Coupon Collection

A thoughtful, but inexpensive gift for a baby shower is to clip coupons for baby related items, such as diapers, wipes, baby food, etc., and present them in an attractive coupon wallet or other holder. This gift will be appreciated by the parents-to-be when the baby arrives and all of the related new expenses start adding up.

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• Negotiating Prices for Baby Things

  Most baby-related vendors want to establish long-term relationships with their customers and you can use that to your advantage when making purchases. One approach is to negotiate a "loyalty discount." If you're planning to purchase most of your baby gear from a single baby store or department store, ask them to reward you for your loyalty by giving you extra items, a lower price, etc. Another strategy is to get together with other parents from your prenatal or Lamaze class and form a purchasing co-op. The group can talk to local retailers to negotiate a special "bulk rate" on big-ticket items like car seats, cribs, strollers, and so on.

• Keeping Baby Clothes Cleaner

  All babies are messy eaters and their food can easily stain clothing. To avoid having to throw out half of baby's wardrobe, treat stains immediately so that they don't become permanent. Keep a plastic dish pan with water and a bit of baby detergent by the washing machine. Immediately after the baby has finished his/her meal, toss the stained clothes in to soak. Soak the clothes for at least one hour and all the stains should come right out.

• Getting Advice on What to Purchase

  If you're having your first baby, it's hard to know exactly what's essential for your newborn and what's not. When you're caught up in the excitement of shopping for the new baby, you may buy things that you only use once (maybe never!). Ask friends and family who have had babies what items are truly necessary to care for your child, and what items you can do without.

• Buying What Baby Needs

  The first thing every expectant mother wants to do is purchase all of those make-my-life-with-baby-easier items. Save your money! While you're pregnant, and long before your baby makes his/her debut, it's much more important to make a list of things that you must have and to create a budget that you'll stick to so there's never a question that you can pay for those essentials. If people offer to buy you baby gifts, consult your list and tell them what you need. Or, let friends and family know about your baby registry. That way, you'll get essentials that you would have had to spend money on, rather than non-essentials that you would never have purchased in the first place.

• Buying Used Baby Gear

  When shopping for baby gear, you can save yourself a small fortune by checking out yard sales, visiting Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, and shopping at consignment stops. Just be sure to watch out when purchasing certain items that may have been recalled such as car seats and cribs. You can also ask to borrow big ticket items from friends or family members who are done using them for their own children.