Oh Baby!

One of my dearest friends told me the other day she is expecting baby number 2!  OK so that was many months ago.  Their daughter Mallory celebrated her 1st Christmas this month!  Since I can't use the ideas found on page 930 of the index in The Complete Tightwad Gazette, I'm dedicating these ideas to my friend in hopes she and others can use them.  Please, share other ideas you use and if you have found these helpful.  So many of this is not in my own words as they are recipes, etc.

All Things Babies:

Food Versus Breast Feeding pg. 97
Wipes pg. 271

• some use paper towels with a mixture of baby oil and shampoo
• Amy used old washcloths instead of paper towels like previous generations.  Baby wipes are expensive and full of alcohol, fragrances, etc. causing irritants.
• If you use the paper towel version because of daycare needs, here's a recipe sent in to The Gazette:

1 roll paper towels, 2 1/4 C water, 2 T baby shampoo or bath, 1 T baby oil

1. "Cut the roll of paper towels in half and remove the cardboard."

2. "Mix the water, shampoo, and oil in a plastic container" (could use an old baby wipe container).

3. Place half the roll inside the container.  "Put the lid on and turn upside down to let the towels thoroughly soak."

4. When done, "pull the towels from the center of the roll."

Baby Items pg. 336-339

   When Amy gave away or sold her baby stuff, she became pregnant with twins.  Using her skills from raising the first four, by "their first birthday...aside from food and doctor bills" she "spent less than $100" on her twins:

1. Buy used and then you can resell "well-maintained items for the same price you paid."
2. "Subtly steer well-meaning relatives and friends from giving you cute outfits that will fit or look new for five minutes.  Instead "encourage practical gifts."
3. Borrow from people because most "don't sell their stuff right away."
4. "Graciously accept all the secondhand things people give you.  Keep what you can use, pass on what you can't" ensuring a "steady flow of used items."
5. "Put off necessary purchases until you can find the items cheap" by "[avoiding] unnecessary items.  Make substitutions, either short- or long-term, to achieve both objectives."

Mallory

The following are items you can substitute temporarily and more information is listed in the book. I've also compared to America's Financial Expert, Ellie Kay and then listed ways to use some of the items when longer needed for babies.

Baby Shampoo- use regular

Baby Tub- use bathtub or sink

Baby Wipes- mentioned above;  To read Ellie Kay's story and get her wipe recipe click http://elliekay.com/blog/39/baby-wipes-tell-your-friends/

Bottles- nurse until 1, then drink from a cup

Car Seat- NO SUBSTITUTE, some hospitals rent for $1 a month; (pg.168) write Center for Auto Safety in Washington and get standards.  One writer said she purchased one at a yard sale that didn't meet requirements and they sent her a new one for free.  I found the website: www.autosafety.org

Changing Table- towel on top of dresser with items in shoebox

Cloth Diapers, Rubber Pants, and Pins- Never used disposal; (pg.62) old cloth diapers can be used at cleaning rags but have been found best to use for window washing due to their high absorbency and are streak-free. (pg. 69) For happy babies do not air dry diapers because their appearance and texture resembles shingles.  Therefore, don't worry about the cost of the dryer because they are a smaller load according to Amy's research. A three page interview with a mom who used disposal diapers and her reasons for going to cloth is presented on pages 177-179.  I learned the time spent using cloth diapers is not a ton and the savings is amazing.

For stubborn pins (pg. 528) use paraffin wax melted in tuna can in hard wax can be remelted.  Amy rubs the pins in her hair along the scalp to get to the natural oils to lubricate them. (pg. 516) Use bread bags as plastic pants in a pinch by slitting at the seams and flattening the bag. (pg. 518) Hot gluing pants will melt in the dryer and stitching old aging pants will tear again, but may last a year longer.  (pg. 569) Using large nylon pants after the small size saves money and still doesn't link.  Nylon lasts longer than vinyl pants. 

Clothes- free from friends or yard sales

Cribs- bedding in a drawer on the floor or playpen

Crib Bumpers- roll a towel

Diaper Bag- duffel or backpack (toss wet diapers in bread bag)

Diaper Bucket- 5 gallon bucket

Diaper Stuff- shortening for petroleum jelly/cornstarch for powder, samples from the hospital; (pg. 332) can add cornstarch to old baby powder container

Eating Utensils- use adults

Formula- breast feed, formula costs about $800 a year; (pgs. 21-23) Though submitted baby formula recipes (2 12 oz cans evaporated milk, 32 oz water, 2 T Karo syrup, 3 mil Poly Vi Sol Vitamins)Doctors and nutritionists who were called about this recipe were told were not ranked high and personally, I would not give babies Karo syrup and evaporated milk.  Newborns are not to have cow's milk because it's too hard to digest.  It's advised to check infant nutrition before making this recipe.  I am a Shaklee distributor and know that their formula is top of the line.  Other information regarding this recipe was discussed in more detailed in the book.

I found a good website to make your own baby food that includes ideas for storing all based on the different stages of life. http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/#url

Gate- playpen or close doors, make gate to hinge to door casing; (pg. 636) use old ones for drying rack for sweaters by placing over the laundry sink or bathtub

High Chair- baby swing or walker, table top attached

Mobile- entertain yourself or make one

Pacifier- didn't use

Playpen- crib or baby-proof

Shoes- not necessary until can walk

Store-Bought Baby Food- get a hand crank machine to grind food

Stroller- baby backpack; (pg. 320) if you find one needing a little TLC or from a garage sale sometimes calling the manufacturer's 800 number.  The numbers can be found for free from writing the Consumer Information Center for the Consumer's Resource Handbook of I found it online http://publications.usa.gov/USAPubs.php

Toys- play with pots and lids, (pg. 508) make a rattle from a large metal jingle bell (about 1 1/3 inches) to attach to a short colored ribbon

Walker- can be a substitute to other items (playpen), but some doctors feel it slows development

Wind-Up Swing- get only if used, (pg. 351) can use a milk crate by belting child in and cutting two places for the feet, then securely fasten to an existing swing.

Bibs (pg. 312)- Use old shower curtains by "[sewing] on bias tape for neck ties."  Then fold the bottom to the front make a pocket and sew.

(p.713)- For a pull-over bib, use expensive sweatshirts by removing the sleeves and back, then with a zigzag to finish the edging.  You can also use hand towels by folding in half and cutting a hole in the center, then edge the finish with a zigzag stitch. 

Additionally, you could spend time and energy each week cutting all the coupons you need and researching sites, such as http://www.pocketyourdollars.com, a great site, to save money on baby stuff.  For those like my friend, alternatives to coupons are appreciated.  What are your alternatives?

Elise and Mallory