having a baby Old Style

lilmisskitkat

Had a good day today, baby o/s-wise

Got given 2 massive bin bags full of newborn and 0-3 boys & unisex clothes from my uncles girlfriend, their little lad is almost 4 months now. Theres so much stuff! :eek: We honestly do not need to buy a thing until he outgrows the 0-3, by then she says she'll have a bag of the next size up for us. Some stuff hasn't even been worn and a few still have tags on. Shes also given us a baby carrier which i think OH will prefer to use rather than the pram. People are so nice

Also found out my local council give a £45 voucher towards the cost of cloth nappies in their new incentive scheme so i've registered for one of those. And also bought a few bargains from a couple of parenting sites, another wrap and a couple of nappies to get me started all preloved but who cares?!

Really chuffed now!

Kate xxx

LilMissEmmylou

Motherease can be used with terries yes What they really should have said was not for use with prefolds lol

and good score there with £45 off your nappies!!! and as for preloved, if you think about it, they are better for your pocket, better for the environment AND you dont need to wash them 3 - 4 times to get them in working order like you would from new For "pretty" and fancy looking nappies when you hit 100 posts of the cloth nappy addicts forum you can get 2nd hand in their buy and sell section, and then you even know who has worn them before you lol

Gosh it almost makes me wish I could have another baby to buy even more nappies haha

pebbles88

Alfietinker wrote: »

Ooh, ooh, do share! Please?! Our first is due in 6 weeks and using cloth nappies - I'm determined to spend as little as possible. So far I've got some fantastic wraps and shaped nappies off Freecycle and some terries that worked out at 60p each inc postage from ebay.

I'll be looking out at the second hand nappy links later too - I didn't realise they existed. By the way, our council gives £10 cash back if you send in a receipt for cloth nappies, I think it's fairly country wide so worth looking into.

With other costs, so far we haven't really spent a lot at all, except for the pushchair because I couldn't find this particular one 2nd hand at all and a new mattress for the cot and crib. Cot cost £10.50 from ebay and is immaculate. Crib is an heirloom. Loads of stuff from Freecycle, and I've got toys etc that will suit when he becomes a toddler all in waiting. People have already bought lots of stuff and we've been given so many clothes we're telling people to stop before he grows out of them all!

It really hasn't been that expensive at all. The most 'damaging' thing for us financially is the loss of my wage, effectively halving our income. So we need to balance this with becoming as OS as possible so I can stay at home. Don't forget to check out maternity pay and rights, and anything else you're entitled too and make the most of them when the time comes.

Good luck!

hiya,

i cant find the link myself now!! :mad: i know its was on one of the forums on here im sure! leave it with me and i will check back thru history on pc!

Alfietinker

Thank you!

Babyblade_2

Just a few non-nappy thoughts ...

Most shops are great with clothing exchanges if the tags are still on the clothes. When you're given presents don't be tempted to remove the tags unless you're sure that they're going to get worn. If you don't get around to using the clothes, return them to the retailer and exchange for a larger size.

Mothercare will even give you credit onto a gift card so that you can return at a later date for "free" shopping. Most people who give presents would prefer that you used a gift in this manner and get something you use/enjoy rather than their gift going to waste.

Ebay is great but use with caution. I've seen plenty of 2nd hand Next clothes sell for 90% of their retail price + postage, which is then more expensive than buying from the shop in the first place.

Additionally - if you're tempted to buy something, check out resale value on ebay. If resale value on ebay is high, I'd buy it new and resell later. If resale is low I'll buy it straight from ebay.

BAGGY

I had twins in Jan this year. People are so generous handing down clothing etc. I have got travel cots, bouncing chairs, cots, toys, sterilisers and clothing from friends aand friends of friends.
At the mo we are using disposable nappies and have found Sainsbury's are as good as any (esp with the recent 30% off) but I am trying to convince OH that washables wont be any more work than the extra washes we do anyway.
Use draw sheets in the cot cut down from past it or value 'adult' sheets. You can get 6 from a single flat sheet. (Draw sheet is just for the head end of the matress over a full sized sheet, and saves you having to was a change a whole bed every time they throw up - invaluable in our case).
Bicarb soda is good for nappy rash. Half tsp to pint water. We use mini micro fibre cloths for their bums as they are 10 for 99p locally.
You can buy a good quality wipe, Huggies etc, use them first and wash them in the machine, then re wet them with a chamomile tea bag and some essential oil for fragrance. (look up which is ok though for babies).
Dont be sucked into buying coloured babygros and vests as you will have to have specific washes. We were bought a red babygro and it was only worn once as we never had a red wash ready to bung it in.
Buy toys from charity shops and boot sales but, obviously check that they are safe. Same with heirloom furniture as could have lead based paint.
That's my pearls of wisdom so far. Only 8 weeks old so not much experience.

purplemoon

Ummm... Just thinking of anything I've learnt re: this. I had my second last year after a long unintentional gap.
Cloth nappies are great... But I didn't use them until maybe 2 months- because the poo is so frequent and they get through the first size so quick- and cos this baby was born by c-section and I had very little or no support for laundry. Many councils run a nappy scheme- though mine only supplies 3-4 covers which is not do-able as far as I'm concerned. I cut up old towels rather than buy loads of the top size. I've also been washing mine at 40 this time (and so with our regular laundry) and it has been fine so far.
I hope this is a 'moneysaving' tip, but beware of false economies... When ds1 was 6 months I bought a stroller, relieved we could use something smaller, and bought one that barely leaned back at all (cheapest) only to discover he flopped forwards when asleep (even when much older) and so later I bought a more expensive lie back one. I have other examples but like that one they are specific to us- you may find a stroller that doesn't tilt the seat back much is fine for you/ yours. (With regards to the nappies buy enough so you can use them full-time... Top up slowly if you're not sure how many you need).
http://www.sockons.co.uk/ stops the fairies getting those little socks!
Breastfeeding does use calories so although you may not lose weight its probably because you are eating more.... I think most women, myself included, notice that the body will hold onto a fat supply whilst you bf... However, I have lost alot quicker this time which my mum believes is because I'm using a carrier with ds2, 8mths, rather than a buggy (both can be bought secondhand, and sold on- again beware of 'making do').
My friend bought a sterilizer and went on to fully breastfeed and never use it so beware of things you may not need- buy it if and when you do.
Can't think of anything else, but I don't think babies cost alot in stuff- mostly in time! I was actually able to save money with my first- now an in debt and have a big kid to spend on so not this time...
Good luck!

reformedspender

I'm expecting my first in late May. I found the following really helpful:

1. Ask around friends/family to borrow maternity clothes. They cost a fortune and lots of people are quite happy to give you stuff on loan.

2. Ask around friends/family to borrow baby items. A good friend of mine has loaned me her moses basket (we are buying a new mattress), baby seat, baby gym and even her breast pump. It is all on the condition that I give it back as they want more children but these items alone would have cost me a fortune. I'm going to loan her any new stuff I buy to return the favour.

3. Don't buy any baby books. They also cost a fortune and you won't need them after your first one (or they will be out of date). Join the library and get what you need there (they've got all the baby name books too).

4. Ebay. Marvellous. I got a fantastic changing table on there for just 26 quid and a lovely Blooming Marvellous maternity dress (for a wedding I have to attend next month) for a fiver.

5. Freecycle. There are always prams, clothes and other bits and pieces coming up. I've got a lovely 'top and tail' bowl, a changing mat and a baby bath from there.

6. Find out where your nearest NCT branch is and find out when they are having their next 'nearly new' sale. They usually cost a pound or so to get in but are filled with bargains galore: toys, clothes, prams, cots and the like. I got an insect net there, for example, for the grand total of 50p. They cost a fiver in Mothercare.

7. Join all the store's parenting clubs. Boots will send you a stack of vouchers for extra points on various essential items. Ditto sign up for emailing lists as you get regular emails giving 10 per cent off here or there. Mumsnet is also worth joining as they have discount codes for some of the main maternity/baby brands such as Jo Jo Maman Bebe and Blooming Marvellous.

8. Start saving your 2 pound coins. You'll need lots of them for hospital car parking.

9. Don't fit a kitchen, decorate your nursery and have your whole family over just a few weeks before you are due!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Good luck!

purplemoon

reformedspender wrote: »

8. Don't fit a kitchen, decorate your nursery and have your whole family over just a few weeks before you are due!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Ah, go one! everybody does something like that- its part of the fun! I think a couple of your own baby books are worthwhile if you don't want your baby sucking and chewing the library books. Ds1's first book was a Dr Suess (Mr Brown can Moo) which he loved for *years* and we still have.
Also, Baggy, I think babygrows are colourfast? I've not ever, ever done a 'red wash', I'm 27 and have not had mishaps due to running colours... I do mostly wash at 40, though, could that be it? Occasionally I handwash- but not baby things!

lady_stardust

I'm due in September and I would also agree about Freecycle, we have got some amazing things off there. Most of it is nearly new, occasionally we pick up something a bit tatty, but the grandparents are always happy to take something off our hands!

Basically, really put the word out there that you are expecting, through family, friends, work, social... I work as a gymnastics coach and have had so many things offered - "I've got one of these I'm not using any more, you can have it".

Still got six months to go and at this rate we are going to get nearly everything donated!

Oh, and a lot of ppl have mentioned Pigsback in other threads - by the time I'm due I think I should have about 7,000 piggypoints - enough for a few trips to Boots!