Raise a baby on £100 p/w

maman

I don't want to be controversial but please don't put pressure on your partner to breastfeed so that she feels guilty for wasting money. She may not want to breastfeed or she may find that circumstances mean she's not able too. Either way if she feels your expectations are high that she will breastfeed she'll feel really dreadful and she doesn't need that.

I think the best advice is to buy as little as possible and just replace as baby grows. There's every chance you'll be given loads of gifts so won't need much more than the basics.

I understand what people have been saying about cloth nappies. They are brilliant (I used them myself) BUT washing/drying them can be a pain with the weather we get in this country. A mix of both is helpful.

ALIBOBSY

I agree with not buying much in the way of clothes before the baby is close to being due especially baby grows and vests as you get loads as gifts. We found both sets of grandparents wanted to buy a "big" gift so one set paid for the cot, one for a pram (well it was a travel system so did the car seat as well).
Regarding baby clothes all my babies were at term and over so they only stayed in newborn size for 1-2 weeks, so don't buy too much of that size. When baby 3 was due OH happened to call in to one of the charity shops and got a big pile of baby grows and vests for under 50p each (some were cheaper as second hand and washed out, some were brand new).

I would definately try freegle, we got stuff off there and recently have started giving stuff away (we have 4 and thats the lot now so no need for baby stuff any more ). I am about to put a moses basket base on which is like new-the basket went as it was very tattie and DD1 decided to lie down in it and burst part of the side.

We found baby stuff is all very tightly governed by regulations so the most expensive car seat is no safer than the cheapest, but they do recommend you buy new unless you know the person it belonged to as if it had been through a previous accident it might be damaged.

Re the feeding its something only you partner can decide on, but I wouldn't make any choices until the baby is here. I loved breastfeedig and fed all 4 from birth to age 14 months, then 2 1/2, 3 and currently feeding the 2 yr old still at bed time. The first 2-3 weeks are hard though and you get quite sore, which is why people give up, but if you can get through those early days it becomes so much easier. I found a deep breath in when they first latched on and trying different positions till you get the most comfortable for you and baby. But as I said after the first few days/weeks the pain goes and it gets easier.

If your partner wants to try breastfeeding I would recommend Lansinoh cream which is amazing and the very best. It seems expensive (about £10 a tube I think), but lasts ages and a small amount works wonders. Its also brill for burns/dry or sore skin if you have any left over so can go in the first aid kit. Also avoid those disposable nipple pads, they stick to the nipple and make you more sore and cost a fortune. I buy a pack or two of big cloth mens hankies. Folded up these make great pads and are much softer on the nipple-dead easy to wash out. I would imagine you could use a piece of soft material cut into bits in the same way, but my Dad is a hanky man so gets lots every crimbo as gifts so had several new unopened packs to spare.

You don't need any jars of baby food, but I did find the baby cereal quite good and as its low in salt is better than alot of adult ones for the first few months of weaning.

The biggest thing to remember is that all these big companies, heinz, pampers, mothercare etc etc are there to extract as much cash from you as possible. They do not in any way care about you or your kids other than not wanting to be sued over any products. They can and do try to guilt people into buying a million things you don't really need.

Babies need love, warmth and food

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

BTW you only leak milk for the early weeks, then your breasts adjust and kind of produce just enough for them to eat.

I loved it and would always recommend it, its easier at night and obviously so much money saved. BUT as other poster said, not every baby/mother can manage it and obviously if you have to go back to work earlier it can be harder.

If you end up bottle feeding don't they still do the subsidised powder at clinics?

Enjoy bubs when they get here, its the toughest most challenging job, but also the most wonderful and rewarding.

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

BTW back to OP we cover all the food/drink/cleaning stuff/deoderants/soaps etc for 6 of us on around £100 a week, often less.

Recommend Aldi's non bio washing powder and the nappies and wipes.

Ali x

BAGGY

I bought a fleece blanket (I had twins and we must've save nearly £100 on wipes)and cut it up into baby flannels. Square for bums and triangle for faces. Soak/ wet with in chamomile tea for bum wipes.
They still do the rounds in the car, in a zip lock, for days out. Wiping ice cream hands etc.

mum2kathryn

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

If your partner wants to try breastfeeding I would recommend Lansinoh cream which is amazing and the very best. It seems expensive (about £10 a tube I think), but lasts ages and a small amount works wonders. Its also brill for burns/dry or sore skin if you have any left over so can go in the first aid kit.
Ali x

Don't buy it, the midwives usually carry free sample sachets, which are enough for several applications, then after that you can get it on prescription if you need it.

Peanut2013

We're raising a baby and 2 adults for about £30 a week after bills so £125 is easy!!

jonnysniper86

Some great tips here my wife has been making notes on all your advice . It's made me feel. Lot more confident . It's our first child so no real idea what to expect (though that's the point I suppose )

^_^

hereigoagain22

I'm a single Mum to a 2.5year old and an 8month old.

I have £68 per week after bills, debt repayments and my childcare bill. This has to cover food , nappies for 2, formula milk for 1, travel etc. We manage okay, sometimes it's a struggle but we get by and we all have everything we need. I imagine you'll be just fine!

Good luck! Being a parent is hard work but the best fun you will ever have I promise!!

chirpychick

Seriously thats loads!
Our baby is 3 months old, we use disposables (couldnt get on we reusables) and he is formula fed - before he was on prescription formula he "cost us" £150 per month and that includes putting some in his ISA every month albeit only £5 (as other family put in too and we are in an IVA) This also includes things like dummies, replacement bottles/teats wipes, nappies, clothes and we have just brought him a second hand Jumperoo too.
He now costs us £110 per month but the extra goes in his ISA and I allow roughly £10 per month for going to baby group (£2 a week) and soft play which is free but requires petrol, perhaps the odd tea in a cafe when i meet up with friends.
Clothes we get given loads and use ebay (job lots!) but carboots are the best. Toys we get from grabbit board or carboots/ebay or freegle/freecycle.
Babies do not need much but our son has tons on this budget.
Another things is that he was so big at birth and they grow so quickly that clothes get worn once or twice and then dont fit so what he outgrows we resell and keep the money in paypal to buy the next thing.
You also find you will go without to provide for your baby and you find a way because you HAVE to.
your budget is very generous!