- Having a baby costs a lot of money, but making some smart choices can help your family stick to their budget.
- You can quickly reduce costs with simple steps like renting equipment, buying used, and using free resources.
- Saving money early will give you more confidence and reduce stress when caring for your baby.
Shortly after giving birth to my first daughter, a funny thing happened. In effect, all the money I owned seemed to grow wings. Then, one by one, they flew off to a pediatrician, a drugstore, and a chain store selling cute children’s clothing. Sure, we knew having a baby would bring new financial pressures. But when I saw my credit card bill for the first time postpartum, I was completely taken aback.
Having a newborn can also make you worry about money. No wonder. Depending on your spending habits and parenting needs, you can expect to spend between $7,000 and $14,600 a year between now and your child’s second birthday.
But there is hope. Through trial and error, I learned a lot about raising a baby on a budget. Now that my second girl is here, I know even more. Learn more about how you can cut your baby expenses in half or more.
hospital how-to
Try these strategies to save money when going to the hospital to deliver your baby.
Say no to add-ons
Ask about hospital costs before giving birth. Do not use a dedicated birthing room if it costs extra. Prices vary widely, from about $30 per day in Alabama to $500 per day in Manhattan, where I gave birth. I saved $2,500 by choosing a double room for my second hospital stay, which required a 5-day stay for a C-section. With nurses coming in every hour, quiet and privacy would have been limited anyway.
Request a coupon or sample
Manufacturers often offer generous giveaways in maternity wards, but sometimes hospital staff are so busy that they forget to hand out the giveaways. Just by asking, I was able to get tubes of lotion and diaper ointment, coupons for things like baby wash and baby portraits, and even an amazingly chic black diaper bag to hold it all in. That’s because I asked the nurse if she had a sample.
bring toiletries with you
You can also store items you brought home during your stay in the hospital, including baby care items, in a cabinet under your child’s carousel (always ask permission first). Look inside and you’ll find diapers, swaddles, alcohol wipes, nasal aspirators, disposable nipples for baby bottles, thermometers, and more. Leave them and you’ll only have to pay $30-40 later at the drugstore.
Breastfeeding on a budget
There are many ways to feed your baby, but breastfeeding is the best. For those who can breastfeed, one of the benefits is that it saves money.
Let’s try nursing
If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, you don’t have to buy formula (a big expense of at least $1,400 for the first year) or a full set of bottles (although you may want to have some on hand). Whether you only breastfeed for a short period of time or choose to feed your baby with a combination of formula and breast milk, you can save some money.
Rent a breast pump
Ask your friends who have older babies or small children if they have a closed-system breast pump they no longer use and would be willing to lend it to you. Electric pumps can be expensive (about $150 to $800), and the only thing you shouldn’t share is the plastic attachment. These starter kits can be purchased for less than $45. Alternatively, if you have health insurance, you may be able to get a new breast pump for free through your insurance plan.
Ask for free breastfeeding support
Find out ahead of time where you can get free breastfeeding advice. When you need help, you need it quickly, which can limit your options. With my first daughter, I paid $200 for a lactation consultant, but then I remembered that the hospital had a free nursing hotline.
Local breastfeeding organizations may offer free home visits or telephone consultations. In addition, labor and delivery nurses, midwives, doulas, and doctors can also usually provide valuable advice. And don’t forget that other parents (including those who are currently breastfeeding and those who have breastfed their baby in the past) can often offer a wealth of advice and support.
Do not rush to buy a nursing wardrobe
A set of nursing bras may be all you need to buy for breastfeeding. In many cases, maternity clothes and everyday clothes can double as a nursing wardrobe. Flowing, loose-fitting tops or button-down shirts are best. A large scarf or thin baby blanket can also be used as a nursing cover. Additionally, if you ask people who have recently left care, you may find someone willing to take over their care supplies.
Cost-conscious clothing
Baby clothes are cute, but the truth is, babies don’t need a lot of clothes. Either way, they’re going to be covered in vomit and diaper blowouts. So, if you want to save money, consider saving your expensive or fancy clothes for the future or special occasions.
Purchase as you grow
Avoid buying baby clothes too far in advance, especially those tailored to a specific season, such as winter coats and swimsuits. Newborns come in a variety of sizes, and their age does not necessarily correspond to common sizes for baby clothes. This means that your 2-month-old child can wear newborn, 0-3, 3, or 3-6 sizes. They may also expand to a certain size or stay at a certain size for a while before experiencing a sudden growth spurt.
save on basics
Most of the time you’ll want to layer onesies and other basics under other clothes, but a simple, low-cost design will suffice. I once found some slightly odd packs of famous brand all-in-ones at 70% off at Value City. You will never notice the defect, and even after the baby spits something out, it will look abnormal in any case.
By the way, buy standard items such as innerwear, all-in-ones, and socks in plain white. When it gets dirty (or rather, it gets dirty), you can bleach it for a few cents instead of spot-treating the stain with an expensive laundry spray.
lose your shoes
You can spend more than $30 on leather shoes for toddlers. However, your baby will soon be unable to stand and will learn to walk barefoot more quickly when indoors. Plus, baby shoes have a funny habit of slipping off (otherwise your baby will keep taking them off!), so there’s a good chance you’ll lose one or both of your shoes in no time. Instead, use thick socks or soft boots (I bought them at a closed store for $1.99) to keep your baby’s feet warm while you’re out and about.
Search for hand-me-downs
Check with friends, neighbors, friends of friends, and people you know who have slightly older children about getting hand-me-downs. They very likely have baby clothes to give away, but they won’t know if you’re interested unless you ask. Many people get excited about giving their children’s clothes a second life and having someone else pick it up to reduce their own clutter.
Buy used clothes for special occasions
Visit your local consignment store or vintage clothing warehouse to find all kinds of costumes, from princess dresses to tiny suits, at a fraction of the retail price. The previous owner probably only wore it once or twice.
Get equipped for less
Try these tricks to reduce costs when getting all the equipment you need to care for your baby.
Purchase multipurpose items
Look for furniture and accessories that serve double duty. I’m talking about things like Target’s Delta Children’s Adley Changing Table, which doubles as a storage unit, or Walmart’s Graco 6-in-1 High Chair, which converts into a booster seat and then a regular chair. Many cribs can also be converted into toddler beds later on.
Also consider whether items you already own can be used for your baby. For example, you may not need a rocking chair specifically for breastfeeding because you already have a comfortable chair or sofa. Or maybe you already have an extra dresser or shelving unit that you can use to store clothes, books, and toys.
Return unwanted gifts immediately
Sellers often have time limits for returns and exchanges. I don’t want to miss the opportunity. By the way, this is a task best left to a loved one who offers to help. Really, why would exhausted and overwhelmed new parents have to wait in line at Baby Gap to return a sweater?
Don’t buy crib pillows, toys, or bumpers
It’s cute but useless and must be removed when the child goes into the crib. Safe sleep experts say these items should be kept out of your baby’s sleeping area, as they increase the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Try an item before investing
Buy just one or two things before buying a lot. For example, I got a dozen bottles of a certain brand because everyone raved about them, but it turns out my daughter didn’t receive them. She liked a different (cheaper) variety. The same goes for diapers, wipes, baby care products, toys, clothing, etc.
Then buy in bulk
When you find your favorite brand, buy in bulk. Think big when it comes to diapers, for example. It’s worth taking home one of the 228 count cartons from the wholesale club. You’ll save about $170 a year.
please do research
If possible, test drive the stroller before purchasing. My best friend had a huge model that cost $350. So I bought one too, but then found out I couldn’t pilot it. When I told my friend that I hated it, she laughed and said, “Me too, you should have asked.”
Use local resources for lessons and games
While it may be tempting to enroll your baby in an expensive class, there are plenty of low-cost and free options as well. I spent $270 on music classes for my oldest daughter when she was 6 months old. In the second case, I decided to see what our library had to offer. To my delight, the parent-child yoga class and weekly reading time for pre-walkers were all free. Our library also has wooden puzzles and other toys for you to play with during your stay.
Keep a baby care bag in your car
Have a bag packed with baby care basics in your car. Make sure you have three diapers, a tube of diaper rash ointment, a travel pack of wipes, extra clothing, and small non-perishable snacks if your child eats solid foods. If you forget your diaper bag while you’re out and about, you won’t end up buying one (or all!) of these items at an expensive a la carte price.
Rx to save on medical costs
Here are some ways to stick to your budget when it comes to your baby’s medical expenses.
Take advantage of giveaways
Contact your pediatrician for free product samples. At almost every checkup, my oldest daughter’s doctor handed me a can of baby formula or a vial of eczema cream.
Please call your pediatrician first.
Another way to save money is to call your pediatrician or nurse to discuss the problem before making your appointment. An experienced doctor may be able to diagnose your illness quickly over the phone. Or they may assure you that everything is fine and you don’t even need to come in. After realizing this, I saved myself a few $20 co-pays.
Please stop using ear thermometers.
Don’t buy an ear thermometer. Most doctors recommend digital oral or rectal digital, which cost about a third of the price, for greater accuracy.
food for thought
There are several ways to reduce the cost of feeding your baby.
Wait for your free formula giveaway
If you plan on using the formula, you’ll naturally want to take advantage of free formula samples and coupon offers. However, even if you plan to breastfeed, you may still want to have some formula on hand for emergencies, so we recommend doing so.
Or you may decide to switch to formula before your baby turns 1 year old. Most children will then switch to cow’s milk. Note that more than 85% of breastfeeding parents stop exclusively breastfeeding by the time their baby is 6 months old. This means that most of us will end up spending hundreds of dollars on baby formula at some point.
Therefore, do not immediately throw away special offers and sign up for the newsletter on the website of the formula company. Also consider the general formula. By law, they must meet the same quality and nutritional standards as name brands. Also, if you need a special compounded blend and have a flexible health spending account (HSA), check to see if it covers the difference. That was my case.
get coupon
Sign up for baby food company newsletters and coupon offers. Visit the websites of your favorite baby food brands (Gerber, Beechnut, Earth’s Best, and Stonyfield are great places to start). Next, shop at a store with a baby club. At my local supermarket, after you spend $100 on eligible items (diapers, wipes, select baby products, etc.), you get $10 off your next purchase. I saved $40 on groceries doing that last year.
Try making baby food
Making baby food at home may sound scary, but it’s basically just cooking and mashing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and meats. If you have time, it’s usually easy to mash steamed zucchini, cooked sweet potatoes, or ripe avocado. Make one serving, save another, and you’ll have about a dollar left in your pocket. This approach is especially cost-effective if you convert some of what you’re already making for dinner into your baby’s meal.
Keep baby food fresh
Pack crunchy toddler snacks into individual airtight containers as soon as you purchase them. Cheerios and arrowroot biscuits go stale quickly if not stored properly. Plus, feeding your baby in small portions will keep the leftovers fresh between feedings and won’t contaminate the leftovers with a used spoon. If you’re still hungry, you can always scoop up more.
