photo credit: Matthieu Luna via photopin cc
Our post Having a Baby on a Budget: What Your Baby Really Needs is one of our most popular posts. It has some great tips on how to be frugal when having a baby but what about all of that other ‘stuff’ people say you need when having a baby?
Having A Baby On A Budget: What Baby Doesn’t Need
I asked our amazing contributors what they spent money on and wish they hadn’t. There are many items that just aren’t as useful to some as the advertisements lead you to believe. Having a baby on a budget means avoiding some expenses that just aren’t necessary for your baby to be happy and healthy.
Check out our contributors answers about what to avoid buying for the baby below:
Baby Bullet![]()
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I pictured myself using a Baby Bullet to make all my homemade jars of baby food but it just wasn’t big enough. Honestly my blender worked much better and since my blender is glass and not plastic it did not get stained from the carrot puree like the Baby Bullet did. Using what I already had on hand was a much better way to have a baby on a budget.
The Latest and Greatest – I bought most of my baby items used or had them passed down to me (I did have one or two splurges). Tammy Doiel said “the baby doesn’t know if it’s the newest or latest version. Used is great in almost anything (except car seats).”
Bumbo – I loved my Bumbo but I did not use it long. My daughter fit into it for 6 weeks max. Anna (Piper’s Run) said her two girls sat in it about 5 times in total. Not worth the price. Let’s reserve the Bumbo for the ‘if you get it used or super cheap’ pile. <
Baby Shoes
Baby Nail Clippers
If you are excited about the upcoming birth of your child but really needing to make sure you are able to have your baby on a budget, these are just a few simple items you can easily save money on by not purchasing.
I want to know what you think. What baby item did you think was a must have but then never used?
Check out our other great tips for bringing a new baby into your family!
Having A Baby On A Budget: What Baby Really Needs
5 Ways To Keep Your Baby Safe When They Learn To Crawl
Potty Training your Big Kid with Huggies Pull-Ups
I have to agree about those nail clippers, I really struggled with them. I gave up on the magnifying glass and just cut. I hurt him a few times! Now I just use mine and he tolerates it better.
Oh we got a second hand Bumbo and it was never used. I heard from my lactation consultant who is also a physiotherapist that it wasn’t good for the baby anyway.
Re – skinny jeans – I noticed red marks on Nicky’s inner leg (under knee) with one particular pair and stopped wearing those.
Baby towels, too. My son grew out of them after he was 8 months old. He often uses regular towels after a bath, just so I can wrap him up all the way.
The crib. We bought a pack n play, and used it as a bassinet. Buy the crib later on when it’s eventually needed.
Breastfeeding pillow, — I never used it.
I disagree with the nail clippers, I LOVE mine, yea the magnifying glass is useless though.
LOL, we are all different parents, right? I agree with a crib though, wait a bit. We used the bassinet and then a crib at about 6 months.
I purchased practically everything a baby could need from a coworker who had decided she wasn’t having more children.
I paid $380 for a Simmons lifetime (convertible) crib w/ Simmons mattress and matching changing table, pack and play, bassinet, bouncer, bumbo, medela double pump, Eddie Bower car seat and convertible stroller combo, and two storage tubs full of clothes, blankets, socks, and towels. You’re talking $1,500+ worth of merchandise for $380!
I never used the nursing pillow for nursing. It does make a good prop for baby though. My son hates the bumbo. I use the baby towels for light blankets most of the time. All of his swaddlers were gifts and only used like the first month. I did breast milk until I returned to work. I buy a pack of 100 diaper disposal bags at Dollar Tree for $1 for his dirty diapers and don’t have a stinky trash problem. I also got a wipe warmer in the package deal. It’s ok I guess, but I wouldn’t have purchased one otherwise. I’ve bought diapers from stores that specialize in damaged goods at deep discounts. The box might be damaged, but the diapers are wrapped in sealed plastic. I bought 140+ count boxes that are regularly $45 for around $23. I did have two baby showers, one from work and one from church. I haven’t used the month to month picture frames, waterproof stroller cover, and a few other misc items I received. Although, I did ask for diapers and wipes. I didn’t have to buy any diapers through size 4 and have enough wipes to last seemingly forever. I use store brand formula now. Store brand cereal. I bought baby foods on clearance for .25-.50/jar. I’ve bought socks off clearance racks and sleepers as low as .49 at Ross. I’m as cheap as cheap comes.
I agree with the Bumbo’s being pointless. But never mind that, they are actually really bad for your babies back. Your baby needs core muscles in order to sit up but them selves and forcing them to sit by using a Bumbo or Walking ring does not benefit them it merely puts pressure on their tiny spine. rather prop them up with pillows, that way if their little body gets tired they can lean back comfortably.
I so agree that baby doesn’t need most of the “must haves” advertised. I babysit my godson every day after having 2 girls myself. We didn’t want to spend a ton on baby things because space in our house was an issue adding baby number 3. We brought the crib down from the attic, made a few heavy blankets and some receiving blankets, we have two sheets, 4 bottles, diapers, wipes four sleepers, 4 bibs, 2 spoons, 2 pacifiers, a lion toy and a nuby bead toy, and a car seat. I take car of this child 11 hours every day and have never needed anything more than this. Eventually I will add a high chair when he gets too wiggly to hold and maybe a ride on toy and a ball when he’s old enough to play outside with the big kids.