having a baby Old Style

pebbles88

hello!!

me and DH are wanting to start trying for a baby soonish...:D prob by end of the year

but we need to do it as reasonably as possible money wise.:p

we would greatly appreciate any ideas anyone has and if i have popped this in wrong place or it already exists pls feel free to move/redirect me!:D

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pigpen

FREECYCLE!!!

Ask and it shall come!!!

I've seen tonnes of baby stuff on there.. prams, cots, bedding (that's where mine went) everything..

Breastfeed if you can... cheapy cheapy cheap!

Cloth nappies.. they'll last through all your children.. even if you have 10!! Believe me.. I freecycled some which had done 2 of my sisters, my 8 and then went on to do more!!

Charity shops usually have some beautiful bargains in.

And don't overestimate how many things a baby needs.. just a few vests and sleepsuits and cardies are enough for the first few weeks.. they really don't look comfy in 'clothes'.. and the sleepsuit.

my last one at birth had 6 sleepsuits, 8 bodysuits and 8 cardies.. and about 400 bibs.. They saw her through the first few months and were replaced like for like as she grew.

With your first people always buy you items of clothing as presents.. so get a list together!

Ebay often has people selling bundles of stuff really cheap.. definitely worth a look!

pebbles88

pigpen wrote: »

FREECYCLE!!!

Ask and it shall come!!!

I've seen tonnes of baby stuff on there.. prams, cots, bedding (that's where mine went) everything..

Breastfeed if you can... cheapy cheapy cheap!

Cloth nappies.. they'll last through all your children.. even if you have 10!! Believe me.. I freecycled some which had done 2 of my sisters, my 8 and then went on to do more!!

Charity shops usually have some beautiful bargains in.

And don't overestimate how many things a baby needs.. just a few vests and sleepsuits and cardies are enough for the first few weeks.. they really don't look comfy in 'clothes'.. and the sleepsuit.

my last one at birth had 6 sleepsuits, 8 bodysuits and 8 cardies.. and about 400 bibs.. They saw her through the first few months and were replaced like for like as she grew.

With your first people always buy you items of clothing as presents.. so get a list together!

Ebay often has people selling bundles of stuff really cheap.. definitely worth a look!

thanks Pigpen,

thoughy it may be one of the crew from my normal thread to reply first :T

i was thinking of cloth nappies, i just found a good link to a free pack with all your starter cloth nappies and bits in, it even included a changing bag with special 'sealed' wet nappy compartment too!! my DH;s family do erm... breed quite abit so there'll prob be a fair bit from them too.

as for the breastfeeding, as per my normal thread i will have to lose a fair bit of weight otherwise i will scare the poor little thing!!!:rotfl:

pigpen

lol.. If you really want to breastfeed it could be a fabulous incentive to lose weight.. some mummies with larger.. ahem.. chests.. sometimes find it more difficult.. not impossible.. to bf.. just don't expect breastfeeding to make you lose weight.. that is a myth.. it makes your internal bits return to normal quicker.. but the weight often stays put!

ukparents website has a forum for the resale of used nappies.. if that wouldn't bother you you can pick up some lovely bargains on there... for some stupid reason you can't sell them on ebay..

Yorkshirechick

I'd definitely second using Freecycle. I've got a litle boy who's 10 weeks old, and when I was pregnant I got so many lovely things off Freecycle. We got tons of clothes, a sling, 2 play gyms, a baby bath, a high chair, and lots more.
Also - if you're thinking of using re-usable nappies, the government do schemes where they collect, wash and replace them. I'm not sure if they do it in every area, but if you search on your local government website you should be able to find the details.
Don't buy many clothes if you can resist all the cute little outfits. You'll get so much bought. Taylor has things he's outgrown without even having chance to wear them.
For things like bouncy chairs, play mats etc, try these out before you buy. We bought a play gym for Taylor (not cheap) which he hated. When I was at my friends house we put Taylor under her little boy's play gym and he absolutely loved it. So we bought one of those for him and our old one is living at grandma's.
Wilkinson or Home Bargains (if you have one near you) is best for wipes, toiletries etc. Stock up when they have special offers.
Lastly join all the baby clubs online. They send loads of money off vouchers and free gifts.

Yorkshirechick

I'd definitely second using Freecycle. I've got a litle boy who's 10 weeks old, and when I was pregnant I got so many lovely things off Freecycle. We got tons of clothes, a sling, 2 play gyms, a baby bath, a high chair, and lots more.
Also - if you're thinking of using re-usable nappies, the government do schemes where they collect, wash and replace them. I'm not sure if they do it in every area, but if you search on your local government website you should be able to find the details.
Don't buy many clothes if you can resist all the cute little outfits. You'll get so much bought. Taylor has things he's outgrown without even having chance to wear them.
For things like bouncy chairs, play mats etc, try these out before you buy. We bought a play gym for Taylor (not cheap) which he hated. When I was at my friends house we put Taylor under her little boy's play gym and he absolutely loved it. So we bought one of those for him and our old one is living at grandma's.
Wilkinson or Home Bargains (if you have one near you) is best for wipes, toiletries etc. Stock up when they have special offers.
Lastly join all the baby clubs online. They send loads of money off vouchers and free gifts.

bellsbells

pebbles88 wrote: »

as for the breastfeeding, as per my normal thread i will have to lose a fair bit of weight otherwise i will scare the poor little thing!!!:rotfl:

A newborn baby won't care what size they are just as long as there is food there:rotfl: Seriously mine were huge when I was bf and it was not a problem. The key is to find a position you feel comfortable in - and that will be true for whatever size boobs you have! I ended up with the rugby ball position - baby tucked under my arm.

It is amazing what will come your way when you announce that you are pregnant - people are often happy just to see things being used and will pass them on to you. The other thing to watch out for is to not fall for the lists in the mothercare catalogue of things you supposedly must have for baby - half of it you can easily survive without or will be given/get second hand.

I second the cloth nappies btw - mine did DS, have been passed on to a friend for her son and will be coming back to me when she has finished with them. Fantastic money saving!

pebbles88

Yorkshirechick wrote: »

I'd definitely second using Freecycle. I've got a litle boy who's 10 weeks old, and when I was pregnant I got so many lovely things off Freecycle. We got tons of clothes, a sling, 2 play gyms, a baby bath, a high chair, and lots more.
Also - if you're thinking of using re-usable nappies, the government do schemes where they collect, wash and replace them. I'm not sure if they do it in every area, but if you search on your local government website you should be able to find the details.
Don't buy many clothes if you can resist all the cute little outfits. You'll get so much bought. Taylor has things he's outgrown without even having chance to wear them.
For things like bouncy chairs, play mats etc, try these out before you buy. We bought a play gym for Taylor (not cheap) which he hated. When I was at my friends house we put Taylor under her little boy's play gym and he absolutely loved it. So we bought one of those for him and our old one is living at grandma's.
Wilkinson or Home Bargains (if you have one near you) is best for wipes, toiletries etc. Stock up when they have special offers.
Lastly join all the baby clubs online. They send loads of money off vouchers and free gifts.

thanks Yokshirechick, :T

Wilkos is FAB! ours has just been done up and it wondeful, so much new stuff!

i have always thought it best to try stick to babygro's rather than outfits everydaytil they older purely from babies in our family. you can get some excellent ones nowadays.

Paulie'sGirl

I dunno why I'm posting here, cos I don't have any...

Was just a thought. My friends who have babies all swear by a huge supply of baby socks, as there's a fairy who steals them...

Also, costco and macro are both really cheap for disposable nappies (I understand they're a must for holidays and visits to relatives)

(Speaking of holidays, PM me if you're planning on taking the bairn abroad. My mum took me to Spain on a coach when I was 5 months, and we pass all her hints to my mates. Don't let folk put you off if you want to)

Hope that helps...

*backs away feeling out of depth!*

pebbles88

also,

i was thinking rather than using baby wipes that i would be happier to perhaps use face cloths etc that can be washed?? i think baby wipes are v dry anyhow. ????

Olliebeak

I've recently acquired a great Tommee Tippee digital steriliser from freecycle - with 3 closer to nature bottles (unused) for my granddaughter when she's at my house. Saves her mother dragging the steriliser here along with everything else.

Actually her steriliser has just bitten the dust and with the baby now at 5 months old - it seemed a bit unnecessary to buy another one. Went into my local charity shop and found a Tommee Tippee steam steriliser (microwave kind) for £2 and then spotted a playgym for £3.

Oh yes - and an unused travel cot from e-bay for £20 for staying at my house.