PROBLEM:What to buy for a new baby?
The answer is not much!
Babies are big business. The apprehension/ excitement of becoming a parent is a marketing dream. Free yourself of the guilt that your baby will not develop to their full potential without the latest equipment and toys.
Newborn babies are pretty simple. As long as they are clean, fed and cuddled they are in bliss. You and your baby will cope without the latest gadgets and you will feel better when you realise how much money you saved to spend on something else - like affording to stay at home longer.
This is what I found:
Necessary Basics:
- Clothes - a few singlets and all-in-one suits.
- Cot (conforming to Australian standards).
- Reversible car seat- can go from new born to over 2 years old.
- Lay-back Stroller- light weight and easy to put in car (way easier than lugging the pram around!).
- A Baby Bottle (BPA free of course) - even if you are breastfeeding the bottle is handy for giving expressed milk. Also water can be given on a hot day or to settle wind.
- A Good Nappy Rash Cream.
- Cheap Dummies - if you are going to use them, midwives recommend the cherry type one over the expensive designer ones. I agree they are better.
- Cloth nappies - are really handy, even if you use disposable nappies, as a change mat and wiping up spills.
Optional Extras:
- Cute Outfits - Babies grow so fast they will hardly wear all of those cute outfits. Before they are a few months old they will be permanently wrapped anyway. Don't knock back hand me downs.
- Pram - I found a lay-back stroller ok from birth.
- Port-a-cot - We used the change table attachment on top (biger kids are changed on the floor). Also good for keeping playing baby safe from older siblings or alternatively keeping stuff safe from baby.
- Breast Pump - if you are breast feeding it is great to have some milk in the freezer so you can go out without worrying.
- Baby Car Capsule - we got this for free with our third child and it was awesome! You can transfer them for school pick up while they are asleep. Try hiring as a cheaper option if you can't borrow one.
Totally Unnecessary:
- Expensive Toys - Kids will happily play with other children, cardboard boxes, sticks, rocks, pegs, pots and pans and cardboard rolls (I will write another post with more kids play ideas soon). It is actually beneficial for their brains to play with toys that are 'incomplete' requiring imagination to use them. Also less toys means less to keep clean.
- Nappy Bag - a back pack is fine. Sometimes I just take a nappy and small pack of wipes and a singlet in my handbag (I always have an emergency nappy, wrap, wipes supply in boot of car).
- Change Mat - I just use designated hand towels or cloth nappy on floor.
- Nappy Wrapper Bin - either take it straight to the outside bin or use plastic shopping bags.
- Baby Soap, shampoo, clensers etc - just bath in plain water. I have always done that and my kids are clean and have great skin.
- Baby Education Videos - how much education does a little tot need? Those videos creep me out anyway.
- Change Table - A towel on a bed or floor is OK. Make sure the baby is at a height that doesn't put stress on your back.
- Baby Bath - a basin or laundry tub is fine until they are big enough for the normal bath (makes good photos too), just take out the laundry/dishes first :-). Alternatively just take them in the shower with you.
- Stuffed toys - kids don't play with them and they breed in the dark.
- Bassinets - just put them straight into a big cot.
- Baby Wraps - I just used the flat sheet from the fitted cot sheet set. They are bigger and can wrap a much older baby.
- Baby Mobile - if you want one don't spend $80 just make your own. http://crafts.sleepingbaby.net/mobile.html
GENERAL BENEFITS: Spend the savings on their education - that's the best investment you'll ever make.
TIGHTWAD BENEFITS:Not wasting money on useless products. Especially when you are on maternity leave.
GREEN BENEFITS: Not buying so many unnecessary products saves a lot of resources.
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