Not all of my tips will fit into your way of doing things, but I hope you’ll find at least one thing over the next few days that will help you save a little money!

Baby Gear

At the beginning of this series, I mentioned all the stuff available for parents these days. It only takes one trip to Babies R Us to figure out that not all baby gear is necessary. That store is o.v.e.r.w.h.e.l.m.i.n.g the first (and second and third) time you go there after learning you’re expecting.

I have three big tips for saving money on baby gear….

• Don’t believe you need everything you see.
• If someone offers to loan baby gear to you, consider taking them up on it! Some things should be purchased new for safety’s sake (like car seats), but there’s lots of useful baby gear in storage out there.
• If you think there’s even the slightest possibility that you’ll have a second baby one day, buy/register for the big-ticket items in neutral colors. In most cases, you’ll only get one shower. Use it wisely.

The trouble with giving advice on what baby gear to pass on is that every family (and baby) is different. We didn’t register for some items just because there’s no room in our house for it! Other things, like the Boppy, just didn’t make much sense to me since mother’s have breastfed from the beginning of time without a special pillow.

Here’s a pretty good rule of thumb: If you have to ask why you would need an item, you probably don’t. That said, it’s also a good idea to get a list of your close friends’ and family members’ “must haves” because if you’re anything like me, you’re clueless about this motherhood thing!

Potential Savings

This list of potential savings is based on the Babies R Us “Must Haves” list and the items my family has deemed unnecessary. You can save big bucks on this one. Here’s the breakdown.

Bassinet/cradle $100
Our rationale: The baby already has a place to sleep. His or Her crib. Bonus! If he or she sleeps there from day one, there’s no need for any anxiety-ridden transition down the road.

Travel System Up to $100
Our rationale: We didn’t need an elaborate travel system for our winter babies. A car seat and snap ‘n go stroller (just a frame the seat fits into) ended up being perfect for us for the few times we used it. Plus, I’m (almost) 5’2” and lifting an awkward, heavy travel system into my trunk was not on my wish list. I highly suggest going to the store and testing all your options before making a decision on strollers.

Walker/Jumper $50
Our rationale: For starters, we have no door frames to hook a jumper to. Then there’s all that talk about walkers hindering babies actual walking. No worries, theBABY learned to walk AND jump without either of these.

Full-size Swing $75 if you go w/ a travel swing, $150 if you skip it totally
Our rationale: There’s no room in our house for this. It was truly that simple. That said, we registered for a travel swing that could easily be stored when it wasn’t being used. Some babies don’t dig swings, so if you know someone with a swing in storage, you may want to test the waters with a borrowed one!

Full-size High Chair Up to $120 if you purchase a space-saver instead
Our rationale: Again, room is tight at our house, so we decided to go with a space-saving seat that fits right on top of a kitchen chair. It’s worked like a charm from 4 months – present (20 months).

Total Potential Savings $520

Think of the diapers that could buy!! Or don’t, because really, it’ll only buy a year’s worth and who ever thought they’d be spending that much on waste management?

Speaking of the cost of diapers, coming up Monday: quick, money-saving tips for purchasing disposable diapers!