5 Ways to Save Money on Baby Essentials

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Babies are expensive. There are so many things that you have to get to be prepared for your new arrival and even after they are here the day-to-day costs of having an infant can be daunting for even the most financially assured of parents. However, with a little bit of planning and some smart shopping you can get the most for your dollar and still set your baby up in style. Here are five tips to help you save money on baby essentials.

Don’t be afraid to ask for samples and coupons

Manufacturers love to give samples, coupons, and sometimes even full-size products to obstetricians and hospital maternity wards. Be sure to ask your doctor or nurse if there are any samples or coupons for various products that they might have available. You very well could end up with a couple of months worth of baby toiletries (and maybe even a nice diaper bag) simply by asking. Want to save even more money? Ask if there are supplies (diapers, thermometers, nasal aspirator) that the hospital is using for your little one that you can simply take home with you. Many of those items end up thrown out so you’ll not only save money, but reduce waste.

Ask your friends for hand-me-downs

Chances are likely that you know a few people in your social group who have had a baby in the recent past. Those friends probably have quite a few baby supplies they would be very, very happy to pass them on. This is another instance of saving money, and reducing waste! It’s also an excellent way to find out from someone with experience what works and what doesn’t. Getting hand-me-downs from friends is especially useful for clothing, especially since babies grow so fast.

Check out children’s sales and secondhand stores

A lot of communities have group consignment sales of children’s items, such as strollers, clothes, toys and more. These sales can be a great opportunity to get things on the cheap. Do be careful when buying items where safety is a concern (car seats have an expiration date and can be a little tricky to buy secondhand,) but you can definitely get some incredible deals, sometimes up to 90% less than what you’d spend if you’d bought items new.

Buy in bulk

Diapers, baby wipes, and even laundry detergent are things you will always need when you have a baby. Buying these items in bulk can be a great time and money saver. Warehouse clubs, like Costco, are excellent places to get diapers in giant quantities for less per item than they would be if you bought them at the store. If a warehouse store isn’t something that works for you check out Amazon Prime. Yes, there is a fee to sign up, but the free two-day shipping and the Prime Pantry option can be a huge savings.

Clearance is your friend

Don’t let yourself be lured in by the adorable things in the baby aisle without checking the clearances first! You can save a lot of money just by keeping an eye out for markdowns. A good strategy to employ here is to also consider buying a size or two ahead. That cute summer romper might not be weather friendly right now, but in a few months it will work great and you won’t even know it was from the clearance.

Babies will always be expensive, but these five tips will help save a few dollars so treat yourself to a latte! You will probably need it to counteract all that sleep you’re going to lose.

Do you have any great tips for how to save money on baby essentials? Share them with us in the comments!