Baby Bargains thread

AliBongo73

My little boy is one next week.... by careful spending I have managed to take a full year off work and still have money in my bank account :j

We only use baby food pouches when out and about, otherwise I cook in bulk and freeze, works out much much cheaper. Much cheaper to buy organic salt free rice etc cakes than the special baby ones you can buy. Lots of recipes on line or in the library.

I have breastfeed exclusively, although I did find an electric pump very useful, which a friend lent me (eg when he was in special care for a few weeks as he was born prematurely and for trips away etc so he could be bottle fed expressed milk), and wished we bought a steriliser 2nd hand for this and also sterilising spoons etc when he got older. Think if I had another who was not premmie I would buy a small carton of formula just in case - I know I was lucky with feeding, not everyone is despite their best efforts.

We bought most things nearly new from NCT sales or similar. You can search on their website for your nearest sales, if you are a member you usually get in 15-30 mins earlier than non-members. I started off buying the smallest size of clothes and am working my way up through the sizes (now on age 2-3) as you can't always find what you want. Don't buy much in the smaller sizes as you often get that given to you as presents. I would recommend going through all your purchases before buying as sometimes sellers label incorrectly so you could end up buying the wrong size.... the most common one is to see something labelled for example as age 2 which means up to age 2 (ie 12-24 months or 18-24 months) - it is very easy to think that means age 2-3 if you are not in the know. Also I try and buy as much unisex stuff as possible as then it can be reused if you have another of the opposite sex and also easier to resell afterwards. I got our bugaboo pram/buggy including a £40 Mamas and Papas cosy toes for £180 (would set you back c£750 in the shops new).

I have also used ebay for nursery equipment and bedding as well as for clothes (including maternity wear which gets very little wear so is in good nick). Also don't forget to ask friends if you can borrow their stuff. I ended up going up 4 bra sizes whilst pregnant(!) - I tried on the maternity bras in M&S (they do free fitting) and then found exactly the same things new on ebay for a fraction of the price eg less than a tenner for 2 instead of £25 for two - think it is where manufacturers have made too many of them.

I did buy the cot mattress new and also the car seat new as I think these are things which should be new. I looked on Which for recommendations and found one which was highly recommended was quite cheap. You can get a trial of Which on line for £1 (cancel after the first month), or some libraries subscribe (mine does so I could book a free computer and then use their subscription to read the reviews). I bought the car seat at Halfords and for reserving on line even though it was only 45 mins before we arrived at the store it meant we save about £15. The guy did then try and flog us a model which was double the price but we stuck to our guns.

You end up inundated with gifts of new baby stuff esp clothes and toys, so if you feel like you can ask people for larger sizes, esp unisex items, or even Paypal vouchers so you can buy off ebay that would work better in terms of stretching the money people are spending on you....we had some bits he barely wore, or if you feel it would be OK ask them to make their money go further by getting things second hand eg books from charity shops etc. Don't take the tags off things until necessary as you can sell them for more if they are BNWT if you have too much stuff (or take them back if you bought them).

We have a toy library locally where I could borrow things for free - they grow out of toys so quickly and then you end up inundated with clutter you have to store. Nearly new sales also have lots of toys - most kids end up with far too many so they are usually in great nick.

I didn't bother with the various shop clubs, Emmas diary etc as it is cheaper to buy second hand and you get inundated with marketing emails etc (think the phone calls would be the worst just as you are drifting off after a very broken night's sleep....:() Although you may get a few more pence of things, the main aim of all of those is to flog you more stuff, which you may not actually need.

We use washable nappies, I actually find they are far less likely to leak than disposables. I know there are price comparisons which suggest there is little in it, but I believe this tends to factor in tumble drying them, which of course eats electricity. It is much better to line dry esp in the summer as aside from being free, the sunlight helps to bleach out and stains. We also use a spin drier which gets rid of more water than the washing machine spin cycle.

I wouldn't bother with things like nappy holders, cot tidies, cot bumpers, and I bought more bedding than needed (although it was at least second hand).

We also put money aside each month as a holiday and Xmas fund so we didn't need to worry about being able to afford these, esp as my only income around Xmas was from child benefit as my maternity pay had run out. It doubled up as a emergency cash stash eg if something went wrong unexpectedly. I bought a bus pass which was a fab investment as the public transport here is great and it meant I could get out and about without thinking about the cost of it, worrying about parking etc etc.

Don't buy Calpol - buy the unbranded generic equivalent as it is much cheaper - it only lasts 2 months before you have to throw it out anyhow. I also found sachets of infant paracetamol in the pound shop - as they were individually wrapped it meant that they had a much longer shelf life.

Look out for free or cheap activities near you eg in your library, children's centres etc, often much cheaper than privately run activities. Also if you are a member of NCT they often do free activities, or offer taster sessions eg baby swimming.

I have rattled on for ages - hope that is of help, and good luck to all you M2B! xxx

Millie2008_2

Thanks so much, Alibongo, we have a little one arriving next month and you talk so much sense

kitipampa

Tommee Tippee Baby monitor with mat 39.99 retails around the 100 quid mark but seems to have been priced the same as the one without the mat.

I am under the impression that this is the one that got the latest which best buy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Closer-Digital-Monitor/dp/B004G5YVFA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357926789&sr=8-1

dippydooda

Really considering the above monitor, looks fab!
Just wanted to let you know that I went to pick up my freebies the other day, got my Bounty Pack no.2 which had a couple of good freebies in it- Vanish-must be for all the stained babygrows! And fairy i think. Then got my Emma's diary one from Argos, it's better than the bounty one, vanish, sudocreme, cocoa butter, nappies and wipes. So worth picking up. And if you're wary of getting inundated with calls when registering just don't give your real number.
I also picked up the reduced body pillow and tommy tippee bottles from Argos :-)

lollyb84

kitipampa wrote: »

Tommee Tippee Baby monitor with mat 39.99 retails around the 100 quid mark but seems to have been priced the same as the one without the mat.

I am under the impression that this is the one that got the latest which best buy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Closer-Digital-Monitor/dp/B004G5YVFA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357926789&sr=8-1

Thanks for this! I was seriously considering the video version of tis monitor, but at £150, I can't justify the difference in price! I ordered this one on Saturday, and it's arrived today - fab!

catswhiskers4

You asked about bargains for travel systems. Save your money and don't buy one! I barely used mine. My daughter is 3 months and due to reflux, hated lying flat. Ended up buying a from birth pushchair with adapters for putting the car seat on n

Princ_ess

Just seen this pushchair on HUKD

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/argos-babystart-ria-3-wheel-pushchair-berry-907-2565-1444243?page=4#comments



Just wanted to add that we use the Ikea Antilop hair chair which costs £16. I have to say it is one of our best buys! Sooo easy to clean, doesn't take up loads of space and the legs come off so it is easy to take on holidays and family visits It's this one;

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S79823976/

We don't live near an Ikea but we ordered online and paid extra to have it delivered (£5 I think).

MrsJ2008

Just a thought but do you really need a monitor? I don't have one. I have a 'normal sized' 3 bed house so it's no mansion and can hear if he starts crying x

dippydooda

Good point MrsJ but I have a dog and as much as i love him and trust him, I was kinda planning on closing the door wherever the baby is so if i was downstairs, especially in the kitchen there's no way i'd hear it.
Just reposting a baby powder bargain
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4391787

dippydooda

Does anyone have this? It's so cheap, could be worth a go!
http://www.tesco.com/direct/summer-infant-prenatal-heart-listening-monitor/100-9363.prd