Baby On A Budget: Tips, Tricks, And Hacks To Buying Baby Gear

Do you love walking through the baby section of stores, and seeing all the cute and clever gadgets for baby? I always walk through and think, “I should have thought of that. It is genius.” Or “I definitely need that because it is so darn cute.” Because cute is the prerequisite for all things baby. There are so many fun, cute, and interesting things for baby, you can easily get carried away. Unfortunately, many of these items have an expiration date on how long baby will actually use it. They can really end up being a waste of money and aren’t helpful for having a baby on a budget.

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If you didn’t know already, babies cost a lot. In the first year, it is estimated that you will spend about $12,000 on baby. But I have good news for you. It is possible to have a baby on a budget. I’ve done it 6 times. I am going to give you all of my tips, tricks, and hacks for buying baby gear on a budget.

Pinterest is Great for Ideas, but You Don’t Need to Buy Everything

After having 6 kids and buying more strollers than I’ve had kids for, I have real-life tested a number of products. And most of the idea lists on Pinterest, you don’t need.

I know, everyone has their “must-have” list or “best ever” list for baby essentials, and these lists can be helpful. I have two problems with these lists.  1. They are usually written by first-time or second-time moms, so while they do have some experience with different products, there is so much more to experience.  2. The lists are really long. You don’t need to buy all the stuff recommended that you will only use for a few months. You really don’t. Baby gear has a short shelf-life, so if you are having a baby on a budget you can give yourself permission to not buy all the things on Pinterest.

Baby on a Budget: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks

So, what do you do? You need to buy baby gear, but how do you do it on a budget? Here are my tips, trick, and hacks, from my years of experience, for baby on a budget.

1. Are you planning to have more than 1 child…eventually

It helps if you are planning to have more than one child. You can start building your baby gear treasure chest with baby 1 and use the same items for the next kids. Reusing baby gear will help save you a lot of money in the long run.

Tip: If you are going to do this, then buy neutral color schemes and dark schemes, so the stains will be hidden. I used one stroller for 5 kids, and finally threw it away after number 5. Since the coloring was neutral and a dark color, we could easily use it for all of them.

2. Buying big ticket items

If you are planning to reuse the baby gear, it may be worth it to buy a higher-end products. For example, it might be worth it to buy a crib that is a better made than a cheaper brand, so it will last with all your bambinos. But to be honest, our first crib was not a high-end one and it survived the 3 oldest kids. So it still doesn’t need to be super expensive.

You definitely can skip the changing table. It just takes up more space in the baby’s room. You can put a changing pad on the baby’s dresser. Instant changing table. It is also easy to store when you no longer need it for baby, but want to save it for the next one.

Buy the Ergo baby carrier. Yes, it is on the higher end of the budget when it comes to baby carriers, but I promise you won’t regret it. This was my favorite baby carrier. This is especially helpful if you have a high needs baby that won’t let you go. The bonus, it still works when they get bigger. I use it for my 2-year-old when we Costco shop, because eventually I need all the cart space, so I carry her in the Ergo. My other favorite baby carrier, especially when the baby is small, is the Baby Bjorn.

Tip: If you are going to spend the money, make sure it is on something that has good reviews. Friends are also a good place to get recommendations, and moms love sharing their knowledge and experience with other moms. It is great to have a community that is so helpful. More expensive doesn’t always mean better quality, so be sure to get recommendations.

3. Baby registry

Create a baby registry whether this is your first child or fourth child. If you had a break between kids, then there is probably more baby equipment that you need to buy. Or if you moved and got rid of stuff. There is stuff you need, so create a baby registry that you can send to friends and family.

Tip: Keep the clothes off your baby registry. Everyone will buy baby clothes because they are so stinking cute. So add the play equipment and baby gear you actually need to your baby registry. Remember to include toys and board books. You will need these sooner than you realize.

4. Think outside of the baby store

You don’t need to pay full price for items. There are so many places to buy baby gear. Ebay is a great place to look for baby gear. Also, consignment shops. If you have a Once Upon a Child franchise, this is a great place to purchase baby gear. You can find high-end items without the retail price.

I like a store like Once Upon a Child over a regular thrift store because they are up to date on safety standards. So you can be confident that you are getting something that has been checked.

You can also buy pre-owned strollers online. This is awesome. Most of my strollers were purchased pre-owned and they were perfect. Strollers are expensive, so it you can find them for not retail price this is a great way to have a baby on a budget.

Tip: A consignment shop, like Once Upon a Child, is up to date with recalls and has certain safety standards that the need to meet. You can also sell your items back to the consignment shop when you are finished with them. This is a great way to earn some money from your baby equipment that you are done using.

5. Sign-up for coupons

A lot of baby companies, like Huggies or Pampers, will have newsletters that you can sign-up for to receive coupons. Trust me those diaper coupons will come in handy. Formula companies have them too. But if you are nursing your baby then you save a lot of money. Nursing is an easy way to have a baby on a budget.

Many times your Ob-Gyn or midwife will also have a goody bag of coupons for moms. So go through these coupons and see how you can save money on baby items.

Tip: Look for coupons online. There are so many companies that are looking to create life-long customers or at least as long as you have a baby. You can find great discounts for your baby on a budget.

Conclusion: Baby on a Budget

There are so many things that you need to buy for baby that it can feel overwhelming. But it is possible to have a baby on a budget, and you don’t need to buy all the things on Pinterest.

What was one thing that you couldn’t live without with your baby? Let us know in the comments below.