baby shower

8 Things You Definitely Don't Need for a Baby

Andrea Cannon — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:31:08 +0000

It's easy to get carried away with cute baby buys when you're strolling through Babies 'R' Us. However, tons of tiny purchases can add up quickly and result in an empty bank account, as well as a lot of items wasting space in the nursery.

When the average cost of raising a child is approximately $12,980 per year, it's important to save money whenever possible. Fortunately, you can start by avoiding unnecessary baby gear. (See also: 5 Money Rules That'll Save You Big in Baby's First Year)

1. Extra bedding

The safest way for a baby to sleep is with a tight fitting crib sheet. Anything else could pose a suffocation hazard. One blanket is enough for car rides, stroller time, and cuddling, so there's no need to spend much on multiple bedding sets, bumpers, or other bedding upgrades.

Crib bedding and diaper gear are commonly stained due to leaky diapers and spit up, so stick with functional and easy to clean material. Don't worry about pillows or matching duvets. A newborn can't use those anyway.

2. Fancy Diaper Bag

Your diaper bag is going to see a lot of wear and tear. Imagine spilled milk and dirty burp cloths staining the inside, and dust and dirt, stickers and crayon marks marring the outside. Plus, you wouldn't want it to be a target for theft. Get something plain that is easy to carry and use.

3. Matching outfits

When you're digging through the laundry basket (because there will barely be enough time to do the laundry, let alone fold and sort), you won't care much about the matching pants as much as just getting your baby dressed. Even with messes, it's hard to ever run out of onesies since they usually come in packs of five to ten (except the cute matching outfits, which come in packs of one). Don't use your valuable energy on things like matching outfits for your newborn.

4. Shoes

Newborns don't need shoes. And it's not worth trying to wrestle them on a wriggling baby. Stick with socks or footies.

5. Wipe warmer

It's true, babies don't like being changed. They will cry and fuss, regardless of the temperature of their wipes. Also, the inconvenience of having to always go to the spot where your wipe warmer is defeats the purpose of being able to quickly get a baby changed. It's okay — a little discomfort won't be the end of the world.

6. Mobiles

It's nice to imagine that the mobile is stimulating the baby's brain cells and making her super smart. But a mobile isn't more stimulating than a ceiling fan or the shadows and light coming from a window nearby.

7. Baby food processor

If you're going to make your own baby food, a regular food processor or blender might seem bulky but will work just fine. Do you really want to add an extra kitchen gadget that will only get used for six months?

8. Bottle sanitizer

Bottles don't need to be sanitized after every use. Sanitize them the first time in boiling water. After that, warm soap and water will clean them fine. (See also: What a New Baby Really Needs)

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

16 Best Baby Gifts on a Budget

Jennifer Holder — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:24:33 +0000

About five years ago my friends, one by one, started getting married. For me that meant figuring out what being a "grown-up" really means — buying gifts for other people.

Once I finally got that down, my friends started having babies, and my gift-giving education started all over again. Honestly, sometimes I feel like Carrie on that one "Sex and the City" episode where she registers for shoes.

Well, needless to say, I have no children, but I’m finally getting the hang of this buying gifts thing. And even better, pretty much all of my Facebook friends have children, so they made me even better. Recently I did a poll of my friends about the best baby gifts they received and added a little pricing research. The result is this collection of budget friendly gifts you can buy for a friend or loved one’s newest little bundle of joy. (See also: What a New Baby Really Needs)

$0-$10 Gifts

Why, you wonder, does this collection start at zero dollars? Because of...

1. DIY Coupons: Cost of Paper

This might sound a bit hokey, but it’s a great idea from one of my friends.

New parents are tired and might be desperate for a night off or a good meal. Make them a coupon book and offer to prepare dinner, babysit later, or if photography is your hobby — offer a photo sesh. You could also find out the thing New Mom missed most during pregnancy and offer to buy in bulk as a present after the birth. In the case of one of my best friends, it was ceviche. I didn’t buy in bulk, but I did go get some, and she was a happy camper.

2. Boppy Pillow Slipcover: $9.98

If you don’t know what the Boppy is, scroll down. If you do know and you know your friend already has one, buy them a few extra slipcovers. After all, if you know what it’s for, then you know how terribly dirty it’s going to get (spit up, anyone?).

3. Pacifiers: $5.99-9.99

Binkies. Pacis. Nuks. Whatever you want to call them, a baby can never have too many pacifiers. And they’re the perfect thing to round out a gift.

4. Baby Gowns, 0-6 Months: $7.99-$10.99

No buttons, zippers, or fuss — baby gowns are perfect for wrapping babies up tight without having to mess with fasteners. Give the gift of a Circo 2-pack or Gerber 2-pack, and give the new parents a little diaper-changing ease.

5. Baby Medicine: $1.99-$9.99

Another great gift for new parents is a basket of medicine — little things moms and dads might need along the way including nasal spray, baby orajel, Grow with Me medicine dispensing set, gas drops, infant ibuprofen and anything else you can think of.

6. Baby Safety Nail Cutter: $3.99

Baby nails are surprisingly sharp, but unfortunately they’re also unsurprisingly soft. Cutting them is a necessary evil, however, because otherwise the baby could cut up their legs. The Simba brand nail cutters have great Amazon reviews and seem to solve the problem of cutting more than just a baby’s nails.

7. Ouftits, 6-9 Months: $6-$13

When a baby is on the way, parents are inundated with tiny clothes, but once the baby has arrived, he or she is mostly dressed in baby gowns or swaddled, so when it comes time for the baby to wear their cute outfits, they've outgrown them. Outfits in the range of 6 to 9 months seem to be one of the more important gifts you can give. Pick out some cute ones!

$10-$20 Gifts

There are more clothes to be had in this price range as well as some affordable maintenance gear.

8. Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack: $14.99

I’ve seen this grass countertop drying rack at many, many baby showers, and all parents attest to its greatness. The straight up-and-down design allows for even drying, and the color and style allows for that cuteness factor.

9. Diaper Genie Essentials Pail: $19.99

If your friend is going to be breast feeding or their outside garbage is far away, get them a Diaper Genie. It’s perfect to keep the stink out, and most parents can’t live without it. Bottle-fed babies go number two less, though, so it might not be a necessity for them.

10. Socks, All Sizes: $18.99

Socks of all shapes and sizes are a surprising necessity. Probably not surprising to parents, but surprising to me. Pick up a pack of socks, and the parents will be eternally grateful.

11. Backseat Mirror: $19.99

As you know, babies have to face the other way in the backseat. Buy a handy backseat mirror so your friends won’t ever miss a moment (well, besides the moments when they have to pay attention to the road).

12. Boogie Wipes: $10.99

None of my friends actually recommended these boogie wipes, I just really liked the name. And upon further investigation found out that they’re actually more than just a cute name. They’ve gotten great reviews, but apparently going unscented is the best way to go.

13. Nosefrida the Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator: $14.54

Apparently Sweden does baby snot removal much better than anyone else. In fact, I wish this had existed when I was little — the only thing I remember from my childhood was the evasive boogie removal. But this seems to do the trick, painlessly and easily.

$20-$30 Gifts

We're a ways from stroller territory, but we're definitely moving into long-term baby comfort and care with the gifts available in this price range.

14. Boppy Nursing Pillow: $29.98

Every mother (and father) attests to the Boppy. And as neither a mother nor father, I can attest to the effectiveness of the Boppy as well. Holding babies has never been easier!

15. Diapers: $25 and Up

No, seriously. Unless you’ve had a baby or otherwise have a grasp of having a baby, this could surprise you — diapers are expensive! And although they’re a seemingly boring or obvious present, they’re extremely important. If you feel the present is lacking originality, try making a diaper "cake" (but don’t frost it... the baby will do that).

16. Swaddle Blankets: $29.99

Swaddle blankets are rather expensive, probably because they work so well. The ones suggested to me cost over the limits I set for this article, so I did a quick search for one in the price range. Luckily, aden + anais make an affordable and reliable option.

What's the best baby gift you've ever given (or received)?

This article is from Jennifer Holder of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Throw the Most Fabulous (and Frugal) Baby Shower of all Time

Janey Osterlind — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:24:08 +0000

One of my very best friends in the whole world is having her first baby this August and I’m excited to help her celebrate by throwing the best baby shower of all time. While I’d like to say the sky’s the limit as far as budget goes, unfortunately, my funds are actually quite limited. So how do I plan to throw the best baby shower in the history of the world, without spending myself into the poorhouse? So glad you asked! (See also: Build a Better Baby Shower)

The Invitations

Homemade invitations are generally the least expensive way to go when it comes to making invitations for your baby shower. I plan on buying some colorful cardstock and a border punch used for scrapbooking. Other embellishments include die-cut paper (wonderful for dressing up the cardstock), die-cut ribbon, and rub-on borders. For ease of printing, plan on making two or four invitations per 8.5”x11” piece of cardstock. Lay out your wording in Microsoft Word or with a free online template (search for “free baby shower invitation templates”), print, cut, and decorate.

Other inexpensive (or free!) invites include e-mail invitations like those found on Evite.com, or you can buy pre-printed invitations relatively cheaply from a site like Tiny Prints, a personal favorite of mine. Invitations on Tiny Prints start for as low as $0.59 per card.

The Venue

Baby showers are often held in the hostess’ own home, which is, of course, free. In my case, my little abode won’t accommodate the number of guests who will be attending, so I’m relying on the generosity of my friend’s (and mommy-to-be) mother to open her home. If you’re not so lucky or if you prefer to think outside the home for a baby shower venue, consider having the shower in an outdoor location like a park — just remember to keep the comfort of the guest of honor in mind before planning an outdoor shower in August! Other frugal venue choices include churches or Jewish Community Centers, where rental fees are generally less than banquet space at a hotel or restaurant.

The Food

When it comes to food, simplicity is key. Not only will it save your sanity when planning a baby shower for 50 (as I am); it will also save your wallet. I plan on enlisting several close friends to each bring one hors d'oeuvre — that way, I’m not burnt out from preparing numerous dishes, and my friends get to exhibit their fabulous culinary skills. As a matter of logistics, I’d recommend only cold or room-temperature dishes, since coordinating oven cooking times and outlets for crock pots can get onerous. If you need some inspiration for easy-to-make finger foods, try checking out this article on frugal office party dishes.

For the pièce de résistance, I intend to honor the mommy-to-be with some fabulous, frugal desserts — cake pops, to be exact. Try making your own or, if cake pops aren’t your thing, find some bright ideas for baby shower-themed cupcakes at MarthaStewart.com.

The Gifts

One of my all time favorite baby shower gifts I’ve seen was a nested toy box set. The gift giver had purchased three unfinished wooden boxes of different sizes and painted them with whimsical animals and finished them with snippets of nursery rhymes winding around the boxes’ sides. If you’re creative, try something similar with a memento box or photo box. If you want a meaningful present without the hassle, take a look at some of the handmade gifts on Etsy.com for one-of-a-kind items.

The Entertainment

When I did some preliminary research about baby shower games, I found that suggestions are nearly endless. People are apparently suckers for a good baby-themed game. The nice thing about this is that the cost of putting together any one of these games costs nary a penny. The downside, though, is that I have to find something that my mommy-to-be friend doesn’t find tacky (and frankly, I’m with her — no poopy diaper game for our crowd, thank you). With a comprehensive list of games like the one found at BabyCenter.com, I’m sure I’ll find something that satisfies both my budget and my friend.

The Favors

As with most things, favors are generally less expensive if they’re something that can be made rather than purchased. In my case, I’ll be making cake pop “bouquets” for each guest to take home: they’re tasty, they’re easy, and they’re a whole lot less expensive than a personalized candle. You can make pretty much any edible treat a favor by packaging it appealingly — try cookies in cellophane and ribbon matching the shower theme, or muffin mix in tins with computer-generated labels.

So there’s my quick guide to throwing the most frugal, fabulous baby shower in the history of the world! Will I do it for my own BFF? I don’t know, but I plan to try! Any tips or thoughts for me? Share your insights in the comments!

This article is from Janey Osterlind of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: