5 Insanely Easy Ways to Save Money on Baby Stuff

It’s hard to know what you will actually use once your little one is born.

What do you really need to buy for a baby, and how do you save money on all the baby stuff?

If you want to save money as a mom, it starts by consolidating the list of things you need for a new baby.

Marketing companies are great at convincing you that without their product on your registry, your baby will not thrive or you will be a bad mom or you will not be able to handle the situation.

But here’s what I want you to do, mama. Take a deep breath.

And remind yourself that – You are strong.

You are brave. And you will be a good mom.

You don’t need the stuff to do this mom thing.

While many products make parenting easier and believe me, we had ALL the things with our first, I realized afterward that we didn’t use half of it. And with my third baby, we use even less.

To pass on my insights so you don’t make the same mistakes I did, here are some tips to put together your baby registry, and how to decide what baby things to buy before birth.

5 Tips to Save Money On Baby Stuff

If you’re new to budgeting, you may be wondering how to save money for a baby on the way. Here are some of my favorite tips to save money on baby products when you’re on a budget!

1. Think Long-Term

Since newborns and babies grow so quickly, think long-term when considering purchasing products for your baby.

Ask yourself questions like:

How long will my baby need this product?
Could I buy something else that might be useful when my baby gets older?

Here are some examples:

Instead of a bassinet, buy a pack’n’play that can grow with your baby.
Instead of a changing table, buy a pack’n’play with a built-in changing station.
Instead of a car seat just for infants, buy a convertible like the Diono Radian RXT.
Instead of 3 different types of strollers, buy a jogging stroller with an infant attachment (that’s what we did!)

At this point, I really just change Little Three’s diaper on a blanket on the floor… I’m just saying…

2. “Keep It Simple, Silly” – KISS

Most baby products have the same intent but a slightly different execution. This is great since you have lots of options, except for the fact that you will end up owning 5 items that crowd your living room floor.

“Keep it simple, silly.” You will save money if you decide on one item that actually solves your problem.

Do you really need a baby bouncer, swing, rock’n’play, bassinet, crib, and the floor to lay your baby down when you’re trying to get your newborn to sleep?

The answer is no because you have one baby. And ask your grandma, she didn’t have 10 million options back in the day and she got through it just fine. Remember to keep it simple.

I promise you’ll be able to figure it out once the time comes. You’re going to be a great mom! From my experience, if the baby doesn’t want to be in the baby bouncer, she won’t want to be in the rock’n’play either. To be honest, she probably wants cuddles, and it’s okay to slow down since you’re supposed to be recovering from postpartum anyway!

3. Don’t Listen to Your Friends

While having a great mom community is essential, don’t jump on every registry item your mom friends recommend.

You’re probably saying to yourself right now, well, how do I KNOW which product is best for my baby, Jessica? Shouldn’t I get all of them so I have all the options?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret of motherhood, every baby is different.

Little One was different than Little Two who is way different from Little Three. So, don’t listen to your friend who says you HAVE to have this item or that item and NOW.

4. Know Your Why, Before You Buy

You can apply this simple budgeting rule to most things, but it’s especially important when buying stuff as an expectant mother on a budget. Ask yourself WHY you are buying the item.

From my experience, impulse buying has a lot to do with emotion, and there are a LOT of emotions when it comes to motherhood.

Love, hope, fear, anxiety, protectiveness, loneliness, inadequacy, lack of control – just to name a few.

So, you need to know why you are using your hard saved money before buying another baby product.

Are you buying it because your baby really NEEDS it? Or are you buying it “just in case” you MIGHT use it 2 times because you aren’t confident in your ability to soothe your baby?
Are you buying the toy to educate your little one or from a fear of not providing enough opportunities for your little one?
Are you buying this item to solve a problem or out of a fear of being left out from other moms?
Are you buying something because it will actually help or because you’re not feeling supported by your spouse?
Are you buying it new because of pride or could you find it somewhere used? (Facebook Marketplace is awesome)

These are common struggles for all moms. Answering these questions will help you curb your impulse to buy baby products and help decide more rationally if you really need an item before buying.

5. Wait One Week Before Buying Anything

Speaking of impulse buying, here’s a trick that I use to curb my impulse buying.

First, I always do a quick Google search to see if it’s dramatically cheaper somewhere else before buying the item. Dramatically cheaper to me would be 10% cheaper or more.

Second, I talk with my spouse before buying the item. When I feel emotionally invested in an item, I let my husband talk me out of it for at least a little while….(re: next point).

Third, I wait one week before buying an item. If I still want the item and think it would add value to my life, then I go ahead and purchase it.

I hope these tips will help you make decisions for your baby registry that will help you save money before your baby arrives. If you’d like 8 tips for saving money for money savvy mommys, grab it here.