"However am I going to afford all this?" (Preparing for Birth On a Budget)

Member Name: Autarkis

Product:	Preparing for Birth On a Budget
Date:	28/10/08 (211 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You will have a newborn baby what more do you need?

Disadvantages: It might take a bit longer to find what you need.

Preparing for your new arrival is a very exciting time, but unfortunately it can also seem like a very expensive time also.
However it doesn't need to be if you shop wisely and budget yourself.

There is so much to do, and it's best to do this over a few months so you can take your time and relax about it, but don't leave too much until the last minute as you never know when baby will arrive as they never seem to like to be on time!
Don't leave too much to do near to the end of your pregnancy as you will need to rest as much as you can and have time to relax, you will need to save all of your energy for the big day. So remember not to over do it!

Relaxing and Sleeping

Try and find ways to relax in the evening. Take a warm bath.
It's not always that easy to sleep in later stages of pregnancy it is difficult to get comfortable at times. You will need extra pillows for support. I always found it easier to sleep with a pillow in between my legs and a pillow under my bump to give a bit of support. Take naps whenever you can. It's very difficult to get a full nights sleep during the end of pregnancy so nap whenever you get the chance, you will need all your energy for the birth.

Caring For Your Body

Use a lot of lotion on your skin of your stomach throughout your pregnancy; later in pregnancy it becomes very tight, and irritated and itchy. This also helps prevent stretch marks. Cocoa butter is recommended, you can use any moisturising lotion, just keep the skin well moisturised to stop it from becoming tight.

Your New Baby's Nursery

The most enjoyable part of preparing for your little one is planning and decorating the nursery. It is a good idea to make a list of what you want in the nursery, so you don't over buy, and budget for what you are going to buy.
As with anything it's good to shop around and even better to shop around online as this will save time and energy trawling round the shops. Checking out what you need firstly online will also give you a head start on getting the products you want for less.

You don't need to spend a fortune. Babies don't need all the products that are out on the market. Always think before you make a purchase...Is this an essential item?
Having a baby is expensive, they grow so fast and a lot of items will be of no use to you, so plan carefully and spend wisely. Babies don't need all the latest fashions, and all matching accessories, they just need to be safe and well loved!

You won't need many newborn clothes, they grow out of these very quickly, and a lot of people will gift you newborn outfits. Not all newborns are born tiny either.

All a baby needs for the first few months of their life is Milk, Nappies, and Clean Clothes! And of course lots of cuddles and love.

Don't buy things - Just in case. The shops won't run of a certain product, and your baby won't suffer if you haven't bought everything straight away.
It is a good idea however to have a number of quick and easy meals in the house for when you arrive back from the hospital as both you and your partner will be walking around like the living dead for the first couple of days while your bodies adjust to a lack of sleep.

Somewhere for baby to sleep

There is so much choice; you need to think about your budget and space and what would be best suited for you.

Moses Basket - These are not necessary but a lot of new parents like these as they look 'cute' These usually retail around £25 - £40 on average and they are recommended for a baby up to 6 months old, however I find that a baby will grow out of this a lot sooner than this, it depends on the baby and how soon they become mobile/ are able to wriggle about and how fast they outgrow the Moses Basket. A Moses Basket can be placed inside a cot or put on a stand. I never liked the idea of a stand as I was never sure how stable they are, probably not a good idea to use a stand if you have pets or toddlers as they may accidentally knock the crib stand. I used a Moses Basket for my daughter and this was not an essential item.

Crib - These usually retail from £60 - These come in a choice of wood colours or white and again this is not an essential item, I used a crib for my son (second child)
These are recommended for up to 6 months, again this depends on the child, they can outgrow it before this age, and once they become mobile then this is no longer a safe place for baby to sleep. I used my crib until my son was 5 months old, not much use really for £60. However luckily other family members were expecting around the time I had finished using my crib, so it got passed on. (You should always replace the mattress if using a second hand one.)

Cot - Prices vary on this anything from £29 to over £200 some are sold with the mattress and some sold separately. I would say it is probably cheaper to buy a cot with a mattress that way you know it is the correct fit for the cot, which is highly important. A cot will last a baby until they are about 2 years, again this is dependent on the child, as all children are different, some may be happy in a cot until they are two, where as some may not like to sleep in a cot until this age.

Cot bed - I chose a cot bed with both of my children, as you won't need to spend additional money at a later stage on a junior bed as these will last for longer if they are well built. The prices on these vary and are the most expensive out of the choices, but if you have the money then I would recommend a cot bed, as once a baby is ready to sleep in a bed this can be converted in to a bed, so you are getting a piece of equipment that will last.

I would recommend that you buy a cot from new, unless you are getting one from a friend or family member, (someone that is trusted) this way you know the age of the cot and if it is safe for use, you can get these fairly cheap if you shop around, Ikea have a selection at very low prices.
You need to know that the cot is safe and is non toxic and lead free and the mattress is flame retardant, and it conforms to safety standards. A new mattress is needed for any second hand cot as these can harbor bacteria in them overtime which can be lethal to your child. The mattress also needs to be the correct fit with no gaps if you are not sure what size you need take your cot measurements into any good baby store e.g. Mothercare and ask. Cot bars need to have a gap of 45-65 mm apart, your little one could get injured if the cot is not safe.

Items that are useful

Nappies - You will only need a couple of packs of newborn nappies.
Re usable nappies cost more to begin with but will save you money, but think if you want to use re usable nappies.
Cotton wool balls - To clean your baby.
Baby wipes - Not essential, you can use flannels. I find baby wipes are very drying for your skin.
Bedding - you will need a few fitted sheets, in the first few months these never tend to stay clean for long periods of time.
Receiving blankets and cellular blankets you don't need a duvet.
A cot bumper, I only had one, I really don't think you would need more than two of these, they don't really get dirty, and they can easily be washed and dried, plus once a baby is mobile you shouldn't use these for safety reasons.
Room thermometer - A babies room needs to be at a certain temperature.
Car Seat - You will need a car seat to take baby home in. Most importantly never buy second hand! You need to know it's safe, and passed all the safety tests, and you don't want one that could be faulty or damaged. Make sure it conforms to safety standards.
Sterilizer - There are several different varieties, steam or cold water sterilization.
I used a steam sterilizer with both of my children, as I find it better to not use chemicals to clean baby's bottles.
Bottles - Make sure these are compatible with your sterilizers not all bottles fit in some sterilizers.
Bottle Brush - To clean baby's bottles.
Breast Milk or Formula Milk - If you don't plan to breast feed, then you will need formula milk, it's a good idea to have a couple of cartons of ready made formula in case you don't get on with breast feeding. Despite the fact that I did not breast feed either of my own children I would highly recommend it to all as formula milk is no true substitute for breast milk.
Changing mat - You can cut an old sheet up to use as a cover, you don't need to buy the fancy covers, or muslin squares.
A Changing Bag - (If you sign up to the boots parenting club, you will get one free with a purchase of newborn nappies)
Large Soft Towels - baby towels are not necessary, ordinary good quality towels are just as good.
Muslin Squares - These are a much used item, they are expensive however you can always cut up an old sheet or towel as they are only used for messy jobs, like feeding and winding baby, as long as they are clean and non abrasive that's all that counts.
Nappy Sacks - The basic ones do the job; you don't need to use these for every nappy change, just the dirty ones.
Clothes - You will be tempted to buy a lot of new clothes, but you only really need a few outfits, baby grows and vests. It is better to wait and see what you get gifted, and then you can see what else you need.
I always shop around in the sales and buy clothes the next size up when I see them in sale, I try not to buy clothing that's full price as they out grow clothes so quickly!
Push chair - There are so many to choose from, and this is something you want to put a lot of thought into, it is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment you will need, however if you shop around a lot of pushchairs will come as part of a travel system with other items like a car seat.
Don't chose one that looks stylish, think about how practical it is, if you drive, you want something that is easy to fold down and fits onto your boot. If you walk everywhere then you want something that is durable and will last. If you use public transport a lot you will want something that is small and light weight.
In the winter months you will need a foot muff and rain cover, and in the summer you will need a sun parasol. Some pushchairs come with all the accessories.
Baby carrier or sling - I personally prefer to use a baby carrier for the first few months, I find it a lot easier to get about.
Baby Bouncy Chair - You wont need to buy one before the birth, a budget one is just as good as the more expensive ones, baby's don't always like to be laid flat and like to see what's going on around them, so these are great.


Items that you don't need.

After having the first of my two children, I have learnt that a lot of products that are aimed towards new parents are not needed. A lot of these modern gadgets are just that, a lot of them are pointless.


Top and tail bowl - I have never used one! They take up a lot of space and end up collecting dust!
Bottle warmer - I have never used one of these, I can't see the point, I have always made feeds up freshly when needed, and you can warm baby's milk in a jug of hot water. (I wouldn't recommend heating in the microwave as this method does not heat the milk evenly and hot spots can occur)
Nappy cream - This really shouldn't be used unless your baby has a serious rash, on the onset of a rash you should allow plenty of nappy free time, and warm baths to cleanse the area. I bought a pot when my second child was born and it's still sitting in the cupboard unopened a year later.
Shampoo - I have never used baby shampoo, baby's hair doesn't actually get dirty, and only needs to be washed once a week, the baby bath soap will clean the hair just as well.
Baby powder - I really don't know why they sell this, you don't want baby to be ingesting baby powder.
Bath support/ bath seat/ bath sling - All these gadgets that have been designed to make bathing your baby easier actually make it more of a hassle! I have never used any of these as they are a waste of time, I was bought one for my son and it never got taken out of the drawer.
Baby oils, creams, and lotions - Baby's skin is perfect it doesn't need to have all these products, most of which are not good for babies skin and only clog the pores.
If your baby has dry skin you can use Olive Oil - yes the Olive Oil you use to cook your food with! This works far better than any creams. It's natural and does no harm to your baby's precious skin and you only need to use a TINY amount on the areas of skin that are dry so a bottle will last for ages. Olive Oil is also very good for use on cradle cap just apply some to the area and after a couple hours you can easily rinse away the cradle cap away. You can then use a soft baby brush to remove any excess.
Nappy bins - These are expensive and then you need to keep buying cartridges. I have heard that these are not as good as they are made out to be. A regular bin with a lid does just the same job.
Baby bath - I have never liked these, they take up far too much space, and they are expensive, and most of the time you have more water on the floor when you are finished! A washing up bowl for a newborn is a perfect size! Much easier to bath a newborn in, you will want a new one that is used only for this. You can also use any plastic box, or tub, as long as it's clean and has a soft surface on the bottom.
Once your newborn has out grown the bowl, you can put them in the regular bath, you can take them in with you if you feel comfortable with this.
Baby boots or shoes- They may look cute, but you really don't need to buy any sort of footwear other than socks for baby until they are walking. Baby boots only get lost!

You don't need to buy toys, you will probably be gifted these when your little one arrives. They won't be able to play with these for the first 3 months, you will be better to buy a few books that you can read to your baby.

You don't need to have everything new, things like baby clothes only get worn a few times, they never get worn out, if you have babies in the family then you may get their clothes passed on to you or you can pass on your old clothes to them.
Wash all of your newborns clothes, new doesn't always mean its clean, you will want babies clothes to be fresh and soft, baby wash liquid (Ecover make a great natural washing liquid) is better always give the wash an extra rinse, baby doesn't like the strong smell even if you do. Babies are more sensitive and so is there skin.

I hope this guide helps in someway towards your joyful day, and remember you can never fully prepare yourself for child birth so don't worry.

Summary: Congratulations and Good luck!