How do you save $ on baby items?

[3libras]

Please vote.

[carisal]

coupons... of course, LOL. I use cloth part time (diapers and wipes), and use name brand OR generic diapers, whichever is cheap ($4.50 and less a jumbo pack is my "buy" price right now.) I breastfeed.... we made it to 1 year and no formula, *yay*.
I have a large stockpile of baby food (beechnut) that was free after qs back in december, but DD also eats food that I make, sometimes.... or just raw bananas, etc...........and I have nothing against used clothing or equipment(no to a used car seat or crib mattress, though...).

also, I bought a lot of things in gender neutral colors when possible, so that we could re-use them after DD ((pajamas, convertible car seat, umbrella stroller, etc, etc.)) (good thing cause now we are expecting a boy. I am kicking myself right now over the infant car seat/travel system though... went with pink on that. covers for her seat are $60!! on Ebay right now except for one used one that is $25ish and it's pink as well.... )

[mycouponhunter]

My dh was always saying having a baby is expensive, etc etc. I hated when people always talk about the dollar amount with having a baby. I quit my job a few months after having my daughter and I was determined to save money. Everything I got cheap or used. I have no qualms using used! I rather pay 1/4 of the price and use the money I save with buying something else. The only thing we bought new was her crib (paid $30 at walmart I think it was marked wrong and we're still using it) and her swing (I had to have the rainforest swing) most everything else was second hand. The car seat was new but I bought it at Goodwill. It was a return but it wasn't opened. They priced it too low at $20 and it was a newer model originally $129. All her clothes I mainly bought at the thrift store. I bought tons! I still buy a lot second hand. It allows me to stretch my money further and often I am able to get the name brands.

[MrsPinecone]

I am really surprised that more people don't use generic formula. It's so tightly regulated that there is barely a difference from the brand names. Some people even like it better.

You can get coupons on it, too. See the Formula 101 and Baby Mailing List threads for more info.

Although I see that most of the people who responded were breastfeeders, so never mind. LOL

[Lucky1307]

When my DS's were babies I used generic wipes, formula and diapers. Yard sales(exspecially in small towns have awesome finds). I bought for my sister last summer and $10 got a infant swimming pool, 4 leap pad toys, 4+ bags of clothes(2 bags all new w/tags), stroller and a new johnny jump up.

[regbyandjulie]

Originally Posted by mycouponhunter My dh was always saying having a baby is expensive, etc etc. I hated when people always talk about the dollar amount with having a baby. I quit my job a few months after having my daughter and I was determined to save money. Everything I got cheap or used. I have no qualms using used! I rather pay 1/4 of the price and use the money I save with buying something else. The only thing we bought new was her crib (paid $30 at walmart I think it was marked wrong and we're still using it) and her swing (I had to have the rainforest swing) most everything else was second hand. The car seat was new but I bought it at Goodwill. It was a return but it wasn't opened. They priced it too low at $20 and it was a newer model originally $129. All her clothes I mainly bought at the thrift store. I bought tons! I still buy a lot second hand. It allows me to stretch my money further and often I am able to get the name brands.

I hear that all the time- "having a baby is so expensive," or "you should stop after this one b/c it's too expensive for you." I've found that the expense is not really anything we can't handle. Between thrift stores, consignment sales, gifts from family members, and coupons, I've probably already saved hundreds of dollars on baby stuff. I truly feel that those statistics that tell you it takes $1 million to raise a child are only talking about people who need to reign in their spending, and honestly, with the economic crisis, the US is full of people who over spend and need to get a handle on it.

So far I've gotten all of my things from consignment sales or thrift stores. I got a wonderful changing table that will later convert into a storage unit for only $20 from craigslist. I've gotten a lot of toys on Freecycle, that only needed a good scrub down with cleaning products.

I am planning on breastfeeding, but if that doesn't work out for whatever reason, I'll be using generic formula if I can't find it cheaper with coupons to use name brands.

[Abigail's_Mommy]

I use coupons, breastfeed, made homemade baby food, use generic wipes (I didn‘t click it, but I use Parent‘s Choice), used/hand my down clothing, used/hand my down equipment, and always graciously accept gifts.

[regbyandjulie]

I just wanted to add that personally, I feel if more people were willing to use used items like clothes and toys, and were more willing to donate, not only would the costs generally associated with having children go down, but there would probably be less waste and refuse in our landfills. Of course, I wouldn't give my child or any other damaged or dangerous clothes/toys, but recycling and reusing go a long way toward economic and environmental responsibility.

[nurseannette]

I too used generic formula after the breastfeeding ended. Breastfeeding
can save sooooooo much on Dr bills later down the road. I agree generic
formula is fine if you are bottle feeding.
Used items were/are a life saver.
I would much rather have used stuff and have a parent at home with
my childeren than to have the best brand new stuff that money can buy
and send my kids to daycare in order to pay for it.
That is another good point, don't send your kids to daycare. Too expensive, kids get sicker more often.

[nurseannette]

I totally agree with the previous posters aboout the "expense"
of children. For most people we can control the costs. Certainly
there will always be exceptions(preemies, special needs)

Next time somone says something about me not having any more,
due to how expensive they are, I might have to say.......
Gee, maybe you should stop buying(charging) so much stuff,
that's really expensive you know. Can you afford all of that Stuff?