How to Save Money on Baby Supplies and Equipment

Most people will tell you that having a baby is very expensive. It's true that children require a lot: food, clothing, necessities; not to mention education and medical and dental care. New parents may feel overwhelmed at the thought of affording everything for their child. Fortunately, it is possible to save a lot of money on baby supplies and equipment. Here is a guide to help new parents save money as they prepare for their bundle of joy to arrive.

1. To save money on formula for your baby, breastfeed. Depending on what type of formula you are using it can cost you over $1,000 a year. So obviously, breastfeeding saves quite a bit of money, even if you have to buy a pump. If you cannot breastfeed and need to use formula, be aware that the store brand formulas are required to meet the same government ingredient and production standards as the name brands like Enfamil or Similac, and cost a lot less.

2. Buy clothing and equipment used. When we were expecting our first son, I went to yard sales all summer long. I scored some real bargains on baby equipment that was in like new condition. I purchased my swing and high chair for $10 each, my bouncer and doorway jumper for $3.00 each, and my deluxe Eurotub baby bathtub for $2.00. I was also able to purchase many articles of baby clothing in brands such as Gymboree, Gap, and The Children's Place for bargain prices-a great way to save money! If you cannot make it out to yard sales, try searching freecycle or Craigslist, or check your local consignment shop for clothing or equipment. One item you should never buy used is a car seat, as there is no guarantee that it has not been in an accident. Also, the safety regulations are updated frequently. Be careful of used cribs because the slats are now required to be closer together on the newer cribs for safety reasons.

3. Consider using cloth diapers, or use coupons for disposable diapers. Granted, cloth diapers are not for everyone (including me), but some people use them with great success, and the modern cloth diapers are much nicer than the primitive kinds that our parents used. If you use disposable diapers, you can sign up on the websites for Huggies, Pampers, or Luvs to receive free coupons. Sometimes there will also be coupons in your Sunday paper. Look for sales, and then combine them with the coupons to save even more money. Another option is using store-brand diapers, but often they do not perform as well as the name brands.

4. Make your own baby food to save money. Think about this: you will pay around sixty cents for a tiny jar of banana baby food. An actual banana in the store costs only about ten cents or less, and you get a lot more-plus it is fresher. Baby food is not hard to make. For a banana, all you need is a fork and a bowl. For other foods, you simply need a blender. You can make a larger portion and freeze it into ice cube trays, so you have some easy-to-prepare meal cubes for your baby.

5. Ask for things you really need for baby shower gifts. If you are able to get much of your necessary equipment used, you can ask for the remaining items for baby gifts or for your baby shower. Even diapers and wipes are good ideas for gift requests. Ask for bigger sizes (size 1 and up) so that if your baby is larger, they will still fit him/her. Other practical gift ideas are bottles, pacifiers, baby spoons, shampoo, and bibs.

If you just spend a little effort, you will be able to save a lot of money on items for your baby. Remember, an infant does not care if his/her swing, stroller, or outfit is new or used.