In these difficult times people are doing everything they can to eliminate unnecessary spending and babies are one place where money seems to disappear into a black hole of spending. Here are some tips and tricks that my friends and I use.
Diaper Rash- Instead of expensive diaper rash creams put Vaseline on babies bottom. It works great to clear up and prevent diaper rash and it makes cleaning up messy diapers a snap! Thanks DD for the tip
Heat Rash or Mild Diaper Redness- Corn starch. Keeps area dry without added fragrance or talc.
Using Cloth Diapers- Keep a pail with vinegar water in it next to changing table. Helps soak off mess and deodorizes. (check with your cloth diaper company before you do this for compatibility)
Want to Make your Own Wipes- roll of paper towels (the 1/2 sheet size), boiled water, and a squirt of your brand baby shampoo. I tore the paper towels apart and laid them flat in a rectangle plastic container mixed the water and soap solution and poured it over the towels until soaked through. This is great in a pinch if you are out of wipes or if it is what you want to use everyday.
Teething Pain- Use the food mesh bags for babies (usually for early eaters to fill with things such as bananas). Fill with ice for safe sucking. Or freeze fresh fruit for a healthy cool teething treat. Don't have mesh bags? Wet one corner of a wash cloth and place it in the fridge or freezer to cool.
Home Made Baby Food/Snacks- You don't need a baby food mill, a mini food processor electric or hand crank will work fine. Cook veggies until soft and process until smooth using boiled water to thin it out if too thick. Extra portions? Freeze in ice cube trays for perfect portions. There is no need to purchase a book with recipes because there are tons of recipes available for free on the Internet.
Frozen Yogurt Drops- take favorite yogurt (we like Chobani Greek Yogurt because it is thicker, whole milk and higher in protein and lower in sugar than other traditional yogurt). Mix well to combine, place in plastic bag, cut tip and squeeze drops onto a cookie sheet then freeze. Thanks pinterest for this great idea!
Eating table foods already- cut into toddler bite size pieces with a pair of dedicated kitchen sheers. It's much easier and safer than a knife at the dinner table and allows you to be more precise with your size cuts.
Popsicles- make from your child's favorite juice. Either purchase Popsicle maker or use bathroom cups and Popsicle sticks. Just don't water it down or it will just be ice.
Need burp cloths- Use scraps of flannel. Cut to size and stitch the edges so they don't fray. Thanks Aunt D.
Share everything- If you have friends with children too. Swap/share clothing and toys to keep things fresh without spending lots.
Look for sales and bargains- I love stores like Marshalls where I can get name brand baby clothes, toys, accessories and more for a steal. I never spend more than $5 for any baby clothing item, they grow out of too quickly.
Looking for more ideas? I turn to pinterest. People post all their great ideas, recipes, and Internet finds everyday.
What ideas or tips do you have to share with the masses?
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