Baby Rabies
  • Start Here
    • About Baby Rabies
    • Baby Registry Top Picks
    • Favorite Pregnancy Apps
  • The Book
  • Pregnancy
    • Birth Stories
    • Perinatal Mood Disorders
  • Parenthood
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • School Age Kids
    • Parenting LOLZ
  • Photography
    • Photography

      6 Stunning Photos You Would Never Guess Were…

      February 11, 2019

      Photography

      Simple Tips For Editing Snow Photos On Your…

      December 13, 2018

      Photography

      I Wrote A Photography eBook And This Is…

      December 6, 2018

      Photography

      Creative Lighting Ideas To Help You Take Great…

      November 27, 2018

      Photography

      Learn How To Take And Edit Photos On…

      November 19, 2018

  • Reviews
    • Reviews

      The Answer To Last Minute Holiday Gifting For…

      December 19, 2018

      Reviews

      I Was Never A Barbie Girl Until Now

      October 1, 2018

      Reviews

      Finally! Jeans For My Jean-Averse Kids!

      August 22, 2018

      Reviews

      If Your Kid Loves Dump Trucks & Garbage…

      August 13, 2018

      Reviews

      Nobody Tell My Kids ABC Mouse Is Part…

      September 4, 2017

  • Subscribe

Baby Rabies

pregnancy & parenting

  • Start Here
    • About Baby Rabies
    • Baby Registry Top Picks
    • Favorite Pregnancy Apps
  • The Book
  • Pregnancy
    • Birth Stories
    • Perinatal Mood Disorders
  • Parenthood
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • School Age Kids
    • Parenting LOLZ
  • Photography
    • Photography

      6 Stunning Photos You Would Never Guess Were…

      February 11, 2019

      Photography

      Simple Tips For Editing Snow Photos On Your…

      December 13, 2018

      Photography

      I Wrote A Photography eBook And This Is…

      December 6, 2018

      Photography

      Creative Lighting Ideas To Help You Take Great…

      November 27, 2018

      Photography

      Learn How To Take And Edit Photos On…

      November 19, 2018

  • Reviews
    • Reviews

      The Answer To Last Minute Holiday Gifting For…

      December 19, 2018

      Reviews

      I Was Never A Barbie Girl Until Now

      October 1, 2018

      Reviews

      Finally! Jeans For My Jean-Averse Kids!

      August 22, 2018

      Reviews

      If Your Kid Loves Dump Trucks & Garbage…

      August 13, 2018

      Reviews

      Nobody Tell My Kids ABC Mouse Is Part…

      September 4, 2017

  • Subscribe

baby essentials

5 Ways To Save Money When You Have A Baby
Babies

5 Ways To Save Money When You Have A Baby

by Jill April 7, 2017
written by Jill

Babies cost money. That’s a fact of life. From the moment you spend money on an overpriced pregnancy test that shows you a positive – by the way, you can get perfectly fine pregnancy tests at dollar stores- you’re in for a couple decades of buying stuff.

You don’t have to buy all the stuff, though! And the stuff you do have to buy doesn’t have to be expensive … or it can be a smart investment. With 4 babies worth of experience, here are 5 (of many) things I think you can save money on when it comes to baby stuff. This post is written in partnership with Allstate.

  1. Crib– When considering a crib for your first baby, here are a couple things to think about:

    A. Will you have more babies? If yes, then I think it’s definitely worth investing in a sturdy crib that’s not too trendy. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on it, but I’d steer clear of the super cheap ones if you want it to make it through 2 or 3 babies. We had a really high-quality crib for our first, and it only made it through 3 kids. It’s not a bargain if you have to keep buying it over and over.

    5 Ways To Save Money When You Have A Baby | BabyRabies.com in partnership with Allstate
    We bought this crib for our 4th baby after our first one bit the dust. It’s simple and sturdy.

    B. I know you may think those cribs that convert to full-size beds are the way to go, but, in my opinion, it’s a waste. They are typically much more expensive than cribs that don’t convert to adult size beds. They are much bigger, so not always the best fit for baby #2+ if you need kids to share a room at any point. Also? Babies are savage animals to the wooden crates we put them in. Mine have DESTROYED their crib. They chew on it and kick the rails. They are constantly climbing. God knows what kind of bodily fluids wind up on there. By the time they are done with the crib, I’d rather start a bonfire with it than envision them sleeping in some other version of it for 15 more years.
  2. Changing Table/Dresser- There is no need for a special dresser. You can turn any dresser into a changing table by putting a changing pad on top of it. I recommend putting some non-skid shelf liner between the pad and the dresser to keep it from sliding around. Honestly, there’s no need for a dresser or changing table at all. Baby clothes are tiny. You can easily store them in plastic, stackable drawers in a closet. You can always make a changing supplies tote or basket, and keep it in the room. Change baby on a small blanket on the floor.
    5 Ways To Save Money When You Have A Baby | BabyRabies.com in partnership with AllstateWe already had this Ikea dresser, so we just put a changing pad on top. We actually have a nursery nook in our master bedroom. You can see more of it here.
  3. Bedding– If you do get a crib, you don’t need the whole bedding setup. Skip the bumpers and the quilt. (Baby blankets find their way to you, I promise.) Minimal crib bedding is not only safe, but the look is really on trend, too. Find a few adorable, custom-made sheets (here are a couple places to look), and maybe get a solid color crib skirt if you want one (but you could definitely do without one of these, too).
  4. Clothes– I know, I know. Clothes are the MOST FUN thing to buy for babies! And this is an area it’s fun to “splurge” in because you can get the cutest, designer things for babies for not *that* much, relatively speaking. Just remember that babies grow SO fast, and that, in reality, they spend most of their time in jammies because they sleep all day. I’ve seen parents stock a not-even-born-yet baby’s closet so full it looks like a department store. And that’s fine! I’m not here to judge anyone’s financial choices. I’m just saying there’s no flipping way their baby wore 1/4 of that for a significant amount of time to any place important. This also applies to shoes, especially. Baby shoes are a joke.

*And those clothes and shoes usually end up at consignment shops with the tags still on for 1/10th the price, so definitely shop consignment.

A post shared by Jill Krause (@babyrabies) on Apr 7, 2017 at 8:51am PDT


Gotta love a sweet hand-me-down. These jams have been worn by all 4 babies!

  1. Feeding supplies– The fewer sippy cups, plates, and spoons you have, the fewer dishes you’ll have to wash. Instead of getting tons of cutesy baby plates, look into getting something like a silicone mat with built in plate. Silicone is so versatile and easy to clean that it also makes a great option for a bib. Don’t spend a ton of money on cloth bibs that will need to be washed in the laundry. Silicone bibs are super adorable, and you really only need one. 

5 Ways To Save Money When You Have A Baby | BabyRabies.com in partnership with Allstate

There are so many more ways to save your money and spend wisely when it comes to raising a little human. I’d love to hear some of your money saving tips for life with a baby! Also, tell me what you think was totally worth the money.

This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.

5 Ways To Save Money When You Have A Baby | BabyRabies.com in partnership with Allstate

April 7, 2017 1 comment
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail
Tried & True Baby Items I’m Happy To Use Again For Baby #4
BabiesGreen LivingParenthoodReviews

Tried & True Baby Items I’m Happy To Use Again For Baby #4

by Jill November 4, 2016
written by Jill

You’d think after 3 other babies that I’d have a huge stash of stuff ready for this one. I mean, yes and no. There isn’t a ton we need for this baby, but I also haven’t kept every single thing I’ve ever used with the other 3, either. For good reason. Half of it was crap.

And while there are some awesome new things that have come out over the last few years that I do plan on getting, I am pretty confident in all the good stuff that I’ve kept.

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

This includes our bumGenius cloth diapers by Cotton Babies, who is also sponsoring this post. 

If you’re a first time parent, I think these are some quality items to put on your registry. Of course, everything in parenthood is subjective and really relative to your lifestyle, so take this for what it’s worth- just my opinion… my opinion based on having 3 other babies in 8 years, with a 4th on the way.

Fisher Price Bouncer SeatTried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
There are a few variations of this, but I’m partial to the most basic. The vibration function is nice, but what we use this for the most is to manually bounce our babies to sleep because our babies love them a good, hard bounce.

My favorite pro-parent tip is to master how to bounce a baby to sleep with your foot with the seat on the floor in front of you while you sit at your desk and work, sit on the couch and watch TV, or sit at the table and eat. It’s also the perfect place to put a newborn while you shower. Yeah, there’s going to come a moment when you’re alone with a baby, and you can’t stand your own stench, and then you’re going to be like, “Uhhhh… so like, what do I DO with you?”

bumGenius Cloth Diapers by Cotton Babies

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.comI can’t even begin to quantify how much money cloth diapering has saved us while raising 3 kids. bumGenius diapers are the most reliable, longest lasting brand I’ve tried. I’ve got some bumGenius Original pocket diapers that I used on my first baby 8 years ago, that I’m prepping for baby #4 now, along with a nice stash of new Freetimes and Elementals.

I’ve been all over the place with cloth diapering, from using them ALL THE TIME with my first (road trips included) to using them just at home with baby #3. Even if you’re not planning to commit to full-time cloth diapering, I think it’s great to have at least 6 on hand. Then you don’t have to stress if you run out of diapers in the middle of the night, or if the brand you’re using suddenly seems to be giving your baby a rash.

Not to mention, they’re ADORABLE. (Look at those prints!)

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
I’ll be sharing a lot more about cloth diapering over the next year!

Miracle Blanket & Woombie
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
These are the only 2 swaddles that have ever contained our hulk-smashing newborns. (They are all born with super strength.) The Miracle Blanket helped save my sanity when my first baby had colic. The Woombie came about in time for our 2nd, though she seemed to prefer having her arms at her side in the Miracle Blanket. But, our 3rd LOVED having the freedom to scoot his hands up a bit in the Woombie. I’m going to have both washed and ready to see what works best for baby #4.

Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets and Dream Blankets Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
The basic swaddle blankets are such workhorses. They make excellent nursing covers, spit up rags, car seat covers, light blankets, and plain ol’ swaddles. They are HUGE, which is really useful. The Dream Blankets (like that star one up there) are several layers of the basic swaddle, and they are the perfect weight blanket for when you need something a little heavier. They get softer with every wash, and soon you’ll be wishing you had one in your size (which they actually make).

Fisher Price Rock & Play
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
I’ve only had the Rock & Play for my 3rd baby, and man, I wish I had it for the other 2. My babies all love to sleep in a slight incline, and this thing is PERFECT for that. The Bouncer seat is, too, but it’s not always convenient to sit it on the floor, especially with older kids and dogs running around. Lowell napped in this all the time, and even spent a few fussy nights in it. I hear there’s one now that automatically rocks itself?! Yeah, getting it.

Diono Radian RXT Car Seat
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
These seats are WONDERFUL if you need to fit 3 carseats across one row of your car. With just one Radian RXT in the middle, we were able to get 3 carseats across the back of our Infiniti G35. Leyna, at nearly 6, just outgrew hers and is switching to a Britax Frontier.

Medela Harmony Breast Pump
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
If you think you’re going to even try to breastfeed, I can’t recommend having a manual pump enough. I have used this so much with 3 kids that I’m actually on my 2nd one now. The first lived a long, hard life. Even if you think you’re going to exclusively breastfeed and never give your baby a bottle, and even if you already have a fancy double electric pump, here’s why you need it:
1. Sometimes you need to pump a little bit to relieve engorgement to get a newborn to latch, and having to bust out the electric pump for that can be overwhelming.
2. If you unfortunately wind up with a clogged duct or mastitis, this can really help you get milk moving to help it clear up faster.
3. If you travel, a small manual pump is immensely easier to throw in your bag and take on an airplane with you.

Stokke Tripp Trapp
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.comThis is the only high chair we’ve ever had, and I fully expect we will still have it when we have grandchildren. It’s easy to clean, impossible to destroy, and functions as a high chair, booster seat, and adult size chair. It’s a fantastic investment that you can feel confident will not wind up in a landfill anytime soon. You can read a more thorough review of it here.

 

Boppy Feeding Pillow
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.comNot only does it make a great nursing/feeding pillow (and mine looks a little deflated here because it’s been used A LOT)…
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
But it’s also wonderful for tummy time, and helping babies sit up. I love that it’s uncomplicated, and you can find a ton of cute, custom covers on Etsy or from sellers on Instagram. Get you a couple because this thing gets covered in a lot of bodily fluids on the regular.

Bonus- I also need to add some sort of baby carrier to this list, but since I can’t narrow down a specific favorite, and we’ve used several over the years, I’m just going to encourage you to do some research and find a good quality baby carrier (that you can usually find 2nd hand for a great price if you’re not sure it will work out) that works well with your lifestyle.

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

I do love a stretchy Moby Wrap for those newborn days. This saved me when my oldest had colic. I also love soft structured carriers when they get older.

What about you, seasoned parents? What are some of your tried & true baby items you’d recommend a new parent get?

Thanks to Cotton Babies for sponsoring this post. Many of these items, plus so much more, can be found at CottonBabies.com, and shipping is FREE with every order.

November 4, 2016 2 comments
0 FacebookPinterestWhatsappEmail

@babyrabies

Instagram has returned invalid data.

Buy Jill’s Book

50 Things to Do Before You Deliver: The First Time Moms Pregnancy Guide

Up Your Phone Photography

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

©2019 | BabyRabies.com


Back To Top