by BlondieWrites on April 16, 2010
How to Save Money on Baby Care, From Juice to Food to Diapers
The myth that babies cost money tends to keep the local grocery or department store management very happy. Retailers love the parents that want things the *convenient* way, rather than the economical way. If parents were to wise up and take just an extra few moments a day, retailers would see a huge drop in profits and parents would see a significant change in savings. It doesn’t cost much to raise a baby. Little changes can save you a bundle!
In a recent trip to the grocery store, I was in the checkout line behind a new young mom and dad, holding an adorable infant. In their buggy was at least three dozen tiny little juice bottles, the smallest jars of baby food, and regular size jars of baby food. The clerk proceeded to ask the young mom what the difference was between baby juice and regular frozen juice. The young mom said that the baby juice was more diluted and was better for the baby. Hard as it was, I kept myself from laughing and kept my mouth shut.
We’ll start with the juice first. Baby juice is the same thing as concentrated frozen juice in a can, only more diluted. Both are fortified with Vitamin C. The frozen concentrate is MUCH cheaper than the baby juice, as it makes MUCH more for MUCH less. Simply mix it up according to the can’s directions, then if you are using a small baby bottle, pour it 1/4 full of the juice and finish filling the baby bottle up with water. If you are using a large baby bottle, fill it 1/3 or half full of the juice and the rest with water.
Baby food costs a lot of money. While I can understand buying the regular size jars of baby food, buying those tiny small ones is a huge waste of money. Buying the regular size ones is a better buy for your dollar. NEVER feed the baby from the jar, as the saliva really wreaks havoc on the food in a few moments time. Put out a portion on a saucer or in a bowl, and save the other part of the jar for later that day in the refrigerator. Some parents opt to make their own baby food. While I think this is great, it is more time consuming, but saves even more money for the family. If you make your own baby food, be sure it is the right consistency for Baby, and that Baby doesn’t get a lot of spices, etc.
Baby diapers must be the one thing, other than child care, that costs parents the most money. You can count on a baby being in diapers for about two years. Most parents today abhor the idea of a cloth diaper. Disposable diapers are great, and I’ll be the first one to admit that. But they can eat you out of house and home! So what’s the young parents to do? One idea is to use disposable diapers only when you go someplace, such as the grocery store. If you baby wets a lot at night, you might even want to use them at night too. During the day, around the house, put the baby in cloth diapers. You will have to change the baby every hour or two, maybe more or less, but using cloth just part of the day will result in a nice savings.
Baby clothes and such can be found used for just a fraction of the cost. Why spend all that money on something Baby will only use for a few weeks? Take the cradle, for example. Why buy a new one, when baby will outgrow it in maybe a couple of months? Baby clothes are quickly outgrown, but new ones are expensive. Again, you can save a bundle by shopping thrift stores, yard sales, and store sales.
When my children were babies, I stayed home with them. I might have worked an entire year in the past twelve years. My family has never made a lot of money. As a matter of fact, most people would consider us on the poor side. How have I been able to stay home with my kids?
I believe in saving money where it can be saved. I used cloth diapers part of the time, I use coupons when I did buy disposables, and those were the store brand rather than name brand. I diluted juices instead of buying the baby juice, shopped yard sales and thrift stores for used baby clothes and baby items, etc. And I didn’t work outside the home and pay ridiculous child care costs.
The main thing to remember when raising your baby is that *you* control what you spend. If you just want to give your money to the retailers, it is after all your money. But know that you don’t have to give away your hard earned money, if you’ll just take the extra few moments and make a few tiny changes. The money you save now, while Baby is a baby, will make a nice nest egg for special things later in life.
by BlondieWrites on April 15, 2010
by BlondieWrites on April 14, 2010
by BlondieWrites on December 2, 2009
There are a lot of things to think about when there’s a baby on the way. You’ve got to come up with the perfect name for your little bundle of joy. You have to line up childcare when it’s time to go back to work, or make plans to stay home with the baby. There are clothes, diapers and supplies to buy. And there’s a nursery to decorate.
Decorating the nursery is a favorite part of new baby preparations for many parents. Until it’s done, you just don’t feel like you’re ready to welcome your child into the world. So many moms- and dads-to-be go all out, buying expensive designer cribs, bedding and décor. But if you’re on a tight budget, that’s money that could be better spent on more practical things.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t decorate your baby’s room in style, though. It just means you’ll need to go about it a little differently.
Here are some frugal tips for decorating your baby nursery:
* If there’s a certain motif you want to use in the nursery, create a baby registry and make sure that your shower organizer lets invitees know where you’re registered. That way guests will be likely to purchase the items you’ve selected in that motif. But keep in mind that if you choose a lot of expensive items, you might not get them, because your guests may be on a budget too.
* Don’t get your heart set on doing everything in a certain motif. If you don’t get all of the things you want at your shower, you might have to go with something else. If you get some of the items you wanted, however, perhaps you can buy the rest in a color that co-ordinates with them.
* Make some of the items for the nursery yourself. You could buy some fabric featuring the characters you want to feature in the nursery and make all sorts of things out of it. Curtains and blankets are easy if you have a sewing machine. You could also make decoupage wall hangings by cutting the characters out of the fabric and using Mod Podge to adhere them to a piece of wood, then top with another coat of it. And framed pages from children’s books or calendars also make lovely wall art.
* Visit consignment shops, flea markets and yard sales. You can often find great deals on gently used nursery items at these places.
* Go to outlet stores, or shop from the outlet section of your favorite online baby store. There are spectacular deals on new items to be found here. Some might have minor flaws, but in many cases they’ve simply been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Decorating your nursery on the cheap doesn’t mean it won’t be beautiful. With a little creativity, you can make it look just as wonderful as it would if you had spared no expense. And best of all, you’ll have more money to spend on diapers, formula, and those adorable baby clothes!
by BlondieWrites on December 2, 2009
For such tiny people, babies can be very, very expensive. You’ve got to feed them, diaper them and clothe them. They need bath supplies and laundry detergents that are suitable for sensitive baby skin. They need a crib and a car seat, and playpens and strollers are must-haves for many parents. And some parents are intent on giving them the best of everything, which adds up to even more money spent.
Even for the most eager mom-to-be, the thought of all these expenses can be rather intimidating. But never fear. There are plenty of tricks that can save new moms money. Here are a few.
* Solicit hand-me-downs. Babies don’t stay in those tiny clothes for long, so by the time they outgrow them, they’re rarely worn out. If you have a friend or family member who has recently had a baby, ask if she has any clothes that you could take off her hands. And don’t stop with clothes. Those with older children might have cribs, strollers and other items that they’re no longer using and would love to get out of the way.
* Breastfeed. Not only is breastfeeding less expensive than buying formula, bottles and nipples, it’s also better for your baby. And for those middle-of-the-night feedings, it’s quicker and more convenient than warming up a bottle. You’ll need to take care to eat well so that the baby gets all of the nutrients he needs, but that’s something that’s important to do anyway.
* Keep your diaper costs as low as possible. Cloth diapers can save you a ton of money if you don’t mind washing them, and they’re better for the environment than disposables. If you can’t bring yourself to use cloth diapers, try generic disposables. They’re often just as good as the name brands, and they cost much less.
* Shop at second-hand stores. You can find great deals on gently used baby items at many such stores. Some will also accept trade-ins, so you can bring in items that your baby can no longer use and get credit toward things you need.
* Consider getting a baby sling to carry your little bundle of joy in. They make great substitutes for strollers, carriers, swings and bouncy seats, and you can get them cheaper than any of these. An added bonus: they keep baby feeling snug and secure, so there’s less crying and more bonding.
* Use soft baby washcloths and baby wash instead of disposable wipes. You can soak the cloths in a solution of baby wash and water, wring out the excess, and put them in a Ziploc bag to use when you’re out. Just keep another bag to put the dirty cloths in, wash them when you get home, and reuse.
There are lots of expenses associated with a new addition to the family. But if you’re diligent about finding good deals, you could save hundreds of dollars on baby needs by the time your little one is a toddler. So don’t be afraid to shop around, buy second-hand and make use of hand-me-downs!
by BlondieWrites on October 14, 2009
by BlondieWrites on July 29, 2009
Our children are our most valuable possessions. If only it was possible to be able to watch over them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, then you would. This is most especially true when it comes to babies since they are dependent on their parents with everything that they do.
Unfortunately, parents are only humans and as such, you also get tired and will need rest from time to time. And what better way to rest than from the comforts of your room. This is where baby monitors come in handy. With these devices, you will still be able to monitor your baby even if he or she is in another room.
What Are Baby Monitors?
Basically, a baby monitor, also known as a baby alarm, is a device that can be used to monitor your children or babies even if they are located in a separate room than yours. It is a simplex transmitter and receiver system that can be used to remotely listen for different noises made by your kids and babies.
A transmitter device with a microphone is placed in the room of your baby (usually near the baby). Another device with a receiver and with speakers can be carried by you, the parents, or the baby sitter, or anyone who is taking care of the babies. With baby monitors, you can keep track of your baby’s even if you are doing something else in the proximity of your house.
Types of Baby Monitors
Baby monitors have evolved through the years. From the simple transmitter and receiver device, different baby monitors have been developed. Currently, there are two types of baby monitors: video baby monitors and audio baby monitors.
Video baby monitors, as the name implies, use video footages for overseeing events in the room where the baby is located. It incorporates the technology used by webcams in computers. Instead of only using the simple transmitter with microphone, a camera is installed with it. The receiver, instead of just having speakers, already has LCD screens installed along with them.
Video baby monitors have also taken advantage of the current technology of the Internet. With the video baby monitor installed in the room, parents can access the cameras and view the conditions of their babies even when they are at the office. All they need is a computer with Internet access and voila! Instant video feed direct from the baby’s room.
The other type of baby monitor is the audio baby monitor. This is the descendant of the basic uni-directional system used by basic and usually old monitors. These new types of baby monitors however have been integrated with new technology. Instead of just being able to hear your baby, you can now actually talk back to him or her.
There are even some devices that will let you send commands to the baby’s device to play different music to hush him or her back to sleep.
Both types of baby monitors, audio and video, can either be wired or wireless. The wireless devices may, in some cases, be more advantageous than the wired devices since you will be able to go anywhere anytime for as long as both devices are within range.
The set back of this setup though is that wireless connections seem to be more affected with different interferences than the wired devices.
by BlondieWrites on July 29, 2009
Looking after your baby’s safety is not an easy task. In fact, a lot of parents are willing to spend tons of money just to make sure that they’re little bundles of joy are safe and sound. With this in mind, buying only the best baby monitors that the market has to offer seems like an excellent idea. Unfortunately, some people mistakenly translate money for quality. The truth of the matter is that the price tag doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll actually get what you need.
Like any other products, baby monitors need to suit your lifestyle and satisfy your requirements, even to the slightest of details. So before you purchase one, try to dwell on a number of factors first. These things will not only serve as your guide, they will also help you pick out the best type or brand for your little one.
Range
The size of your house, as well as the distance of the nursery from your bedroom – or other vital parts of your home – need to be taken into consideration. If you live in a small apartment or if your baby’s room is only a couple of rooms away, then virtually any type of baby monitor will suffice.
On the other hand, parents who own bigger houses or live in multi-story residences require a device that has a longer range. In this way, they will know for certain that the transmitter and receiver will not falter even in extended distances.
Portability
Every now and then, people may share a similar opinion when it comes to size. Some consider smaller devices to be more excellent than larger ones. Because of this trend, as well as the necessity for better portability, a good number of modern baby monitors are currently equipped with ultra-small receivers.
Most baby monitors these days also come with receivers that have belt clips. This feature allows parents to carry the device around without much effort. If you intend to take the receiver anywhere in the house for extended periods of time, test out the attachment method just to be sure that it’s durable enough to endure daily usage.
In addition, you also need to check the battery life and power source. You should at least get a hold of answers for questions such as: “Will I need to recharge it frequently?”
Interference
Since a baby monitor is basically a wireless device, it is highly possible to experience interference with the signal. You and your next-door neighbors may utilize similar channels and wind up hearing noises from each other’s homes. Cordless telephones may also interfere with your signal. In case interference is a big issue for you, you can always look for something that utilizes the so-called no-interference technology or has additional security features.
Video Monitoring Options
A basic baby monitor allows you to hear whatever’s happening in the baby’s bedroom. Then again, technological innovations have made it possible to combine sound and visual monitoring. Although the video option seems like a brilliant idea, you still won’t be able to stare at the screen all the time. For that reason, you definitely shouldn’t sacrifice an excellent sound quality over supplementary features.
Keep in mind that the best baby monitors are not always the most costly ones. What matters most is the fact that it is suitable for your situation and hardwearing enough to survive every day use.
