Baby Shower

Baby Shower Outfits

How can I be frugal and have everything baby needs?

Good question! I think the key is to identify what babies truly need.

The advertisers would have you believe that baby needs fancy expensive

“stuff” that will keep you in debt until baby’s in college. Not true.

Babies need very little in order to be happy. And those things are, in

order of importance:

A Momma to love

Nutritious food

To be kept warm

Something to cover their bottoms

Pretty simple eh?

Free Food for Baby

“The newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms

of its mother, food from her breasts, and security in the knowledge of

her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three.” – Dr. Grantly

Dick-Read, author of Childbirth Without Fear.

The interesting thing about the first 3 is that they can all be met at

the same time with breastfeeding! You can’t get much more frugal than

free can you?

Not only does breastfeeding save you money that you would have spent

on formula, bottles and such, but you will save money on Doctor bills.

Formula feeding carries risks: Increased ear infections, respiratory

illness, increased incidence of certain cancers, long term

implications for obesity, diabetes, and I could go on.

Baby Clothes

My best tip for obtaining baby clothes frugally is to make it known

that you welcome hand-me-downs. Most Moms hate throwing away perfectly

good baby stuff. When babies are young, they almost never wear things

out before they are outgrown. If someone gives you things, accept it

gratefully and thank them. Even if the stuff isn’t as good as you

would like and you end up donating it to charity, you still send a

message that you aren’t too proud for used things. And truly, it has

nothing to do with charity. Obtaining used things is better for the

environment. And you can put the money you save to better use. Why not

start a savings account for your little one and add to it when you use

creative frugality to save money? Your child will thank you later!

EBay, thrift stores and consignment shops are also good places to find

baby clothes frugally.

Experts agree that babies don’t really need shoes when they’re

learning to walk because it’s best for their toes to grip the floor.

If it’s cold and baby’s tootsies are frozen, use soft leather baby

shoes. They’re flexible and the healthiest, safest choice.

Saving Money On Diapers

The most frugal way of dealing with this issue is to forgo diapers

altogether the way women around the world do. It’s called “elimination

communication” and basically involves watching for baby’s elimination

cues (and they do exist, even in newborns) and holding her over the

potty so she can take care of business. However, if you’re not so

inclined, the next best thing is cloth diapers.

Ask people to give you cloth diapers at your Baby Shower instead of

those cute but impractical outfits. A lot of the cloth diaper

companies that sell online have baby registries. Buy the high quality

cloth diapers if you plan on using them for more than one child. They

will likely last you for years. I recommend Fuzzi Bunz.

More Frugal Baby Ideas

Frugality is mostly about what you don’t buy than what you do, so I

suggest thinking about what you can do without. Do you really need a

crib or bassinet? Why not let baby sleep with you? It works for 90% of

the population. Do you need a baby swing? Why not wear baby on your

body in a sling? It promotes bonding, keeps baby happy, you burn extra

calories and get things done too! Everybody wins.

Does baby really need those educational toys and gadgets? You know,

Einstein didn’t have flash cards. All the stimulation your baby needs

is you! Talk to baby, read to baby, sing to baby, let baby watch your

daily activities from his spot in the baby sling, and breastfeed your

baby.

The best baby toys are things you have around the house. (Ever noticed

how babies and toddlers would rather play with your keys than any

expensive toy?) Babies would rather bang on pots and pans with wooden

spoons than just about anything else. Save empty plastic food

containers that would have been thrown away, and toss them into an

empty cabinet down low in your kitchen. This will provide hours of

frugal fun for baby!

One exception:

Baby car seats are best obtained new…don’t risk taking a chance on a

used car seat that “looks” fine but that may have been involved in a

fender bender.

Baby’s needs are truly few, and the best things you can give your baby

are free.

For more tips on raising baby naturally, visit http://www.NaturalBabyWorld.com and get your free report: Organic Baby: How To Raise A Happy Healthy Baby

What did you get at your Baby Shower?

I’m registering at Walmart for most of my items and then at Target for small stuff, mainly so if anyone decides to buy off the registry they can go to either store. I know that not everyone will buy off of the registry. What all did you get at your baby shower and what did you have to buy on your own?

I honestly got everything. Even the crib from my mother in law. The place I registered also gave you 10% of what was purchased off your list in credit. So combined with that and some stuff that we returned we got Everything we need.
I will tell you… I loved my baby shower. With so many presents and stuff I REALLY felt the love. People were so supportive and never in my life had I felt so much positive energy coming my way.
Hope yours turns out great!

baby shower cont./clothes