How to Spend and Save your Money with a Baby

   Similar to my previous post, Parenting Advice, this is a compilation of money saving tips for Mommas of young babies. I had to write this in a bit of a hurry so I'm sure there are unseen errors and I have no doubt that I will add more to it. On another note, I finally figured out how to open my blog up to comments from anybody so feel free to ask questions, disagree or add anything!

   Homemade baby wipes~ You can buy 720 Target brand baby wipes for $13.69. That is certainly not a bad price, when you compare it to other name brands, but it's an astronomical price when you compare it to homemade baby wipes. I make my wipes from the Viva brand paper towels and I can make 1200 wipes for $17.39. Surprisingly, I found a recipe on Food.com  then, tweaked it to my liking. This is my version...
   Ingredients:
   1 package of Viva brand paper towels (These or any cloth-like brand will do.)
   2 cups of boiling water
   1 Tablespoon of baby shampoo or soap
   2 Tablespoons of coconut oil (Can also use baby, mineral or massage oil.)
   2 Tablespoons of white vinegar (This is to prevent mold. The original recipe calls for 1 tablespoon but I use more simply because my changing table sits in direct sunlight and I had trouble controlling mold)

   Directions:
1- Put your water on to boil. While you're waiting, hold your paper towel roll lengthwise and saw it in half. When you're done, pick off the shredded paper.
2- Place it shredded side down in a quart size plastic bag.
3- Mix the rest of the ingredients together and slowly pour it over your roll. (Don't worry about the tube, you can easily pull it out after it soaks for a few minutes)
4- Let it sit for about 10 minutes or until the roll is saturated. Then pull the cardboard tube out.
5- Pull your first wipe from the center and you're ready to go!

   I have also recently made my own wipes holder from an empty formula container. I simply cleaned it and cut a small X in the lid to allow the wipes to come out easily. I leave my wipes in their quart bag and push them inside. You can pretty it up any way you like but this is what mine looks like after a little spray paint, some ribbon and a few buttons.


 
   Cloth diapers~ This is something that is very expensive at first but will save you tons of money in the long run. I do not have enough cloth diapers to use them exclusively but I can make a pack of 102 Target brand diapers last an entire month when I use the few that I have! You can buy these from Amazon.com  or find a 'seconds' retailer, like Fuzzibunz Seconds, to save money on the original purchase. I recommend the one size diapers because you won't have to buy as many!

   Rotating toys~ I have mentioned this is a previous blog and I do believe I will never find anything bad about it! Rotating my daughter's toys keeps her occupied with the same toys over and over again and it keeps us from having to buy her new toys every couple of months because she is bored. I don't believe that it will save you from ever having to buy toys because children grow up and eventually, she will be too old to be interested in them but, if I can delay her boredom and save my cash for a while, I'm going to! Let's be honest, her grandparents do most of the toy-buying anyway and I'm happy to let them have their fun! I also think it would be an awesome idea to trade toys with friends or family who have children of similar ages. You can write the last name of each family on their toys and everybody gets a turn. I would love to do this but with a husband and a brother in the Army, it's not an option at the moment!

   Homemade baby food~ The average cost of a 4oz baby food jar is $.90. Assuming your baby eats one per feeding and eats 4x a day, that's $108 a month on baby food. If they eat 2 jars at once, you're looking at $216 a month and $2,592 a year. However, if you go to Sam's and buy a 3lbs bag of carrots for $3.98, you will be able to make 12 4oz meals. If you bought baby food, you could buy a whopping 4.5 jars for that much money and, on top of that, I am not factoring in the taxes! Plus, with all of the preservatives in baby food, it's not really good for them!

   Breastfeed~ The cost of a regular store brand (in this case Sam's brand) 48oz container of formula is $23.28. If your baby eats 12oz in a day (I'm not factoring in the water because 12 oz of formula means 24oz of water), you're looking at buying formula every 4 days. For the sake of argument and factoring in a few extra feedings, let's say you buy 8 cans of formula per month at $23.28. That is a total of $186.24 per month and $2,234.88 per year. Again, I did not add the taxes and I used the cheap formula. Despite the cost, I do recommend keeping a small amount on hand, just in case. If anything, having a baby will teach you to always be prepared!

    Buy a good breast pump~ If you decide to breastfeed, do not buy a cheap pump. In my experience, you get what you pay for in the arena! Now, I'm not saying that you need a hospital grade pump but if you're planning on going back to work or will be pumping every day, I recommend one of the higher end pumps. If I am not mistaken, the best every day pump is currently sold by Medela. I have never personally used one so I cannot give you a particular model but I have a couple friends who own them and they love them! If you need a pump to use a few times a week, I recommend the miPump by First Years.

   Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx~ As with everything, these places offer amazing discounts on baby items. I have seen play mats, highchairs, car seats, bouncers, and, of course, the little every day items that you will require at a fraction of the normal cost. If you register for something but don't get it, I highly recommend checking these types of places regularly!! I also think highly of good consignment stores. You can find awesome, very clean essentials at less than half the regular price!

   Hand-me-downs~ If you have somebody to pass clothes, blankets, bibs etc. onto to you, take them! You can pick through, get what you like and put the rest in a donation bin. I know that when most people think 'hand-me-down', they see stains and rips but that's not always the case. Another great thing about consignment stores is that you can buy used clothing in perfect shape for a few dollars an outfit! Hand-me-downs come in all types as well...clothes, shoes, toys, nursery furniture, etc.

   Look for a 'big baby' car seat~ This is a recent lesson for me. I have a good friend who has big babies like I do and she informed me that some infant car seats are specifically made for large babies. Now, if you have a petite baby, I would still recommend one simply because it will hold them longer. For those of you who are reading this and haven't had your baby yet, you will learn how convenient it is to be able to simply lift their car seat out of the truck, snap it into the stroller and go. Once they outgrow an infant seat and you have to unbuckle them, pull them out (without whopping their head on the inside of the door), get them in the stroller, buckle them back up, hand them a blanket and some toys, walk to the back of the stroller, put your bag in it, pull the cover over them and walk into the store. Oh yes, I recommend spending the extra cash and saving the toddler car seat for later!

Things I believe you don't need...

   Bassinet~ These are marketed well but completely unnecessary. They are overly expensive for the amount of time that your baby will fit in it. The smarter choice is a Pack n' Play. These often come with a bassinet portion, are portable, and your baby will fit in this for a much longer period of time! This can be used as a bassinet when they are tiny and you want them to be in arms reach at night. It is a great thing to have if you're planning on being outside and you need them off the ground, especially when they are rolling or crawling. I mentioned play time in my previous blog post and it would be impossible without the safe environment of a Pack n' Play. Another downside to bassinets is that they are difficult to store when you no longer need it and are nearly impossible to resell.

Baby bathtub~ I would say that you need a bath chair but I don't think you need the whole shebang, unless your only option is bathing them in the sink. In that case, a bath that will sit in your sink can be a life saver! However, in my opinion, a baby bathtub is just one more expensive thing you 'need' to buy but, eventually, you're just stuck finding a place to store a very big, awkward item. Buy a bath chair for less than half the cost and use your tub!

Dreft laundry detergent~ Unless your baby has severely sensitive skin, I don't think this is necessary. All newborns get rashes and their skin will get irritated at the smallest thing but that is completely normal and doesn't mean that they are or are not allergic to something. Dreft has its place but I don't think it's a must-have for all babies right off the bat. Give your child some time to get used to the world before you spend unnecessary money.

   A huge diaper bag~ This is a pick your poison type of situation. What is wonderful about a diaper bag is exactly what makes it vile...it's HUGE. They're awesome because they will fit everything you need inside, assuming you learn to stop over-packing, but this also makes them ridiculously heavy. I'm convinced that the only reason diapers bags are made that big is because mothers put them in the bottom of the stroller. If we had to carry that thing for long periods of time,  those companies would have a mutiny on their hands! Once I learned the over-packing rule, I went to Ross and bought a cute, large purse. I used the outside pockets for bottles and kept the essentials inside...3-4 diapers, wipes, one change of clothes, burp clothes (I always had to have a few of these!), a bib, a pacifier, and maybe some snacks. Once I bought this bag, I used my gigantic diaper bag as a back-up but left it in the car. It had more diapers, wipes, a couple changes of clothes, baby tylenol, more burp clothes (Paige spit up A LOT), my baby carrier, an extra blanket, a clean bottle and some formula in it. I realized that I needed to bring all of those things because you never know how many outfits a baby is going to mess up and you certainly don't want to run out of diapers or wipes but I didn't have to carry all of it around. Talk about a backache! Chances are, you already have a large purse that can be used as a diaper bag or as your back up. If you just want a diaper bag, put that thing on your registry, let somebody else shell out the cash for the expensive thing, and don't over pack it!

Parenting Advice

   This is a compilation of parenting advice. Some of it I've tried, some I'm currently doing, some I would like to do when my children are older, and others I completely disagree with. This is, by no means, meant to be a place for you to get parenting advice. Remember, I have been a parent for less than 2 years. If I know anything, it is very little! This entry is full of things that have been on my mind recently and I'd like to share them with you. I know everybody gets parenting advice and sometimes, it's wonderful. Other times, you're thinking, 'You're a complete idiot. Please shut up and get away from my children.'.

~Play pen time. I think this is awesome!! Every day, I put Taylor in her bedroom, inside her Pack & Play for about 30 minutes with a few harmless toys. It is an amazing way to teach her at a very young age to be alone and entertain herself while allowing me to hurry up and get some things done. I wasn't able to do this with Paige for a few reasons. First, I don't think I started early enough and also, because of her social personality, it broke her heart to be left alone. In her mind, I was abandoning her and never coming back. Instead, I allowed her to be in wherever I was but still required her to entertain herself. I am working on play time alone in her bedroom with her but it is not an easy task. She hates to be alone and, to be completely honest, it is difficult for me to be consistent with it because I am used to her being with me at all times. I think she'll do much better when her sister is old enough to share her play time!

~Rotate your child's toys. This is another awesome trick I have learned. We change out Paige's toys at least every month. It's just like Christmas day! She thinks everything is brand new and is no longer bored or getting into things that are not hers to play with. We also hold onto most of her toys from holidays and birthdays. We allow her to keep 2 or 3 when she opens them but we hide the rest and give her one per week until she has them all. It's a great way to draw out her fun and it also helps her interest last longer.

~ TEACH them. I think that parents greatly underestimate their children's capabilities. I have learned, by watching children older than mine and by raising Paige, that children love to do things on their own. Their greatest desire is to hear your praise and they long to be independent. If you do everything for them it will become a vicious circle. Mothers will get exasperated because they have to wait on their children hand and foot and their children get frustrated because they aren't allowed to move forward. The message the mom teaches, often unknowingly, is that they are incapable. Therefore, the child stops trying to learn. Lack of confidence on the child's behalf, will effect them in every aspect of their life for the rest of their days. Also, having to attend to their every need for years, leads to resentment and anger in their mother. Dangerous isn't a harsh enough word to describe that situation. You must allow them to become independent. Encourage them to explore and try new things. Sometimes, yes, this means you must allow them to get hurt. It will always be difficult to watch you're children try things and fail when you know you can do it without any 'suffering'. It's not easy to allow your babies to grow up but it's always necessary. Do not hold them back. Do not tell them they can't do things because they will get hurt or because they might not get it right. Grow with them. Do not treat them like a baby when they aren't one any more. No matter how much you may wish they were.

~Allow them to make mistakes. I haven't had much experience in this department because my children are so young but I am a firm believer in it. I do believe that there are some lessons that can only be learned from experience and no amount of talking will do the job. I'm sure it's a difficult position for a parent to be in, especially when you know the solution. I am not looking forward to the day when I have to face this.

~Don't share drinks with them. Unless you prefer to chew your water, give them their own cup!

~Feed them everything on the menu 10-12 times before you decide whether or not they really like it. I have personally done this and am a firm believer that it works. Squash, for example, made my oldest pucker up her lips and pull away the first few times she had it but I kept at it and eventually, she would squeal after she got the first bite in her mouth. This idea can be applied to all kinds of things. Don't give up in the first round!

~ACCEPT HELP. Often times, offers of help are not given for very long. Understand that you are going to need help! I know everybody thinks they will be different or that it can't really be that bad. Trust me when I tell you, it's that bad and you will need help! Let go of your pride and accept it.

~Realize that crying won't kill that kid. Never, in the history of the world, has an autopsy reported the cause of death being, 'Severe Crying'.

~Don't stockpile diapers. I'm sure some people will strongly disagree with me on this point but I say that you never know when you're baby will hit a growth spurt. What happens if they decide it's time to move along and you have 3 boxes of newborn diapers still in the closet? You're out $100 or more simply because of the money you've already spent and the money you're about to fork over. If you must stockpile, I suggest you do not open the boxes and you remember where you bought them. Many stores, like Target, will exchange unopened boxes for another size, requiring you to pay the difference.

~SLEEP. I can't stress this enough. Children require exponential amounts of sleep. Learning your child's 'tired signs' can be a struggle, especially for a first timer but knowing what they are and listening to them, will save your sanity!!!

~Explain things to them. Do not simply tell them, 'Because I said so.' or 'Just 'cause.' The only time that is acceptable, if you ask me, is when the situation cannot be explained to your child, ie. they want to visit a friend's house but it's not a safe environment or something similar.

~Love them. Do not make fun of them in any way. Do not belittle them or purposely embarrass them and do not allow their brothers and sisters to do so. I believe that a family is supposed to be a unit. A UNITED UNIT. It's true, that you will not be able to stop every cruel thing that is said to your child but you should not be the cause of it. Momma and Daddy need to be their safe zone. The place where they are protected and loved no matter what they look like, how different their tastes are or what they may have failed at. Children automatically receive their view of the Lord from how you, as their parent, love them. God's love is unconditional. He is forgiving and isn't judgmental. He loves every part of us, including our faults. This is how we are to love our children.

~Rock them to sleep every once in a while. Do this just because it's fun. Do it because the opportunity doesn't last long. Do it because you can. I think it's a horrible idea to do it every night because it becomes a sleep prop and the last thing you want is a child who won't go to sleep on their own. However, I do think that, on occasion, it's good idea.

~Do not them sit in front of the TV, especially at a very young age. Do you know why we love to watch TV so much?? It's because it literally turns your brain off. That's why you're so tired when all you've done is watch TV all day. I know they say that TV can be educational and it's great for your children to watch it but that's a complete lie. Watching too much television can actually impair your child's ability to read. Yes, it is true, they can 'learn' things from it. They do repeat words they've heard or copy movement but do not use the TV as a baby sitter. That's just being a lazy parent, in my opinion.

~LISTEN to them before you react. An example that comes to mind is when I found Paige in our bedroom, holding a glass horse of mine. She didn't hear me come in so I waited to see what she did with it. She took it to the other side of the room and placed it on a different shelf. I realized that I had moved it the day before and she thought it was in the wrong place, so she was putting it back for me. It's so easy to assume they're doing one thing when they're actually doing another. You must pay attention to what they're doing and listen to what they're trying to tell you before you punish or praise them for anything.

~Pay attention to what they like. Do not force your desires upon them. Children already have the tendency to follow whatever Momma and Daddy do but when they begin to go in a another un-harmful direction, let them. Don't live the childhood you never had through them.

~Don't make them pay for your mistakes. Maybe it's because it's late at night but I don't think that needs anything added to it.

~If you aren't ready to feed that baby, don't pull that bottle out of the cabinet! That sucker better be shaken, stirred, and ready to go when they see it.

~Do not make excuses for them. Do not treat them like they are the greatest thing that ever happened to this earth. When they get in trouble, do not act like the accuser is just out to get them. Do not blow up your child's ego by teaching them that they can do no wrong. Do not instantly defend them when they are accused of a wrongdoing. Make sure you calm down the Momma Bear instinct and listen to the full accusation. When they are wrong, require them to face the consequences. When they mess up, gently and lovingly point them back in the right direction. If we teach our children from the moment they enter the world, that they are perfect and can never make a mistake, how can these children recognize their need for a Savior? How can these children know that they are sinners separated from a holy God if they are treated as if they have done no sin? Children need to understand 'all have fallen short of the glory of God'. (Romans 3:23) Children should know that they are loved no matter what, not that they are right no matter what.

   Like I said, these are just things that have been on my mind. I'm sure there are many things I will add to this later on but for now, it's all I can think of. Feel free to add to it, give me advice or present a different view. I haven't been a parent long and have no idea what I'm doing or how to do it. I'm sure I never will!