Hi,
I'm having a baby boy in May and I'm a first time mom. I don't have female relatives to ask – what kind of stuff do I actually need for the baby?
I tend to be a frugal person and I don't like buying things that don't get use. I don't have a problem with second hand stuff and I can sew simpler items myself. I'd prefer less plastic and more sustainable materials.
May tends to be warm and summers get really hot and rainy here, so I have to keep my boy safe from overheating and cold at the same time.
Thank you for any advice.
Frugal essential items for a baby boy.
byu/Exciting_Gear_7035 inFrugal
Posted by Exciting_Gear_7035
6 Comments
You’ll have to get over used stuff because that’s where all the savings are for kids. Most babies wear 5 outfits a day and only wear it for a month or something at most. Thrifted clothing is the best saving tip.
– Otherwise you need a crib (thrifted could save money though Walmart one super
expensive).
– sheets
– Diapers
– wet wipes
– if not breastfeeding then formula & bottles
– carseat
– blankets maybe? I would just get correct comfortable clothes though, blankets aren’t that safe
You don’t need much else, I would wait to buy as you need, it doesn’t get harder to buy or no reason to do it all now.
**A place to sleep
**Diapers – if you use disposable there is a brand called Thirsties that makes an outer shell you would only need 3-4 of per size and you could fold the inner insert with the old timey two fold diapers. If disposable Luvs is made by pampers and close to being the cheapest diaper. There are blogs that suggest preshopping for massive amounts of diapers per size and that is almost always a bad idea unless you are really remote, diapers go on sale a lot and diapers that are too small don’t stretch. Size 1 everyone gets wayyy too many of and Size 2 is almost useless and a very small time period with most babies if you check the weight charts between 1 and 3 you will see why.
**Wipes
**5-10 outfits per size. Half onsies /half with arms and legs so you can layer Day/night.
** A baby carrier. Ergo makes a Nice “mesh cooling 360” you can end up wearing in the front or back.
I have a shawl/wrap type sweatshirt I wear over me and baby in the carrier so the warmth regulation is more on me during time outside.
** some type of bouncer seat they can sit in while you make a sandwich – kids tend to love or hate swings so that can be an expensive total miss.
** car seat pretty much the only thing that is strongly recommended to buy new or only receive from a trusted friend to make sure it has not been in an accident.
Diaper rash creams can be excessive most rash issues are caused by over-wiping your baby esp if fair or a redhead (if you breastfeed avoid cinnamon-hot in diapers and sage- milk drying).
A hairdryer on warm for drying irritations and a tube of aquaphor can pretty much take care of any rash issues.
You seem aware with baby/kid stuff that there is a whole industry feeding on the fact that parenthood is such an unknown that the buying can snowball and badly…. so you’re already ahead of the game!
– a safe place to sleep (crib, pack n play, etc.)
– a safe way to eat (bottles, etc.)
– a safe way to stay warm/protected from the elements (clothes, etc.)
– a safe way to stay clean (diapers, wipes, soap, etc.)
– a safe way to travel (carseat)
– a safe way to handle illnesses/injuries (diaper rashes, fevers, etc.)
That’s really all it comes down to. Everything else is a bonus. That doesn’t mean you can’t get anything else, and some of those other things can certainly be helpful, but don’t feel like you have to. For instance, burp cloths can be nice but there’s no reason you can’t just use dish towels, old shirts, or any other fabric item you have lying around to do the same job. A stroller is nice but depending on your lifestyle, it may be quite easy to get along without it, especially if you choose an infant carseat or get a wrap/baby carrier. A bottle warmer can be nice but many babies are perfectly happy with cold milk and even if yours is picky, there’s still ways to warm it without a dedicated small appliance. I’m just saying those “essentials” lists you find online are stretching the definition of that word.
Keep in mind some things are more multipurpose or longer-lasting than others. For instance, you could skip the infant seat and go straight to a convertible that’ll last them basically until they’re out of carseats entirely. A pack n play (or competitors) could work well in place of a crib with the bonus that it’s easy to take kiddo’s bed with you for travel. If you get muslin swaddle blankets instead of dedicated Velcro swaddles, those blankets can also be used as nursing covers, blankets for laying/sitting outside, putting in their lap in the carseat when it’s chilly, etc.
I would start on your list early. Take time to dig into each of my main bullet points and get an idea of what options are out there and what makes the most sense for you. Once you’re done with that, look into other often recommended stuff and think critically about how it fits into your life, whether you have feasible alternatives, and how likely you are to miss it. Then, keep an eye out on sales of brand new stuff as well as Facebook, yard sales, consignment stores, etc. If you see something on your list for a good deal, you can pick it up. Starting early means no pressure, you can just wait until a better deal comes along. Also, if you’re on the fence about whether you need something, keep in mind we live in a very convenient modern world. Instead of purchasing something now out of fear, put the money aside, wait til baby’s here, and then if you find you miss it, you could have it within a couple hours from your local big box stores or worst case scenario, within a few days online. If you never really miss it, more money in your pocket and less clutter in your home!
If you can breastfeed – best
Diapers- at home none. My son had milk protein allergy, and when he shit his he got a bonobo bumm in his diaper. He shit a lot and stank like hell. So we had no option but to do away with it. Moved to traditional African- asian way. Got him reuse pants and just knickers inside. Washing is a hassle then but who wants a baby to suffer.
Just a normal bed no baby bed or anything. Initially we got baby sleeping bags, blankets I found bit dicey. It was really good be it summer winter one could open the zipper.
Get a waterproof sheet to change the baby, no need of any furniture.
A car seat which serves also as a pram. Nowadays you can newborn to extendable cat seats.
A baby carrier or sling is also a good investment.
One investment i would suggest is a breastfeeding pillow. Mein is 190 cm long. Help during last weeks of pregnancy, during bf while making baby sit support when they sit. Later use also. My kid us a teen now, but i use the pillow till date.
We didnt use any pacifier.
Clothing is available second hand or even free. They spend so very little time in the first few sizes. Usually about three months but some babies are born big and skip sizes.
Think about when, size wise, the child will hit certain seasons when getting clothing. Ie. you won’t need as many long sleeve onesies in summer.
I recommend the onesie and pant/shorts combo. With socks in winter. The key is to make sure you have easy access to the diaper. Lots of buttons or snaps to get the baby in or out is annoying. If clothing has a zipper, get it with TWO ways. This is for easy access. Important for sleep sacs too.
Some onesies have larger head holes with overlapping shoulders. This is to allow you to fit the whole baby through the head hole. If they poop and it leaves the diaper, you can take the onesie off by sliding the whole baby through the head hole and NOT smearing their poop on them.
Don’t get shoes until they start walking. Socks only but get the gripping ones when they start rolling. This helps with body movement.
Sleep sacs for bed but the bed still needs a fitted sheet (and ONLY a fitted sheet). You will need at least two but recommend 4 sheets because they spit up a lot the first six months and then spill their bottles after. Also sometimes diapers can’t hold it in. Washing sheets frequently is important, especially in the first six months.
Some cheap, BPA free bottles are available online or from discount stores. Don’t buy used nipples. There are different sizes of nipple for bottles and different styles based on the type of bottle. Nipples only last a few months before they should be replaced or the baby sizes up.
If you plan to breast feed only for your first child. Good luck. If not, formula is expensive and you can’t get it second hand. There is a good and cheapER version at the Costco. Make sure you have a way to clean bottles well. I recommend either the dishwasher(which will now run daily) or one of the microwave bottle steamers. Maybe both.
Don’t worry about toys so much. Random things become toys, like a small cooking pot is a drum. Take lots of photos on your phone.
Covers, they get wet and regurgitate often.