How to save $7379 in the first year of your baby’s life.

Having babies is expensive, however I tentatively put forwards that we make them more expensive than they need to be. Every baby forum, store, website and magazine seems to have a list as long as your arm telling you what you ‘need’ to buy. But with a little restraint and a little creativity you can avoid buying most of these must have ‘necessities’. Now I am not saying you have to parent frugally if you don’t want to and I imagine there are a load of things you are looking forwards to buying, also, what one person finds useful another will find useless. Nor is this a list of commandments, choose to utilise or ignore my advice as you decide. But this is me telling you that you don’t have to buy all of the things. You can get by with less and not miss it, if you choose to.

Nappies

Most people know you can save money by going cloth with nappies, just one nappy can save you approximately $320 per year. There is a little problem in that once people go cloth they fall into a wormhole of cute MCN madness and buy ALL OF THE NAPPIES. If you can avoid this trap and stick to prefolds or old fashioned flats then you can save a bundle. The saving schedule for this one is a little complex and includes calculations for savings over 3 years vs outlay, laundry costs versus disposal cost and purchase cost for nappies. The figure reached is approximate based on information provided by Nudey Rudey.

Cost for disposable $4510 Cost for cloth $595          (calculated over a 3 year period)

$3915 SAVED

No Nappies

If you decide to give Elimination Communication a go you won’t even need nappies or you could certainly get by with less. If you are doing dedicated EC you would need a potty, no more than 5 cloth nappies and some baby knickers or baby training pants.

Cost for cloth $595 Cost for EC $85

$510 SAVED

Change table

While we are on the topic of nappies and changing, babies don’t need to have a change table. It might be useful to store nappies in, but an old basket will do just as well for that. We change our son on the floor or bed, it’s safer and cheaper. You can use a change mat, or even an old towel will do.

Cost of nappy change table $479 Cost of change mat $29

$450 SAVED

Wipes

Wipes are one of the highest nappy rash factors, to save your baby’s bum and your wallet Instead you can buy a couple of sets of facecloths and use warm water for changes.

Cost for commercial wipes $622 Cost for facecloths $30 (calculated over 3 years)

$592 SAVED

Nappy bag

Purpose made nappy bags are handy, the really fancy ones are a fashion statement and a convenient carry all for baby related stuff. But you don’t need them. A large purse, existing back pack or sturdy shopping bag will do. You can put your nappy related stuff in a handy plastic ziplock back and tuck it into whatever you currently use. I have made an art of not needing a bulky nappy bag, it means I can get around a lot more easily

Cost of nappy bag $140 Cost of no nappy bag $0

$140 SAVED

Stroller

Strollers are handy, I used our stroller almost every day for nap time. But they are usually expensive (Between $299-$1300 for sturdy ones) and they are not essential. I know that is a huge paradigm shift for most parents but since I ditched the stroller I have found getting around easier, more comfortable and much quicker. If you get a baby carrier instead, which range in cost from $80-$230 you can save yourself some dollars and get some nice one on one time with your baby, it also means you can get to a lot of places much more easily than parents who are trying to wrangle a stroller.

Cost of stroller $399 Cost of baby carrier $120

$279 SAVED

Milk

I get it, breastfeeding is not for everyone and for some of us it can be hard hard work. But if you can get the support you need and work through any issues then it can be a huge cost saver. Most women don’t have to increase their diet much if at all to account for the extra 300 calories used to make breastmilk and even then it’s just another sandwich and some fruit. If you avoid the need for pumping you save any more. Most nursing mothers need nothing more than some loose comfortable tops, some reusable nursing pads and a really great nursing bra or two. When you compare this with the cost of formula, bottles and steriliser it’s a big saving.

Cost of formula and equipment $1429 Cost of breastfeeding $195

$1234 SAVED

Nursing or feeding cushion

Any old pillow will do, or even better use nursing techniques that don’t require cushions. If you are bottle feeding, instead of propping you can hold your baby.

Cost for specialised nursing cushion $109 Cost for existing cushion $0

$109 SAVED

Baby food

Babies need to eat at some stage, this is true. But they don’t need to eat as early as 4 months and they don’t need pre packaged food. You can skip the puree stage altogether and at $1.50 per jar that’s not small change. Babies can eat what you eat or you can make your own puree for them if you are taking that route. Overall a much cheaper proposition by up to half the cost of pre prepared baby food.

Cost for packaged baby food $864 Cost for home made baby food $432

$432 SAVED

Bouncer/Walker/ Jolly Jumper/ Entertainment unit

Okay well the last one was a joke, kind of. I was in a baby store the other day and saw a wiggling, jiggling, music playing, hypnotising strap in baby pod. I had flashbacks to the matrix. Now babies do love to be jiggled, sung to and held it’s true but you don’t need to buy something to do it.You may want to, but if you are money conscious you don’t have to, and there is actually plenty of evidence that indicates a lot of these things can be developmentally inappropriate or downright dangerous. Best to skip them or if you really want a baby gym then a string tied between some furniture with socks or pegs hanging off of it is just as exciting.

Cost of bouncer or equivalent unit $149 Cost of alternative $0

$149 SAVED

Shoes

Babies don’t need shoes. Shoes will not help them walk faster or better. Shoes DO make great chew toys, they are excellent at falling off of feet and making your child’s journey from rolling to crawling and sitting a little more cumbersome

 Cost of shoes $80 Cost of no shoes $0

$ 80 SAVED

Clothes

Okay you got me, babies probably DO need clothes, but I bet they don’t need as many as you have bought. For newborns, the best way to regulate temperature and keep baby content and protected is to wear them close to you and to wear them skin to skin. Wearing a baby means less layers and less clothes overall. Especially in newborn sizes. Babies also don’t need to be changed and bathed every day. Layers close to the skin can be left on for up to 3 days or more barring any poosplosions.

Cost of full layette for newborn baby $199 Cost of baby basics $100

$99 SAVED

Eating utensils

If you are skipping the puree at early ages you can ditch the special plastic weaning spoons, you can also skip the food storage containers and food bowls. If you choose to do baby led weaning then the only utensils baby needs are known as ‘left’ and ‘right’ and they have five fingers each. When your miniature gourmand moves on to cutlery there is nothing wrong with the family cutlery, family plates and family cups. Learning to drink from a cup is a steep learning curve but it is surprisingly quickly mastered if you just let them have at it and accept a short period of mess. If you really must have a sippy cup you can jerry rig one out of a mason jar and a straw or use your own reusable eco coffee cup.

Cost of full utensil and dish set with sippy cup $59 Cost of eco cup and existing foodware $7

$52 SAVED

Bibs

You know what works just as well as a bib? A teatowel and a peg. High tech I know but you should try it one day!

Cost of bib set $30 Cost of existing teatowels $0

$30 SAVED

Highchair or specialised seat

It’s often assumed that a high chair is essential to feeding your baby, but they are not. Especially if you are using baby led weaning, a rug on the floor is sufficient. Highchairs are really only essential if you are starting to feed your child before they are able to sit unsupported and even if you are doing this there is nothing wrong with sitting your baby on your lap, at the table and feeding them this way. If you are handy with a sewing machine you could even sew a strap in seat for the family dining chairs. We have a high chair, but 90% of the meals are eaten on the floor on a kai mat. Easy as and much less cleaning.

Cost of high chair $199 Cost of washable rug $24

$175 SAVED

Toys

Babies don’t need toys, they don’t need flashing lights, canned music or bright colours. A full toy box does not necessarily indicate a happy engaged child. Babies are happy exploring anything really and can learn more about the worlds from an interesting stone or a bowl of water than they can from the latest gee gaw. Before toys became a commercial endeavour babies played with piles of stones, they emptied out the pot cupboard and explored the wooden spoons. Mums scarf collection became a sensory adventure and dads tie collection became a visual smorgasbord. Entertain your tot with a bowl full of pegs or a bowl full of soapy water. Macaroni becomes a great threading toy and can be eaten later, autumn leaves are a great rustly toy and can be composted. An afternoon strolling at the beach can fill a toybox with wonders that can be returned to the ocean when we are finished. And don’t feel that you are depriving your child with less toys. There is every reason to believe that the opposite is true.

Cost of a range of toys and toybox $299 Cost of home made toys $0

$299 SAVED

Skincare

There is a perfect skincare regime for babies, it’s called use-nothing and water. When babies are born they come with their own protective layer, they don’t need a hasty bath. Later on they only really need to be bathed if they have had a poosplosion and in almost all cases water will suffice. A little sensitive or natural bar soap is sufficient to remove any stubborn grime and if their skin needs moisturising then a skin friendly carrier oil will do. Olive oil is fine and most people have that in their pantry.

Cost of skincare range $39 Cost of water and olive oil $3

$36 SAVED

Bath

I don’t know about you but bathing a baby in a baby bath is a pain in the neck, or back to be more precise. I prefer to just hop into the big bath with baby when I have my own bath experience. If baby really needed a clean when I wasn’t going to bathe then a washing tub bucket or sink worked just as well.

Cost of baby bath $20 Cost of using existing bath, bucket or sink $0

$20 SAVED

Co-sleeping

Sharing a room is a good money saver, and here is why. Setting up a separate baby nursery has a lot of cost involved. Some people go all out and gussy up a room for baby and others simply put a cot in the spare room but most people stand somewhere in the middle and do a little decorating to make a special space for baby. But here is a newsflash, the most special place for baby is next to you. That’s what they love the most. But that’s not the only benefit from sharing a sleeping space. Moving the cot into the master bedroom means you can ditch the baby monitor as well as any extra baby related furniture. It also means you are heating one room instead of two so you can save on power bills as well.

Cost of nursery décor, baby monitor and heating $1689 Cost of co-sleeping $0

$1689 SAVED

Bassinet

If you’re planning to sleep baby in their own space you should know that a bassinet is not essential. It’s a nice to have, but babies can progress straight to a cot. They don’t need a bassinet and at a pinch, if you really want baby to sleep in a smaller space initially then a banana box made up with a well fitted mattress is perfectly safe. I can hear a collective gasp, but this method is approved by the NZ Parent Centre and if you have nothing else then why not?

Cost of bassinet plus bedding $339 Cost of no bassinet $0

$339 SAVED

Bed sharing

Bed sharing isn’t for everyone; I prefer my own sleeping space even though our second son had a different plan. For many bed sharing is a safety issue, there is however plenty of science to indicate that bedsharing is just as safe, if not safer than isolated cot sleeping. If you choose to bedshare it means you don’t need to buy a cot and if the family bedding is safe then you don’t need to buy any baby blankets. Because you are close enough to regulate and monitor your child’s breathing you also don’t need a breathing alarm system.

Cost of cot, mattress, bedding and sleep alarm. $1600 Cost of bedsharing $0

$1600 SAVED

Carseat

This is one area where you shouldn’t economise. Don’t get a second hand or expired seat, don’t buy an unknown or unrated brand and certainly don’t do without. For the safety of your child you should buy your seat brand new and get one that rear faces until at least 2 years of age.

Cost of top of line rear facing car seat $500 Cost of budget rear facing car seat $199

$300 Saved

As soon as I post this I expect a barrage of people telling me that they personally didn’t spend as much as I have estimated or that with a little ingenuity you can build, beg or borrow any number of these things. Which is totally true, I myself have done this. Using this tactic it’s totally possible to compress the numbers I have estimated somewhat which is another excellent way of saving dollars. The idea of this post is to question the assumptions of need vs want and hopefully offer up alternatives previously unthought of by most. Ideally this post is to acknowledge that to parent well you don’t need things to do this and that the most valuable ‘thing’ you can offer is closeness to your child.

Methodology

I sourced my prices from NZ based websites and stores. If there was a price range from very cheap to very expensive I tried to pitch close to the middle or median price range. For things like nappies where there is an initial outlay I made a comparison over the expected life span of the products but the final figure calculated for the title of the post was for one year only so in the instance of longer estimations I simply divided the final figure by the number of years I extrapolated for. In some instances you could spend less and in some instances you could spend more but the general figures are based on common prices for common purchases. When there was an option of picking between two kinds of cost saving exercises I chose the most socially acceptable to get to my final figure. In this instance it was cloth nappies and co-sleeping vs Elimination Communication and bedsharing. The final figure if you chose the latter options was $9498. In the instance of breastfeeding I elected not to assume that pumping was a necessary part breastfeeding. I did this because quite simply it isn’t, and often it is a marketing tactic to imply that breastpumps are essential to good parenting and successful breastfeeding. Which can more often than not lead to unnecessary outlay of money and breastfeeding failure. If you wanted to add pumping to the breastfeeding equation the figure is approximately $390 including bottles, steriliser and pump.

So give it a go, change the world.

Nappies

I thought I would dedicate a little time to my current obsession – nappies. When I first found out we were knocked up I was convinced we were going disposable all the way. What modern mum has time faff about with rinsing washing and hanging cloth nappies was my reasoning. No way was I going to enslave myself to the washing machine like a 1950’s house drone. Well - my husband (bless him) being Scottish had a different opinion, he reasoned that disposable nappies were a big fat waste of money and that we should go with cloth. Words were had and after a bit of sulking on my part and an agreement that he would be the primary nappy washer we decided to go cloth. Sadly the environment was the last thing on my mind but I can still be smug and self satisfied that I am saving on landfill. Part of my theory relied heavily on the propaganda put out by disposable nappy manufacturers that washing cloth nappies has just as much of an environmental footprint as landfill. After a bit of research I find this is not the case at all and have had to jump down off my high horse. 

The truth is modern cloth nappies are pretty awesome. For all of those mums who dread soaking scraping and having to touch poo I can happily say with the exception of the odd mishap I do not have to touch the poo. Modern washing machines handle a lot more than they used to which removes the need for scraping and soaking, I literally just biff the nappies in and they come out clean. I have a bag of disposables I use for when I am caught short or for some outings but I barely use them and I can honestly say I have been converted, I prefer cloth over disposables on all fronts. With disposables they are so drying that they suck the moisture right out of the poo turning it into a sticky mass which is very hard to wipe off, whereas with cloth the fibres of the cloth literally grip onto the poo and pull it away from his skin. I have had no nappy disasters with cloth nappies, no poo shooting up the back or out the legs and at night he has never leaked through once. If you have enough nappies as well, washing just isn’t that big a chore, we do a load every day or every second day depending on how productive he has been and I literally toss the contents of the nappy bucket in and after a cold wash hang them out or bang them in the dryer. Nappies also dry really well on heated towel rails or over doors. Bearing in mind we want to keep electricity bills low, the line is still the best place with the added bonus of sunlight acting as a natural bleach and disinfectant. I can also say quite truthfully he has not had a single bout of nappy rash since the day he was born.

There are 3 major kinds of modern cloth nappies and the type you select will depend on what you want out of a nappy.

If you want to be able to put your nappies in the dryer and are looking for a really nice absorbent option then fitted nappies may be the one for you.

Fitted Nappies

Fitted nappies have a cloth nappy that has been made to fit around the bum and do up with poppers or Velcro. The cover is separate so you only need to change the cover every so often but the inners are replaced with every change. Fitted nappies dry quickly as they often open right out and are simple to wash, they have the added benefit of being able to go in the dryer which can be a huge time saver. The covers simply need a quick wash or rinse and dry within minutes as they are made of a waterproof material. The system I use is bamboozle by tots bots and I have the say they are awesome. Bamboo is more absorbent and antibacterial, it is also soft on the skin and easy to clean. Bamboo takes slightly longer to dry because it’s more absorbent but that’s the only flaw that I can find. If you get the popper nappies they last from birth to potty which is great for the budget conscious.

If you are looking for a cheaper option with a lot of flexibility then prefolds may be the one for you.

Prefolds & Pocket Nappies

This is closer to the old school nappy system. The prefolds are similar to fitted nappies but they use a square of cloth folded into three inside a cover. This makes them a great price as the flat cloths are much cheaper and they are by far the quickest to dry. I don’t find they are as absorbent or leak proof as fitted nappies but I have used these quite a lot and they work well with newborns as they are not too bulky. Pocket nappies are a variation of prefolds in that the insert fits in a pocket that is part of the cover, personally I don’t like these as you have to wash the covers with every change meaning you need a lot more nappy bits and pieces but the benefit is that there is a ‘stay dry’ layer between baby’s bum and the absorbent core.

If you’re looking for an option that is as close to the disposable nappy as you can get then an all in one is going to suit you.

All in Ones

These nappies are the outer cover, absorbent core and stay dry layer all in one nappy – hence the name ‘all in one’ They can be very trim fitting and convenient to put on wriggling babies as there is only one step. I have a few all in ones that I use so he can fit outfits he may have grown out of in bulkier nappies or for outings when I want to travel light. All in ones usually cannot be put in the dryer and take a long time to dry comparatively. The flexitot from Tot’s bots is a very popular model because it uses natural fibres close to baby’s bum and has a very trim fit. I found they take a long time to dry and as you can’t use the dryer you may need a lot more than the recommended 15-20 nappies. I would say double that.

Cloth nappies are worth experimenting with because every baby is different and for different times of day or night a selection of nappies might suit. I myself use a variety of fitted, prefolds and all in ones depending on the circumstance but I far and away love the fitted ones most. When trialling cloth nappies remember that their absorbency does not reach maximum until about 10 or 12 washes, so don’t judge them straight away. Also be aware of what clothes you have your precious wee mite in as cloth nappies require a bit more ease in the crotch and bum – as I have a very tall baby I found I needed to be one size ahead of his age bracket.

Cloth nappies with a bit of care will last for 3 or 4 children and with each child the savings get bigger and bigger as there is no outlay of cash. Take care of them and they will take care of baby’s bum. Don’t soak them in harsh chemicals or put covers in the dryer, air dry whenever possible. Avoid buildup by not using greasy creams or talc unless needed and if you are using these things consider getting rewashable liners which are available usually from the same place you would buy nappies, either online or at your local baby store.




Cloth nappies are not cheap initially with some systems costing as much as $600 for a starter set. However in the long run they are much cheaper than disposables and you have a lot less rubbish. Talk to your local council and see if any nappy systems are subsidised.

Another option is to make your own nappies, there are a few NZ websites that offer supplies and patterns to do this. I have been meaning to get around to it myself but have trouble finding time! It might be a great project for you if you’re pregnant and on the final countdown or if you have a handy mother or mother in law you could delegate. A friend of mine used the patterns and the nappy worked really well. For about quarter the cost this is a great option for the budget conscious.

The websites are

www.wigglebums.co.nz
www.greenbeans.co.nz
www.thenappynetwork.co.nz

I can't rave on about cloth nappies enough to be honest - even if you are a firm believer in disposable, give them a try. get one or two and see how they go!

Bums

Babies bums are very very cute, I just love those dimples and chubby litle thigh rolls. We like to keep them cute and pink and soft and happy, however being jammed in nappies all day means they are sometimes pretty grubby and they can also get a bit rashy. I have been really lucky with my wee monster, so far no nappy rash, I consider myself fortunate as nappy rash can be a real hassle – not to mention painful and sore on sad baby bums.

 Nappy rash can be caused by a number of things including diet, natural sensitivity, allergies and wet/soiled nappies so there is no surefire cure as far as I know. As a preventative, experts advise plenty of nappy free time and frequent changes amongst other things. People who use elimination communication often state that an absence of nappy rash is one of the best things about it.

 I feel that I have been able to avoid nappy rash by using a cloth nappy made of bamboo which is naturally antibacterial and by avoiding commercial wipes. I had been using an unscented version of commercial wipes for the first month of my first son's life but I just kept feeling there had to be a better ways even the unscented ones seem to have a load of unnecessary chemicals and they really aren’t that cheap either. I had been using chux cloths on the the advice of another mum but found they seemed to disintegrate in the wash pretty quickly and I am definitely NOT into hand washing if I can possibly avoid it – who has time? So I gave washing disposable wipes a go and hallelujah! they wash beautifully – actually end up a bit softer than brand new. I just buy a store brand wipe, nothing special and put them in with a load of nappies, I find I can wash them 5-6 times before they fall apart which gives me great value for my buck. I make my own nappy wipe solution for them as well.

Home Made Wipes

1 litre of boiling water
1 chamomile teabag
¼ cup of apple cider vinegar (white vinegar will do)2 drops of Lavender Oil or teatree oil (optional)
Handful of Marigold/Calendula Flowers (optional)
A few drops of hypercal tincture (this is optional but excellent for healing)

I just mix it all together, pour it over the folded wipes into a plastic container (icecream is fine but I use a commercial wipes containers made by a well known brand) and once cooled drain off any excess and use as standard. The vinegar stops the whole lot from going smelly and also has an antifungal effect whilst the chamomile and marigold are very soothing and healing on little bums. The lavender oil is good for the skin and adds a nice smell  while teatree oil is antifungal but I am wary of using large amounts as there is some limited evidence to suggest that certain elements in the oil can interfere with baby hormones.

Home made Wipes with Oil

1 litre of boiling water
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup calendula oil or olive oil

Mix together as above, the oil is helpful to babies who have dry skin or when you have a dried on sticky mess to clean off. If you use cloth wipers like muslins or flannels then you can keep the wipes mix in a squeezy bottle and use as needed.

 
On the subject of things we put on baby bums I had been a little put off by all of the creams and unguents out there for nappy rash, even a simple barrier cream seems to have a lot of chemicals and Vaseline which is one of the simplest and most common products out there is a by-product of the petroleum industry All of these things contain pthalates which are serious hormone interrupters and are especially risky to small babies and their development. I had been looking into a nice looking natural balm made of beeswax and oil but the cost to purchase it put me off at $18 a tub it just wasn’t going to work out dollar wise. So I investigated making my own balm out of beeswax and olive oil.

 
I make the balm by melting the wax in a thick bottomed pot at a very low heat and stirring in the oil. Once everything is combined I let cool a little before pouring into glass jars or ceramic containers. Old sugar bowls or cups work well. I try to avoid plastic containers as they can leach oestrogens and BPAS when warmed up. The resulting balm is fabulous on little bums and I also use when I massage my wee man as it’s better than a drippy oil which gets everywhere. If you are using cloth nappies you might find it causes a bit of a build up on the nappy, which can be avoided by using liners (rewashable ones are best) or doing an occasional warm wash. It’s best to use is sparingly anyway to avoid build up. I personally use olive oil as it is not derived from nuts (for possible nut allergies) and is fabulous on skin, it’s also one of the cheapest options to use. This balm is also great for dry legs, cracked feet, gardening hands and even sore boobs - although wash off before the hungry mouth goes on and be careful of cross contamination!


Basic Balm Recipe:
1 part beeswax
8 parts olive oil (any other carrier oil will do)

Melt the beexwax and oil together before stirring gently and pouring into pots. You don't want to let the mixture get too hot as it will denature the oil and possibly crack your jar.

Soothing Balm Recipe:
As for the basic recipe but add a few drops of Lavender oil  just before pouring into pots, I use Pacific Blue genus of lavender as it is very low in camphor and suitable even for very small babies.

Antifungal Balm Recipe:
As for the basic recipe but add a further 2 parts of virgin coconut oil and a few drops of manuka or teatree oil just before pouring out.

I order my beeswax online from Happy Valley, they have a great online shop and you can get biogro organic options. The minimum order is 1kg which comes in 200gm blocks.

One of the other things you end up using a lot of is talcum or baby powder, and it seems like yet another opportunity to splash unnecessary chemicals onto our babies nethers, not to mention talcum powder can get into baby’s lungs and cause serious breathing issues. A much simpler and cheaper option is standard ordinary cornflour. I just put it in a shaker and use liberally on wee monster's bum. It seems to keep him a lot drier and more comfortable – it’s a great home remedy for nappy rash, although don’t use it if you think there is a thrush infection as the yeasts feed on the cornstarch. A rash that has a thrush infection tends to sit in the creases and should be treated entirely differently to a standard rash.

I never used to be serious about the products on my skin, I used to believe that if they sold it especially for babies that it must be fine. But that is simply not the case, they do not do long term testing nor do they do cumulative testing. You never know what the cocktail of chemicals we regularly put on our skin will do, so why trust the people who depend on you buying their stuff for the information?