having a baby Old Style

BAGGY

Another thing I thought of which saved me money. I combination feed and bought the bottled from Asda £1.99 for a pack of two or three packs for a fiver. Most wide neck teats (Mam, Nuk, Mothercare, Boots) will fit these bottles and they are cheeper than buying Tommee Tippee, Dr Browns of Avent as all of these are slightly different sized so you are sucked into using just their stuff. Tommee Tippee does not fit in a standard steriliser either only theirs - not mse at all. Apparently you can use a veg steamer to sterilise.
Breast pumps (electric) are supposed to be single person use only but seeing as you sterilise anything that has touched you or your milk I cant see a problem. In any case you can buy spares of all these bits so it is really only the motor you are after.
Also the Axifeed bottles that they give to you in hospital to express fit the Medala pump and can be reused.

anitalg

Hiya, go to all the websites you can think of - bounty, cow and gate, pampers, huggies, anyone. Its amazing what freebies and money off coupons they send you for joining on their webstite - Boots give you a free changing bag, Tesco send you money off nappies, wipes etc etc.

Im going cloth nappies too - due in two weeks - but got some disposables in case I cant function in first couple of weeks. Matalan are good for vests and stuff too

purplemoon

For the Boots changing bag you need to buy a pack of Pampers- which reminds me I need to give the pack I bought away before the baby I got them for is out of nappies!

Sosh

Haven't had time to read all the replies so not sure if this has been said already. I've found a massive pile of value facecloths indespensible for wiping faces after meals. I keep them by the sink, then drop them in a nappy bucket for washing. Much cheaper than baby wipes.

Imani

pigpen wrote: »

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..

yes i agree breastfeeding is the best thing. you dont have to listen to baby cry as you make bottles and my little one is a right screamer that can be heard onto the streets outside my house when he is ready as told by hubby

if you find breastfeeding doesnt work for you sign up to your chosen baby milk company so you can get vouchers, if on low wage or tax credits you may qualify for milk tokens

breastfeeding doesnt make you lose weight just helps your uterus contract quicker back to normal.

ps i am heavy chested to the point my choices are even limited with Bravissimo, no problems breastfeeding at all. plus after the guidance at the hospital you go home and master your own technique

good luck whatever you choose

Imani

kippers wrote: »

I've not read all of the posts so i apologise if someone else has mentioned this....don't buy things unless they are really needed...i bought one of those things you put disposable nappies in (you pushed the nappy in and it bagged it for you and was supposed to smell better), it cost about £35 (obviously this was purchased before my money saving ways)...it was the biggest waste of money...why i didn't think to just go and put the nappies straight in the wheelie bin i just don't know!

Anyway, now i'm much more aware of money saving techniques & green issues i'd consider re-useable nappies...they look wonderful these days (DD1 is now 10 yrs and DD2 is now 8 yrs).

my 2nd was born dec, got a voucher from bounty for a free nappy bin. if it wasnt free i wouldnt have bought it. i have bought refills but will see if i can get them cheaper

@all sainsburys sells their basic range nappy sacks for 29p for 100 compared to 2.39 from mothercare for the same

Imani

another thing. decide for yourself what you are happy to have as 2nd hand vs new. my friend gave me loads of sleepers and vests which he grew out of quickly and has been passed on again. i have re-used baby blankets from my 1st born as they are in mint condition. i sold my old pushchair as it was bulky and bought a new one. my toddlers stroller which doesnt get used now will become a holiday stroller

always look for bargains. i always find there is at least one brand of wipes on offer that has money off or buy 1 get 1 free which sometimes is cheaper than the multipacks. look out for asda big baby events. you save save save money during those events.

oh yeah. if there is baby clothes or toddler clothes sale i always try to buy a bigger size so as they grow they have clothes ready and waiting. whenever someone asks for clothes or shoe size i always give the next size up

even if stuff is bought all new you can still save depends where you shop
bought loads of clothes for holiday for my toddler from primark and h&m between them only cost 100 quid. that was summer and because i like to buy the next size up sometimes, some of the clothes still fit now

squashy

Just a quick note about the convenience of cloth nappies. Balanced against the inconvenience of running out of disposables plus having to get the big packs home from the supermarket on the bus, I personally find terry nappies MORE convenient! I have to do a couple of extra washloads a week but it is not as if i have to sit with a washboard and mangle lol. They don't need ironing or putting on coathangers, most dont even need folding (although i have a secret passion for terry squares!!)

Another MSE idea is to look at baby led weaning. Going straight to finger food avoids the need for lots of kitchen gadgetery.

JoJoB

And if picking up accessories for buggies or pushchairs be aware that you can often buy generic attachments rather than specific brands. Eg I needed to buy a raincover for my maxicosi carseat - spent a few weeks looking at ebay auctions and they were all going for about a tenner or more. But found an unbranded raincover carseat that will do just as well for 99p.

Got a pair of motherease wraps from ebay for £3 yesterday too, just need the nappy nippas then i have my cloth nappy system ready to go!

Still planning to splurge on at least one cow print minki though.

greenpixey

Imani wrote: »

ps i am heavy chested to the point my choices are even limited with Bravissimo, no problems breastfeeding at all. plus after the guidance at the hospital you go home and master your own technique

I second this. I'm a size EE and have not had any problems breastfeeding my two boys and I will continue to do so when my 3rd arrives in June.