Category: Baby

Raising a baby is far from easy. It’s also far from cheap.

Even if you’re pinching pennies and not yet investing in college savings or life insurance for your little one, the first year of your baby’s life is likely to set you back $20,000 or more.

This makes finding ways to save some cash important for all parents, new and experienced alike.

One great way to do this is by learning how to shop for and choose affordable baby clothing. Keep reading to learn 10 great tips for saving on your little one’s clothes.

1. Keep It Neutral

Whether it’s your first child or your third, it can be tough to stop yourself from buying every cute, patterned onesie or colorful pair of leggings you pass in the store.

One brightly colored, trendy onesie might seem harmless enough. But if you’re also tempted to buy pants, socks, shoes, or other items to match, you’re looking at a hefty price tag for a single outfit.

Instead, stick to neutral colors and patterns for the majority of your little one’s clothing. That way, everything matches. Not only will this save money when buying clothes, but it’ll also make it easier to wash the clothes and save you time when it comes to dressing your baby!

2. Don’t Give in to Holiday Outfit Pressure

From Christmas to Easter to birthday parties, it can be tempting to dress up your baby for photos and family gatherings.

But those fancy outfits can also set you back anywhere from $20 to several hundred. And since your growing sprout won’t fit in them the following year, or even the next holiday to come around, you won’t get much use for your money.

Your friends and family are going to think that your little angel looks adorable, no matter what he or she is wearing. So pick something soft and comfortable for passing around your little one, and save your money for other fun holiday ideas!

3. Mix and Match Onesies and Pants

The best baby clothes are also the simplest. Long or short-sleeve onesies in soft fabrics and pants in the same keep your baby comfortable and won’t restrict their range of motion.

But while neutral colors will save you money, adding a little color isn’t a bad thing either. To stay within your budget and add something fun to your little one’s wardrobe, ditch the old rules about what matches and what doesn’t.

Mixing and matching colors and patterns of onesies and pants can be a fun, inexpensive way to brighten your little one’s look without breaking the bank.

4. Skip the Sweaters and Sweatshirts

When the temperature starts to drop, you likely bundle yourself up in sweaters, thermals, coats, and more. First-time parents, in particular, tend to do the same to their little ones.

But if your baby is too small to be walking around in the cold or playing in the snow, you likely won’t be keeping him or her outside for very long. So before you drop a ton of money on sweaters and sweatshirts you’ll take off of them once you get inside or coats that they’ll only wear for a few minutes a day, think again.

You can just as easily dress your little one in his or her normal clothes, and then bundle them in a few blankets to keep out the cold.

5. Buy Big

Babies grow as much as an inch to an inch-and-a-half every month. That cute outfit you bought one month is likely going to be way too small in just a month or two.

While there isn’t much you can do–after all, you want your little one to grow–you can save some cash by buying clothes a bit bigger than your baby’s current size.

6. Save on the Basics So You Can Splurge Elsewhere

If you still want to buy cute outfits and clothes for special events, there are plenty of other ways you can save.

One great way is by saving on the basics. Basics like onesies, sleepers, socks, and leggings don’t vary much among different baby clothing brands.

So skip the expensive options and opt for bulk packs, clearance finds, or bargain brands. That way you can splurge on the cute outfits instead!

One great area to splurge on are accessories like headwraps. These are cute accents for any outfit and can be adjusted so that your baby will get months of wear out of them. Learn more about headwraps here!

7. Don’t Buy Ahead

Maybe you want to snap up that cute winter coat before it sells out at the store, even though it’s still warm outside. Or you want to shop last season’s finds on clearance racks to save some cash.

But buying ahead for clothing for future seasons is a big mistake. If your little one grows faster than expected, you may find yourself with items that are far too small, and that you’ve had too long to return.

When you’re trying to stick to your baby budget, make sure that you’re buying clothing as they are needed, and not a moment sooner.

8. Consider Shopping Secondhand

If you’ve had more than one child, you know that hand-me-downs are a great way to save some money. So why not save some cash by shopping secondhand as well?

Shopping yard sales, secondhand stores, and online shops like eBay are great ways to score great deals on gently-worn baby clothes. After all, no little ones stay one size for long, so it’s likely you’ll find lots of great deals on items that weren’t worn more than a few times.

Just be sure to wash the items before dressing your baby in them.

9. Let Your Little One Go Barefoot

There are few things cuter than tiny baby shoes.

But not only can these be expensive, but your baby also doesn’t really need them. When babies are learning to walk, its best to let them do so inside, barefoot. Shoes can make them unsteady. Plus, like clothing, babies grow out of baby shoes very fast.

10. Choose Unisex Colors and Styles

Planning to have more children after this one? Save yourself some money in the future by choosing mostly unisex colors and styles.

This will make it easy to pass them down to your future babies.

Finding Affordable Baby Clothing

Now that you know a few tips for saving money, it’s time to start shopping for affordable baby clothing for your little one.

Wondering where to start shopping? Check out this list of the best baby clothing companies to help you get started.

When is the last time you got a good night’s sleep? Last month, or even last year? There’s a decent chance you’re up late right now searching for answers to toddler sleep problems instead of getting some much needed rest.

If you’re trying to decide whether to laugh or cry at how right I am, then read on. I’m going to give you some tips for helping your toddler through three common sleep issues.

Waking Repeatedly at Night

It may surprise you to know that it’s perfectly normal for toddlers to wake up several times a night. Why does this happen?

One culprit could be the 18 month sleep regression. This is a time when toddlers are developing more skills, exploring more, and have more independence. An expanding world leads to lots of distractions, and even anxiety about sleep.

Establishing and keeping an ideal bedtime with a soothing routine is important to develop long-term sleep behaviors. Over-tiredness contributes to poor sleep.

After dinner, keep evenings quiet and low-energy. No TV, dim the lights and stick to activities like books and puzzles. Winding down in the hour before bed will send signals to little brains that it’s sleep time. It also may be appropriate to cut back the number of naps during the day or move naps to an earlier time.

Bedtime Fears

Does your toddler seem afraid of the dark? Play games during the daytime that involve darkness, like using a flashlight to hunt for toys. You can be with them at first, but encourage their solo play in the dark to build confidence.

A night-light can be a comfort, but make sure to keep it dim. Too much light can actually interrupt the body’s production of melatonin (our natural sleep hormone!)

If it’s nightmares that cause your toddler sleep problems, try to avoid triggers like media with scary themes or characters. Use comfort objects like a soft blanket or favorite stuffed animal to keep stress levels down.

During the day, talk about dreams and pretend. Illustrate with eyes closed, that thinking about an object doesn’t make it real. Draw pictures of their monsters and point out how silly they actually look.

Crying Themselves Sick

A consistent routine is the best advice for calming bedtime tantrums over time, but what if your child is crying to the point of vomiting?

First, reduce liquids at bedtime so there is less to vomit up. Then, put a sheet under the bed liner. When you do have to remove soiled bedding, the bed is already made.

Use a wet wipe to clean your toddler up and save the bath for the morning to create fewer disruptions. Have a sheet on the floor for easy clean-up of any spilled vomit as well. Avoid making the episode more of a production than necessary.

Soothe your child, but have them remain in their bed until they go back to sleep. Keep the clean-up short and sweet so you can focus on comforting them. Make sure you follow this procedure every time until the behavior passes.

Remember: Toddler Sleep Problems Aren’t Forever

Don’t forget to take a breath and relax. You’ll get there.

Bedtime is learned behavior, and the resistance to sleep will pass.

What has helped create successful bedtimes in your household? Let us know in the comments!

Your family’s growing, and you couldn’t be happier. But having a child is a huge financial commitment, just as it is an emotional one. Knowing how to prepare for a baby financially before you enter parenthood is key to enjoying your new blessing without so much stressing.

Research shows that the average family in the United States will spend about $12,000 on baby-related expenses during their infant’s first year.

Translation: As much as we love babies, they certainly aren’t cheap. We’ve compiled a guide on how to prepare for a baby financially and manage your new family budget.

Let’s get started!

How to Prepare for a Baby Financially: Understand Health Insurance

One of the most important moves you can make to prepare financially for baby is to ensure that you have a good grasp of your medical insurance coverage and anticipate your costs accordingly.

After all, giving birth to a child is costly even if you’ve got insurance.

The earlier you forecast your anticipated costs, the more prepared you’ll be for the medical bills that will ensue.

Also, start looking ahead of time for a pediatrician who is within your medical insurance network. Your new baby will need to see this doctor within the first week after he or she is born.

And don’t just trust the clinic to tell you that it is within your network. Call the insurance company yourself to double-check. You don’t want to get hit with unexpected charges for going outside of your network.

Budget, Baby!

Surrogate mothers enjoy the benefit of being paid to get pregnant for other couples. For instance, they can earn $43,000 or more — easily an annually salary — based on their individual circumstances.

But if you’re having a baby for yourself, you may experience the opposite effect: You may lose your yearly salary if you decide to stay home.

This is why it’s so critical that you create a post-baby budget before the baby comes. This will give you an idea of how his or her arrival will impact your finances.

If you decide to stay home, can your household truly absorb the loss of your income? If not, would a day care service in your area be affordable, or could a relative watch your bundle of joy at no cost?

Figure out these answers right away by doing the math. Then, act like these charges are in effect today so you’ll have an easier transition to life with a baby tomorrow.

Save

You may have spent the past few years trying to pay off debt. That’s great, but with baby on the way now, it’s time to step on the brakes.

In other words, stay on top of your minimum debt payments, but quit putting extra money toward your debt. Instead, put it in your savings account for emergencies that might crop up during your pregnancy or after the baby is born.

Then, once you’ve confirmed that both mom and baby are healthy, you can keep moving forward with your debt-payoff plan.

How I Can Help

I offer a wide range of tips and advice about how you can save money. Why pay more when you don’t have to?

Contact me to learn more about how I can help you to enjoy a fuller bank account and thus a fuller life long term.

There are ways to enjoy flying with a toddler other than taking separate planes. If you plan ahead and prepare for the trip you can both have a great adventure.

Keep reading for some awesome tips to make flying with a toddler a breeze

Make a List and Check It Twice

Let’s face it, it’s hard to remember your name somedays when you spend it with a toddler. Lists are your friend.

If you’re anything like me you’ll want to put it on your phone. This will avoid you losing the list. You can also add to it easily when you think of it because you always have your phone.

As you prepare for your trip start thinking of things you want to bring. The more you have listed, the less you’ll forget. This will help avoid meltdowns for your toddler and for you.

List toys, snacks, clothes, and supplies you will need for the trip. You’ll want to have lots for them to do and eat. Planning for delays will help them be less stressful if they do happen.

Invest Time Before Your Trip

You’ll thank yourself later if you put some time into preparing now. There are some easy and inexpensive things you can do. It’ll be worth it when you’re flying with a toddler to take some time to gather supplies. When it’s time to pack you’ll be ready.

Pick a corner of your home where your toddler doesn’t have access. As you put things in the pile they won’t disappear because your little one wanted to play with it before leaving.

Take a day and go to the grocery store to get snacks or supplies you’ll need for your trip.

Remember airport security rules for liquids. You don’t want to throw away snacks because they don’t comply with TSA rules. With your toddler watching in horror.

Hit a Dollar or Craft Store

You’re going to want some supplies for your toddler survivor kit. You’ll want one for their entertainment too. Pick up things you’ll want during the flight for your toddler.

Some things you might want:

• wet wipes– you’re not going to be able to take a big container of them in your carry on. You’ll want to either buy a travel pack or get a small container. Ziplock bags or a small Tupperware container will hold a wet facecloth or baby wipes.
• freezer bags– These can hold and organize a million things. You’d be wise to get some. You can prepare activity bags with all the supplies your child needs for it. They are good to carry snacks, wet clothes or diaper changing emergency packs.
• lamination supplies– You can buy lamination pouches at the dollar store. They’ll come in handy to make things last for future flights too.
• small tackle box or large pill box– this can be used to place snacks. It is great for giving them several choices without making a mess. You can place their favorite snacks like raisins and cheerios in each compartment.
• stickers and books– Pick up some new books for them to look through on their own. Some books you can read to them while taking off and landing. Stickers are a great entertainment source. You can laminate some background for them to stick them to. This makes it easy for them to reuse them.
• A few new toys– You don’t have to spend a fortune on new toys when flying with a toddler. You can grab a few new toys at the dollar store and make some activity kits to entertain them for hours.
• earphones– get a couple cheap sets of earphones. You don’t want your only pair accidentally getting broken five minutes into your trip.

Divide and Conquer

It’s so much easier traveling when everything you need is separated into kits. You can conquer anything this trip throws at you if you are prepared.

Changing Kits– You don’t want to be rifling for supplies when your little one needs to get changed. Plan on at least one for every four hours of travel. Then include an extra one or two so you’re not caught off guard.

• have a ziplock freezer bag for each kit
• include an undergarment. Even if your toddler is out of diapers, accidents happen.
• a sandwich bag with a wet cloth or baby wipes in it
• You can place lotion on one of the wet wipes. This way you have it but don’t have to carry a large container which may not get through security.
• most kits should have a complete change of clothes, just in case. You never know when your suitcase will take a different flight than you.

Activity Kits– Keep them busy and you will both be happier. Bring some familiar activities and some new ones. You don’t want to be flying with a toddler who has nothing to do. Activity kits can be made from a number of supplies.

• recycle a baby wipe container to hold small toys like dinosaurs or farm animals. This keeps them all in one place. Your little one can have fun playing with them and be entertained trying to get them through the hole on the top.
• metal lunch box or pencil case and magnets. Keep magnet letters or shapes in it to play with on the lid of the container.
• laminated background and stickers- you can laminate any page as a background. Add a bunch of stickers or crayons and you have a fun activity to create some quiet time. Keep the backgrounds, sticker pages, and crayons in a freezer bag so they are together.

Snack Kits– Having snacks ready to go, in an easy to use container is a must. You can avert a meltdown by distracting them with an array of their favorite snacks.

Pack Smart

I’ve been on a trip where my suitcase took a completely different vacation than I did. Make sure your carry on has everything you need if it happens to you.

An extra change of clothes and an extra pair of comfortable shoes should be in your carry on. While they’re beautiful, you want to pack your Rachel Simpson heels in your checked bags. You’ll want to stick to your best mom running shoes for your flight.

Move When You Can

Let your toddler explore and move when they can. Take advantage of time in the airport for them to get some of their energy out. This will be good for you too as it will help circulation. This is especially crucial if taking a long flight.

An airport is a magical place for toddlers. Enjoy it with them. Watch planes and people. Let them show you all the new things they see. Leave your activities and snacks for on the plane if you can. Have them close at hand but why use resources if there are other things to distract them.

While on a long flight, walk the aisle a few times. Your toddler will get some wiggles out. It will help pass the time.

Enjoy the Moment When Flying with a Toddler

You are not the first who is flying with a toddler. If they have a momentary meltdown don’t worry. All the moms around you are sending their empathy and strength.

Anyone who gets cranky when your toddler does will get over it.

Time goes slow while you are sitting around the airport. Time flies by in life with our kids. Enjoy each moment. Plan for fun and have it no matter what bumps there are while your flying with a toddler.

We have lots of great ideas for living frugally and DIY crafts. Check out this great DIY flip book for your next trip flying with a toddler.

The arrival of your baby is getting near, and you still feel clueless about how to prepare and what to expect.

It’s natural for new parents to feel nervous before the arrival of their baby. The right baby preparation plan is key to ease on the nerves.

Check out these 10 baby preparation tips so you can begin preparing.

1. Pick a Pediatrician

If you’re preparing for the arrival of your first baby, you might not have a pediatrician picked out.

You should start your pediatrician search before the baby arrives. You could approach your pediatrician search different ways. Ask friends or family member with children about who their pediatrician is.

If you have no one who could recommend a doctor, you could do some online searches to find one near you. Read the reviews online and see what people say about the pediatrician.

Once you narrow it down to a few pediatricians and schedule an appointment to meet the prospects.

2. Buy Bottles and Breast Pump

These two come hand in hand in the baby preparation process. If you’re going to breastfeed the baby, the breast pump will aid you with milk stimulation those first few days.

For some moms who plan on going back to work, a pump will help them make the transition. There are some breast pump options that make it easier to extract the milk and it takes less time.

Moms who plan on staying home, they might do with a simple manual pump.

Whichever pump you pick, you will need a place to keep all that milk. Having plenty of baby bottles will ensure your milk is always ready for when your baby needs it.

3. Prepare the Diapers

Yes, you will need plenty of these so be prepared. First, you have to make the decision whether you’re picking cloth or disposable diapers.

Be careful buying newborn-sized diapers because sometimes babies outgrow them within only a few days. Unless you’re having a tiny baby, don’t buy more than just one pack of newborn diapers.

Make sure you bring enough of them to the hospital and you should also have plenty accessible for you at home. You’ll be needing them.

4. Install the Car Seat

You want to protect your precious baby from harm, and getting a safe car seat is the best way to do so while you’re in the car.

In fact, most hospitals will require for you to have a car seat installed in your car before leaving the hospital.

Ensure you allow yourself plenty of time to install the car seat before the baby arrives so you don’t feel rushed.

Take your time reading the instructions on the manual so you don’t miss anything.

5. Attend Baby Classes

If you’re going to become a parent for the first time, you might feel clueless about what to expect when the baby arrives.

Some people to don’t think about taking a class as part of their baby preparation plan, but it’s helpful.

You can take one at your local hospital and learn from how to give a bath to how to swaddle your baby.

The Pediatric Center lactation support offers a complete class for future parents.

6. Nursing Bras

If you choose to breastfeed your baby, then you should invest in a nursing bra.

As a new mom, you’re not allowed to use bras with underwire until you have been breastfeeding for three months.

Nursing bras are great to make you feel comfortable as a new mom, and they make it so much easier to breastfeed. Adjusting to breastfeeding can be a tough process and having a nursing bra is essential in your baby preparation.

If you can get a couple and bring one to the hospital, so you can start wearing it the first day.

7. Pre-Wash Baby Clothes

A smart step to take during baby preparation is to pre-wash all those baby clothes. Everyone knows babies produce a lot of laundry because they need constant changing every time they have an accident.

If you take the time to wash it a few weeks before your due date you’ll ensure everything is clean and accessible in the place you pick.

When you bring your baby back from the hospital, the last thing you want to worry about is getting all of those clothes washed and put away.

8. Pack you Hospital Bags

Have this bag ready and packed well in advance before your due date. You will need a bag for the baby and a bag for you.

Make sure you pack everything you, the baby, and even dad will need. Depending on the time of day you go into labor there won’t be much time to pack or even think, so have the hospital bag waiting for you by the front door or another accessible place.

For your bag, you’ll want to have undergarments, comfortable pajamas, slippers, and even a robe. Also, pack some essential toiletries so you feel more comfortable.

For the baby, you’ll want to pack stuff like diapers, blankets, pajamas, socks, pacifiers, bibs, etc.

9. Maxi Pads

Right after birth, new moms will experience heavy bleeding for days to weeks after the arrival.

It’s important to prepare yourself with some maxi pads so you feel more comfortable.

You should take them with you to the hospital so you can start using them right away. Also, have plenty of them at home accessible to you for the weeks to come.

10. Test Run to The Hospital

The moment you go into labor everything will happen so fast you might have no clue what to do when you get to the hospital.

It’s in your best interest prior to the arrival to do a test run to the hospital. You should figure out the most practical route.

Familiarize yourself with the hospital such as where to park and which entrance is the closest.

Ready to Start Your Baby Preparation?

The arrival of your baby is a time of joy and the more prepared you are the more time you’ll have to spend with your baby.

Remember to pack all of the essentials, prepare the logistics, and attend a parenting class.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more baby tips, visit us.