| Having children doesn't have to be as expensive as it | | | | much cheaper and just as effective. If memory |
| seems. The expression, "Hindsight is 20/20" definitely | | | | serves, a container of generic wipes was about $1.99. I |
| applies to having children. We have learned a lot since | | | | figured the cost of my homemade version to be about |
| having our first child (of three) and these tips come | | | | .50 maybe .75 but not more than that. |
| from practical experience as parents, NOT from the | | | | Here is a recipe for homemade wipes. This is a |
| overpriced expectations placed upon us by | | | | GREAT way to use up all those bottles of baby |
| manufacturers. Had I known THEN, what I know NOW, | | | | supplies you'll get at a shower, by the way! |
| we would have saved a considerable sum of money | | | | -Good quality paper towels. We bought the |
| beginning with our first, NOT our third! | | | | select-a-size brand at the warehouse store to save |
| -Babies grow fast in their first year. They also don't | | | | cutting the paper towel roll in half and it kept the cost |
| wear anything out. If you've been blessed with an | | | | down. Fold halved towel in half again. Place into plastic |
| abundance of new baby clothes from a baby shower, | | | | container (recycled wipes containers do work well). |
| be practical. Keep a reasonable amount of newborn | | | | -mix 2 cups of water with 2 TBS of baby lotion (or |
| sizes and exchange newborn sizes for bigger sizes, all | | | | creamy style baby oil) and 1 TBS of baby wash. |
| the way up to one year. | | | | Microwave or heat well for two minutes, pour over |
| - I would also NOT take the tags off your newborn | | | | wipes. |
| clothes. I had an abundance of newborn sizes for our | | | | . |
| first (I did NOT exchange sizes and washed | | | | -Babies do NOT need special laundry detergents |
| everything before he was born) but when he popped | | | | unless they develop skin sensitivities. This is another |
| out a staggering 22 1/2" long and 9lbs 7oz, the | | | | one of those things new parents think is a must (well |
| newborn outfits BARELY fit! We had to buy bigger | | | | the ads would make you THINK you needed this!) I |
| sizes. What a waste. | | | | even confirmed this with our pediatrician. If they DO |
| -Never refuse bags of hand-me-downs or pass-along | | | | develop sensitivities, switching to one of the "free" type |
| clothes. Stains happen. Babies just do that. An outfit | | | | detergents might be all you need. |
| that is slightly stained is perfect for wear at home and | | | | -Children do NOT need lots of expensive toys. |
| most times when you're out and about, the baby is | | | | Seriously, think of that commercial with the expensive |
| tucked into a carrier or stroller or something, and no | | | | toy and the toddler with the box that the expensive |
| one is going to see the little stain. Not to mention that | | | | toy came in. That kid plays with the BOX, not the toy! |
| no one is looking for stains, they're looking at the | | | | A recent trip to the toy store made us laugh. They had |
| gorgeous little angel you've got instead! | | | | this electronic drum for babies/toddlers for 12.99. We |
| The pass-along clothes apply to older kids as well. We | | | | remembered how our oldest found sheer joy and |
| camp. The kids wear these pass-along clothes when | | | | pleasure sitting on our kitchen floor with my pots, pans |
| we camp. I don't worry if an already worn-a-bit shirt | | | | and bowls and a wooden spoon banging away. Oh, |
| gets hit with mud, fish-guts or snagged and ripped on a | | | | and the pots and pans didn't need batteries either. |
| tree. The clothing didn't cost me anything and the boys | | | | Basically, think twice and three times before buying |
| get to be boys without worrying about clothes. | | | | costly toys. A little imagination (or a book) goes a long |
| -Do not hesitate to shop for kids clothes at tag sales | | | | way in turning basic household things into fun toys. |
| and thrift stores. I have found brand new jeans (tags | | | | -Baby food. Make your own. Eliminate salt and extra |
| from store still on) at the Salvation Army for only 3.99 | | | | spices and just cook longer and then run through a |
| pair versus the $15.99 on the tag! If you find a great | | | | chopping machine (I LOVE my mini chopper- $10 and it |
| outfit in bigger sizes than you currently need, store | | | | was used for more than just baby food). Baby food |
| them in a bin. You'll go "shopping" for those bigger | | | | freezes in ice cube trays quite nicely. Don't be fooled |
| sizes eventually, trust me, they grow FAST. | | | | by "baby" juice. 100% fruit juice is just that, 100% fruit |
| -Let's talk diapers. Cloth is a cheaper way to go if you | | | | juice. Buy the big bottle of apple juice on sale for .99 |
| wash your own. I admit we did NOT do cloth. So, that | | | | and water it down (most pediatricians recommend a |
| said, expensive disposables are just that-expensive! | | | | limited amount of fruit juice anyways and watering it |
| After having babies that could blow out the best of | | | | down stretches that). |
| the disposables, we started trying the less expensive | | | | -Daycare. I have been on both sides of the fence. I've |
| brands and found that they worked just as well, at a | | | | been a working mom AND a stay at home mom. |
| fraction of the cost! When it came to disposables, I got | | | | Again, hindsight being 20/20, I'd encourage you to really |
| whatever was cheapest, be it with a coupon and sale | | | | consider avoiding this expense. We thought that we |
| or sale alone. I DID find a brand of generics I didn't like | | | | couldn't do without my almost full-time paycheck but in |
| and avoided, but for the most part, they did the job. | | | | the end, we figured out that daycare cost us a lot of |
| -Baby wipes. Here is a medical fact for you. Human | | | | money and that I could work a very part-time schedule |
| urine is sterile. It does not contain bacteria (unless there | | | | and NET the same money. Truly, try and figure out |
| is an infection-different story). You wipe the urine off | | | | how to avoid daycare if possible. |
| the baby because uric acid crystals will form and | | | | -Needs versus Wants. This is especially true if money |
| irritate the skin. That said, you don't have to reach for | | | | is tight. Don't hesitate to think twice before you buy |
| an expensive baby wipe with each wet diaper. I used | | | | something for kids. Manufacturers would have you |
| a baby type face cloth that I rinsed off between | | | | think you NEED it all, but the reality is, your mother and |
| diaper changes (each day was a fresh towel). | | | | your grandmother did without a lot of this stuff so |
| For diapers that are a little more "messy" shall we say, | | | | chances are you can, too. |
| you can use the wash clothes but you'll need to wash | | | | Tammy Paquin is a work from home mom of 3 boys. |
| them in hot water with bleach to kill bacteria (which | | | | She is the publisher of Frugal-Families, a site devoted |
| works well if you've gone with cloth diapers). We | | | | to frugality, budgeting, families and helping everyone |
| preferred to use homemade baby wipes, which were | | | | stretch their hard-earned dollars. |