Babies on a Budget: How to Make Having a Baby Affordable

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), roughly one out of every three pregnancies are unintentional. That's a lot of babies that haven't been prepared for financially. Just because a pregnancy is unplanned, that doesn't mean it's unwelcome. Having a new baby is one of the most exhilarating events in a person's life. Unfortunately, it's easy to be swept up in the excitement and then make some unwise financial choices.
Instead of allowing yourself to splurge on unnecessary purchases for your infant, take the time to think critically about the things you buy and use the money that you save to start a college fund or pay for things that your child will really appreciate later in life.
The Cost of a New Baby
Babies are undeniably expensive. From doctor's visits before and after birth to regular expenses like diapers, formula, toys and clothes, new parents have a lot to budget for. Nevertheless, a survey by the Associated Press suggests that new parents go overboard by spending over $7,000 on supplies like cribs, clothes, nursery room decor and other items.
It doesn't make much sense to pay an exorbitant amount for most top-tier baby items. Infants grow quickly, and soon all of the money you spend on car seats, strollers, cribs and clothes will be wasted when you have to buy larger replacements. The infant certainly won't notice or care if you furnish the nursery in pre-owned furniture, and the money that you save now can go toward longer-lasting and more meaningful investments.
Ways to Trim a Nursery Budget
Setting up your baby's new room should be a joyful experience, but it doesn't have to be costly. Here are a few tips for setting up a room on a budget:

• Buy used items from Craigslist and thrift stores
• See if friends, family and coworkers have hand-me-downs you can have, borrow or buy from them
• Be specific when asking for shower gifts so that you get the things you need rather than having guests come up with their own ideas
• Whenever possible, get furniture that can be used for a long time, like a crib that converts into a bed
• Consider using cloth diapers instead of disposable ones; they're better for the environment and much more economical
• Don't go overboard buying toys; newborns won't care for them and even older infants and toddlers will be easily satisfied with simple things

By shopping creatively, you can reduce your costs and still get everything that you need. You might be surprised at how many items you can get as donations from friends and coworkers once they realize that you need things, and used baby items are often in excellent condition because they've only been used for a few months.
Of course, it's smart to focus on top quality for certain things. For safety reasons, it's a good idea to buy new car seats. You may also want to purchase new breast pumps, diapers, bedding and mattresses if you're concerned about hygiene issues. Otherwise, however, buying second-hand should be perfectly safe and affordable, and you can use the money you save for other expenses down the line.

Citations:

• Source

One way to protect your hard-earned dollars is to do a background check on a childcare provider before you hire. Check on your potential sitter at NannyBackgroundCheck.com.