How To Save Money on Baby Items

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Hi, I’m a planner. I like to have everything ready to go and set up beforehand. I’m very picky about brands that I like and certain products I want to be extremely good quality and last me a long time. When I found myself pregnant with our first baby, I knew that we had to be extremely budget friendly: at the time, permanent roommate was up to his neck in building hours for his commercial pilots license. We didn’t have extra money to put towards baby items. Here’s how to save money on baby items when having my first baby.

The Planning Stage

Some time into my second trimester with my first baby, I spent practically a week on a list of items that I wanted for his arrival. I poured over different car seats, strollers, and high chairs, and developed a feasible list of all the items I felt were needs (or high priority wants) for junior. At the end of the list, I totaled all of the items and realized we were going to be dishing out almost $1,000 for items.

By the way, not everything on my list did I actually need. It was very hard to come up with a baby registry of items that I knew I was going to need. If you’re struggling with this stage, check out this blog post where I outline baby registry items you’re actually going to use.

Yikes! This was five years ago, so I know prices haven’t gotten less. In fact, I almost look back and am impressed by how low I got that number. Still, in the thick of it back then, I knew we couldn’t afford to spend that much money on top of an upcoming doctor’s bill. Discouraged, I threw the paper away.

I Quickly Got Discouraged!

This threw me into a trance of penny pinching and saving in order to get the items that I knew we needed. When baby boy arrived early January, and we brought him home to our fully furnished apartment, I was amazed by how we had everything we needed.

Now, five years and four babies later, I’ve learned ways to save money on baby items, and been able to take those same ideas and pour them into how I handle items I need to have for my toddlers and boyhood lifestyle. Read on for my personal tips and tricks on ways to save money with your first baby.

Tip #1: Know What to Buy Secondhand

Hi, Facebook marketplace is your new best friend. So are garage sales, I might add. Some of the big ticket items I knew I wanted I was able to find for a fraction of the cost. Take a baby swing: certainly not a necessity, but definitely a useful investment in my opinion. I almost dreaded the day each of my babies turned 6 months old and were way too old for them to be in the baby swing. It was, for me, a life saver.

When I was looking into baby swings, I knew I wanted an exact brand from Fisher Price. I waited until Black Friday when I knew it was on sale for $80 off. I knew I was going to be dishing out a whopping $100 still, but to me, it was worth it. Thankfully, at the time I was with a sister in law during lunch who asked me if I wanted her baby swing (her youngest was just old enough to be out of it). Wouldn’t you know, it was the exact same brand.

Aside from the coincidence being an obvious “God-send”, I was ecstatic and floored that I was able to save the money. Unfortunately, when my son was about two months old, the machine croaked for good. It was understandable, he was the fourth baby to use it. Devastated, I turned to Facebook marketplace. I was able to find the exact brand again for $30 (a lot less than the original $100 I was going to spend on the marked down swing in the first place).

What’s the point? There’s certain baby items that you can find in good condition off of Facebook Marketplace that will save you some serious cash. Even if you end up with an item with functioning parts but it’s in need of a good cleaning, if you have the right knowledge you can make it look practically brand new.

What To Look For

Aside from the baby swing, I’ve found plenty of other items secondhand that have worked out perfectly. These include a crib, bassinet, stroller, changing table, and even a car seat. You have to be careful though; don’t be afraid to say no even when you meet up to look at it.

For instance, make sure all the wheels are smooth and the brakes work on a stroller. Definitely inspect the car seat over and under to be sure it hasn’t been in an accident before and isn’t expired. Don’t be afraid to smell the bassinet or baby seat for smoking just to be sure.

Tip #2: Consignment Stores Are Your Friend

Clothes can be expensive. I had lots of family and friends send baby clothes to me, and having all boys has certainly cut the costs down on clothing. However, by the time your child is 18 months (especially if he’s an active toddler boy), you’re going to need to buy new clothes on a regular basis.

I’m extremely picky about the clothes my boys wear. Especially now that they’re older and we homeschool, I don’t ever want to look like “that family” that only has hand-me-down out of style clothes to wear. I don’t mind for play clothes but when they go out, it’s a big deal to me that we’re not wearing stains. Additionally, I want the boys to wear clothes with fun graphics like airplanes or fire engines. Children like to look good too.

Unfortunately, the more unique, fun styles I prefer to dress my boys in, the harder it is to stay in budget. That’s where finding a good consignment shop comes in handy. I have two favorite stores within an hour of me I go to on a somewhat regular basis. The nice thing about them is the store owners are already picky about what items they sell. I know I can find unique, lightly worn clothes at a fraction of the cost that I would normally pay.

Consignment Store Advantages

If you have boys, consignment stores give you an extra advantage. I’ve found it difficult to find decent church or wedding outfits for my older two sons to wear. I should say it’s somewhat difficult to find classy outfits for 4-5 year-olds. It’s almost impossible to find classy outfits that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

On one such shopping trip where I was trying to find a decent outfit for my 5 year old to wear to a friends wedding, I was having no luck. I was finding either way to dressed up outfits or clothes you would wear to a carnival. After the fourth store, I gave up. I piled the boys into the van and drove to my go-to consignment store as a last ditch effort. Would you believe I walked out of the store with 8 outfits for all three boys and spent less than $100!

I know, this is more of a toddler tip than new mom tip. However, they have lots of baby outfits to offer as well. Now, being pregnant with my fourth, my stash of newborn-6 month clothes have been through three kids already. After sifting through and getting rid of the worn out clothes, I desperately needed a shopping trip. Again, a trip to the consignment store gave me exactly what I needed at a fraction of the cost.

Once your child is done wearing the items, especially if he or she is the youngest, you can turn right around and sell the good clothes back. No, you’re not going to make what you spent on them. However, you will be able to use the money that you make for larger sized clothes.

Tip #3: Think Outside of the Box With Your Birth Plans

I say this with a grain of salt, because I know not everyone has the privilege of choosing how they birth a baby. So let me preface by stating that this is mainly for those of us who are fortunate enough to experience healthy pregnancies and babies.

I think the number one priority we should all have as mothers is delivering our babies where we’re going to get the best care and we’re going to be the most comfortable throughout the birth process. I would be amiss to state though, that saving some money in the process is incredibly nice.

My first son was born in the hospital. I hated my experience. I didn’t like that they took my baby away. Unlike my mother’s experience, I didn’t feel pampered. Even though I know they have reasons for doing it, I didn’t want nurses coming in every four hours to take my blood pressure. I didn’t sleep well. And lastly, I was the furthest thing from comfortable. I just wanted to go home.

An Alternative

When I was pregnant with our second son, I knew I wanted a change. We were living in Kansas at the time, in a two bedroom duplex. I also knew I didn’t want to have the baby at home. Literally, one day on a random drive with my husband “exploring” the backroads of Kansas, we drove past a birth and women’s health center. I called them, booked a meeting, and have never looked back.

Birthing centers in my opinion are the perfect happy medium. I can go there, deliver the baby, and be home within hours, resting in my own bed. I had my next two sons there. It was glorious. If we’re discussing price points, the hospital stay alone for baby number one around $7,000 after discounts/insurance. Babies two and three were less than 5, including prenatal care.

If you’re looking for more information, check out this post I wrote that answers all your questions about having a baby at a birthing center.

Tip #4: Make Your Own Baby Food

I actually didn’t start doing this until baby number three. Up until this point, I really utilized the baby food aisle of the grocery store with every shopping trip. Yes, I still like to use the baby food pouches when we’re out and about. They really cut back on the mess and allow us to be able to keep baby happy and fed when we’re not at home.

Otherwise, though, I really save a lot of money by making baby food at home. With a good blender, frozen packaged fruits and fresh produce, I can make a weeks supply of food for a fraction of the cost. My favorite products are these baby food containers because I can keep them frozen.

I’m able to spend a few hours making food that will last baby up to a month, depending on how ambitious I am. (As an Amazon Affiliate, I can make a commission off of items that you buy at no additional cost to you).

If you’re curious, check out this blog post on everything you need to know about transitioning to baby food. This includes what specifically I make and freeze in those jars.

Tip #5: Let’s Talk About Diapering

It’s no secret that the number one most expensive item you’ll be spending on your new bundle of joy is diapering. Who knew pooping costs that much? One big solution is to go the cloth diaper route. I was one who tried that for about a year and a half.

Why Cloth Diapers Suck

In my experience, it wasn’t worth it to me. I know a lot of women do it because they like the nontoxic/crunchy things. This is why I call myself scrunchy. I’m not that extreme. Yes, cloth diapers have minimal toxins that reach baby’s bum. If you decide to cloth diaper for that alone, then great for you!

If you’re doing it on a financial standpoint, the amount of money you save in my opinion isn’t worth it. You are going to be doing extra washing. Unless you’re on well water, your water bill is going to go up every month. You’re putting money into the diapers you’re buying to build your diaper stash. You’re also going to need a pail and at least one wet sack for the nasty diapers.

Lastly, you put time into cleaning the diapers. You’re rinsing out the poo, washing an extra load (usually you’re washing that load twice), laying them out to dry in the sun, and reusing them. Seriously, they weren’t worth it to me.

Are There Any Other Options?

So what’s the alternative? Either putting lots of money into diapers that don’t contain harsh chemicals, or buying cheaper diapers that don’t hold up, contain lots of toxic chemicals, and contribute to diaper rash. What I’ve found that works for me is Hello Bello.

First off, I love that their wipes are unscented and contain minimal ingredients. Also, they’re quite sturdy and can wipe up a lot. That’s a must for me. Secondly, I really like that their diapers are clean and don’t carry a lot of toxins. Having their diaper subscription helps me allot $80/month every month towards diapers and wipes and I don’t have to worry about running out.

Lastly, I will say, buying their baby wash, bug spray, sunscreen, and other items is a plus. I really do like their products and they certainly work for me. You can get started here; I also have a referral code, STEPHANIES-5CR for 20% off. *As an affiliate, I could earn a commission off any purchases at no additional cost to you.

Tip #6: Wait! You Don’t Need Everything Right Away

Babies are surprisingly simple human beings. Aside from a constant supply of food, clean diaper, bath every now and then, and good rest, there’s not a whole lot they need. If you have an item that looks nice, you think you might use, but you’re not sure, wait.

You never know if you’ll find that item at a garage sale or flea market. You also, at this point, don’t know if you’ll actually need it. If you wait and find out you need it, you can go get it then. If you wait and find that it’s something nice to have but not imperative, you can find ways to do without until the right opportunity arises.

Tip #7: Ditch the Cute Nursery

This tip hurt the most when I was pregnant with our first. I had such big dreams about having a special nursery just for junior. If I’m honest, I still get a twinge of jealousy when I see a new mom showing off her perfect nursery for her soon to arrive bouncing baby.

Shortly after I became pregnant, I just knew it wasn’t in the cards for us at the moment. Aside from the funds, we were in a small duplex and needed the space for storage and for visiting friends/family. Sadly, I gave up on having the nursery of my dreams.

Honestly, it’s overrated. Yes, we all want to have the Pinterest-perfect, Instagram worthy nursery. And it’s fun to plan and buy. But, if you’re bent on saving money and putting it towards more important items, ditch the cute nursery.

Looking back, do I regret it now? At the moment I’m pregnant with our fourth boy. We finally became homeowners last fall, and our three sons share a bedroom. I was able to paint it, put up neat animal themed wallpaper, and I’m working on getting comforters for their beds that go with their theme. Let me tell ya, the older three boys were way more excited about their cool new room than a baby cared to be.

Yes, it’s great to be able to have a nursery for yourself. But seriously, the baby needs a bassinet/crib, warmth, and love. Everything else is just fluff.

Tip# 8: Think Outside the Box

This last tip doesn’t have to do with just saving money on baby items. It’s more so a tip for anyone who’s wanting to save money. For the items I knew I needed and didn’t want to break the bank to purchase but there simply wasn’t any other way, I started to get creative.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the survey sites and receipt uploads that pay you in gift cards for your time. Over the years, they’ve definitely come in handy. No, this is not a get rich scheme, and you’re certainly not going to make enough to live off of. But, by dedicating a few minutes a day to answering surveys and uploading receipts, you have an opportunity to always have a gift card ready to spend to give you some extra playroom on Amazon or Walmart hauls.

My favorite apps to use are Swagbucks, YouGov, Ibotta, and Fetch. If you want more information, you can read about them here.

In Summary,

Having your first baby can be so overwhelming because you really aren’t sure what exactly to expect. There’s no need to fuss extra about finances and how you’re going to afford everything you will need when junior arrives. Follow these tips to insure you stay out of the stress stage with a surefire plan.

Is there something I missed? Share how you saved extra money on baby items in the comments below!