This post will share some absolute basics: Having a Baby on a Budget: What a Baby Really Needs
If you like this post please check out our companion – Having a Baby on a Budget. What a Baby Doesn’t Need
I love bringing you great tips like these about having a baby on a budget and what a baby truly needs. To explain a bit more about myself, I have to tell you that I’m Dutch. I was born in the Netherlands and, though I’m not tall with blond hair and blue eyes,
I have a few qualities that are often attributed to my heritage. If I had a middle name, which I don’t (another Dutch quirk), it would be Frugal.
When we were expecting our first baby we did the regular things like sign up for a baby registry and save up for some bigger purchase items (like a nice stroller and car seat combination, baby monitor, breast pump etc). We were also blessed with a couple of bigger items (like a crib, rocking chair, playpen) from our parents.
And, even though no one threw us a baby shower, we still managed to get a few gifts from excited friends and family. We didn’t spend a lot but we didn’t spend a minimal amount either. Having a baby on a budget is possible, even without giant baby showers and extravagant gifts from friends.
Our second son came and we bought some good quality cloth diapers and a used toddler bed for our oldest son.
Our third is due shortly and I have bought a couple more wool diaper covers and a pair of infant size booties.
Neither are ‘needs’ and I got both at a really great price from local mom-to-mom garage sale sites.
It is amazing how priorities change when you have been parenting for a while. All the pretty things that seemed so important to us with our first son don’t matter as much.
I have read a few different books, articles, and blog posts about having a baby on a budget and they still seem to have a lot of extras listed on it.
Table of Contents
Having A Baby On A Budget: What A Baby Really Needs
Here’s the lowdown: babies eat, sleep, and poop.
It’s not as glamorous as it sounds, but it is the truth. For awhile after they are born, this will be the bulk of their routine.
Being prepared for that is much more important than your child having a fashionable wardrobe or the latest toys.
Stage 1 Frugality:
Breastmilk is free, co-sleeping is free, and elimination communication is free. That would be the simplest and most frugal way to have a baby. Add a few standard things like a car seat if you drive.
Perhaps some sleepers or onesies (online swap groups are an awesome resource for this) and you’re all set. Infant car seats can also be borrowed from a friend (it isn’t recommended to buy used as you don’t know the history of the seat).
Stage 2 Frugality:
Add some used cloth diapers (flats or prefolds are the most cost effective and fitteds with a cover are the next stage) and a simple baby carrier. Newborns can really sleep anywhere as they don’t roll around.
Many-a-mom has put her little one in a laundry basket or a drawer for the first few months instead of a bassinet.
The most important thing that a baby needs is a pair of loving arms. That’s the way babies were raised for many, many generations before selling baby goods became a multi-billion dollar industry.
Keep that in mind when you start feeling like you need to be a millionaire before you have kids.
Avoiding buying unnecessary items is a great start.
All your baby needs is you. If you are diligent about having a baby on a budget you’ll find it easy to manage when you follow our advice and focus on the baby needs and not just what is fashionable at the time.
Check out our other post about what a baby doesn’t need! Check out this article 10 Tips for safe co-sleeping
Also, Check out How to Simplify The Wedding Registry Process
I agree with you! Babies need mom, not stuff!
Thanks. And I agree with you that real objects are such a great thing for kids! Though it would be great if y kitchen utensils made it back to my kitchen more consistently after playdough time 😉
You hit the nail on the head! Babies need moms and not all the stuff.
Love this! I wrote a very similar post long ago, we have some of the same ideas on life it seems 🙂
I did breastfeed and we did co-sleeping, (and I am frugal), but I it didn’t matter how much I could save, I just couldn’t do cloth diapers. 🙂 But you are so right, you do not need a lot of money to have a baby.
Yup, we first time moms sure do end out with a bunch of barely used stuff.
love the tips! we just had baby #4 in November and our priorities were very different from the 1st time around.
Love your tips. I nursed but didn’t cloth diaper (working mom). My favorite extra that I got with our second kid (of three) was my Mei Tai babywearing wrap.
It is funny how priorities change! Babies definitely need mom, though!
Great post! So true. I didn’t have a lot of things when I had my kids and I raised them just fine. It’s nice to have conveniences but they can be overrated.
Great tips!I loved nursing- I miss it!
Having had 6 kids we are very frugal. Love and caring are what make a family not stuff.
Great post… I’m expecting #3 and my priorities are definitely different this time… Less is more and used is awesome!
For a second there I was thinking I had wrote this as it’s so similar to us! 🙂 We spent $40 on diapers & potties with our 3rd as I had given away everything due to the 7 year difference between our middle and the youngest. We coslept, breastfed, used second hand clothes. We also Ec’d! I love how more and more families are seeing the value and the comfort and safety that is a healthy family and babe sleeping together.
I did see you on ahalogy and I’m pinning this to my birth board. I’m off to read through and pin some more great advice.
~Honey
I think I have the same middle name as you! I have five kids, and my poor last kid gets nothing! And I decided I needed less and less with each kid. None of my kids would take the bottle either.
I am a first time mom ,so far we have been lucky to receive a used crib and clothes .I am very frugal and plan on making wipes today from scrap flannel I have in my sewing stash .I plan on buying used cloth diapers but can’t afford a car seat or stroller , or the midwife .I budget and there is only enough for us to get by and about 30$ left after . I cut all unessential things out like cable eating out etc .I’m not picky about used as long as its safe . Hoping my friends and church members have used baby stuff they don’t need . But can’t count on it . Any ideas ?
If you live in the NYC area, we have a stroller for you!
(Social Media Intern Comment): As a young wife who’s mom went through menopause in her 30s, I would like to have kids early on before I lose the opportunity but many people advise against it because I don’t have the millions they think I should have saved first. This blog was very helpful and heartwarming. Thank you!
Great tips! We’re expecting our first in September, and I can use all the help I can get. Thanks for sharing!
I just made up my Amazon registry for my 3rd child. It was funny, because I’ve got a 1 and 3 year-old and never did a registry with either. I’m with you- kids don’t need much to get along. With mine I’ve found that a good breast pump was helpful, but not essential (I’m a SAHM) and cloth diapers were important. Other than than and a few pairs of pajamas and a carseat and baby carrier, we were set to go!
Haha, this is so true. For some reason, those pregnancy hormones get moms blinded by the actual costs of baby stuff! Thank goodness we had (and still do have) really limited budget so I didn’t go over the top in my expenses. Oh wait, I almost did and was really frustrated about the material things and even with education when our daughter was only 2mos old. Wow! I snapped out of that though and now we’re totally considering homeschooling so we could have more time together, too.
Thanks for linking up at the Living With Style Linky Party, by the way!
http://heymissadventures.com/living-with-style-linky-party-1/
So many great tips and so true!
Thanks for sharing at The Living With Style Linky Party!
Lory xo
The Robin’s Nest Designs
You’re so right! Babies don’t need a ton of junk. Just lots of love. We haven’t spent much on our munchkin, and we’re not missing anything.
Thanks for sharing at the #homematterslink. We’re glad to have you.