of formula? I get a feeding allowance, but I hear its not much.

Fill out for the free baby publications from one of the formula companies (you might want to find out what formula they're going to give you for the baby so you can keep it the same). You can fill it on their site. In the magazines are usually baby formula "check" which act like coupons at most grocery stores.
Get the check out and throw the magazine in the recycle bin. They're useless otherwise. :)
Also get powdered and not ready to feed. You can make up a bunch at a time in 2 qt containers and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days (I think)? You don't have to warm bottles either, most babies will take it room temp if you make it up one bottle at a time. :)
Mary

[NermalKaty]

Obviously, I won't be breastfeeding the little one.
I am new here, but am I missing something? Is it not vegetarian to breast feed? I thought it was good for kids.
h t t p : / / w w w . fda.gov/FDAC/features/895_brstfeed. h t m l

[misq17]

I am new here, but am I missing something? Is it not vegetarian to breast feed? I thought it was good for kids.
h t t p : / / w w w . fda.gov/FDAC/features/895_brstfeed. h t m l
Sarahjayn said she is taking in a foster child so she isn't going to be producing milk since it isn't her biological child.