Baby on a Budget: The Top 8 Items You Need

Hello, and welcome back to the blog!

Today we're talking babies and budgets, two of my favorite subjects!

Having a baby is universally known as an expensive life move in the U.S. You start with incredible medical bills and never stop swiping that credit card, right?

While I can't help you with your medical bills, as a momma of soon-to-be three littles, I can help you craft a minimal, budget-friendly registry to help you prepare for the new addition to your family.

Let's dive in!

Busy? Pin this image and come back later!

First, an opinion that no one asked for, but I'm giving anyways, LOL.

I think thrifting all of this is fine. Accepting hand-me-downs, gifts, and finding baby gear at consignment and thrift stores is fine. When I was expecting our first, I read something online about the dangers of buying certain baby items secondhand. It scared me, and I insisted on our little one having brand-new versions of everything we had. No hand-me-down crib, no thrifted car seat, no borrowed baby carriers. New new new everything. 

If it gives you peace of mind to buy things new, please do. It's worth the peace to spend a few extra dollars here and there. But if you feel okay with it, so many things are still in good condition and can be reused in your home for a new baby. Save a bit of money and buy any of the things I mention secondhand!

Now on to the budget-friendly must-haves!

1. Diapers and Wipes

Whether you cloth diaper or use disposables, you'll need some kind of diaper situation. We use whichever grocery store brand is least expensive. I've also used the Amazon brand diapers and they were fantastic!

2. Bottles

My second baby was exclusively breastfed and thought bottles were weird, but my first baby was combo-fed and took the Dr. Brown's anti-colic bottles. We never got one of the kits that lets you try out a bunch of different kinds. We had one kind of bottle and that's what we used. Only buying bottles once saved us money and space in the kitchen cabinet.

3. Baby Carriers

I love wearing babies. Baby carriers can be ridiculously expensive, though, and can be a big investment if you aren't sure if you'll be much of a baby wearer. I have this stretchy wrap and this soft structured carrier, which are both budget-friendly options as far as carriers go

4. Medicines

My first two babies didn't need much in the way of medicines, thank goodness! I made sure to have gas drops, gripe water, and acetaminophen on hand for my infants. I learned with my first that having a closet full of ibuprofen doesn't help if your baby gets sick and doesn't weigh enough to safely take it yet, so I prefer to have a bottle of acetaminophen on hand for those early days!

5. Onesies

I do not like footie pajamas. 

I said what I said, lol.

I keep my babies in onesies for daytime and nighttime. I love the cute ones without tags, like these.

6. Swaddle Blankets

I don't keep any fancy swaddlers around, but you'll figure out what works for you. Once I figured out how to get a tight swaddle with a regular swaddle blanket, those were the only things I kept.

7. Pack-n-Play

We use a pack-n-play instead of a bassinet or mini-crib, and my 18-month-old seems to be on track to move straight from the pack-n-play to a floor mattress.

8. Car Seat

Car seats are pricey! We chose to get both an infant seat, which clicks in and out of a base, and a convertible seat that grows with our kids. We use the infant seat because we have it, but I think you'd be safe just grabbing the convertible seat.

That's it for today, ladies! Congratulations on the new addition to your family, and please let me know your must-haves in the comments below!

All the love,

Emily

P.S. Feel free to contact me at admin@tulipsandbasil.com!