Let's Talk Babies!

Women love to talk babies!  But a conversation that usually does not take place, and should more often, is how to save money and still raise those babies right.  I wanted to give you some of my favorite grocery store saving tips for baby products.

Cloth diapers. Cloth diapers.  Cloth diapers.  I cannot say this often enough.  Get sick of spending $30.00 every time you set foot in a store on something that is just going to be dirtied and tossed?  Then stop doing it.  Cloth diapers.  Simple.  Amazing.  Money-saving.  God's gift to the frugal mother.

Make your own baby food. This only saves you money if you don't buy all the snazzy stuff that is advertised for making your own baby food.  You don't need expensive food processors, storage containers, or cook books.  You just need a basic food processor and a preservative-free menu.  As you make dinner, toss some ingredients in the food processor and serve.  No extra time necessary.  Breakfast?  My baby's favorite is oatmeal, raisins and cinnamon.  Lunch?  Barley, mixed vegetables, and potatoes makes a great baby barley soup!  For dinner, while you make beef stroganoff, toss some burger, whole wheat egg noodles, and peas into the food processor.  Ta da!  Baby dinner.  Effortless, cheap, healthy.

Stop buying toothbrushes. Until your baby gets teeth, don't waste your money on infant toothpaste and toothbrushes.  All you need to do is wet a clean paper towel with some water and rub their gums after each meal.  The only thing your infant needs before that first tooth pops through is to keep the sugars from clinging to their gums.

No more baby wipes. While you are enjoying the ease and cost of cloth diapers, switch to cloth baby wipes.  All you need is an old cotton t-shirt.  Cut it up into squares and wet with water.  For those extra messes, fill a little spray bottle with water and add one squirt of baby shampoo.  Spray directly on the baby's bottom and wipe with the wet cotton t-shirt square.  Toss these in the wash with your cloth diapers.  No more throwing out money on baby wipes.

Don't waste money on baby snacks. Flavored rice puffs, biter biscuits, and fruit snacks are just unnecessary sugars and costs.  Try Alf's Brown Rice Puff Cereal to replace those flavored rice puffs.  They safely dissolve in your baby's mouth, have no added sugar, flavors, or preservatives, and are a delicious whole grain (only $1.00 at Walmart!).  Plus, you can toss some in your food processor and make a preservative-free rice cereal.  For teething babies, try a peeled carrot (not baby carrots!).  They love the flavor, and the texture and coolness is soothing on their gums.  Instead of sugary fruit snacks, puree some raisins or blueberries, or mash up a banana.

Babies are a joyful expense, but that doesn't mean they have to be a large expense.  They won't remember if you don't get them those special Gerber snacks, so try to shake the idea of "giving them the best."  You'll need to save your money so you can give them the best when it really counts (like education or that amazing pair of jeans they just have to have).