Newborn babies are expensive. From purchasing new diapers to buying specific formulas and foods for them, the costs can easily add up even if you’re already using coupons and being frugal about your purchases. Thankfully, there are hundreds of ways to get creative with your finances so that you can save even more money on your newborn baby and in this article, we’re going to run down a couple of them.
Hospital charges can catch you by surprise
Surprisingly, some hospitals will charge quite a lot for things such as personal toiletries and even private room usage. Make sure you’re aware of the additional costs that a hospital charges so that you can avoid paying ludicrous costs for something that you never knew about.
Understand your baby’s conditions and try not to freak out
It’s understandable that if you see if your baby suddenly shed a bunch of hair that you might think something is wrong with them. However, baby hair loss is actually very normal but that doesn’t stop parents from freaking out and losing money over it. Perhaps they seek emergency help with a doctor or maybe they’ll purchase different types of shampoo which can be expensive and ultimately pointless. Understand your baby’s conditions and realize that a lot of things that can see strange or worrying are actually pretty normal for a newborn.
Buy in bulk when possible
Buying in bulk is one of the few reasons to make an expensive investment in your newborn because it can save you a lot of money in the long run. This is commonly done for things such as baby formula or food and can save a surprising amount of money.
Don’t decorate a separate nursery room
If your newborn is your only child then simply use their future bedroom as their nursery. If they’re a sibling to an older child then use a corner of your room as a nursery until they’re ready to migrate into the shared room of your children. This will prevent you from spending too much time and money on a separate nursery room.
Don’t be afraid of second-hand goods
Some baby stuff can be incredibly expensive. For example, baby strollers can easily exceed hundreds of dollars and it’s an investment that will only be used for a couple of years at best. If possible, look for hand-me-downs from friends and family members or consider purchasing a high-quality second-hand stroller instead. This will help you save a lot of money in the long run.
Hand-me-downs are fine to accept
Whether it’s toys or basic clothing for your children, don’t be afraid to accept hand-me-downs especially if it’s offered by a close friend or family member. Buying baby clothes can get expensive especially since your newborn will grow out of them very quickly!
Remember your newborn will quickly grow out of things
Whether it’s very basic toys or newborn clothes like shoes, your child will grow out of it sooner than you think. This is why it’s important to minimize purchases of toys and specific types of clothes.
If you do invest in toys such as plushies, get something high-quality
Surprisingly, the one item that we can suggest that you invest more money into is a plushy or a soft toy. This is because it can grow with your child and it can become one of the most memorable toys that will stay with them for perhaps the rest of their childhood or even their entire life.
Try and avoid “baby” versions of foods
You might find that there are “baby” versions of your favorite snacks, but these are usually just very overpriced products in tiny packages that aren’t worth your time or money. If you want to give your newborn some snacks, then you can make your own instead.
Don’t buy all the useless appliances you see advertised
There are going to be plenty of newborn-related appliances that are advertised to you and they’ll look great, but in reality, they’re pretty useless. For instance, a bottle warmer sounds like a very convenient device to have, but the reality is that you’re probably not going to use it enough on a regular basis for it to be useful. Remember that your newborn will grow out of using a bottle faster than you think, so having dedicated appliances for just those few years is a little wasteful. If it’s a hand-me-down or a cheap second-hand purchase then it’s fine, just don’t invest too much money into it.
