29 Diapers

Ah, my favorite! I saved cloth diapers for last for you, because they are easy to use, healthier for baby, and will save you a TON of money. Plus, you get the satisfaction of knowing you kept about 1 ton of trash per kid per year out of the landfill. As many of you already know, modern cloth diapers fasten with velcro and snaps and are super easy to wash (see the Cloth Diapers dropdown menu above for all the details). But did you know that you can even save off of the initial cost of the diapers by entering all the cloth diaper and green baby boutique gift card giveaways online (I accumulated a couple hundred dollars worth this way), shopping sales using the tips I told you earlier in this series, and registering for them before your baby is born?

9) Easy Baby Food

It’s hard to calculate how much you may spend on baby food, because every baby starts and stops eating it at different times, and some can shovel it down like a front loader. If you’re a busy mom, bottled baby food is available with coupons on practically every brand, including the high-quality Earth’s Best type stuff you find at Whole Foods. But, you won’t believe how easy it is to make your own baby food if you have a little time, and it’s so fresh you’ll never look at canned baby food the same way again. Want proof that homemade is significantly fresher than canned? Just leave your fresh baby food in the freezer for a few months, and it will go from tasting like fresh pureed veggies to… well, exactly like canned baby food.

To make your own baby food, pick a

8 ) Freebies

Samples and freebies sound like the same thing, but I have split them into two categories here because freebies are truly free items that can be much larger than samples. Think free car seats. Now that’s a freebie. I’ll focus on that one here, since it’s such a big item. Car seats are something that generally should be purchased new, because they expire after an accident or after 6 years, whichever comes first. Because most families don’t get rid of their car seats for several years and it’s hard to tell if they’ve ever been in an accident when you buy them used, this is one baby item you shouldn’t scrimp on.

If you’re planning to bottle feed, this one will save you a few bucks, mostly because it allows you to try before you buy. Baby bottles are often available from manufacturers directly as samples. Medela may send you a bottle without a nipple, but Playtex will send you a pack of their disposable drop-ins, and other manufacturers will send you one whole bottle to try.

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6) Make Your Own Toiletries

This one is easier than it sounds. Baby toiletries cost enough, and eco-friendly, chemical-free baby toiletries cost three times as much. If you’re done your research you already know how important it is to pamper your baby with toiletries that don’t contain carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, but what is a mama on a budget to do? I discovered that Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap works when

So far in this mini series on baby money-saving tips, I have mostly covered techniques for acquiring eco-friendly baby gear for free or for big discounts. But there is one parenting choice you make that will save you oodles of money because you actually need less stuff.