Tips To Reduce the Cost of Raising a Baby

Many couples set aside plans of having a baby because of the cost. The cost of diapers and formula milk can really be overwhelming, not to mention the additional cost of clothes and other accessories. But raising a baby should not be that costly.

As a first time mom, having my very first baby was a challenge. Not only in the area of testing my mothering skills but also with saving enough money to be able to provide for a new human being who is entrusted to my care. Then suddenly the thought of losing my simple pleasures and guilty pleasures came to mind. There is this fear of not being able to prioritize the needs of my baby because of my selfish needs. I was also concerned if my husband and I are earning enough to be able to provide for our baby’s every need. But through reading other blogs of awesome mothers, I learned that raising a baby is really not that expensive. Here are some tips that helped me got through my very first mommy experience and helped me to save a lot for guilty pleasures too.

·         Don’t buy a lot of baby clothes. Babies grow up fast. If you buy a lot of clothes, your baby might not be able to use all of it. Newborn babies only need a few sets of clothes because a few weeks later, it might be too small for your baby to use. You can also save a lot if you make use of hand-me-down clothes. Just make sure that you laundry it well and add bleach. If you do decide to make use of second-hand clothes, make sure that you know where it came from and who the first user was. It is to ascertain that no unwanted harmful bacteria could probably be handed down to your little one.

·         Invest In Cloth Diapers. I am an advocate of using cloth diapers. It helps you save money and save the environment as well. Disposable diapers are really convenient but think of how much disposable nappies your baby could use before he or she is potty trained. Cloth diapers can be reused. Therefore, this lifts the guilt of you and your baby contributing to the tons of non-biodegradable trash all over the world. Cloth diapers that are of good quality are as efficient as disposable diapers. It doesn't leak plus you are sure that what touches your baby’s buttocks is not synthetic and comfortable.

·         Do Breastfeed. Formula milk is expensive. Breastfeeding would save you thousands of dollars plus you are giving your child the most nutritious milk there is.

·         You Don’t Need Too Much Fancy Toys. Babies need toys to stimulate their brain but you don’t need to buy the expensive kind. There are cheaper ones which will serve its purpose. Make sure that you check on the safety precaution that comes with each toy.

Commercialism made having a baby expensive but it is actually not. Having your baby will change your life but it changes life for the better. Babies do not know the difference between the expensive and the cheaper stuffs. So, if the quality is the same then, smartly spend your bucks on the ones that cost less.