Frugally Preparing for Baby

So obviously something that is likely to come up on every new mother or father’s mind is how they are going to be able to afford all the new stuff for the baby. Unfortunately for us, most of our baby things from when Benjamin was a little tiny thing are long gone, due to the fact that we had to move pretty much everything into storage at one point and a lot of it just couldn’t fit. So, no crib, no baby clothes (who’s to say we’re having another boy anyway?), none of that little tiny baby stuff. Unless I’m forgetting that we have some stored somewhere, anyway. I know we have a few things here and there, but there’s obviously quite a bit that we’re going to have to get for this new baby.

Right now, we have 25 weeks (and a few days) to have what we need before the baby gets here. Of course, there are a few things that I’m still unsure of as to when we will need it… such as the crib. The baby will be staying in our room for a while after it’s born, for different reasons, the main one being it will be easier for me during recovery. So, there’s a possibility that the crib can be one of the last purchases, really…

There are a few things that I know I would spend the money on if I couldn’t find the stuff at a yardsale or consignment sale, or something like that, the stroller I mentioned the other day being one of those, and I guess that’s because I have my heart set on it! – and as a side note, there have been very few things I have actually had my heart set on recently for this baby, I guess because I have had a lot of other things to think about besides baby stuff the past month… and then before that I was too sick to think of anything. So this one thing that I do have my heart set on – because I would love to go on family walks with Benjamin and the baby and Carl and Zoe – I think I’m going to allow myself to splurge on if need be.

But I will be trying to save money in other ways. Here are the few that I have thought of so far, so if you have any suggestions to add, please do so in the comments!

• Feeding: I plan on breastfeeding as long as everything goes well, and for as long as I can. Benjamin nursed until he was 12 months. Of course, that wasn’t exclusive, but I do think it saved money anyway. And I know that not having to spend money on formula is really going to help.
• Diapering: I still have all of Benjamin’s cloth diapers and I intend to use them for this baby as well. I really need to fix some of the leg gussets – by the way, if I have any sewing friends in the area who want to help me do that, I would be forever grateful! I really am not the best at sewing – but other than that, they are just perfect still. I would like to buy some small sizes just so we don’t have to wait a few months to start using the diapers, but in the scheme of things, that will also be saving money, and lots of it!
• Travel: We have a carseat already, but depending on the condition of the cover we may have to buy a new one – cover that is. Not completely sure yet though!
• Sleeping: We have Benjamin’s pack-n-play still so that will do fine for as long as the baby is sleeping in our room. As for like crib bedding and stuff, once we have a crib, I’m going to skip all that because not only is it unnecessary to have in the baby’s bed, but it’s not particularly safe either {and I mean like the bumper and the cute little quilt and all that}. There’s no real need for all of that so I don’t really want to spend the money on it.
• Clothing & Toys: We look for deals for these and this is also what everyone loves to buy for the baby so I think we’ll probably be set on all this. Besides, the baby is going to have plenty of entertainment with Benjamin around, I assure you.

For the bigger things that we inevitably will need to buy, we’re going to do our best to space out the purchases so we’re not spending a ton all at once and wracking up a huge bill. We’re trying to cut out the nonsense stuff that we don’t have to buy, and instead focus on the things that we will need. Like a dresser. That’s one thing that we need to get.

I feel pretty good about the ways we plan on saving, actually. It helps a lot to put it all down in front of me instead of just having it going around in my head. Like I said, if you have anything to add, please do!

A day of ups and downs {but mostly ups}

I was so excited today when Carl found the double stroller I have been eyeballing for a while on Craigslist. Seriously, I was super thrilled, and Carl went ahead and sent the guy a message to ask about the stroller. Well, the guy said at first that it wasn’t available anymore… but then came back and said that if we really wanted it, it would be available after the weekend. Well, THEN I was really pumped… Carl and the guy fixed a day and a place and time to pick it up and pay, and then he was confirming the amount and said “$450”.

Wait, what?

Sorry, and no offense to anyone reading who has paid or is willing to pay that much for a stroller, but there is no way I would ever pay that much on one item for a baby. Ever. Not only do we not have that much extra money laying around for a double stroller, but I’m not going to pay that much, period. That’s ridiculous.

Turns out we weren’t talking about the same stroller. The one we had been thinking of had been sold already. Good thing we got that cleared up before we drove an hour to Tuscaloosa for a super expensive stroller that we would never, in our right minds, buy.

In case you’re wondering, this is the stroller I am eyeballing, and if anyone {reasonably close} happens to know of someone selling {reasonably cheap} one of these… or if you find one at a yard sale and it’s in good condition… seriously, tell me.

Anyway, so that’s the down part of the day.

We had more ups than downs today though. I had been feeling really down lately because I feel like I haven’t been doing as well as I could as a mommy and a wife {seriously… my house is a wreck and I just want to sleep all day}. I was thinking I could do something special with Ben today but the weather was gloomy & rainy. So instead, we played a video game together, which was actually pretty fun, and did other things like play-do and all that. Benjamin said I’m a cool mommy.

Last night we also decided on baby names, but we’re keeping those hush-hush until the baby is born. But it’s a huge relief to not have that on our plate anymore.

And then another huge UP is that we spent some time tonight with some really good friends at dinner! We had a good time.

All in all, even though we didn’t get that stroller on the cheap, today was a really good day. Only a couple more days till our next doctor appointment, and then we’ll schedule our anatomy scan, which will probably be in four weeks… which just so happens to fall on my birthday weekend… which is also the next time I am going to see my parents because my dad wanted to come down for my birthday! I’m so excited!

Show Us Your Life - Baby Gear

Show us Your Life is a Blog Carnival started by Kelly at Kelly's Korner. I have been meaning to keep up with this, but you know how things go.

Today's Show Us Your Life is Baby Gear! I am going to share with you some gear that worked for us, and some that didn't. Every baby is different, but this is how things turned out over here! For you first time pregnant moms getting advice and gathering items, take it all with a grain of salt! Your baby may be different!



GOOD INVESTMENTS:

1. Bouncy Seat - I don't know what I would have done without the Bouncy Seat by Boppy that we got (well, we actually got 2) at my baby shower. Benjamin could just sit in there happily for a good long while and let us get stuff done. If ever I needed to take a shower and Hubby wasn't home, I'd just put Ben down in the bouncy seat and take a quick shower. We used it up until he was probably up until he was 6 months old when he just got too big for it.

2. Highchair/booster seat - We love our Safety 1st booster seat! It has a removable backing for when Benjamin is older, and the tray comes off, too. We got ours at a Yard Sale, and so the straps are missing, but I am sure this would be great to strap down to a chair at the dinner table. Benjamin sits so well in it, and actually fits in it.

3. Jump-A-Roo - We thought about getting an Exersaucer, and while those do entertain Benjamin for a little while, we decided on a Jump-A-Roo, and we are SO glad we did. Benjamin loves jumping in it and sometimes he'll even jump himself to sleep. It's good when he's fighting sleep because he'll just give in and lay his head down and that is indication that he is ready to go down for a nap without a fight!

4. Fisherprice Swing - We got ours free but I do recommend this! We haven't used ours in a couple of months due to it just wearing down because of his size, and the fact that he's just not interested in it (well, he wasn't last we tried). In the early months this was really handy, especially on those early, early mornings when I'd have to come downstairs with him because he wanted to stay up. It soothed him right to sleep!

5. Graco Stroller/Carrier system - We use this travel system more than any other type of carrier. Ben has always loved it. We started him out facing outward, just leaned back really far so he could lay back in it. We did use the carrier on top as well, when he fit in that.

6. Rainforest soother - The Fisherprice Rainforest Soother was very helpful when we were having problems with Benjamin going to sleep in his own crib. We'd still use it now if I could only remember to put new batteries in it!!

7. Front carrier - We have an Evenflo front carrier that we both enjoy. When we don't want to use the stroller, we take this along on our walks and everyone enjoys it. Even Hubby wears it!

8. Johnny Jump-Up - this is on the good and not-so-good list. The reason this one is on the good list is because occasionally if we need to be in the kitchen cooking or cleaning and the other isn't there to watch Benjamin, this is where we put him and he will sit there for a good amount of time before getting tired of it. It is also good when we have a meal at the table and Benjamin can't sit in his booster seat (remember- it doesn't have straps), or if we are playing a game at the table.

9. Wipes warmer - Slap a cold wipe on Benjamin when he was younger and he'd pitch a fit. Warm wipes made all the difference and made diaper changing time that much easier.



NOT-SO-GOOD INVESTMENTS:

1. Bumbo - The Bumbo was one thing I really wanted for Benjamin and truthfully it is one of the worst investments. We only used it a few times for feeding and some for Bible class, but his legs were too fat for it very quickly. We definitely did not get our money's worth. For feeding, I wanted something with a taller back, which is why we got the Booster seat.

2. Sling carrier - We used our Infantino sling carrier maybe 5 times. Maybe. It was useful a time or two when we went grocery shopping or took him to the doctor, and a time or two when I needed an extra hand to clean. He quickly outgrew it, and we just did not get our money's worth with this, either.

3. Johnny Jump Up - The reason this is also on the Not-So-Good list is because Benjamin has never jumped in this. Ever. I have never seen his feet leave the ground because he has jumped on his own accord. So ... why is it a jump-up?

4. Baby Bath Tub - We used this ... twice? We even got the fancy one with the shower attached and none of us liked this. Benjamin did so much better bathing in the big tub, and we felt more confident with him in there with either one of us while we bathed him.

5. Pack N Play - SO FAR this has not been the best baby gear. We used it for a few weeks as his bed in the beginning but then he would not sleep in it, so we switched to co-sleeping until he was 3 months old. We took it down and have not used it since. We will be using it in December when we take our trip to Charleston, so perhaps later on it will make the Good Investment list.

6. Diaper Champ - This was useful until we switched to Cloth Diapers. Now it is difficult to get wipes to go down. Really unnecessary (but I was SO excited when we bought it!).

7. Swaddle blankets - After a couple weeks old, Benjamin was no longer interested in all his limbs being tucked in tight. He had to have his arms up around his head and his legs free to kick around (because he would kick his legs in his sleep).


That's all I can think of! I hope this helps, but like I said, every baby is different! Let me know if you have a Show Us Your Life post to share, too!