 |
 |
|
|
|
|
DESCRIPTION
The following list suggests the very basic supplies needed to care for your baby. If your budget allows, you can add extra items. Buy ahead of time as much as you need to feel prepared and to care for the baby without feeling hassled. Purchase other items as you need them. Items do not need to be new--just safe and clean. Watch for garage sales, other special sales, or exchange items with family or friends.
CLOTHING
Adjust the number needed depending on your laundry facilities. Avoid buying newborn sizes that your baby quickly outgrows.
Diapers, washable -- 3 to 4 dozen.
Diapers, disposable -- 12 per day.
Shirts (tie front or snap) -- 6 to 8.
Sleeper, kimonos, nightgowns -- 4 to 6.
Pairs of booties or boot-like socks -- 3.
Sweaters (small) -- 2.
Waterproof pants -- 3 to 4.
Caps (knitted for winter; brimmed for summer) -- 1.
Bunting or hooded jacket (winter) -- 1.
BEDDING
Receiving blankets -- 4 to 5.
Flannel waterproof sheeting -- 3 to 4; 4 to 6 small ones.
Fitted sheets -- 3 to 4.
Bumper pad -- 1.
Lightweight blanket -- 1.
Quilt or comforter -- 1.
BATHING
Hooded towels -- 2 to 3.
Wash cloths -- 4 to 6.
Mild soap -- 1.
Oil or lotion -- 1.
Baby bathtub (optional) -- 1.
BREAST-FEEDING SUPPLIES
Support/nursing bra -- 3 to 6.
Bra pads -- 5 to 6 washable; 2 to 3 dozen disposable.
Breast pump (if working or often away from home) -- 1.
FORMULA EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
***We actively encourage all our moms to totally breast-feed their babies for the first 3 to 6 months as a minimum. Longer if possible. This allows the baby to receive the needed immunities from the mother (very important!!), stimulates nursing reflexes, promotes bonding, and reduces allergy and digestive problems. However, if situations or health issues prevent the mother from partially or totally breast-feeding her baby... then this is an alternative option.
4 oz bottles, nipples and caps (even if breast-feeding) -- 4.
8 oz bottles, nipples and caps -- 4 to 8.
Extra nipples and caps -- 2 to 4.
Disposable bottle inserts (if using this type) -- 1 box.
Formula (as prescribed) in ready-to-feed, powdered, or liquid concentrate form -- 1 week supply; then purchase as needed.
Boiled sterile water for mixing with powdered or liquid formula concentrate -- 1 gallon.
Can opener -- 1.
Measuring spoons -- 1 set.
EQUIPMENT
Crib/bed/cradle/bassinet (one that meets safety standards) -- 1.
Mattress -- 1.
Changing table (optional) -- 1.
Diaper pail with cover -- 1.
Fever thermometer -- 1.
Infant carrier/car seat (may want to consider loaner or rental programs) -- 1.
Soft carrier or backpack (optional) -- 1.
OTHER SUPPLIES
Rubbing alcohol/ cotton balls for cord care -- 1 bottle/1 package.
Hair brush & comb set -- 1.
Buying Baby's Layette On A Budget
One of the first things you hear when you get pregnant is how expensive babies are. This will depend greatly on how frugal you can be or how extravagant you are. Babies can be expensive, but you can help reduce your expenses by careful planning and keeping your "I Want" desires in check. Babies can grow and develop just fine on the more simple of items and their needs are very basic. There are plenty of ways to get the ever-expanding baby layette (and maybe all the extras that go with it) on a budget. If you enjoy going to yard sales (this can be fun to do during good weather months on weekends), this is another way of picking up used furniture and sometimes baby clothing inexpensively. Many times your neighbors or friends may have these items to give away after their children have outgrown them. Posting "Baby Items Wanted" at laundramats, supermarkets, and other places where women may be found are another way of finding items that people may want to give away or sell inexpensively. Here are some other tried and true examples any frugal parents or parents-to-be should know about:
HAVE A BABY SHOWER. This is a necessity for a first baby (and sometimes for later ones too as items wear out and the hand-me-down's are looking pretty thread-worn). Don't you even feel a tinge of guilt if you have to drop hints, or just come out and ask a friend or family member, to have a baby shower for you. You're embarking on an exciting and new journey having a baby and it's only normal for those who love you to help you along. Give the shower organizer a list of " must-have" items to include in the invites. Enjoy all the gifts when you get them, but don't hesitate to take things back that you can exchange for more-needed or practical items (or just some much-needed cash for when baby arrives).
HAVE FAMILY SPONSORS. Along the same lines as the shower, don't be afraid to ask closer family members (grandparents-to-be, aunts and uncles) to help out by buying the baby one of the bigger items needed, i.e. a stroller, crib, rocker, playpen, etc. Most soon-to-be grandparents will be so smitten with the idea of their new title, they'll agree without even thinking twice and be thrilled to be part of planning for baby.
STOCKPILE DIAPERS BEGINNING IN EARLY PREGNANCY. If you are planning on using disposable diapers, it is best to start buying disposable diapers as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Having a nice, large stash of these essential items lessens the shock to the checkbook once baby arrives. Try buying just one pack or so of newborn size, in case you have a bigger baby, but mostly packs of size 1 and size 2. And don't ever buy brand-name diapers without a coupon--you can easily shave another $1 to $3 off the price with the weekly newspaper coupons and by shopping when the discount stores have their monthly sale on the mega-pack size.
If you are planning on using cloth diapers and you want to have cloth diapers that hold up well after several washings, you can purchase white or print, medium weight flannel or diaper fabric and make your own folding or fitted diapers. White fabric is easiest to bleach out when washing but printed fabric make cute diapers too. I have included some links here for cloth diaper fabric and patterns for those creative moms that want to save money, be environmentally friendly, and make their own diapers for their babies. I have also included links that provide helpful information about using cloth diapers for your baby.
- Diaper Shop: Fabric & Patterns
- Elizabeth Lee: Fabric & Patterns
- SewShoppe: Your Diaper Making Headquarters
- James Thompson & Co. Inc.: Flannelette Diaper Cloth
- ModernStork: Cloth Diapering 101
- Diaper Sewing: Links to Patterns and Fabric Resources
- How To Use Cloth Diapers, Painlessly & Inexpensively
- Confessions of a Diaper Fanatic or How to Diaper Your Baby for Free
About halfway through the pregnancy, start stocking up on wipes, too--just buy one pack in the plastic case and stick to the less expensive refill packs from then on. And don't forget coupons for those, too!
AN ALTERNATIVE TO A STROLLER. If recruiting for a stroller "sponsor" isn't an option, think about alternatives to buying a stroller for the first year (or ever), like carrying your baby in sling when you're out. Every mom should have a sling, even if a stroller is purchased anyway, for the pure convenience of "holding" baby while getting things done around the house or as a great aid when nursing in public. New slings can sometimes be pricey, so check out resale stores for more reasonable prices of $10 to $20, or if you sew, buy the sling pattern from the Elizabeth Lee Designs catalog (www.elizabethlee.com) and make your own for less.
Maya Wrap Baby Carriers, Baby Slings
CAR SEAT OPTIONS. Experts recommend not buying used car seats unless you're absolutely sure they meet current safety standards and haven't been in an accident. Some hospitals and county programs offer reduced-price car seats to new mothers, so be sure to ask about it when you know where you'll deliver. Insurance companies also sometimes offer such deals, for example, HealthNet insurance holders get a free car seat when they take part in an approved early pregnancy class and get a certificate. And as for the special head gear to hold baby in place during those first months, skip buying the little U-shaped accessories at the store and simply roll a blanket or two up for each side to keep baby's head sturdy.
BABY TOYS. It seems there's more and more pressure these days to buy baby just the right toys to broaden her horizons and make her a little genius by the tender age of six months. Don't fall into the "baby won't learn as much if I don't buy this toy" trap. Instead of getting the fancy language tapes to help baby be bilingual, teach her what you know of a language--simple things like names for body parts (as you point to them), greetings, basic sentences, etc. And when it comes to enjoying classical music, Mozart and Beethoven don't need to be packaged especially for baby for her to enjoy it. Grab some cassettes, classical or otherwise, in the bargain bin at the mall music store and give her a variety of musical experiences inexpensively. Also, read the fine print when joining book clubs for your child--you might get eight books for one cent, but you could be required to buy $40 worth or more later for doing so.
BABY FURNITURE. Those baby superstore ads sound nice, but what baby really needs two giant dressers? Some adults don't even have that many, and their clothes are bigger. Better than buying a nursery set on "sale" at one of those stores is to seek out pieces separately that will work for your nursery in particular. For instance, if you've decided to have a family bed, you might not even need a crib for baby's room. If you do, resale stores often sell used cribs for cheap, or yard sales are another place to look. As with the car seat, you should be absolutely sure the used crib meets current safety standards. If you'd rather buy a new crib, import stores like IKEA offers some competitive prices for quality nursery furniture. When purchasing a dresser or changing table for baby, look for a piece that can be used for both. A diaper pad placed on top the dresser saves you money and space, and keeps clothes at easy reach when changing baby. Skip a fancy toy chest for a large plastic storage container covered with a baby blanket. Stack stuffed animals and books on top while you stow away items that are too small or too big for baby inside.
BABY LINEN & BEDDING. Once you've been revived after fainting when you see the prices of crib bedding sets, get creative. Most health care providers say not to place a blanket in the crib with baby anyway for the first year, to protect against SIDS, so the fancy sheets and quilt may just be a waste. If you sew, there's a variety of patterns for crib sets. Or keep it simple and mix and match pastel baby linens you get on sale. Instead of the $300-plus crib set, spice up the baby bed with a $30 mosquito netting hanging over and surrounding it (until baby is big enough to stand, that is--then it should be removed). For those moms with a creative streak and a sewing machine, fabric can be purchased (usually at the same place as cloth diaper fabrics) and sewn up to make bed linens and blankets, including baby quilts. This is very economical and can be fun to make.
BABY CLOTHES. Fight the urge to buy every adorable outfit you see for baby, because frankly, they're all adorable. Be sure to request the essentials for shower gifts, shop resale for extra items and if you must buy new, head to the sale racks. Stores like Target, Walmart and JCPenney's often have great sales where you can get a truly gorgeous baby outfit for $3 or less. Splurge and spend $4 if it's so cute you could spit. And make those outfits last for months longer by adding snap lengtheners (a panel to lengthen those onesies) and cutting those sleeper feet off, which I've had personal experience with. My 3-month-old seems to have 6-month-old legs, so converting sleepers over has been a real money saver. Baby clothes are very easy to make and patterns are easy to work with and don't require very much fabric to make a cute outfit for your baby. An excellent online resource is SewBaby.com. I made most of my babies clothes when they were little up until after they started school.
BREASTFEEDING AIDS. Of course, breastfeeding a baby naturally is going to save lots of money, not just on formula, but on visits to your health care provider, since studies show breast fed babies tend to get sick less. Nursing accessories, like a nursing shawl, can be made instead of bought by attaching a ribbon for a strap onto a receiving blanket. Breastfeeding pillows are nice extras, but a firm pillow from the bed or couch will do just fine. And washable nursing pads prove much less costly in the long run than the disposable kind--but be aware if you leak a lot, you may need at least 15 sets to start out with. These can also be made from scraps of diaper flannel you may have left over after making cloth diapers for your baby. If you are formula feeding, be sure to join all the clubs each formula company has--their welcome packets alone will give you about a month's worth of formula samples for free.
DIAPER DISPOSAL & DIAPER BAGS. The diaper genie is a terrific invention, but a sealable plastic container from a discount store will do the trick as well. Just line it with a plastic bag and throw the toxic diapers on in until it's full. Place an air freshener inside to keep it smelling good, and paint or wallpaper the outside if you want to disguise it. As for bags, you're likely to get at least one free diaper bag, probably two, when you deliver at the hospital. They're nice and sturdy, too, so save your cash for something more important. If you decide to deliver your baby at home, you can make your own fabric diaper bag inexpensively. You can obtain a pattern for a baby tote bag at SewBaby.com. Another alternative to making your own is to keep your eyes open for a large tote bag or even a school or hiking backpack to place your baby's things in. These can come in a variety of fabrics. You may be able to find something that would work for this purpose at yard sales or second-hand stores that sell used clothing and accessories. I would suggest you obtain bags that are machine washable or can be cleaned easily if you should have a spill inside the bag.
BATH ITEMS. There's no need to buy a fancy baby bath. You can line your sink with towels and wash baby there, or have her join you in the big tub. All five of my babies were initially bathed in the kitchen sink lined with a towel (never leave your baby unsupervised while bathing). Special bath wash and towels aren't a necessity, either. Most sensitive skin formulas for grown-ups will be just fine for baby as well (check with your pediatrician on which one they approve). And just take some towels of your own, wash them in the gentle detergent and allot those for baby.
A BABY BANK. Maybe the most important item to get for baby's room is a piggy bank as soon as you find out you're expecting. Drop your spare change in whenever you can and it's a foolproof way to start baby's first savings, even if you think you can't afford to save right now. When you compile a decent amount, look into ways to invest it for baby's future. After all, your baby will be an adult one day, and she'll be thrilled to find your frugalness paid off and there's some cash to help her with college.
NOTIFY YOUR MIDWIFE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
You have questions about what you need or don't need for your baby's first few weeks.
Here are some links I found providing baby supplies and needs. MoonDragon does not support or have any recommendations for any of these resources, but only provides links as a service to our visitors.
Alphabitsoup Productions - sells a variety of infant gear including strollers, clothing, and bottles. Also provides photo announcements and poems by moms.
Attachments - offers books, toys and gifts that support attachment parenting, extended breastfeeding, home birth, and other like minded issues.
Avent America, Inc. - imports a full line of infant feeding items, including: reusable and disposable bottles, breast pumps, warmers, sterilizers and accessories.
Babies Planet
Baby Bag Online - recipes, crafts, coupons, marketplace, WWW birth announcements and health/safety information.
Baby Cakes - by Charlotte Fowkes. Produces gift 'cakes' for babies including diaper, towel, and blanket cakes. Also available for other occasions.
Baby Catalog of America - sells baby products at low prices both from their catalog and from their warehouse.
Baby Lane - mother owned business offering diapers, slings, lambskins, natural baby care products, toys and more.
Baby Love Products Inc. - products for maternity, breastfeeding, sleeping bath, feeding, safety, and more.
Baby Products Online - offering strollers for joggers and hands-free feeding bottles.
Baby T's - specialty products for newborn babies and families including specially designed tees, sweats, caps, and mugs.
Baby Trends - offers products including strollers, car seats, breast pumps, gifts, and more.
Baby's Away - a baby/child equipment rental service with locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
baby-products.com - includes furniture, clothing and more.
Bambi's Baby Center - baby products and furniture, including youth sets, car seats, strollers, and cribs.
Boe Baby Biz - offering slings, breast pumps, nursing pillows, and other accessories.
Bottle Bundle - soft, slightly angled, u-shaped pillow designed to hold a baby's bottle in place while giving parents a free hand when feeding their baby.
Buddy Products, Inc. - accessories like diaper bags, bottle holders, baby items, carry-alls, and safety belts.
Bundle of Convenience - offers baby products from around the world, gift baskets and formula in single-serving bottles.
Changing Table, The - sells cloth diapers, baby slings, nursing pillows, and Weleda products.
DEX Products - comfort and safety products for babies, toddlers, and older children. Also offer products designed to make breastfeeding easy.
Double Blessings - offering nursing pillow for twins, kids backpacks, shirts, hats for parents of twins, and more.
Elegant Kids - offers baby products and gifts.
Everything But The Baby - offering gifts, clothing, accessories, toys, nursery items, and more.
Fairy Godmother, The - source for birth announcements, baby and expectant mother gifts, and children's furniture.
Genius Babies - developmental gifts: toys, book, videos and music for infants and toddlers.
Go Babies - travel and convenience products for young children.
Grapol - manufacturers of prams, strollers and textile articles for babies' bedrooms.
Happy Baby Products - specializes in unique and hard-to-find baby products.
Internet Baby Mall - products include strollers, nursery decor, and maternity wear.
Kapoochi Marketing International Ltd - baby accessories.
Kushies Baby Products - full line of cloth diapers and baby accessories, nursing accessories, and layette.
Madison Group, The - offers a molding kit to create keepsake castings of your baby's hand and foot.
Mother's Nature - items for pregnancy, nursing and new parenthood.
Mother's Place, Ltd - products for new, expecting, post-partum, and breastfeeding mothers.
Nursery Rhymes Baby Store - specializes in baby furniture, carriages and strollers, beautiful bedding, and gifts.
Pampers Total Baby Care - product information, pediatric advice, and general tips for caring for your baby.
Peapods Natural Attachment Parenting Products - offering natural toys, books, the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder baby sling, nursing wear, and resources for attachment parenting.
Planet Baby - sells baby furniture, clothing, and more.
Playtex Infant Care - products for infant feeding.
Precious and Few - designer christening wear, gowns, dresses, and gifts.
RainBee - retailer of children's design apparel and specialty products.
Remond & Lamby Products for Babies - North American distributor of French Remond babycare products & Lamby Nursery Collection featuring lambskin and other woolen baby products. Owned and run by mothers.
Samsonite Juvenile Products - diaper bags & accessories.
Sassy Baby Products - producing toys for babies from birth to 18 months.
Schmitz Kidz - manufacturing Sleepy Wings baby car seat pillows.
Urchins Baby World - offers prams, cots, strollers, buggies, baby clothing and goods.
Vaco - high fashion baby clothes, room decorations, cradles, toys and more.
LAYETTE PRODUCTS & GIFT SETS
HerbalRemedies.com: All Natural Infant Vitamin Supplements
HerbalRemedies.com: All Natural Organic Baby Lotions, Body Cleansers, Shampoo, Soap, Baby Bath Products
Amazon.com has thousands of baby items for layette and nursery. These are just a few selected ones. If you want to look for more, use one of these links or use the search box below. Happy shopping!
Mountain Rose Bulk Herbs
Mountain Rose Aromatherapy Oils
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils A-B
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils C-E
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils F-L
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils M-P
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils Q-Z
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Oil Blends & Resins
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Diffusers, Nebulizers, & Burners
Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromatherapy Oils: Oil Kits
Click Here To Visit Herbal Remedies Product Page
