So you’re having a baby… and you’ve been given a list of the necessary supplies before bringing the baby home. It is an overwhelming list. As a new parent, you want to be prepared and have everything ready when you return from the hospital. As a mom myself, I have some good news for you. You can save money by not buying everything on the newborn baby list.
Sure, there are some necessities you’ll want beforehand, but many other products you might never use, or you can buy months after you get to know your baby’s needs. You can check things out in advance from My Mom Shops so that you already have options once the child is born. Remember, quality does not always mean expensive, put effort into looking, and you will find one within the budget. It is hard enough to plan your finances to prepare for kids.
This is my list of products that are worth spending money on. Including my all-time favorite baby items I wouldn’t want to live without! Another list of products I suggest not investing in before the baby’s arrival.
Only Invest In Certain High-Quality Baby Products
Baby swing
Most babies love a baby swing and will use it the day you bring them home. A swing offers baby entertainment, soothing, a clean/safe place to sleep, and, most importantly, gives your arms a chance to rest from all that rocking.
I highly recommend investing in the Fisher Price cradle and swing. It is a well-made product with two-direction rocking, soothing songs, and mobile. Plus, my child and friend’s children were always happy in this swing for hours. It’s a true lifesaver.
Car Seat
You will need an infant car seat, and you would never want to compromise your baby’s safety. So spend the money needed. Also, take time researching this item as different brands of car seats handle different heights/weights, and surprisingly, different car seat brands fit better in some make/model cars than others. I recommend the Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat
Sleep Sack
This item may not be on every newborn list, but it is a must for me. Here’s why. Once you start reading newborn care books and talk to your pediatrician, you’ll learn about SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. You can take many preventative measures to reduce the risk of SIDS, including not using baby blankets as they might interfere with the baby’s breathing. Sleep sacks keep your little one warm and swaddled but cannot accidentally cover the baby’s face. I recommend Halo brand of sleepsacks, I use them for my kids, and they come in a vast range of sizes and weights.
Stroller
The next oversized ticket item I recommend investing money in… your stroller. Before having the baby, you might think you’ll only use it for walking through your neighborhood. But you will use it much more than you expect. Taking walks postpartum might be your only way to exercise for years. You’ll use it for the pediatrician, through malls, restaurants, airports, and even the grocery store. I recommend investing in a good quality stroller, even if pricey. Also, be sure the stroller you choose can accommodate the brand of infant car seat that you choose.
The stroller I use and recommend is the Uppababy Vista. Yes, it is very expensive, but SO worth it. It comes with an infant bassinet which can be attached to the stroller or even for naps inside the house or while traveling. The stroller has a baby/toddler seat that can face you or the street, another great feature. The Uppababy customer service and repair service are fantastic. You can add a second seat if you have another child down the road. This allows you to save the cost of a double stroller one day, so you might as well invest in 1 great one from the start.
Baby Furniture
Invest in higher-quality baby furniture. You’ll use it more than expected, and toddlers can be rough on furniture. It’s hard to imagine your sweet infant becoming a toddler who will bite, climb and jump off the furniture you’re buying, but he or she probably will! I recommend spending the money if you purchase convertible furniture that you intend to use through childhood. If you are buying nursery furniture to be used for a year or two, you may not want to invest quite as much.
What Not To Spend Too Much Money On Your Baby
Baby clothes
You probably don’t want to hear me say not to invest in too many infant clothes because they’re SO cute. But you will save some money by waiting until the child is born before stocking up on clothes since they grow so fast. Nobody ever tells you that you may never even wear newborn-size clothes if you have a giant baby. Many babies skip that size together and can start wearing a 3-month size from the beginning. Also, you will quickly prefer some baby clothes brands over others because they fit each baby’s body shape differently. After you have the baby, you can see how big she is and what brands fit her best, then go shopping. Before a baby is born, I recommend buying 3-5 outfits in each size. You can buy more later. Plus, many parents receive baby clothes as gifts after a baby is born.
Baby blankets
Like baby clothes, baby blankets are popular gifts for showers and after the baby is born, so don’t buy too many before the birth. As discussed previously, baby blankets are not recommended in cribs due to the SIDS risk. However, you may want to be prepared with a couple of blankets to use while they are awake and as a clean play space.
Diapers
Do not buy a lot of diapers, even if they’re on sale! Just like with clothes, babies grow out of diaper sizes at their rate, and you have no idea how many diapers in each size you will need. Another complicating factor is that not every diaper brand fits well for each baby. A diaper might leak regularly with one brand but not a different one. It’s based on your baby’s body shape and proportions. Also, it’s common for some babies to have skin sensitivity to the chemicals used in diapers. Some moms have to experiment with different brands until they find one that fits well and is comfortable for the baby’s skin. You don’t want to be caught with a stash of diapers you’ll never use, and diapers do expire! So I suggest having just one large package of diapers in both newborn and size 1 ready.
Highchair
Every baby supply list includes a high chair. Here’s why you shouldn’t buy one before the baby arrives. It isn’t even possible for a baby to use one until she is 6 months and develops the ability to sit. Highchairs also take up a lot of room in storage. Many new parents buy a standard giant highchair that stands on the floor and costs $80-$200. After months of use, they realize how much space it takes up and then purchase a smaller seat, called a high chair booster seat, that can go on top of a standard dining chair. It takes up less floor space, allows the baby/toddler to sit with the family at the table, and is less expensive, about $15-$50. So my advice is to wait until your child can sit and begins eating solids, then purchase a more compact chair that most parents are happier with in the long run.
Summer Infant makes an excellent and inexpensive booster seat.
Newborn supply lists are overwhelming. Every time you step foot in a baby store, the employees hand you another list of what to buy. The good news is you don’t need to buy everything on that list, or at least do not need to have it all when you bring your baby home. This will save you hundreds of dollars. You’ll also be glad when you invest your hard-earned money in the right products that make life easier for a young child.
Also, check out The Best Toddler Toys to buy.