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Babies do not have to be expensive. Really the most expensive part is the medical aspect (appointments and hospital/midwife fees). Other than that, you can really trim up your list of needs and have your baby on a pretty small budget.
Let’s think back to just 200 years ago. Think about the things your great great great great (?) grandparents bought for their baby. Probably nothing, or at least very little. A baby’s two greatest needs are nourishment and love. A baby also needs a safe place to sleep and a car seat if travelling by vehicle.
We’ve been overcrowded by modern conveniences and marketing that make us think we need ALL the things. This is simply not true. Here’s some ideas of things you might be able to cross off of your list if you want or need to cut down expenses.
Even just cutting out a few items could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Some of these things may be helpful, but most are not necessities.
1. Bassinet and a Crib
You don’t need both. Babies grow so, so fast and only fit in a bassinet for a short period of time. You could just get a crib or get a Pack ‘n Play with a bassinet, two for the price of one. (I haven’t used this Pack ‘n Play, but it has great reviews.)
2. Nursery Furniture
The nursery furniture sets may be pretty, but they definitely aren’t necessary. If you already have a dresser, I recommend using that with a changing pad to double as dresser and changing table in one. That is what we did, and I still love it. Of course, make sure your changing pad won’t slide off the top.
If you don’t have a dresser, you may be able to find one for sale locally through an individual or at a thrift shop for a good price.
3. Infant Car Seat
An infant car seat is the carrier style seat that can be transported from vehicle to vehicle or vehicle to stroller. These are nice, but you can skip it and go straight to a convertible car seat. Just make sure your convertible seat is designed for newborns.
Using a convertible car seat from the get go will work especially well if you plan to babywear frequently. That way, your baby can go straight from the car seat into your wrap or carrier and then back into the car seat when you’re finished.
It’s not safe to leave babies in car seats outside of the vehicle for any period of time. The incline of the car seat changes when you take it out of the base or vehicle. The proper incline is very important because it helps prevent positional asphyxiation.
Even if you choose to use an infant car seat, be aware that you should not leave your child in their car seat after it’s been taken out of the vehicle, even if they’re sleeping.
4. Baby Swing/Bouncer
Baby swings and bouncers can be a great way to be hands free for a couple minutes, but you can do without them.
If you are really tight, you could wait and see if a swing or bouncer is something you need after your baby is born. With my first, I didn’t have a swing, but I found a great one on clearance that I will be trying with baby number two.
5. Baby Bathtub
You don’t actually need a baby bathtub. You can either bathe your baby in your sink, or carefully bathe your baby in a regular tub. Just a warning though, babies are slippery when wet.
6. Wipe Warmer
A wipe warmer is not a necessity. We never used one, and we had no issues. If you are worried about the wipes being too cold, just rub it in your hand for a moment first to take off the chill. Your baby won’t know the difference if you don’t use a wipe warmer to start with.
I’ve also heard of people having mold issues when using a wipe warmer because warmth and moisture is the perfect breeding ground for mold. Ick!
7. Bottle Warmer
Formula doesn’t have to be warmed. In fact, it might be better for your child to be accustomed to room temperature formula, so you don’t have to worry about warming a bottle while out and about.
If you are nursing exclusively, you definitely wouldn’t need a bottle warmer. However, if you are pumping and bottle feeding breastmilk, a bottle warmer might be helpful to take the chill off of the milk. I don’t have experience with pumping, so I can’t say for sure.
8. Disposable Diapers and Wipes
Disposable diapers and wipes are very convenient products, but you can get by without them. Cloth diapers have come a long way in terms of design. Now, washing machines do all the hard work of cleaning the diapers. Also, there is so much troubleshooting support via the internet that makes cloth diapering easier than it was fifty years ago.
However, cloth diapering is not always less expensive than disposables. A lot of different factors come into play when comparing the costs between cloth and disposable diapers. If you’d like to determine whether cloth diapering would be cheaper for your family, check out this free calculator.
If you want to learn more about cloth diapering, check out these articles:
Cloth vs. Disposable | The Pros and Cons
Cloth Diaper Hacks to Simplify Your Life
9. Lots of Baby Clothes
With so many cute baby clothes on the market today, it’s easy to want to buy all the clothes for your little one. Babies really don’t need a ton of clothes. In fact, the fancy-looking outfits are often less comfortable anyways.
I do recommend having several zipper sleepers (something like these) on hand and some rompers if it’s summer time. Sleepers are so cozy and easy to get baby in and out of.
Tip: Check out your local thrift shops for used baby clothes. Babies grow out of clothes so quickly that thrifted baby clothes are often practically brand new and a fraction of the cost.
10. Pacifiers
We actually never used pacifiers with my daughter. I don’t have a problem with pacifiers, but she just didn’t need one. If you are exclusively nursing your baby, he or she may use you as their pacifier. There’s nothing wrong with that! Pacifiers were made to mimic you, not the other way around.
If you aren’t nursing, or just don’t want to nurse on demand, you may find pacifiers to be a great help to you. That’s totally fine too. Just do what works best for you.
11. Baby Shoes
Lastly, we have to talk about baby shoes. I know, I know, they are irresistibly cute. Baby shoes are just not necessary though. Get your little one some socks and call it a day.
Story time. When I was expecting my daughter, I found some adorable, thrifted baby shoes for a great price. I ended up buying several pair. But, once my daughter was actually here, the shoes seemed clunky and uncomfortable. The worst part, those baby shoes would fall off constantly. She only wore them a couple of times because they just weren’t practical for us. You live and learn, but you can learn from my mistakes.
Lowering Baby Expenses
So, there you have it – eleven baby items that you may not actually need. Be on the look out for my list of baby must-haves coming soon. Babies are often made out to be quite expensive, but choosing to go minimal with your baby gear can help. Another way to lower expenses is by shopping used and the clearance section.
What baby items have you found to be unneeded and which are your favorites?
