We have been aquiring baby things from friends, but they are all for a girl. If we have a boy we are in deep trouble as we have NOTHING and there is no huge financial relief between now and baby. Speaking specifically, we arn't getting a tax return before this baby is born so large purchases will be difficult.

What we have decided we need:
Baby clothes (if we have a girl we are covered here for the most part)
Nursing bras and pads etc
$200 for midwife copay (this is total for the entire 9 mos and birth)
As much as we can for our wonderful Doula
Diapers
Car seat
Cradle or crib bed thingy for beside ours
Stroller
Sling

What am I fogeting? We need to get all of this between now and Christmas, on top of Christmas crap etc, and I would really like to do it with minimal credit usage if I can... so starting now buying one thing a month or finding places to get things is going to be important. What do you think? Have you done this on such a shoestring budget (ie a budget that doesn't leave room for extras without credit)?

Val

one idea is freecycle - it can be a pain,but occasionally you might get lucky...

another idea - will you be getting any gifts from family/friends? What are the chances they will ask you what you need?

Stroller wont be needed for a while after baby is born (I'm guessing - I cant foresee using ours anytime soon, our babe is 3 weeks now) - so maybe you could wait on that? for things that can wait I would - you might get a surprise gift of $ (we did!)

ask friends to borrow cradle/co-sleeper if they have one they aren't using right now

trading for sewing & such?

make your own sling?

Can you set aside a certain amount each paycheck to buy baby things? Even $10 - hit thrifts & garage sales looking for what you need. If you dont find what you need save that money in a baby supply fund & just keep looking! I know i could get everything I needed for baby for very,very cheap (except for a stroller & car seat) just by hitting thrifts,etc...

what kind of dipes are you planning to use? if prefolds I know where you can get them cheap....

I am not as worried as I am just thinking and planning ahead. I have 20 more wks... you know? But with school starting and summer ending the chance of running into this stuff via garage sales etc, is getting really slim. I just have to think about it. I am going today to put lists at the two resale childrens stores for a cradle.

What is amazing is that when you look at it as a list, it seems HUGE... but when you look at it as 5 months of $100 a month and some good planning, it doesn't seem that daunting. So that is what I am going to try to focus on... just $100 a month (or less if I can find things for less) and two months of that is a brand new carseat stroller combo... another month is a good used cradle from a used furniture store in Seattle... another month of that and thrifting and that is ALL of the rest of it. You know? I think I just had to write it down to make sure I knew what we needed before I could plan how to get it.

Thanks for the encouragment. We do cloth dipe... please pass on that link. :D

Val

Ok, we are shameless, but with our first, we were so poor. We really didn't buy anything. I think we bought a couple of outfits and some cloth diapers. We were in college and lived near a lot of extended family. It would make them crazy to know that we didn't have anything yet. Before long, they started giving us stuff. Some new, but a lot was gently used. Of course we had a couple of baby showers, too. But really, people just gave us so much.

If we had just gone out and started buying like crazy, I don't think that people would have been so generous. They would ask what we had, and when they heard that we had nothing, they started giving us stuff.

It wasn't really what we intended (you know, to mooch off of everyone), but it worked, lol.

Yeah, I don't think I've ever bought one new thing for any of my kids! Put out the word you're looking for cheap or free stuff for your baby and you won't be able to believe how much stuff you'll get. That's always been our experience anyway! LOL.

Kerri

Definitely put the word out. I think I have some boy stuff for you (clothes) though most is bigger sizes...I will have to check. A lot is Florida/warm stuff too. I didn't save much from either kid but my friend is sending me some things I sent her, which I'd be happy to pass on until I might need them again. ;)

Stroller you don't need till 6 months at *least* - I know it's personal preference but I never had one for Katie and only got one for Jake when he was 18 months and impossible to keep nearby...it was either a stroller or a leash with that kid, I tell ya!

I think you're all set with that list...hit the thrifts for clothes, and really everything else except car seat. I bought K a new seat (a Britax Roundabout from birth) and J used it two years later and she moved to a Husky. I just got a new cover for him.

And yeah, that was how we did it - just kept my eyes out while pg for things used. Also got a lot from a distant cousin - from bouncy seat to tons of clothes - and a colleague of my mom's (more clothes, toys). When folks asked what I needed, I told them straight up or asked for gift certs to certain places.

See our support is so limited right now. We have friends that are in major termoil, and most others have children that are much older and have already passed down their baby stuff. And this is going to sound bad, but VERY few of my friends take care of their things. I am one of those people who others love to get used stuff from because you can't tell it was ever used most of the time. Not true at all for my friends.

And there is another thing with the "stuff"... we are going to have three children (three TOTALLY seperate ages (4 if you count dh's stuff and I DO)), in a 900 sq ft house. So the things I want are specific... cus if they aren't, they won't fit... does that make me crazy or does that make a lot of sense?

I know my dad will help if we need it, and his girlfriend will def help once it starts getting close and I express the need, but that is about it for support around here. I don't talk to my bio dad or my mother, my brothers (who are here) don't have children, the one friend whom has a baby (13 months) just moved away (although she did go through and give me some of the cutest outfits I have before she left).... I mean part of this is drama from freaking myself out (and just being pg in general) and part of this is reality that I will have to deal with... just intellegently and in time. I like planning and doing it all in one big lump. lol...

Now here is another thought. If ALL else fails, and this baby has clothes, and a good carseat (which if we DON'T get the stroller combo then I could see that being around $75 instead of the $200, and Cyan's is only $35), a viby chair (Don deems this a necessity and I think that is ADORABLE... plus it is only $25) and diapers (sposies will work if I need them to) for the first month, by mid Feb we will get our tax return and THEN we can get the "specific" things we need. Like a cradle that will fit next to our bed, etc.

Gosh... I just need to mull this around. It really became a reality when Cyan felt the baby move yesterday just after we went to pick up the last of her school supplies. I don't know why, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. :o Thanks for listening ladies. :hbeat:

Val

no need for sposies! check out these prices!


http://www.clothdiaper.com/specials.html

their pins & such are too much, so just stick with the bargain dipes if you buy from them. :)

I have tons of new and like new baby boy clothes ffs if you or anyone else would like them. :)

Val can you make your own nursing pads? I made mine out of flannel scraps and a layer of micro fleece :) Also what size nursing bra do you need I have one For Sale 36 D, it is a motherhood one,$10.
Also Miracle diapers could help you out , with some prefolds and covers, or again you could make your own.

Good luck, I know how hard it is. We don't have credit to fall back on ,so to speak. It's nice not having credit card debt, but there are some weeks where it is very stressful to get by. :hug:

no need for sposies! check out these prices!


http://www.clothdiaper.com/specials.html

their pins & such are too much, so just stick with the bargain dipes if you buy from them. :)
WOW !! That is a great deal on prefolds!! Too Bad they don't have Toddler size!:p

what kind of sling are you wanting? I'm decluttering and *might* have something...

At this point I will use anything, but I always use a ring sling in the begining and then a hip sling or Ergo when the babe gets bigger (which I will get with Tax Return if I don't get it before). When you declutter, if you find one would you pm me pictures? I would love to see whatcha got. :D

Val

I am just getting ready to take a ton of baby stuff to consignment/yardsale/thrift. I may have some stuff I can pass along for shipping.

vibrating chair, new native pouch M, baby clothes (both genders)... what kind of clothes are you looking for? Gowns, sleepers...? Let me know and I can try to snap some pictures for you.

I think most of my diapers have come through trading. How many diapers does one really need? (I want to make sure I have enough)

How often are you willing/able to do laundry? You may be able to get by with less clothes.

If worse comes to worse could your baby sleep in a laundry basket with a blanket or towel in the bottom for padding until you get your tax return and can buy a craddle? I have a moses basket I got off ebay for about $30 that we were going to use for the first few months then someone heard I was looking for a crib and gave us one they were getting rid of.

Even though you don't know anyone still try to put the word out somewhere, somehow and maybe some things will come along.


Tawnya

vibrating chair, new native pouch M, baby clothes (both genders)... what kind of clothes are you looking for? Gowns, sleepers...? Let me know and I can try to snap some pictures for you.

COOL yes pictures please! Will you send me a pm when you get them done? THanks!

The babe will sleep with us for the most part, but if I she is anything like Cyan she won't want to for more than a week or so. Cyan really liked her space as a baby. Cant tell as a kid... she sleeps with us 4 nights out of 5. ugh... The cradle was for about 5-6 wks out... if you know what I mean. Perhaps that can be our "got our tax return and we're gettin' back to it" gift to ourselves in Feb. LMAO!

Val

I think most of my diapers have come through trading. How many diapers does one really need? (I want to make sure I have enough)


I have about 2 doz that fit dd well right now - and I *still* run out! I've got diapers in the dryer, diapers in the wash - and dd is asleep without a diaper on right now! LOL EEK!!!!! She goes a LOT!!! lol

I always had 2 doz for Cyan. We also used FUzzi Bunz becuase Cyan had really sensitive skin so we also had 2 doz of those. That is $200 worth of covers. lol... Hense why I think we may just get sposies until we can get the FB.

I went through 12 dif laundry soaps before I found one she didn't react to, and it was Arm and Hammer dye free brand... I tried all the dif natural ones and she broke out in hives from them all (esp Seventh Gen stuff... she can't even use the dish soap as bubbles in the bath). Not that sposies are my long term answer, but I have to admit that instead of going through that again, I may just wait until I can get the fuzzi bunz this time and not worry about it. Don and I both are SUPER pale people with sensitive skin and skin problems. It is just safer to assume that our children are the same. (Cyan had bleeding blisters on her face from a mold allergy for over two years. It was terrible! She has grown out of it now... but thinking back... omg.)

Anyway... that is my take on diapers. That is a killer deal though!!!

Val

I guess I'm lucky! I have lots of allergies/sensitivities & so do all my kids. Luckily we've been fine as long as we stick with cotton dipes & wool covers (thank goodness they aren't allergic to wool!). With my 4th I tried some fleece liners I'd recieved & she always had reactions to them. i'd heard others say their kids were allergic to fleece too & I just assumed that it was because it was a man made fiber. (even my 16 yr old still cant handle wearing anything with any lycra - she gets an itchy rash!)

My poor newborn got a rash right after birth . Usually I wouldn't use lotions or creams on a newborn, but thank goodness for Weleda rash cream - she healed right up!

I am soooo glad my kids aren't allergic to the diapering things we use. I am hard headed & I think I'd just go back to EC LOL I'm too lazy for that now though! LOL

How hard do you think it would be to make a cradle? Do you know if I could buy rockers? Or perhaps make one of those ones on a stand that has hooks in it so it rocks that way? Or perhaps I would just make one that is like Cyan's doll one, just all wood top and bottom and then round dowls on the sides set in intervals of whatever is deemed most safe?

Hummmmmmmmm...

Val

How hard do you think it would be to make a cradle? Do you know if I could buy rockers? Or perhaps make one of those ones on a stand that has hooks in it so it rocks that way? Or perhaps I would just make one that is like Cyan's doll one, just all wood top and bottom and then round dowls on the sides set in intervals of whatever is deemed most safe?

Hummmmmmmmm...

Val


You and this thread are cracking me up! I'm totally the same way, I have to air what's going on in my brain to get it functioning and problem solving. The mama's in this thread offering stuff up is making me warm and fuzzy.

You thinking of making your own cradle definately suits "the domestic goddess"!:heart:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Build/Cradle.html&rn=RightNavFiles/rightNavTools

Here's a link on how to build a doll cradle. I wonder if you could adapt it to fit a baby? That'd be something neat though to say "yeah, I built the bed you slept in as a new baby..."

Tawnya

http://www.furnitureplans.com/pi_products/1401b

http://www.woodsmithstore.com/heirloomcradle.html

These are the two I was looking at... but honestly then I saw these (because they were in the same google search) and I may not have to. It looks like they would be about the same price that it would cost me to make a cherry or oak cradle (or perhaps less actually).

http://www.ababy.com/data/wooden-cradles/wooden-cradles-2400.html

http://www.ababy.com/data/wooden-cradles/wooden-cradles-614.html

I really like the idea of making one though. I made Cyan's doll house, all of our shelves, the kids wooden kitchen, a back yard table (that is at my dads), I don't see why I couldn't make the cradle. The main questions to this are: Do I feel confident in my skills enough to warrent my childs saftey in it? And If I DON"T do it, will I care that much?

I am crazy I know. I am glad I have somewhere to air all this out. And the mamas have been so generous. I do have a good support system on here that is for sure. :heart: The baby will be fine. Babies don't need anything really except boobs, a warm place to sleep, dipes, and comfortable outfits. If they have that, they are doing great... they don't care. So either way it will be fine. I just know that if I don't prepare for my last one, I will always feel like I missed out on some part of this and the baby lust will be worse later. Perhaps that is meant to be, or perhaps I just think too much. lol...

Val

I am LOL too. You are saying exactly some of the things i would say!:hahaha: I think we're 2 peas in a pod!:hahaha:

I have about 2 doz that fit dd well right now - and I *still* run out! I've got diapers in the dryer, diapers in the wash - and dd is asleep without a diaper on right now! LOL EEK!!!!! She goes a LOT!!! lol

Oh, my! 2 doz is definately not enough for a newborn, is it? Do you need any diapers? LMK. I have gobs.

I'd vote for about 3 dozen for a newborn.

I had about 25 infant prefolds
6 kissaluvs
8 ecobaby dipes
6 homemade dipes
1 wahm dipe
3 under the nile dipes
1 icky thin dappi or something diaper

This is stuff I had for Vincent.

I've since downsized and have 2 dozen organic 1 size dipes, 5 ecobaby absorb it alls and I still have 18 prefolds. :p

I do love those absorb it alls. So cute! Nice for showing off how fun cloth dipes are to strangers/at the doctor's etc.

I can send you our 18 infant prefolds when we are done if used doesn't gross you out. I'm sure Vince will be long done with those by then. :)

I could send boys clothes, too, but I definately don't have a TON of them that would work for you, as Vince was a summer baby.

I always had 2 doz for Cyan. We also used FUzzi Bunz becuase Cyan had really sensitive skin so we also had 2 doz of those. That is $200 worth of covers. lol... Hense why I think we may just get sposies until we can get the FB.

I went through 12 dif laundry soaps before I found one she didn't react to, and it was Arm and Hammer dye free brand... I tried all the dif natural ones and she broke out in hives from them all (esp Seventh Gen stuff... she can't even use the dish soap as bubbles in the bath). Not that sposies are my long term answer, but I have to admit that instead of going through that again, I may just wait until I can get the fuzzi bunz this time and not worry about it. Don and I both are SUPER pale people with sensitive skin and skin problems. It is just safer to assume that our children are the same. (Cyan had bleeding blisters on her face from a mold allergy for over two years. It was terrible! She has grown out of it now... but thinking back... omg.)

Anyway... that is my take on diapers. That is a killer deal though!!!

Val

Thank you, that sounds wonderful! Basically what I am doing now is waiting to take you sweet mamas up on these offers of boy clothing until we know what the baby is. I have a distinct feeling it is a girl. (could be two days from now, could be next week) Heart rate has never been under 150... I am carring SO high it is crazy (like 5 weeks bigger than my dates high) and the baby was concieved 4 days after intercourse according to our first u/s (which says I am 18wks today). So all those things combined my guess is we are having another girl. :) But who knows... if this does show up to be a boy, than I will def be taking some of you mamas up on the offer of clothing, cus really... I have ONE thing that will work for a boy, and an entire Old Navy bag of cute little pink outfits. LOL!

Dipes are a must and so when we find out what the baby is I will be contacting you Amina... thank you!

Val

Oh, my! 2 doz is definately not enough for a newborn, is it? Do you need any diapers? LMK. I have gobs.



Soon after I posted I remembered the small sandies in the closet lol they are kind of big on her, but its better than nothin lol we have 1 doz of those!
I also have 1 doz ecobaby prefolds - but I can NOT get pins through those suckers! LOL I have 1 doz newborn dipes that she was too big for at birth LOL and she is outgrowing her current 2 doz. I *also* have 2 doz motherease 1 size for when she is bigger (did i mention i went insane spending $ when i got pg? :o ) I'm hoping to sell the non-fitting newborns & buy something else - more small sandies maybe, or maybe just some prefolds. I think we are good LOL

sorry for the ot, very non-frugal, post (it was buying all these dipes that landed me back in the frugal forum lol).

I totally understand feeling that need to have everything planned out--especially with the holidays being right before the end! I think we have most everything, either in our possession, or coming.

I am really tempted to order a couple dozen of those prefolds. My cousin has about 3 doz. plus a bunch of covers that I gave to her to use, and she is expecting in November. She assured me that they'd be glad to pass them back to us come January. I have about a dozen flats that I can use for a new baby, but only 1 cover, I think.

I have some boy gowns, etc. I could offer you if you don't have what you need by then. I am thinking this baby is a girl, too, but we aren't going to find out the sex before birth, so it will be a bit...

Val I understand about the non-support. We bought almost nothing, got almost nothing. We were all of 19 yrs old. It was horrible! I had a big shower, BUT, since we didn't know the gender everyone was afraid to buy us any clothing.... I got enough bath products that lasted me into the 2nd baby. Dumb.

If you are finding out the gender, maybe ppl will be more apt to give you things.

Val, I will be there soon :) I have a bucket (big plastic bin) full of misc diapering things. YOu are welcome to anything that might help you:)

And, well, Dye works well for turning pink into blue, we can have a dye fest.

I also am the sling lady... after getting rid of many slings this year, I still have 3 pouches and 2 or 3 unpadded ring slings :D

I can't wait to have a dye fest with you Selena... I really can't wait. I have been thinking of calling you and then thinking "nah... she is either packing, moving or getting ready to do one or the other... " lol!

We put in our name at all of the high end consignment shops for a cradle. I said I didn't care what color, but that is what will fit next to the bed so that is what I need. Hopefully we will get a call back, until then we will keep looking. We find out the sex on Monday, so that will work out well to solve lots of these issue. I really do think it is a girl, but am totally ok with eating my words... I don't care what it is... I just feel that it is a girl, but boys with gentle spirits are totally plausable and I would love it to have a little brother for Alex (between my dd and his dads girls he has 3 little sisters already. :eek: ). Monday is Don's day off too. :) So that is exciting.

Val

I can't wait to have a dye fest with you Selena... I really can't wait. I have been thinking of calling you and then thinking "nah... she is either packing, moving or getting ready to do one or the other... " lol!

We put in our name at all of the high end consignment shops for a cradle. I said I didn't care what color, but that is what will fit next to the bed so that is what I need. Hopefully we will get a call back, until then we will keep looking. We find out the sex on Monday, so that will work out well to solve lots of these issue. I really do think it is a girl, but am totally ok with eating my words... I don't care what it is... I just feel that it is a girl, but boys with gentle spirits are totally plausable and I would love it to have a little brother for Alex (between my dd and his dads girls he has 3 little sisters already. :eek: ). Monday is Don's day off too. :) So that is exciting.

Val

oh gods, Val, call anytime, I need the sanity break, ROFL.. things around here aer A NIGHTMARE with frenzy, we are on a hurry up and wait thing now, with the move ONLY A WEEK AWAY EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

Alrighty... so I am having a BOY!!!

Once I am done canning this week (which hopefully will be by tomorrow, but I do have 30lbs of apples and two boxes of peaches to go) I am going to start to see what we have and where. YIKES! A boy!

Val

I think I have some newborn boy clothes I can send. Let me look in my attic, ok? I'll let you know.

Wow Val! Hooray! Boys are just fantastic. How very exciting for you all.

Kerri

haven't been following this thread, but i just happened to see that you're having a boy! congrats!

Congratulations Val!!!! I confess I have been on pins and needles waiting for you to find out. :D Vicarious pleasures as I am not yet pg. ;)

I was sure J was a girl...and yes I think it's because he's such a sweetie, so gentle and loving, he just exudes more of that yin energy than yang, some of the time, anyway. ;)

My friend is sending me a bunch of infant/baby/toddler stuff, and I think a good bit of it is gender neutral or boy. It's stuff I'd sent to her after Jake. I'd be happy to send it to *you*. :) If I get pg it will be a while; I don't want another summer baby so TTC is on hold for about six months!

Soon after I posted I remembered the small sandies in the closet lol they are kind of big on her, but its better than nothin lol we have 1 doz of those!
I also have 1 doz ecobaby prefolds - but I can NOT get pins through those suckers! LOL I have 1 doz newborn dipes that she was too big for at birth LOL and she is outgrowing her current 2 doz. I *also* have 2 doz motherease 1 size for when she is bigger (did i mention i went insane spending $ when i got pg? :o ) I'm hoping to sell the non-fitting newborns & buy something else - more small sandies maybe, or maybe just some prefolds. I think we are good LOL

sorry for the ot, very non-frugal, post (it was buying all these dipes that landed me back in the frugal forum lol).

LOL! I am glad your memory kicked in b/c sandy's are very nice, lol. I could not get my pins through my ecobaby prefolds, either. I wound up folding them in fourths and that worked fine (with a wrap). You probably only use Aristocrats, though in which case that would not work. :smirk:

I was very shocked to see how well ds fit in the Ecobaby one size dipes at 1 month (that was the first time I tried them on him). He has mostly used those ever since with infant prefolds for backup. They work well and I got them for a pretty fair price. I do believe they will fit to the very end b/c I had Garrett (poor boy) try one on last year and they did still fit him. ;)

I imagine by now your dd can fit in her 1 size dipes, too.

Back to our regularly scheduled thread....

Alrighty... so I am having a BOY!!!

Once I am done canning this week (which hopefully will be by tomorrow, but I do have 30lbs of apples and two boxes of peaches to go) I am going to start to see what we have and where. YIKES! A boy!

Val

Congratulations! I can begin saving things for you as my ds outgrows them. :) If you get overwhelmed with boy stuff and you don't need them, I WON'T be offended. JLMK! Otherwise I can send them as soon as you want them.

I'm all done having kids, so everything must go!

I do believe they will fit to the very end b/c I had Garrett (poor boy) try one on last year and they did still fit him. ;)

I imagine by now your dd can fit in her 1 size dipes, too.
.

:eek: wow! I cant belive they fit that big!!! LOL
The small sandies fit so bulky on her right now (boy do her clothes look stupid with those dipes LOL) that I havent even considered putting the one size dipes on her. I'm not using aris this time, but all wool soakers for sure, so the ecobaby prefolds are getting used to lay under her when we change dipes LOL.

Forgot to say, we had a cradle from IKEA for Jake, but for the first few weeks I used a Moses basket next to the bed. That Moses basket was from naturalmama/Aileen, and is still in use as a doll basket. ;) Its top row is falling apart from Jake climbing into it though!

The IKEA cradle was cheap, from what I remember - my mom picked it up for me in the IKEA in NY, we were in FL at the time with none nearby, and the main problem was finding a mattress for it, I don't remember if it was because they were out of stock or I wanted a natural one...I traded with a mama here (whose name I forget :blush: but I don't think she posts here anymore) for an unbleached cotton/wool mattess to go in the cradle. Unfortunately I don't have the cradle anymore! :( Gave it to friends, and I don't know if it survived their last move. :(