63: Save Over $500 on These Baby Item Swaps

Hey Mama, before we get started on today’s show I wanted to share something. A little strategy if you will. So, we all have those “What If” thoughts.

“What if the birth doesn’t go as planned?”

“What if my baby doesn’t latch after the birth?”

“What if my baby comes before I have things ready?” and then later “What if this baby doesn’t come before I’m induced…?”

So many fears. And the people around us often remind us not to forget these fears while sharing their own. Today, I want you to try (just try) to swap out some of those “what ifs” and see how different your body feels when you do. Here are some new “What-Ifs” for you: 

“What if my birth goes just as planned and I am supported the whole way through?”

“What if feeding my baby becomes so easy with practice and I have all the support I need lined up ahead of time to pivot smoothly?” 

“What if my baby comes at just the right time for them, when they are ready to enter the world and into my arms?”

“What would it feel like to take a break from fear?”

When your “What If” thoughts arise, as they do for all of us, and your body becomes tense or tight. Try flipping that “What If” to the opposite and see how it feels, it just might be what your mind and body needs today.

Now on to the show!

It’s easy to be swept up in the excitement of shopping in anticipation of your baby’s arrival. After all, nesting is natural, and feeling prepared gives us a sense of control. But expecting and new mothers, heck women in general, are constantly being marketed to. Companies want us to purchase things that will make us feel a certain way or “fix” a problem or address your biggest worry. But the truth is, your baby only has some basic needs- and you are at the top of that list.  Now, if I’m being honest there are some things which actually make life with a baby a bit simpler or more efficient for you. If you are more interested in saving than spending, or want to direct your money toward the most important things such as postpartum doula or that jogging stroller because you are an avid runner (notice I said, are an avid runner… not planning to become one after you give birth. I’m pointing at myself here haha). Or maybe you’d like to throw some extra money toward that HSA or have some extra cash to cover bills while on leave- then you’re going to love these ideas.

First up is the bottle sanitizer, which can run anywhere from $100-$300. Hot soapy water with a bottle brush works great for washing bottles and full term healthy babies do not require repeat sterilization. Just clean bottles.

Next is baby clothes. Now obviously you need baby clothes, but keeping it simple and getting just 8-10 simple onesies that are appropriate for your climate can save you tons. Baby clothes are the kind of thing that add up gradually so we don’t even realize it, are so cute they are tempting, and yet the super cute outfits are rarely used more than a couple of times because your baby will grow quickly. If you are a fashionista, and your baby is destined to be one too, you’ll get no judgement from me, but clothes are a great place to utilize hand me downs and save a bunch of cash. Plus friends and family usually love to gift baby outfits unless otherwise directed.

The third item you can save or spend a lot on is the crib. For parents who are not co-sleeping, your home layout and space is going to dictate some things like size. However, there is a wide array of crib prices and it’s on you to decide if you will look back and think $120 or $800 was worth it. Where I don’t suggest skimping is on the mattress since that’s where your baby is having contact for more than 12 hours a day for years.

Fourth is another big one, the changing table. If you already have a dresser with drawers that are an appropriate height and size, it’s a great option to slap a non-slip changing pad on top. Full changing dressers commonly run anywhere from $300 to $1000s of dollars depending on the brand. But some families find that a simple $10 washable/waterproof bed pad on the floor works amazingly without the risk of a baby falling off. And side note, these are great for travel as well as naked floor time to let your baby air out. If you want to save but want some type of storage for baby changing supplies and the ability not to lean over a bed or get down on the ground, there are simple changing stations with open shelves underneath that run closer to $40-$100. But hey, that’s still $100s of dollars in savings right there.

The fifth and last place to save is diapers. Because this is a somewhat costly and ongoing purchase, diapers end up making their own place on a monthly budget. Some families choose to go the cloth diaper route which has significantly improved since the days of diaper pins. One modern cloth diaper has various snaps to grow with your baby. So although each diaper may be pricey, the ongoing cost is eliminated saving you a significant amount of money long term if you stick with your cloth diaper investment. If you are not into cloth diapers, then buying diapers in bulk rather than a couple packs at a time can also save you a bundle. This takes a minute to figure out a grove on how many you need at a time and how many to get without risking ending up with a ton of too small diapers for your growing baby but it does save a bundle. Here’s an example breakdown: single packs of the same diaper size and brand come to approximately $111 monthly but a box of the same diapers adds up to $66 and that’s not including additional sales or coupons that places like Target offer. It doesn’t sound like a ton but as it is an ongoing cost for years…it’s something to consider.

So there you have it. Five things to save serious money on. Just by using these swaps you can save over $500 which can be redirected elsewhere. And for ideas on the most valuable baby registry gifts which pay dividends in your fourth trimester, tune in next week when we talk to the founder of BeHerVillage, a registry where your loved ones can put money toward professionals who help new moms.