How to Save Money with a Baby

Here’s some tips and links to saving money when you need it most–with a new baby in the house.

1. Sign up for coupons from Gerber and Huggies. Even if you don’t use Huggies Diapers or Nestle formula, you’ll still get valuable coupons such as 75 cents off wipes.

Gerber

Huggies

2. Buy diapers online at Diapers.Com. You’ll get $10 off your first order, as well everyday 2 day free shipping on orders over $49. You also get a free 1 year subscription to Parenting magazine with your order of $15 or more! Make sure you buy the biggest boxes of diapers available to save the most.

3. Breastfeed your baby if you are able. You can save hundreds a year, not to mention the health bonus!

4. Ask for second hand clothing or visit used clothing stores such as Once Upon a Child. Launder the clothing with Dreft.

5. Don’t bother with shoes when your baby can’t even walk. They’ll outgrow them very quickly anyway.

6. Buy lots of onesies and sleep-n-plays (footed pajamas). You’ll end up layering them a lot of they’re very versatile.

7. Buy a crib that can be converted into a toddler bed. You’ll appreciate it later on.

8. This stroller is amazing! It fits with the Graco SnugRide infant car seat. You just pop open the stroller (which folds easily and quickly) and pop on the car seat. No need to wake the baby or tote around a huge useless stroller! It rolls well, too. The stroller costs about $50-60 dollars new.

9. Keep extra baby care items in the car, that way you won’t end up buying something you forgot when you’re out.

10. When you’re decorating the baby’s nursery, remember to only get furniture you really need.

11. In the nursery, frame pages from children’s books. I used vingtage children’s books I got at a used book store. They look so nice when you put them in matching frames and create a scene. Maybe put five frames in a neat row, or four in a box shape.

As suggested, here are a couple more ideas to save money:

12. Families can consider co-sleeping as an option.

13. At 6 months of age, switch to solid foods or make your own baby food.

 

Right now I’m a stay-at-home mother with a 4 month old son. With only one income, I’m careful to save money when possible. By using coupons, buying used clothing, and shopping around, here’s my to-date total baby costs:

breast pump–$35

diapers (4 mo.s)–$120

wipes (4 mo.s)–$20

clothing (purchased 4 storage tubs worth, up to 12 mo.s)–$100

nursery furniture/decoration (furniture bought new, includes crib)–$350

grooming and miscellaneous–$25

toys–$40

total–$690, plus I have enough clothing that I won’t need to buy anything for over a year!

The Importance of a Healthy Marriage in Parenting

Too often women are caught up caring for their children that they neglect what is arguably the most important relationship in their life: their marriage. The goal of raising your children is that one day they are strong enough and successful enough to leave home and create a life of their own. Your marriage, however, is meant to be a daily and lifelong relationship.

A strong and healthy marriage is important to show to children. It teaches them so many invaluable lessons that may never be relearned. To begin with, you’re showing your children how to relate to someone on a deep level, solving problems together, and compromising on issues to reach harmony. Compromise is an important part of life no matter your age or situation, and the younger children see this in action the sooner they will learn how to implement it. When your youngster sees you talking with your spouse and together deciding how to spend a bonus in a paycheck, finally deciding to get something that everyone will enjoy, your child can relate that to a friendship they may have and deciding with their friend what sort of game they should play.

A healthy marriage also shows children how to forge a loving relationship once they get older. It teaches them how to develop empathy and caring for another individual on a deep level, forsaking selfishness. Children and teenagers that observe a good marriage learn first hand what works and how to have a commited, serious relationship.

Keeping this in mind, don’t neglect your husband when a new baby comes along. Don’t put off intimate times, even if it’s just catching 20 minutes together while the baby is napping to talk to each other alone. As your child grows, remember that you’re helping teach your child to be independent, whileas the goal of your relationship with your spouse should be to grow closer over time. There should always be room in your heart for everyone that’s important to you. If you push away from your husband and fill all of your time with thoughts and time with your children, you’ll suddenly look up one day and realize that you no longer know the person you used to love.

And just to clear things up, this isn’t to say that only married couples can raise happy, successful children–far from it. The point is that a healthy marriage, as opposed to one filled with bitterness, bickering, or even hatred, is a great starting point for teaching your children. Many parents seem to decide to stay together, although they are not happy with each other, thinking they are making a sacrifice for their child. This is the wrong mentality to have. Children don’t gain anything having two unhappy parents and a bad relationship role model. If the marriage is unsalvagable and is not working for either party, the best thing to do is seperate. This at least allows the child to see their parents functioning on their own, or in a new, happier relationship.

Being a family means appreciating, supporting, and loving each other. So, the general point I’m trying to make is this: love your children, and love your spouse as well.

So I Took My Baby to Disneyland…

William's 1st Disney Visit

I know, you always hear that it’s the worst idea ever, and they’ll never remember it. But really… who cares if they’ll remember? Does that mean I shouldn’t read to my child, because he won’t remember the story when he’s older? I think not.

Personally, it was a great experience. Disney has a wonderful Baby Care Center with a nursing room, changing stations, seating, the whole works. They even gave us a “1st Visit” pin for William when we stopped in. You can also take babies and small children on most of the rides there! I had no idea. My husband and I thought we’d be trading off the whole time.

The first ride my son went on was Pirates of the Carribbean. He thought it was so neat. He’s only four months old but he was sitting on my lap, looking around in amazement. He liked the part with the cannons hitting the water the most.

Next we went on the Haunted Mansion. If you haven’t been on it before, you start off standing in a room. The door closes and “disappears.” The room appears to streeeetchhh… then a crash of lightning! Well, my son grabbed onto me, squeezed his eyes shut, and shook for a few seconds. I felt so bad! After that, you leave the room, get into a little car, and the ride starts. From then on he enjoyed it. He absolutely loved the singing of the ghosts in the graveyard.

We walked around the park for awhile, stopping to rest for lunch. My husband and I shared a chili bowl (delicious!) and we headed to the Baby Care Center to nurse the baby and change his diaper. We headed off to Finding Nemo… again, my son was scared! You get in a submarine, sitting facing out through a porthole, and the sub sinks and takes you on a tour under the water… eventually running into the characters of Finding Nemo and following them on an adventure. During the beginning the ride was calm, quiet, and William sat on my lap looking at the water and plants. He enjoyed that. His eyes were wide, mouth open, holding my hand. Then Nemo came up… There was suddenly so much noise and bright lights. I covered the baby’s ears and held him, and he was okay, but it definetely unnerved him.

Last, we got on the Storybook Ride, my favorite! You get in a small boat with a few other people and a guide takes you down a little river, showing you all the tiny home models along the riverbanks. There’s Agrabah, Pinnochio’s village, Alice’s home… It’s so darling. I got some great pictures of my son on the ride, sitting on his dad’s lap, Agrabah behind him.

It was a great family experience that I’m going to cherish forever. So what if my son won’t remember? We took plenty of pictures that he can look at when he’s older, and he had fun for a day, which is enough for me.

William on the Storybook Ride