Many first-time parents are like children in a candy store, mesmerized by all the latest, trendy baby gear. This can get you in a lot of financial trouble if you aren’t careful about where you put your money. Here are a few tips on how you can save money and still give your bundle of joy everything they could ever need.

Needs vs. Wants

What does your baby really need to thrive? They need unconditional parental love (which is always free), food, diapers and plenty of rest. These are the items you should focus on spending the most amount of your baby budget on.

Crib – Bassinets and cradles are endearing and nostalgic, but they make little sense for parents on a budget. Realistically, your new baby will only use these items for a few months before they are too big for them. Instead, invest in a new crib that meets all current safety standards. If you want to increase your savings, invest in a crib that can be converted into a toddler bed.

Diapers – Modern day parenting has nudged cloth diapers out of the picture because disposable products are perceived to be more convenient. However, your new baby could go through up to 14 diapers a day. That is a lot of diapers you are purchasing and even more filling up landfills. You can save money by purchasing re-usable cloth diapers. Today’s cloth diapers are designed for everyday use and for the lives of busy families. If you want to save money, consider the benefits of cloth diapers.

Nutrition – Breastfeeding is the number one way that you can save massive amounts of money. If you plan to breastfeed, you will want to spend the majority of your budget on a reliable breast pump that is easy and pleasant to use. Don’t forget the accessories and bottles you will need. Buy only the best!

Save with These Techniques

Now that you know what you should splurge on, here is how you can get all those other baby items without spending a fortune.

Resale: This isn’t your Grandma’s resale. Secondhand boutiques are popping up all over the country with gently used designer styles and cool trends for deep discounts.  Visiting these modern thrift stores can be quite the delight!

Multi-purpose items: When purchasing items like high chairs and portable play yards, look for products that can grow with your child or be converted depending on the situation.  Save space and money by purchasing a high chair that attaches to your dining chairs. Many of these products can be used from infancy through toddlerhood.

Ask a Friend: Do you have a friend that recently had a baby? Babies grow rapidly and baby items have a short shelf life.  Most people would be more than happy to loan a baby swing or a stroller to a friend than try to find a place to store the item. If you’re coveting an item that a good friend no longer uses, there is no harm in asking.

Raising a baby on a budget is easy when you make practical, realistic decisions. Of course, you should never compromise safety, for savings. If you borrow or buy baby items secondhand, make sure you check the Canadian and United States Consumer Products Safety Commission website for the latest recalls and safety requirements.

Being a mother is one of life’s greatest pleasures but is also one of life’s greatest trials. It takes many years of practice and patience to get it right. But as your children grow, you grow along with them. Being a mother means knowing your children better than anyone else. Knowing what makes them smile and what things they love to do with you. It means being able to tuck them in every night and telling them everything will be o.k. when they are feeling down and out. Being a mother does not necessarily mean you had to have given birth to your child, if you raised, loved, protected and nurtured a child you are in every sense of the word,  a mother.

From the smiles and tears to all the laughs, mothers really have the best job around. To be called a mother is a reward and should be cared for with the utmost care, for life is so precious and needs to be preserved. One day your little babies will be all grown and move away to another home on their own and you will remember the time when they held your hand and sat on your lap. Although they are grown, the journey is not over as they will always need their mother.

As you wipe the tears and fix the skinned knees, cherish every moment for they grow too fast and you will be looking back wondering where it all went.  They will forever be in your heart as you will be in theirs.

When my son was 2 months old he developed a rash (at times bloody) that lasted for over 2 months. During that time I tried every cream (prescription and otherwise) and nothing worked. I was desperate to find a cure for my son. I also did not like having to try all these harsh creams on my son’s delicate skin.

I searched the Internet in my spare time and marked on a calendar what creams I tried on what day and how often. I was a mom on mission. I promised my little boy that I would make him better.

It’s not until his pediatrician gave me samples of Baby Butz that I finally saw a difference. My son is now 13 months old and has not had a rash since I started using Baby Butz. So I thank you so much for making this little natural miracle cream.

Sincerely,
Jennifer T

“Hi,  I put the Baby Butz on twice yesterday and the rash is seriously
almost gone!! Amazing. I’m very impressed!!”
This rash was cracked and
extremely raw just yesterday morning… fantastic feedback!

I have 10.5 month old B/G  twins and I’ve been using this product since they were about 4.5 – 5 months old.  I found this product at the Baby Show in Toronto, Ont and purchased the small/medium size jar as I liked the ingredients that were used but wasn’t sure how well it would work as there are sooo many diapers rash creams out there.

My daughter developed such a bad rash  one weekend ( prob when we starting introducing solids) and it was so bad she got a blister on her bum.  I was using power, the other creams I had and nothing was working.  I remembered the cream I had purchased at the baby show and found it in the diaper drawer and I figured “why not nothing else was helping”

….well OMG this cream was AMAZING!!!!!

Her rash and blister was gone in 2 days ( Clear, clear, clear) I was sold from that day on.  I stopped using the other creams we had and I have ONLY used baby Butz since then. Its been about 5-6 months now and my daughters bum has never had the same issue again.  I’m super happy that I found this product for my babies. My self and my babies bums thank you for making this awesome product!

Stephanie Dickman

Parents Please…Read the labels on the products you use on your babies and children.

Did you know that products using chemical ingredients are cheaper to make than products with natural ingredients? The next time you go shopping for your baby product, keep that in mind.

Some companies claim that they are natural, some even draw leaves and trees on their labels or use green colored bottles…but that does not make them safe to use.

We just trust that companies making products for babies and children will use safe ingredients, well most don’t.

Case in point…the FDA has suspended the license of Johnson & Johnson products for babies

http://www.niticentral.com/2013/04/29/fda-suspends-license-of-johnson-johnson-71638.html

I have been allowed to put my miracle cream into 8 of their Manitoba locations as a “test”.

If Baby Butz cream sells well during this test phase… it will be considered for placement in all the other Shoppers Drug Marts across Canada!

What does this mean to me…it’s a dream come true… Shoppers Drug Mart is the largest drug store chain in Canada…it reaches across all the Provinces and hopefully Baby Butz cream will be available to many more people…especially for the babies that truly need this product.

As an incentive to making your next purchase of Baby Butz cream from Shoppers Drug Mart…I am going to hold a CONTEST!  (I am sorry but this will only be for Manitoba residents for now).

Buy your next Baby Butz cream at one of the eight Shoppers Drug Mart locations listed below and then send in your receipt for a chance to win a Mom + Baby gift basket worth over $100.00. http://a.pgtb.me/WZnRKq

I am putting all the goodies together and I will make sure you won’t be disappointed.

Everyone wins with a contest like this!   Now go clean off those shelves, please!

Locations 

Shoppers Drug Mart

2656 Pembina Hwy.

Winnipeg, MB.

Shoppers Drug Mart

710 St. Annes Road

Winnipeg, MB.

Shoppers Drug Mart

3900 Grant Ave., Unit 1A

Winnipeg, MB.

Shoppers Drug Mart

1017 McPhillips Street

Winnipeg, MB

Shoppers Drug Mart

Manitoba Clinic

790 Sherbrook St.

Winnipeg, MB.

Shoppers Drug Mart

1350 18^th Street., Unit #3

Brandon, MB

Shoppers Drug Mart

382 Main Street

Steinbach, MB.

Last year when Georgia had a new baby she never thought a year would pass with her little one sleeping softly next to her every night. She always assumed that if she had any children they would sleep in their cribs in their own rooms; that all changed the day Jackson was born. From the time Georgia laid eyes on him, she was in love. She needed to know he was safe and couldn’t image leaving him in a crib down the hall all by himself.  She felt a sense of calmness falling asleep knowing he was right there next to her. If he started to fuss in the middle of the night, she could easily calm him by nursing him back to sleep. Her husband who slept next to her on the other side never was disturbed nor even knew if he woke in the night. Everyone woke up feeling refreshed. While co-sleeping is not for everyone, it worked for Georgia and Jackson and has worked for other families while other families have chosen to pass on it.

Positives of co-sleeping according to Georgia and Jackson include:

1. Better sleep at night time
   Georgia described her ability to sleep better due to the fact that she had Jackson next to her the entire night. She knew he was o.k. and his needs were being met as they both slept.
2. 2.       Wake up feeling refreshed

Because Georgia was not waking up all night long to check on Jackson, she felt refreshed in the morning. Her husband who works at a high stress job during the day needed a full nights rest to get back to it the next day. He also felt refreshed as he was not disturbed with restless nights by Jackson.  The entire household was content.

1. Mothers that breastfeed have an easier time feeding their little one.
   Georgia loved breastfeeding Jackson and doing so also made it easier to feed him at night time.  Sometimes she would wake up just before he would start to stir and she would feed him without him fully waking and never making a sound.
2. 4.       Connection at night time

Many mothers like Georgia have to work during the day and be separated from their little ones for a portion of the day. The nighttime co-sleeping allows for mothers and babies to reconnect and spend a little quality time together before the next day arrives.

While co-sleeping worked well for Georgia and Jackson, sometimes it is not the best situation for families. Some opposition to co-sleeping felt by Georgia and her husband throughout the year include the following.

1. Suffocation of baby
   Babies are so tiny and many mothers worry about rolling over their babies as well as suffocating them with the use of too many pillows and blankets.
2. Lack of connection with partner
   Some people use that quiet time when their children are asleep so they can reconnect with their partners and feel that having a baby in the bed with them takes away from that reconnection.

Whether you choose to co-sleep or not is completely up to you and your family and the needs of your baby. No matter what you choose, remember to use safe sleeping procedures such as laying babies on their backs, no sleeping on waterbeds, avoid overheating, etc. As long as you are responding to your baby and comforting them; your baby will be happy at nighttime.

My forever baby,

Who would have thought this was possible…not the Doctors…not the nurses…not even me. I remember the first three years of your life as a constant blur of medical emergencies, hospital stays and life and death decisions.

Your instinct for survival is amazing…every time we received a prognosis that was not good you always pulled through and surprised everyone. I believe that one of the reasons you fight so hard to live is because you know you are loved and wanted…plus… you are a tough kid (just like your mom)

Many Doctors told me that you would not live…against all odds, you continue to prove them wrong

I was told that you would not have any quality of life…I know it’s not true…you have provided quality in MY life and the lives of everyone who has known you and if it wasn’t for you, I would never have developed a product that would help so many other children. That is your legacy.

Even though you can’t understand the words I say to you…I know you can feel them. I am so proud to have you as my son.

Happy Birthday my “Honey Bunny”, I love you forever

Mom

No one can argue with the convenience that canned baby food offers, but it is just as convenient to make your own baby food while preparing meals for the other members of your family.  Need proof? Here are some good reasons to save canned food for the pets and begin the journey of creating soul food for your baby.

Advantages of Homemade Baby Food

• Making your own baby food is budget-friendly. You pay extra for all the packaging that is included with the pre-made jars and cans. Saving money is a huge advantage to taking a little extra time to whip up your own creations.
• Early experiences with food set life-long eating habits and patterns. When your baby eats the same food as the rest of your family they become accustomed to the taste of that food, even if it is in a pureed form. This will cause less stress for your baby when, he or she, transitions to eating table foods.
• Homemade baby food is easy to make and the choices are unlimited.  You can create a unique food experience for your baby by making pureed versions of the fruits and vegetables your family enjoys. Your baby can experience a greater diversity of food, which encourages their taste buds to try new foods as they grow into toddlers.
• With fat- laden junk food and the obesity crisis that is consuming our world, making your own healthy creations at home sets a positive example for the whole family and you always know what your baby is eating. There are no artificial colors or added preservatives.

Why All-Natural and Chemical Free is the Best Choice for Baby

Did you know that over-the-counter, jarred baby food is often deficient in vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy development? Most parents do not realize that in order to kill any bacteria present, baby food must be cooked and processed at higher temperatures, stripping the food of vital nutrients. This process actually leads to weakened immune systems, which means more doctor visits. Making your own food allows you to know EXACTLY what your baby is eating. Stay pesticide free by choosing local or organic ingredients. You can never go wrong when feeding your baby nature’s best!

Homemade Baby Food Tips and Tricks

It is easy to get started making your own baby food. Here are a few quick tips to get you started.

• Wash, peel and scrub all fruits and vegetables prior to putting them in the food processor or blender.
• In order to make the vegetables and fruits puree better, briefly steam, bake or roast them first. You can even microwave them to speed up the process.
• For young babies, make sure you puree the fruits and vegetables to a smooth texture. You can add a little bit of liquid, such as water or breast milk, to help attain the super-smooth consistency. As your child gets older and can handle a more textured consistency, you can simply mash up the food.
• Store all of your purees in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve your food to your baby, just warm up the food to room temperature and watch you baby laugh and giggle with delight when they taste just how great your cooking is!

One word of caution – When you begin feeding your baby homemade purees make sure you use natural fruits and vegetables. Avoid canned fruits and vegetables, as well as, canned soups. These products, especially the soups, can be over-loaded with sodium. If you are avoiding canned baby food do not use adult versions of canned food products, otherwise you may be unintentionally sabotaging your plan to provide your baby with a preservative-free, all-natural food experience.

Homemade Baby Food Makes Sense

Preparing your own homemade baby food is not challenging, nor incredibly time-consuming. With proper planning, you can prepare a month’s worth of meals on a Sunday afternoon. Choosing to take greater control in what your baby eats is not an inconvenience. It is a necessity and a choice that will ensure your baby has a healthy, head start in life.