Gearing up for Baby for Less

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Warehouse stores like Sam's Club and BJ's usually have the best prices for "bulk" purchases, and as every parent knows, diapers are something you definitely buy in bulk! You can also save by signing up with your favorite diaper company for any money-saving coupons they offer. For example, you could try huggies.com or pampers.com. Believe it or not, you could receive coupons almost every week for as much as $1 to $2 off per pack. If you're not particularly attached to one brand, you can save money by purchasing whatever brand is on sale each week for even more savings.

When shopping for a baby crib, remember that, on average, a baby will spend less than two years in a crib. Instead of spending a lot for a crib that the baby will outgrow in just 24 months, look for one that can grow with your child. A popular choice is a convertible crib. It begins as a basic crib, can be used as a toddler bed, and ultimately transforms into a twin bed. If you're not familiar with convertibles, visit thebabyoutlet.com or babiesRUs.com for models, and epinions.com to compare prices.

Although you may think of your baby as "newborn" for many months, your little one is likely to outgrow clothing labeled 'newborn' in a matter of weeks. At best, your baby will wear the outfits only once or twice. It's much wiser to buy a larger size and roll up the sleeves and pant legs until the baby grows into his/her new wardrobe.

Take an empty store bought baby wipe container and mix in 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo, and two tablespoons of Baby oil. Then take a roll of good quality paper towels and cut in half with a serrated knife. Allow towels to soak up liquid and you have a container of baby wipes for about a third of the cost of pre-packaged ones.

When shopping for baby gear, you can save quite a bit if you purchase clothes and toys that will grow with your little one. One idea is to select clothes with "grow cuffs" that can be rolled down as baby's legs get longer. There are also toys that are appropriate for ages from toddler to preschooler, as well as items that can be converted for an older child such as a walker that turns into a tricycle.

Breast milk is nature's gift to mother and baby. It's free, and more importantly it's healthy! If you are planning to return to work or need to leave your baby with a caregiver, an excellent quality breast pump can be purchased for less than the price of a two-month supply of formula. Visit epinions.com or BizRate.com to compare prices on breast pumps.

When shopping for baby gear, go light on the furniture. Instead of investing hundreds of dollars on a baby's dresser, for example, substitute a 3-drawer plastic storage container from Wal-Mart or Lowe's and pay just $10-$20. When it's diaper time, all you really need to change a baby is a flat surface and a waterproof change pad ($3-$5)...not an elaborate (and expensive) changing table.