Baby on a budget By Tresa Erickson Feature Writer W hile a welcome addition to most families, babies can be expensive. In addition to prenatal care and birth expenses, parents will also be faced with the costs of actually caring for their new child. Bott les, bla n kets, bibs, boot ies a nd ever y t h i ng else babies require can really add up over time. How can parents ensure their babies have what t hey need a nd keep costs in check? Reuse!
Diapers are essential for babies. While you can’t reuse disposables, you can most certainly reuse cloth diapers. No, cloth diapers are not as convenient as disposable diapers, but they will save you a ton of money. Instead of dropping them into the trash, you simply wash them, fold them and prepare to use them again. Along with diapers, your baby will need some clothes. You will probably receive several sets of clothing as gifts, but beware: Babies grow fast. To keep your budget in check, you might want to go the used route and shop consignment shops, f lea markets and yard sales.
If you have a lot of money to spare, you may want to buy new. If you don’t, you may want to go the used route. Either way, you You can find cheap clothing in need to keep in mind that babies good condition, some of it with don’t need everything. the price tags still attached. You might also check with friends There are a ton of baby products and family members with baavailable, but not all of them are bies. They might be willing to necessary. Focus on the essendonate their babies’ old clothing tials and consider reusing what to you. you can to stay on budget.
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If only diapers and clothing were all babies needed, but they aren’t. Babies need a wide range of items from beds to bottles to blankets. You can purchase most everything a baby needs u s e d . A g a i n, c on sig n ment shops, f lea markets and yard sales are your best bet.
Don’t discount friends and family with young children, however. Should someone offer you their baby’s old things, take them. That pile of lavender blankets may not exactly scream boy, but your little guy won’t care as long as he’s warm. W hatever you choose to reuse, ma ke sure you wash and sanitize it. Occasionally, you may have to buy new. Don’t panic. You can probably find what you need for less. The trick is to clip coupons a nd shop sa les. You m ig ht be able to afford that stroller you’ve had your eye on with a 20 percent off coupon at a 20 percent off sale.
pen or stamp on handprints in various colors. Numerous faux painting techniques are available that will allow you to create any number of textures and designs from puffy clouds to paint splatters. While you’re working on the walls, don’t neglect the ceiling. Remember, this is an area the baby will see the most in the beginning when they are lying on their backs. If you don’t like paint, you can tr y wallpaper. Keep in mind, t houg h, t hat wa l lpaper w i l l probably cost more than paint, and if you don’t apply it well, you may find your little one picking it off when they get older. If you go this route, select a wallpaper pattern that will grow with your child and make sure the wallpaper can be scrubbed for those inevitable sticky handprints, stray crayon marks, and more. For inexpensive wall hangings, you have numerous options. You can hang up special baby blankets or quilts that you receive, or shop around for inexpensive prints and frame them for instant art. Use kid’s placemats, baby cards and even family photos for art. Inexpensive wooden shelves with old baby shoes and bottles are another idea.
Babies do need stuff but you don’t have to go broke buying it. Go the used route when possible, shop for bargains when not, and your pocketbook will thank you.
W hatever wall hangings you create, ma ke sure you don’t hang anything above the baby’s crib. There’s too much of a risk If you have ever wa ndered that something could fall on through the infant’s section of a the baby or the baby could pull particular store, you know how down something on themselves that the more light the window coverings block out, the better much stuff is out there for deco- when they get older. your baby may sleep. rating a baby’s room. From wallWith f loors and windows, you paper to furniture to bedding, W hen choosing furniture for you can find all kinds of prod- have several options. If you can your baby’s room, think sturdy ucts to decorate a baby’s bed- afford it, you may want to put and try to buy pieces that will room, and if you don’t watch it, dow n stain-resistant carpet- grow with your child. As your you can wind up spending a for- ing or laminate flooring. Babies child learns to walk, they will tune. If you have just found out tend to spit up, and the older start to climb and you do not that you’re pregnant and you’re they get, the messier they are wa nt t hem climbing onto a concerned about the cost of dec- likely to be. Instead of tradition- rickety chair or table that could orating your baby’s room, don’t al carpeting, consider putting break and injure them. despair. You can still create a down carpet tiles, which you wonderful room for your baby can easily change out should You also do not want a room full they get terribly stained. without breaking the bank. of furniture that you will have to change out within a few years. Paint is one of the easiest and If you already have carpet and W hile your child may adore most inexpensive ways to trans- can’t afford to replace it, con- their white dresser w ith the form a room. If you have the sider adding an inexpensive heart-shaped mirror when they skills, you can draw a mural on rug to protect the carpet from are little, they might not like it one or all four walls. If that’s not stains, or make a floor cloth out so well when they turn five or six your style, you can use stencils, of canvas. With window cover- and are into sports. Look for furstamps and paint pens to create ings, you can keep it simple and niture pieces that will appeal to top inexpensive mini-blinds or a happy room. your child throughout their life. shutters with a corniceboard You can paint the walls light yel- or valance, or you can go all out As for bedding, the choice is low, for example, and add some and purchase or make drapes. yours. You can buy or make a happy faces with a black paint Whatever you do, keep in mind layette set, complete with bed
ruff le and bumper pad, or you can pick up some inexpensive sheets and add a nice quilt. W hatever you select, keep in mind that it will be some time before your baby is actually old enough to use all of the bedding and enjoy it. Experts recommend that newborns be placed into a crib with as little bedding as possible to protect them from accidental suffocation. Remember, your baby will not be able to tell the difference between a rug that cost $1 or one that cost $50, so don’t sweat the price of the stuff you use to decorate their room. Stick to your budget and create a design that will appeal to your baby. A room filled with inexpensive tactile objects will appeal more to a baby than a room draped in silk and other expensive fabrics. Let your imagination run wild and have fun!
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, September 7, 2012