Expecting baby

Batman2017

Hi there,

Me and my wife have found out we are expecting our first child . Its not been confirmed by the doctors yet as we cant get an appointment till next week but two tests have come back positive. I'd love to know if you could give me any money saving tips that I can do over the next 8-9 months that will really help when the baby comes.

also any other advice would be great as i've never looked after a baby before. eek!

Thanks in advance.

[Deleted User]

Congratulations.

Only buy about 5% of the stuff you think you need to buy.

GwylimT

If one of you is going to take parental leave, work out how much that person would 'earn' per month and start living on that along with the other persons wages. This means you can save the rest, buy some necessary bits and become accustomed to lower earnings before baby arrives.

We don't buy anything until the 20 week scan. However keep your eyes peeled for second hand items. The only things you can't use second hand are mattresses and car seats.

Nappies, with a cheaper brand like aldis own you are looking at around £1000 just on nappies, more when you add nappy bags until around 2.5 when day time nappies are finally a thing of the past. We use washables, our birth to 3 kit was £350, it has so far served two children and it isn't polluting our world like disposables. You can get biodegradable disposables, but they're a little bit more expensive.

Clothes, we didn't buy any until they grew out of 0-3 months as we were given so much.

Pram, we didn't bother as we use slings, but make sure baby lays flat in it (car seats are not designed to be used for more than an hour at a time), if you are going to be using public transport make sure it can be easily folded by one person.

Car seats, after the initial stage of a lay flat car seat isofix is easier. You can get some lay flats that do have isofix, these are suitable to use in travel systems if they remain in the lay flat position.

If your wife is unable to breast feed the microwave sterilisers are the easiest and quickest, glass bottles last longer too.

We use a basket/the floor, so ours go straight into a bed, don't bother with a toddler bed, complete waste of money. Cots are easily found second hand, make sure its one thats easy to reach into, especially for someone with a sore vagina or c-section scar.

Changing table again waste of money, we just used a changing mat where ever we were.

Ours were normally bathed with us as its often your only chance for a bath! Sometimes we used a washing up bowl if we weren't also gettinf in the tub, we already had it so didn't see the point in a baby bath.

More flannels/clothes that you can throw a stick at!

Don't bulk buy baby toiletries, johnsons etc isn't great for sensitive skin, so get the minimum until you know what suits baby.

Remember when he/she is here it is okay to mourn your old life.

KRB2725

Don't buy lots of outfits for the early weeks/months, the baby will be in sleep suits most of the time. If there are muslins on offer anywhere buy loads, you will need more than you think!

JulieElizabeth

People give away LOADS of great stuff on local free facebook groups

motorguy

This should cover any immediate questions you have

Batman2017

Thanks for the replies so far. Motorguy your link doesnt appear to be working.

makingplans4nigel

We got quite a few freebies from some of the offers mentioned in this thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5392479

Also, sell any personal belongings relating to a hobby. You'll no longer need them. When the baby is around 6 months you might want to take up 'golf'...

Peccary

Congratulations

There's a sticky at the top of this page about free baby stuff. My local NCT has several Nearly New sales a year, worth looking in to. See if your town has a For Sale or Swap page on FB, ours always has baby stuff on it.

I have my 20 week scan this week and we haven't bought anything big yet but have been given a few bits. We are going to a Mothercare expectant parents evening soon as i have heard they will give you a discount voucher, handy if you know there is something you want.

The range and variety of pushchairs is huge, definitely worth some research!

Will your GP confirm the pregnancy?, i didn't think this was standard anymore as home tests are so accurate. Mine just referred me to a midwife at 8 weeks

sazdes

Congrats, I agree check with your GP's receptionists, in the GP practice I worked patients self refer to midwives with no GP input.

We (as GPs) literally just hand over the phone no, check your aware not to smoke or drink/taking the right vitamins and say come see us if you need anything. GPs won't reconfirm a home positive as they're of equal equivalence of accuracy, they'll take your word for it

barbiedoll

You really don't need a GP appointment to "confirm" the pregnancy, he/she won't do another test if you already have two positive ones.

The GP will need to refer your wife to the midwife services at your local hospital (or whichever hospital you want), or your wife may be able to "self-refer", either online, or by filling in a form at the GP surgery or at an antenatal clinic (which may be held at a different GP surgery)

Good luck and congratulations!