How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

I'm obsessed with cheapness and want to cut as many corners as I can without depriving my future child.

I've browsed through Baby Bargains and other books, but want to know what other future moms-to-be are doing? (and BTDT mom's.. what's not necessary?)

I guess this question applies mostly to those of us that do not have 300 member families that buy everything off of the registry.

To answer my own question, I'm avoiding bedding sets at all costs. They seem to come with so many things that you don't need and cost a fortune. I plan on doing my bedding piece by piece and buy just the necessities..

Help! Gimme your best ideas!

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

First I joined the mailing list for coupons at both bru and bbb. I also started buying some stuff this past weekend (14 weeks), things that I know I could use.

Also you can look in stores like marshalls for baby items, once in a while they have baby items like pack and plays, bouncers, stuff like that. I didn't register yet but I plan to try to only register for stuff I will actually use, things like a wippie warmer are a waste imo, I also think just getting a jumper or an exersaucer is fine, I don't think you need both. I'm a clothes fanatic so its going to be hard for me to not over buy in clothing, so this is where I'm going to allow myself to go a little wild.

I think the main thing to do is just try to get the most of your dollar by buying items that will last, and are necessities.

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

Sign up for mailing lists to get lots of free samples. You can try different products so you don't have to waste so much money on products you won't ever use.

Also, you can save money by purchasing regular products instead of "baby" products. For instance, if you buy a humidifier for your child's room, you don't have to buy it from a baby store or the baby department. Buy a regular one!! It is $15 cheaper most of the time!

The bedding set is a complete waste. I wish I had listened when everyone told me this.

One last thing! When buying clothes, use coupons from The Childrens Place, Carters and Osh Kosh. It will save you 15 - 20% off each purchase. I try to buy his onesies a little bigger to let him grow into them instead of the exact right size that he will grow out of quickly. For pants, I buy the correct size.

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

We only buy bigger ticket items if we have 20% off coupons.

We bought a bedding set after the baby was here, and got it on clearance

Take hand me downs. You don't have to have all new clothes. You also don't have to use everything given to you.

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

There is tons of stuff that you use for such a short period of time that I think, borrow it if you can! for instance, you MUST know someone with a swing who can lend it you! Or even a bouncy chair, something like that!

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

BRU/BBB are convenient/helpful in terms of having a registry where your friends/family can shop from, etc. I definitely get that. But, for items YOU want/need to buy for baby (anything from car seat or furniture down to washcloths, bottles, etc)...look elsewhere too!!!

You can find the same exact things that BRU/BBB sell online (Amazon, etc) or in other stores (Wal-Mart, Target, etc) for much cheaper usually!

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

This is a great site for getting free stuff, including baby samples. http://www.freebies4mom.com/

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

Seriously, after having two kids, I've realized so much stuff that i thought was necessary was not. With #3, we got just the basics - new pack n play, swing, car seat and stroller. Some people did buy us some things, such as a bouncer (which we never used with the other kids)

But as for little things, I found most of it was a waste - like the wipes warmer, bedding sets, etc.....

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

I am going to try and save some money by buying the cheapest diapers possible for daycare. They change diapers every 2 hours so I feel like the heavy duty diapers aren't necessary.

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

I started buying stuff for the babies around 12 weeks. I only buy things on sale and use a coupon. Only 15 - 20 people are coming to my shower so I don't have much of a choice. I printed out the Registry Checklist. Crossed off things that don't apply to me. I started checking off things as I bought them. I buy a few things each week. I shop at BRU, BBB, Toys R' Us (they have different sales and often have things on clearance), Home Goods, Target, Walmart. The sales + coupons = huge savings!!!

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

I'm borrowing alot of things from friends, such as the bassinet, the walker, the glider etc.

I ALWAYS buy baby cothes for friends children's at TJ Maxx, Marshalls - name brand clothing for alot less than the actual store.

Using my dresser as a changing table instead of buying one.

Buying store brand baby wipes. Alot less $$ than name brand ones & they do the same job.

Not buying all these toys for DC when he/she is a newborn through at least 6 months. They don't need 7 rattles, 10 teethers, 12 jingle majigs...one or 2 of each is MORE than enough.

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

--Join every mailing list and freebie site you can. Create a dedicated AOL or other email address for those sign-ups as you will be INUNDATED with emails, so you'll want to preserve your "main" email for the important stuff like FB notifications and prayer chains

-- Skip the wipes warmer. Dumbest invention ever. Our nursery is arranged so that the wipes box gets sunlight all day - guess what, that's my solar-powered wipe warmer!

--Same for bottle warmers. Total waste of money.

-- Borrow everything you can; try to create a family/friend "pipeline" with preggos/moms you can pass things on/back to. This worked really well in my family.

-- Check out THIS AWESOME SITE for lots of "copycat" looks on the cheap!!!

-- FB is your friend - fan everything baby related to get on mailing lists, special secret coupon offers, etc. (Gap, children's place, oldnavy, tinyprints, gymboree, janieandjack etc)

-- Agree with store brand wipes. Costco's kirkland brand has a HUGE case for less than $20, the case lasts us 3 months or so and the wipes are great. For comparison, a 3pack refill of Pampers wipes (300 wipes) is $8.99.

-- Buy BIG on the staple items. BIG boxes of diapers (once you're past the 6 month point or so, when baby's weight stabilizes; prior to that it's not a good buy, he could outgrow the size you stocked up on!), formula, wipes, etc.

-- Sign up to ALL the photosites you can find, most of them offer 50 or 100 free prints to new customers - comes in handy for all those beautiful newborn photos, pro or amateur!!! Shutterfly, snapfish, kodak, mpix, hit them ALL!!!

-- Batteries. BATTERIES BATTERIES BATTERIES. Clip coupons, buy the BIG packages at Costco/BJs, throw some on your registry. (Tip, take some gauze tape and label your big items (bouncy, swing, exercauser, etc) with the # and type of battery it needs -- when they're running low, you'll know what you need without having to unscrew all the obnoxious covers on everything to find out!)

OK that's it from me for now!!!

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

Great tips! Everyone keeps saying mailing lists and freebie sites... can you tell me more? Where does one find these glorious nuggets of frugality?

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

For batteries, I always buy rechargeable batteries from Ebay. It is SO much cheaper than continuously buying ones that quickly die.

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

ok here's a few for ya!!!


pampers village

All the formula/food sites, similac.com, enfamil.com, gerber.com, earthsbest.com, yobaby.com

All the drugstore sites with reward programs- duanereade.com (but I think they just got bought by walgreens, right?), cvs.com, riteaid.com, etc.

All the "bulk" coupon sites, like http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com/, ebates.com, coupons.com

OH, and don't forget - at EVERY PEDIATRICIAN VISIT, ASK FOR SAMPLES - they have 'em and will give 'em to you!!!! My ped's assistants were GREAT and at every visit we walked out with diapers, RTF formula, and stacks of coupons!!!!

Also LOOK AROUND your doc's office, they have STACKS of coupons lying around, I was oblivious to these for about a year but noticed 'em last week (these are particularly prevalent during cold/flu season) I got coupons for $1 or MORE off of baby tylenol, baby saline solution, infant mylicon, baby motrin, vicks products, etc. Used some already, and these coupons are higher values than the ones I see in most of the ssunday papers!

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

these are all GREAT ideas! I'm notebooking this

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?

Cloth Diapers... I know people say "oh they are to hard" and "I'm bad at laundry"

but SERIOUSLY, I've spent $250 on diapers and my DD is 13 months

My laundry piles are THROUGH THE ROOF, but I ALWAYS have clean diapers. I wash every 3-4 days, and its SUPER easy and there is NOTHING like putting on a fresh, clean, warm fluffy diaper on that cute little bottoms

Great forum on CDing diaperswappers.com

FM me for any questions you may Have! I've helped a few moms on here CD and they LOVE IT!!!!

Re: How do you plan on saving money when buying baby "stuff"?