Having a baby Old Style???

JAMIEDODGER

oops misread lol...well good luck instead then!

kingshir

It wasn't my intention to be cynical, cruel or judgemental. I have 3 children of my own and stayed at home until the youngest went to snr school and then I worked p/t and I have enjoyed every moment of motherhood. It just seems to me that having cars, holidays, latest pc etc etc is often put before the emotional needs of a child. My widowed mother worked when I was small too but was always there in person for me which more than made up for the lack of material possessions.

eyeopener

kingshir wrote:

It wasn't my intention to be cynical, cruel or judgemental. I have 3 children of my own and stayed at home until the youngest went to snr school and then I worked p/t and I have enjoyed every moment of motherhood. It just seems to me that having cars, holidays, latest pc etc etc is often put before the emotional needs of a child. My widowed mother worked when I was small too but was always there in person for me which more than made up for the lack of material possessions.

Totally agree. Ours is due on the 25th August and we don't see the point of OH working just to pay a childminder. She doesn't earn a lot anyway(Tesco).
Just have to make do with what we have. If I know OH, little one will be baking before she can walk!

ancasta_2

awww imagine how sweet the little one would look in a baby sized apron and chefs hat.

rchddap1

Not everyone can stay at home. Although I have no kids at the moment I am thinking about having a baby. I earn more than my partner and pay for the essentials, such as mortgage, council tax etc... There is no chance that he could take over paying for these. I would love to give up work and stay at home, but finances simply don't allow for it.

kingshir

eyeopener wrote:

Totally agree. Ours is due on the 25th August and we don't see the point of OH working just to pay a childminder. She doesn't earn a lot anyway(Tesco).
Just have to make do with what we have. If I know OH, little one will be baking before she can walk!

Sounds like the perfect childhood :T Good luck for August!

cozzie

Just reading this thread to be nosey really as my "little one" aka chunk is now 20months and I just wanted to pipe up and say that he actually has a little apron! How sad does that make me?

And.....Flannels!!

A few weeks ago I decided to buy some flannels instead of face/bottom wipes and it has saved me loads of money already. I don't use them on his bottom as I am a bit scared of the thought of them sitting in a laundry basket ponging away for days, but, if you were going to use reuseable nappies then you could just pop the flannel straight into the bucket with the nappies and wash at the same time.

In the past 3wks I have used just over 1pk of wipes whereas before I was using well over a pack a week. (about 12-15 at every meal time, to clean hands, face, table and chair, etc, etc.) I guesstimate that to be a saving of at least 80p per week for an initial outlay of £1 for 6 flannels.

squeaky

80p a week for 50 weeks = £40

Quite a saving over a year

misty

If family and friends offer to buy clothes then suggest they get 3-6months as everyone else buys newborn(which were too small for my son) or 0-3. I thought he'll go from the best dressed kid in town to the nudest! Remember to take into account the seasonal change when buying ahead. The thing I wouldn't have been without, which I borrowed from a friend, was a changing unit. I would never have bought one and thought they were an expensive waste of time. However, I had a emergency section and it was godsend to not bend down as I was in agony. It had a built in bath and drawers for change of clothes etc. if you can borrow a moses basket - don't buy one another expense that you can do without. My son was only in his a month - he didn't like and kept banging his head on the top - I did foot to feet but he shuffled up before I could even get to the bedroom door. if you can't or choose not to breatfeed or only do so for a while then shop around pricewise for baby milk the prices vary a lot - it generally cheaper to buy from the clinic. I would also say make your own food. Make it and freeze it. Don't bother frezing in ice cubes - it's not enough. I did get some of my ideas from the jars though and then made it myself. I bought a cotbed and loads of cotbed blankets and sheets - it was waste of money because I ended up buying a growbag thing as my son thrashed about so much and it way too hot to swaddle.

Also don't buy expensive patterned wallpaper with disney characters etc - paint the room and then use stickarounds - much cheaper and can be changed when they grow out of them

BWZN93

Im not pregnant, but I have a freind who is, so im making her a gift basket of loads of O/S baby stuff, as she just finished uni and doesnt really have the money (neither do I tbh), and I felt it was more appropriate kind of gift, and the amount I can produce for the cost of one thing from the shops is amazing.

If you have any handy friends, or handy skills yourself, maybe make baby stuff yourself?? So far, I made one of those baby towel things with the hood on - from a cheap towel I picked up and it looks really good (cost £1.80 im crocheting a white baby blanket (Cost £2.50 - white baby wool off ebay!!), and have a few other suprises yet to think of. Ive also been in the process of making a 'hospital' kit for her, so that when she has the baby, she can go and have a lovely bath while dad gets to know his new son/daughter. Ive got oatmeal soaps in there (thanks to Queenie) A big vanilla and cherry scented bath bomb, and a few other bits and bobs which I shall collect/make.

I will advise joining all the mum and baby clubs for discounts and stuff, and I did too, simply so I get lots of freebies to go in the pack (another free dummy, vouchers, a few nappies, etc etc).

If I think of anything else Ill post it later, but good luck to all the ladies who are pregnant - I wish you a very happy o/s birth indeed.

Jo xx