Minimalist Moms

MissSaritaF · January 2016

Since I am a single mother and I don't qualify for any programs or handouts of any sorts, I am looking to cut back on expenses as much as possible. I have decided to breast feed and cloth diaper to save some bucks. I am a FTM, so I am looking for any other ways to save with a newborn. Day care and insurance are already taking a toll on my future finances. I have heard about thrift store shopping...but honestly I am nervous about sanitation. I am kind of, a tiny bit of a germ-a-fobe. Just the thought of using someone else stuff, that was in their house, in their living conditions...doesn't sit well with me. What other things can you do to save or maybe something a FTM might not think of on her own?

NLewis1 · January 2016

Make sure you get in touch with your insurance regarding a breast pump. Most insurances cover them at least partially since they are considered "medical equipment". My insurance paid 100% of my medela pump in style double electric breast pump for my last pregnancy and will get me a new one for this pregnancy.

I would buy stuff like a jumper that is all hard plastic that can be cloroxed and the fabric seat can be taken off to wash second hand. A lot of baby stuff is meant to be taken apart and is machine washable like bouncers and such

meggyme · January 2016

Do you have friends that can offer hand me downs? That takes a little bit of the ick factor out of second hand clothes of you know who they came from. Otherwise washing in hot water will kill any germs. Anything hard plastic/non-porous won't harbor too many germs and can be cleaned pretty easily.

We're trying to be minimal with our baby stuff due to space available and moving cross country shortly after having kiddo, so we're limiting what we register for and not putting anything we will need later on, like high chair and walkers. We're also putting gift cards on our registry, so hopefully people will gift us those and we can buy what we need after we move.

totsabounding · January 2016

There's a book I've heard a lot of people mention, I think it's called, "Baby Bargains," that you might want to consider checking out. Also, I bet there are lots of blogs dedicated to the topic! Wanted to say, though, that almost everything you get second-hand can be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized (maybe not plush toys, etc...) but clothes can all be washed and dried (the heat from the clothes drier will help kill germs, I believe), and you can use a bleach solution to clean hard/plastic toys and other items. Sometimes swings or bouncers have removable covers that can be washed, etc. It might still be worth looking into thrifting, or going on buy/sell/trade sites/fb groups. Also, do you have friends/family who can loan you items or give you hand-me-downs?

meggyme · January 2016

Oh! I wanted to add, especially when looking for previously owned stuff, make sure it's still quality equipment. Many people get rid of really nice strollers for dual strollers or when they're done having kids. Even if you're paying a bit more than, say a cheap umbrella stroller, the quality will still be there and you won't be buying another one in a year. Just make sure to check for recalls.

Huskerfanz · January 2016

I shop consignment on a ton of things - clothes, some toys, anything that can be washed. I bought a stroller and crib off local b/s/t FB groups. I've bought cloth diapers from those groups as well. Saves a ton of money.

fishwife799 · January 2016

I get almost all my stuff second hand or borrowed form friends. A good wash with hot water would sanitize anything you get. I also only shop new when stores have clearance sales. You can get a lot of really cute stuff from places like The Children's Place for cheap online. Especially around Christmas time.
Another big thing is realizing that your baby doesn't need a lot. Food, diapers a few outfits, blankets, car seat and somewhere to sleep are all that are really necessary. Some of the stuff is nice to have but some of it is down right pointless especially if you are on a budget.

AmberLiz99 · January 2016

I get most of my kids clothes and baby things used. Yard sales, local mothers groups, consignment stores. I even get some of my things that way. When I went from FT to PT to stay home with my kids I switched to less expensive personal products (makeup, hair products, etc) and no longer go to the expensive salon for haircuts. I also plan out meals and save money on food by being prepared and knowing what stores have the best quality for the best price.

You can always sell a lot of the baby items too once your lo grows out of them, which brings in a little extra along the way. They use them for such a short time they are usually in decent shape.

Emztron500 · January 2016

Look into baby led weaning. I breastfed and did baby led weaning, and I basically spent $0 on food for my daughter for over a year. I used to joke that she survived on boobs and table scraps but really...she did. Baby food is absurdly expensive!

You can cloth diaper really inexpensively even when buying diapers new. Skip expensive diaper inserts and pick up "flour sack towels" (basic white hand handtowels) from Walmart. Buy 10 Flip shells or similar brand. Switch out the flour sack towels when baby pees and keep reusing the cover until it gets soiled, then change to a clean one. Compared to buying 30 pocket diapers with inserts, you'll save a ton of money. And the covers are adjustable and can be used from birth to potty training.

I would definitely try to get past the second hand gross-out. If it makes you feel better, fill your bathtub with a weak solution of disinfecting bleach. Throw the clothes or diapers in 5 minutes and then launder. You should be able to disinfect them (although honestly I wouldn't bother, I'm fine with just laundering) without discolouring them. You can probably find huge lots of baby clothes second-hand online for $50 or less instead of paying $5-$50 per item new. Same with maternity clothes.

For a crib, get the cheap IKEA one (it's $89 in Canada, probably a lot less in the States). Just as safe as any other crib, converts to a toddler bed, just isn't the most gorgeous crib in the world. But I like it just fine!

CourtJack · January 2016

Consignment is where it's at. Honestly you can find some amazing like-new quality stuff. And to echo PPs - just clean and sanitize everything - done - good as new. I would check any free-cycle groups in your area and check with friends/family. A lot of my friends who are done having kids are just dying to get rid of all their stuff and don't want money for it - just getting it out of their house is payment enough. Also, you'll have at least a month of garage-saling weather before June and garage sales are great for saving $$.

Do make sure you're buying quality equipment when it comes to swings, etc, though.

Also, do some internet searching for what baby gear is essential and what isn't. That'll help narrow your "must have" list down, I would imagine.

Good luck!

TunieBee · January 2016

We thrift and consign tons of our baby stuff, both equipment and clothes. Most everything is made to be washed and sanitized, you can remove covers and throw them in the wash and clean everything else with a bleach solution.

vulpini · January 2016

I get a lot of my baby gear and kids clothes second hand because I don't like paying full price for things I only use for 6 months. Pretty much anything can be washed or sanitized except maybe stuffed animals with electronics inside. I would avoid a second hand car seat unless it's from someone you know well and trust because otherwise you don't know if it's ever been in an accident. Everything else is safe to buy used as long as you check for recalls. It also keeps you from wasting money on gear you baby might hate - some kids just can't stand strollers and others hate certain styles of baby carries and some don't like swings.

hockeyfan42 · January 2016

Emztron500 said:

Look into baby led weaning. I breastfed and did baby led weaning, and I basically spent $0 on food for my daughter for over a year. I used to joke that she survived on boobs and table scraps but really...she did. Baby food is absurdly expensive!

This^. We loved baby led weaning! Between that and BFing, I feel like we saved a ton of money. They eat so little in the first year, it doesn't impact the grocery bill.

Rosehip15 · January 2016

In terms of cloth diapering, just be sure you've got the time & washing machine access. I've done exclusive cloth diapers, exclusive paper and combos. It's also a sizeable upfront investment, but does definitely save money. I'd suggest spending time on some cloth diaper forums (years ago when I had my first two mothering.com forums were a great resource).

Aside from the essential care they require - food, sleep, warmth, babies don't *need* stuff. You'll likely end up receiving lots of toys & books as gifts, so you definitely don't have to buy those. I also vote for hand-me-downs. With my first two I had to buy EVERYTHING because I was the first among any of my family or friends to have kids, but this time I've hit the jackpot & will have to buy hardly anything!!

Remember that you really don't need high end of anything really. All the cute coordinated stuff for the nursery, etc. isn't necessary. Baby doesn't care, it's for mom. I'm not really into fussy things, decorating, etc., so I've always saved money on that!

I agree that you really don't need to buy baby food. And that doesn't mean you have to spend hours pureeing separate veggies & fruits. Just mash up what you eat, starting with the softest stuff (baked potatoes, cooked carrots, oatmeal, avocados), and going from there. I honestly just could never be bothered going bonkers with all the baby specific stuff, food included.

vulpini · January 2016

If you have a little extra time at least on the weekends, it's not that much work to make your own baby purees. You don't need the specialty baby food makers either. Just a small food processor or immersion blender that you might already have and maybe a steamer of some sort. It's all pretty much just boiling, steaming, or roasting fruits and veggies, turning the cooked flesh into a puree, and freezing them in ice cube trays or other small containers. Babies eat so little at first that one or two roasted, mashed and frozen sweet potatoes seem to last forever. You can also cook and puree chicken and cook rice or quinoa and mix with veggies for more complex meals and freeze that too.

totsabounding · January 2016

@vulpini makes an excellent point about car seats. I second that.

malgal85 · January 2016

We are on a huge budget over here too, and also looking for ways to save as well as cutting out what we don't need or really, really want. I have already saved a ton by sewing some stuff that would otherwise cost a bundle, and also by thrifting!

I really and truly understand the "ick factor" or previously owned clothing, etc. Talk to your girlfriends and neighbors and ask where the good thrift shops are (here in San Diego there are a lot of crummy ones mixed in! Don't be put off by one bad one.) and go hunt to see what you find. A great wash or two in the washer, bleach, and dryer will get rid of anything gross (although I have never bought anything I have considered gross). Also, most thrift stores (here Amvets is my fave!) thoroughly wash everything beforehand, and don't put out anything icky!

Maybe I am just riding high on my thrifting cloud! I just came from there on my way to work and got a big bag of ADORABLE clothing (cute rompers, dresses and jammies) that look absolutely brand spankin' new! Of course I will wash again... but I think you would be surprised at what you might find in a super fabulous way!

MsBeachNJ · January 2016

I would also suggest local groups on facebook for sale/swap/trade. My local group constantly has people selling baby things (some with tags still on them!). Also another poster mentioned yesterday that right now Target has a lot of baby items on clearance (someone got a Graco pack & play for $40) and another got a super cheap baby wearer... just another idea to check out local stores clearance! Sometimes they just discontinue a color or something and thats why it goes on sale. Good luck to you!

tjenkins528 · January 2016

I agree with the Baby Led Weaning and the buy/sell/trade sites on Facebook. For the first few months, you really don't need much for the baby. Definitely register for milk storage bags/nursing pads as those can get expensive once you go back to work (if you plan to keep pumping). All we used for DS in the first 6 weeks was a bassinet/pack and play, swing and the car seat.

vulpini · January 2016

MsBeachNJ said:
I would also suggest local groups on facebook for sale/swap/trade. My local group constantly has people selling baby things (some with tags still on them!). Also another poster mentioned yesterday that right now Target has a lot of baby items on clearance (someone got a Graco pack & play for $40) and another got a super cheap baby wearer... just another idea to check out local stores clearance! Sometimes they just discontinue a color or something and thats why it goes on sale. Good luck to you!

This. Graco is constantly changing the colors/patterns on all their products and discontinuing old ones. Check all the baby store websites, Target, and Amazon for them, especially now that it's the start of a new year.

likeabel · January 2016

You might still be able to apply for help with your cloth diapers through the Rebecca foundation https://www.clothforall.com

Good luck!

NLewis1 · January 2016

As far as nursing pads go I would get washable ones. You can get cupcake 4 count washable nursing pads for around $17. Last time I never needed them as I never leaked (yay me!). I have a little box of the disposables from my last baby that I have and will see how things go this time around but I'm hoping to not need them again

alitria · January 2016

I did all cloth and saved a ton by using brands like alva and sunbaby. I have more expensive brands but I didn't actually like them any better or find they held up better. You can do pocket diapers and inserts pretty cheaply that way and can realistically get started for a couple hundred dollars. Do be prepared to either invest in a newborn cloth option or use disposables until the baby is in the 10-12 lb. range. I know they SAY 8 lbs but I've never seen them work well when the baby is that small. How big your baby is will really make the difference in what option works best. There are places you can rent newborn size diaper packages but if thrift store clothes squick you out, I'm guessing used diapers are not going to work for you.

I started out doing consignment and thrifting but I eventually discovered that, in my area, I can do just as well on prices by bargain shopping and planning ahead. Osh Kosh jeans in good shape go for about $6-8 used around here. I pay the same price on the website, brand new, by waiting for sales and keeping track of coupon codes. I buy Children's Place t-shirts frequently for my son and pay about $3 each when I catch sales. Stores like Ross and TJ Maxx also tend to have great deals on name brand baby clothes. If I see a great bargain at a thrift store, I'll still pick it up because it doesn't bother me, but the time I had to put into consignment and thrifting made it challenging at times to find what I needed. In places with better consignment options that may not be true. I also usually just buy clothes a season ahead, especially now that he's in toddler sizes. I've already got about half of his clothes for summer and next fall by shopping end of season sales and clearance and got most of them for about 75% off.

We also did baby led weaning for the most part and it saved us a good amount of money on baby food. It also saved me from having to look at or smell baby food very often which is pretty invaluable.

If you use formula, be sure to sign up for coupons on the websites and they will mail them to you periodically through the first year or so. If you can use store brands that's great but my son's sensitive tummy required one particular expensive brand of formula. Those $5 and $10 coupons added up. You can register now and start getting them shortly before you are due. I was 100% committed to breast feeding and never considered any other options but after my son was born, I discovered I had a condition where my milk ducts never formed correctly and even with herbs, supplements, lactation consultants and every trick in the book I could get half an ounce per feeding on a great day. So, then we had to scramble. Most women do great, but, it doesn't hurt to have a plan B ready to go.

Many people really love having the infant seat that clicks in and out of a base for the first 6months-year depending upon baby size. However, if you're really strapped, most convertible car seats are safe for infants as well as toddlers. Our convertible seat is rated for 5-65 lbs with the infant insert (which came with the seat.)

Don't be afraid to wait on baby "gear." My son could have cared less about the fancy swing we got as a gift and preferred baby wearing to being in the stroller. I could have saved the money we spent on the fancy infant stroller for the maybe 5 times we really used it. Had he been a different kid, maybe it would have been worth the expense. You just never know until your baby tells you.

Another thing I am doing with this baby is, knowing how much tighter the already tight budget is going to get when he arrives, I'm buying myself gift cards a little at a time to Target and the grocery store. It gets me prepared to have that money missing from my budget and I'm saving them for those times when there's not a penny to spare and I magically have 47 socks with no pairs or a growth spurt suddenly means we need more formula that we budgeted for or any other little unexpected stuff. If I'm the luckiest woman on earth and I don't end up needing the for the baby, I'm sure I can still manage to find a use for the cards since they are stores I shop at pretty much weekly anyway.

Tawny87 · January 2016

Totally get you on the second hand ick factor. I am really selective when I buy used and always wash on hot twice (second time not really needed, just me being neurotic). When I had my twins 2 yrs ago I kept the wardrobe small and would just throw whatever dirty baby stuff in with whatever load was going into the wash. Also I find there is a lot of extra crap that people claim you need. Just keep it simple.

Tawny87 · January 2016

Also check out safe kids (your state). You go take a one hour class at the fire station and get a car seat for $20. It is such an awesome program.

Here is my states link but I would think you should be able to navigate to your state through https://www.safekids.org/coalition/safe-kids-colorado

gauge1234 · January 2016

This is all amazing advice!!

As much as you can handle, you can find things as you go!

Other tips I've come across:

No need to buy/have a dedicated changing table. You can use a pad on an existing surface or just a towel

Skip the expensive infant bath gadgets. Take them in the shower.

Make your own simple cloth items like burp cloths and washable wipes.

For the used stuff, get in there and clean it. There is awesome quality used items available for low cost. Remember Craigslist as well.

It has also been strongly recommend to me by other parents to make sure I have some disposable diapers, bottles, and formula on hand. Just in case all of my carefully laid plans go sideways

Linsbins · January 2016

Join an fb yard sale group. We joined one for the fancy neighborhood near us and have gotten pottery barn kids changing table for $20, jogging stroller ($15), and a few other things that are easily sanitized for under $50 total. Clearly not a car seat or crib, and I feel the ick on used clothes. We got a pack n play today for $40 on clearance at target (discontinued color down from $99) and a few five packs of onesies for $2. I've also been stocking up on diapers when cvs puts them on sale for $9.99, buy three and get $10 extra bucks back. I also use coupons so I pay about $25 for three packs and get $10 back for my next round. They're on sale this week, some people like to buy disposable newborns even if they plan to cd.

Linsbins · January 2016

Also- always Google "name of thing you bought" and "recall". Many consignment stores have gotten in trouble for selling recalled items. Same for the fb groups, obviously.

Ssf0522 · January 2016

I'm also single, also a FTM. All of this has been really helpful. I went to Target for the awesome clearance stuff today and got some great deals. It seems like every Target has different stuff on clearance so it's a little hit or miss. I almost got a Graco packnplay too, but the 3 they had were all with a ton of pink and I don't know the sex of my baby yet. I know I'm having 2 baby showers- one with family and friends and one that my book club wants to do. I shared my Amazon wish list with them and let everyone know that I like the types of things I registered for, but I'm open to other things. i.e. I registered for some neutral onesies. I would also be happy with similar ones. Things like that. I'm not expecting people to spend a lot of money on me, so I've prioritized things and made sure people know that they can go in together and get me one of my bigger items.

noelietrex · January 2016

Don't forget to create your Target and Babies R Us registries online for a free registry gift bag from guest services. My Target gift bag included: 1 free 4oz Avent bottle, 1 free newborn paci, about 6 newborn size diapers, 2 travel packs of wipes, a small travel diaper clutch, sample baby body wash, sample diaper rash cream, 2 detergent samples, and tons of coupons. Also if you'll be buying items from these stores, most registries offer completion discounts like 10% off 6 weeks before your due date. It's worth taking the time to register even if you aren't having a shower, plus you never know what friends or family may want to get you a little something regardless.

ETA: I've found Alva has the cheapest cloth diapers with best reviews, though I've decided to risk it and order a few wholesale from China through AliExpress.com. While I've heard the quality can vary and shipping can take forever, I just couldn't find better prices than $3 per diaper plus free shipping.

MillerMama13 · January 2016

Don't buy a lot of newborn clothes. All my DD wore for the first couple months was a plain onsie underneath a halo sleep sack. It made her happy because she could be warm and swaddled and it made diaper changes easy for me.

I get the ick factor but one thing we do is shop garage sales. We go to the ritzy neighborhoods. You see the people and their house and you can feel a lot better about using their stuff knowing they have a clean house and they look like they take care of their stuff. Also, the ritzy neighborhood garage sales have amazing deals. They just want rid of stuff, they're not trying to make money. Money is just a bonus for them. So you can get stuff for ridiculously cheap.

little_bren · January 2016

Buy gear used on Facebook pages. Shop sales and clearance. I clothe my kiddo at Walmart prices but with name brand clothes that way. I buy books and toys at garage sales. Find out if there are big consignment sales near you.

Flutterby00 · January 2016

There are Facebook co-Ops where you can get baby gear like cloth diapers for super cheap. Bazinga Buys is one off the top of my head that usually has multiple buys going on.