Babies are not cheap. No matter how you parent or what your budget is like, your little bundle of joy is going to take a tremendous bite out of your bank account. However, many of the most significant expenses associated with parenting a baby are actually completely unnecessary. You can save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars by doing away with these frivolous parenting expenses.
1. Breastfeed if you can. There's no doubt that breastfeeding is what's best for the vast majority of moms and babies. Not only does it benefit your health and your child's, but it saves thousands of dollars. By breastfeeding for one year, you can cut save a whopping $3,163.86-- enough to buy a used car! If you can't breastfeed for whatever reason, there's no need to feel guilty about it -- but, if you can nurse your baby, it provides a tremendous financial benefit along with valuable benefits to your child's health.
2. Skip the expensive diapers. I used cloth diapers until my daughter was a year and a half old, and they saved us hundreds of dollars. Even if you're not willing to go this far, there are other sustainable, affordable options in the world of diapering. Whole Foods offers chlorine-free diapers for roughly the same price as Luvs. In my experience, expensive disposable diapers do not offer any more leak protection, rash prevention or odor masking than cheaper alternatives.
3. Avoid shoes. Your baby doesn't need shoes until he starts walking. In fact, putting your baby in shoes too early can actually hinder his ability to learn to walk. Those cutesy little crib shoes may look precious, but they're entirely unnecessary and can be expensive. Wait until your baby's closer to his toddler years before you foot the expense of a shoe purchase.
4. Your baby doesn't need bibs. Bibs are made for protecting a baby's clothes from the stains of solid food. But, at least during the first several months of his life, your baby won't be eating any solid foods. There's no real risk of staining from breast milk or spit-up. Hold off on the bibs until later in your baby's development.
5. Don't waste money on a changing table. Changing tables can cost hundreds of dollars, but they are not at all necessary. Ask any parent where she changes her baby. Odds are high that, even if she has a changing table, the baby gets his diaper changed on the floor, bed, or sofa. Simply spread a receiving blanket under your baby while you change him. There's really no advantage to doing it on a fancy table.
6. A baby monitor will not protect your child against SIDS.
Baby monitors are designed and advertised as effective prevention options for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but there is no evidence whatsoever that they work, according to the California SIDS Program. There are many effective, free ways to minimize your baby's risk of SIDS -- nursing, not smoking, and placing your child on his back to sleep. Skip the expensive monitor and aim for more effective techniques.
7. Get a cheap stroller.
Is there really any reason to waste $200 on a huge, bulky jogging stroller that can't even fit through the door or in the car? Those pricey, fluffy strollers are difficult to steer and don't offer any benefit over cheap umbrella strollers (or infant carriers). Ditch this tremendous expense by choosing a more convenient and affordable option.
8. Don't buy baby DVDs. I once met a mom who had a $150 collection of Baby Einstein DVDs and similar videos. What a waste! These are one of the most controversial unnecessary expenses associated with parenting. All studies to date have demonstrated that they do nothing to enhance a baby's vocabulary or brain development, and may actually be detrimental. Spend your time, money, and energy on good parenting, and you'll save money and have a happier, healthier child.