Would love multipurpose items or baby items that maybe aren’t even marketed as baby items because that might cost a lot less!
We live in barely 600 sqft and intend to stay here for at least another year (baby due this September).
Would love any advice for first time parents who are frugal and love being environmentally friendly too. Thank you frugal community!
Having a baby in NYC, living in a small apartment and wondering what is the absolute essential items needed since it’s overwhelmingly easy to buy so much damn stuff!
byu/88r0b1nh00d88 inFrugal
Posted by 88r0b1nh00d88
11 Comments
They are in clothes that little for so short a time. Go for a few outfits in each size, moving up
Don’t bother with temporary things like a bassinet. Just get a crib that upu can use at different heights and as a toddler bed. If you don’t have a car look into travel car seats.
The trick is to find things that can be used in more then 1 way. I loved my huge Kelty baby back pack for lugging my kids around but it took up a ton of space. I would stick with the cloth front/back carrier.
You hardly need much for very long and finding other moms that have slightly older and younger babies really help for you to swap out things that get out grown.
I never had a stroller, just used a baby carrier and wore her around for walks. Never had a changing table, just used a couple waterproof changing mats that I could roll out on the floor or the bed.
Well, to tell you the truth, the bare minimum is just clothing and diapers. I don’t recommend this, but theoretically you/your spouse can breastfeed on demand and not need a breast pump or bottles or formula, share the bed at night to avoid getting a crib or bassinet, do baby led weaning on adult plates with a regular spoon to avoid baby plates and spoons, let them play with things you already have like an old tv remote or pots and pans to avoid toys, and change their diapers on whatever surface is available so you don’t need a changing table/pad. But what you ultimately need depends HEAVILY on your lifestyle and needs. And it also depends on your baby. For instance my first child would not sleep at all without being held, and my second loved her bassinet but hated the crib. Neither of them needed toys before around 6 months. So for most things I would suggest you wait and see what your specific needs are as a family.
To cover the basics, get a place for the baby to sleep safely and a place to store clothes and diapers. Baby proof your home so when they start crawling you don’t have to worry about a playpen. Beyond that, it is hard to say. But I wish you luck, parenthood is amazing!
Get a mini crib instead of a full size. My toddler still fits very comfortably in a mini crib and it takes up so much less space!
You dont need a changing table, but you probably do want some sort of changing station. I have a folding mat, similar to a yoga mat, brand is Ubbi and it was $5, and it lives in a basket that holds diapers and wipes. The basket sits at the corner of our bed, it can slide under but usually it just sits out.
Running out of diapers and frequently buying a small pack is SO much more expensive and less convenient. Figure out a way to manage a whole box of diapers at a time. We had an odd cabinet that had some electronic stuff and cleared it out for bulk diapers. It is nowhere near other baby stuff but we dont need to pull out a sleeve of diapers very often, we just need to be able to store them.
If you already have a rice cooker you can make your own baby food (if you are so inclined) without buying a separate gizmo.
8-10 outfits, diapers, milk, baby soap, baby lotion. Everything else is lagniappe.
Basics here:
– Something for the baby to sleep in. Pack ‘n’ play worked for my younger two kids. Bassinet are cute, but usually are not safe for after the baby rolls over.
– If you have a car, carseat. This is one of the few things you should buy new due to safety.
– If you do not have a car, stroller and/or baby carrier. This very much depends on preference and lifestyle; including if you’ll need this if you do have a car (personally would suggest both because each have strengths at various stages).
– Diapers/wipes/diaper cream – enough said there
– Diaper bag – doesn’t have to be an official diaper bag, just a bag you put the necessary supplies.
– Bottle or two – even if breastfeeding, you never know if you’ll need it.
– Breast pump – even if you plan to exclusively breastfeed, life happens. Also you can get this through insurance
– Medicines and Thermometer – namely tylenol. You’ll need it eventually, and better to have than need to find some at 3am.
– Clothes and a place to keep them. If you’re lucky, someone will give you handmedowns to last the first year or two. Don’t bother buying new.
– Burp clothes – flour sack towels are cheaper and more versatile.
A lot of other things are in the nice to have or completely unnecessary
Source: mom of five
Consider going to flea markets and thrift stores for baby clothes, or looking on facebook for baby swap groups – clothes are very expensive for the first few years and they outgrow them so fast that you can get very nice, hardly used clothes for a very reasonable price.
I managed to get 40 items in a bundle for twenty euros, and they were hardly used, to cover between three months and eighteen months, from baby sleepers to coats and mittens.
A nice stroller is worth it. One that is small and folds up to store neatly is a necessity. When you travel by public transport and do not go by car, it becomes a shopping cart and a mobile storage point when you are out and about. You can wear the baby but that can be very warm, even in the autumn and holding your baby who is overtired and entirely uninterested in cuddling is a nightmare.
Babies can bath in the kitchen sink. This is very common in my country and works well until they are old enough to go in the shower when supervised. You can be very inventive when needed.
Cloth nappies are nice in theory but if you lack the storage space and access to your own washing machine, I do not recommend it. Unless you are paying for a service.
Buy resuable cloths on a roll and *stock. the. fuck. up.* Your child can produce so much… mess… despite being allegedly unable to lift their own head. It is astonishing. You can wash and dry these by hand if needed.
Check out Lucie’s list for a good baby item list.
If you can get anything you need in 2 hours or less, there is very little you need to buy ahead of time.
Babies need to eat, sleep, and go places. For sleep, get a pack n play that sits on the floor. You can pack it away for travel or just to have space in the day, and it will last until they are old enough to sleep in an adult bed. We liked our guava lotus but there are cheaper alternatives too.
If you plan on breastfeeding, a sample can of formula and a couple of bottles if you plan on breastfeeding will be sufficient just in case. Call the hospital ahead of time and see if they have pumps you can rent. If you end up needing to pump, you’ll need a hospital grade one at first and then you can decide after a few weeks how you want to proceed with feeding.
For getting around, a cheap Cosco Scenera is fine to put in and out of taxis in an emergency. Otherwise you can get a travel stroller with basinet attachment or baby carrier.
I’m a baby wearing nerd and highly, highly recommend going to a babywearing library before giving birth. You will want a separate newborn carrier as most don’t fit newborns even though they say they do. You can check out a newborn carrier instead of buying one new. As your baby gets older you can try out different carriers before committing to one that might not fit well. Alternatively, you can use a ring sling or woven wrap from birth, but you will want to practice practice practice before your baby gets here. They will last until your baby is old enough to carry you though. Check out [r/babywearing](r/babywearing)
Since your in a smaller space, I would opt for a pack n play instead of a crib. It takes up less room and highly portable. Thrift outfits. Babys go through clothes so fast they dont always wear everything. Plus its just going to get food, poop, ect. It doesnt all need to be fancy. That being said, get a few pieces you love that you can keep for sentimental reasons (I store mine in those popcorn tins from christmas so they dont take up much space and are cute. Kept things like newspaper from the day of birth, special outfits and toys ect)
Make sure to get wall outlet plugs and cabinet closers before they start crawling.
Nipple pads/ cream. Even if you dont plan to breast feed, until your supply stops, sometimes your boobs are just going to leak (sometimes it starts before baby arrives) bras are not very absorbent