27 ways to save money on babies

Ask anybody that has had a baby, it is not cheap. Adding up all the costs is enough to make some people think twice before having a child, or if you already have them...stress out about it further! An uneventful delivery alone, not including prenatal care and follow up, can cost $5,000-$10,000!

Fortunately though, babies are not picky and so long as you stick to your budget, and avoid frivolous extras you can focus on the joy the child brings to your life, instead of focusing on the financials. Below is a list of 27 painless ways to save when it comes to caring for babies. 

1. Take preventive care- Before the baby even comes, Mom should practice preventative care to set up a healthy life, and save money on costly medical procedures. It is common for an expecting mother to take prenatal vitamins & a folic acid (proven to reduce the risk of neural tube defects) supplement daily. She should also eat well, integrating all groups of the food pyramid into her life, and being sure to get enough calories. Pregnant women are always advised to quit smoking, and avoid alcoholic drinks. What it comes down to is the healthier the mother, the healthier the child, the fewer the medical bills.
2. Don't be afraid to ask- Friends, coworkers, neighbors and family probably have some old infant clothing, furniture, toys, supplies, maternity wear, or other baby equipment laying around they would be willing to let you use. Using hand-me-downs for infants is very common due to the fact that they don't stay the same size very long.
3. Get added to a mailing list- Ask your pediatrician if he has a list, and if you can be added to it. You'll get loads of freebies delivered right to your mailbox.
4. Breast is best- Not only is breast-feeding the best choice healthwise (it provides nutrients that no infant formula can), it cuts down the cost of bottles, formula and other feeding equipment. Not purchasing formula will save you at least $1,200 annually...and after all, it just doesn't get much cheaper than free.
5. Keep 'em busy- Learn ways to keep small children busy cheaply. Learn a few tips, tricks and ideas from our article "Entertaining children for $2 or less"
6. Go for quality- Investing in quality products may cost you more initially, but you won't have to replace them time after time. Go for wooden toys over plastic toys.
7. Free parenting magazines- Order a free subscription to American Baby.
8. Ask for a shower- Don't be afraid to mention that you'd like a baby shower in front of friends and family. More that likely, they are just as excited as you are about the arrival of your new child. Make the most out of it by registering your shower at Target (bonus: get a free loaded tote bag)
9. DIY nursery- Save money and do-it-yourself whenever possible when it comes to the baby's room. Take advantage of whatever skills you have: sewing, painting, drawing, stenciling or that eye for interior design. Browse decorating magazines for ideas.
10. Get it secondhand-Toys, clothes and baby equipment are great things to get used. After all, the initial user can only use it for so long... Scour garage sales, thrift stores, and secondhand stores that specialize in the sale of infant and toddler merchandise. Check out our article"The guide to buying secondhand" for additional tips.
11. Clothing for special occasions- For holidays and other special events, always buy clothes secondhand. No use in spending a lot of money on something your child will only wear a few times.
12. Go gender neutral- When decorating the nursery and buying clothing and equipment try to stick to gender-neutral colors. This way you can use the merchandise for subsequent babies.
13. Look around the house- Household items make fun and interesting playthings for baby. Try a wooden spoon and pots and pans
14. Make your own food- You'll reap nutritional and economical benefits. It's easy as well. Drain canned veggies of most of the water, puree and jar. (If they are fresh, use the same method just boil them in water first.) For fruits, simply blend into a puree (cook harder fruits like apples a bit first). You can prolong the life by freezing baby food in ice cube trays, and mircowaving at mealtime.
15. Score freebies- Sign up for various samples and freebies for infants, toddlers and children.
16. Baby sheets- Make 3-4 crib sheets by chopping up a King size sheet and hemming with elastic.
17. Baby oil secret- Baby oil is simply mineral oil with added fragrance. Obviously, mineral oil is the cheaper of the two.
18. Save on diapers- Consider switching to reusable, Eco-friendly cloth diapers instead of disposables. Most parents find no real disadvantage in using bargain, or store brand disposables versus expensive, premium diapers. Billeater has a price comparison chart on this topic.
19. Use the adult bath- Don't waste money buying a baby bath. The adult bathtub is fine, so long as baby is supervised the entire time (You'd do this with a baby bath anyway). Simply fill the tub up two inches with lukewarm water. You can also forgo the cutsey baby towels and washcloths and use ones you already own. In all reality, the only infant bathing product worth your money is gentle, baby shampoo.
20. Diaper pail- Use a small trash can with a lid as a diaper pail. To reduce odor, put an air freshener disc at the bottom of the pail, wrap each used diaper in a plastic grocery sack, and clean the pail regularly.
21. Do they need shoes?- Shoes are really just a novelty item until the baby can walk. Booties and socks work fine until that point.
22. Look into receiving assistance from WIC- Depending on your income level and a few other factors,you may be eligible to receive government help with food and infant formula from WIC (Women, Infants, and children). Learn more from our article "WIC: Receiving food assistance"
23. Host a swap- Switch out toys your baby is tired of, and clothes that are too small for new toys and clothing that fits by hosting a swapping party. Have other parents with infants attend, and everybody will go home happy.
24. Hit the library- Everybody can find something at the library, even babies. Rent infant books, videos & DVDs intended for early childhood.
25. Cheapest formula- Although we mentioned that breastfeeding is the best choice healthwise and economically, if you do use infant formula remember that the powdered mix is cheaper than the liquid.
26. Baby coupons- Use coupons, and purchase things based on what coupons you can find. Try Babycenter, Johnson's Baby, RetailMeNot, CoolSavings,Mom's View, and My Coupons.
27. Do you need it?- No, it not necessary to own every single piece of baby furniture (baby bath, bouncy seat, baby swing, stroller,booster chair car seat, highchair, playpen, bassinet, crib, etc.) Think about it and a few pieces can really multitask.

Your child's safety is priceless, never cut back on that. The following is a list of items that are well worth every penny, as your child's safety is dependent on the quality.

• Cribs- They must be sturdy, and not have any sharp edges, or loose bolts a child could hurt themselves on.
• Changing tables- Infants could roll off units that are not up to par.
• Car seats- Look for the sturdiest one you can. It's also not a bad idea to compare safety ratings. Never, ever get a car seat used, as it is difficult to tell whether or not it has unseen damage, or has been involved in a product recall.