Here are a Few Easy Tips for Budgeting for a Baby

The moment you realize you are going to have a baby, it’s one of the most magical moments of your life. After you tell everyone the wonderful news and begin to think about names and where the baby should go to preschool, a dose of reality does kick in. You will inevitably ask yourself, “How the heck am I going to pay for a baby?”

Depending on your financial situation, you may have some put away or will be able to start saving to take care of all the things your baby will need in nine months. So, the first thing you will need to do is to determine some of the things you will need once the baby is born. The need for some of these things will depend on a variety of factors. Others are simply musts.

For example, baby diapers are a must. It’s estimated that you could spend as much as $2,000 on baby diapers in total. Now, there are some ways to save here. If your baby is a go-getter and is potty-trained early, you might be able to save a little bit. Also, consider buying baby diapers online. You should be able to save in bulk and have a wider selection.

On the other hand, daycare costs will depend on whether or not you need to use it. If you are a stay-at-home mom, you obviously won’t need daycare. However, many others do, and it can cost upwards of a $1,000 every month. Some couples will decide to have one parent leave their job or work part-time to take care of the kids. This will reduce the amount of money coming into the home, but may be worth it depending on the situation. Knowing where you stand beforehand is important to knowing how much you will need to budget.

Here are some other common costs you will need to consider:

• ·         Medical costs
• ·         Baby furniture
• ·         Baby food
• ·         Baby clothing
• ·         Toys and books

You should get a rough idea of how much you can expect to pay for these things so you have an idea of what you’re in for and can prepare for it.

In addition to the tips we mentioned above, we encourage you to speak with other parents about the costs they had to pay, surprises that they didn’t foresee, and how they found ways to save. There are many coupons sites and online stores that may be able to offer significant savings as well.

Easy Ways to Save on Baby Diapers

One of the things people don't often tell soon-to-be parents is the cost of diapers. Sure, they might talk about the sleepless nights and the actual act of changing diapers. However, new parents often have to learn about the cost of diapers the hard way. There's no question that raising a child can be expensive. Some economists estimate that it can cost $200,00 or even more. And that's in today's dollars. $200,000 may be the price of a single college semester in 18 years. 

Okay, did we scare you yet? Well, here is some good news. Frugal parents will find that there a number of ways to save big on the cost of raising a child. If you are a new parent you should know that you can actually save money on baby diapers if you are willing to think outside of the box. Here are a few things to try out so you don't end up eating ramen for the next year trying to pay for baby diapers:

Keep an Eye Out for Coupons: When you get your weekly circular flyer from your grocery store, do not throw it away. You are bound to find coupons on baby diapers. And there could be many more on the internet as well. We encourage you to research the internet to find deals and coupons others have found. 

Buy Your Baby Diapers Online: Speaking of the internet, you might want to consider shopping online for your baby diapers. The thing is when you shop online, you are removing the middle man: the retailer. This means that it is often possible to find lower prices online as online retailers will pass those savings onto the customer. 

Consider Going with Cloth: In addition to shopping online and scouring all places for coupons, you might want to try using cloth diapers if you have the time. Sure, it's a lot more work and things can sometimes get messy, but you should be able to save a decent amount of money by going cloth. In addition to that, cloth diapers can be fashionable and they can be passed down to any children you have in the future. While cloth is not for everyone, it can be a money-saver if you do decide to go this route. 

We hope these ideas help you out as you look for ways to save. While you won't be able to save on some child-raising costs, baby diapers are one area where you should find some luck. 

Finding the Right Diaper for Your Baby

Having a child for the first time can be exciting and overwhelming all at once. You might have a tendency to second guess yourself with every decision you make. It’s life. Having a baby is natural, but knowing what to choose for that baby is not natural. Here are some tips for finding the right baby diapers for your baby.

Size of the Baby

You will want to make sure that your baby fits properly in the diaper you choose. If he or she is a newborn, use newborn diapers. Diapers increase in size based on the weight of the baby. There are times where you will have your baby in diapers that are for older children because they are growing so fast. This isn’t an issue at all. Just make sure they fit the baby correctly so urine does not leak out the sides.

Frequency of Urination

If it seems as though your baby tends to urinate quite often, you will want to find a diaper that can hold a fair amount. You won’t want to have to change your baby’s diaper so often that you are going broke. But, you also don’t want your baby to sit in the same diaper for too long before changing it. If you are having trouble finding the right diaper, try reducing the amount of fluid intake for your baby.

Sleeping Through the Night

You will want to find a diaper that helps your baby sleep through the night. This would be one that holds enough urine that it doesn’t leak through and soak the baby while he or she is sleeping. This tends to wake the baby up and require you to change the sheets and their pajamas in the middle of the night.

Still having trouble finding the right baby diapers? Be sure to try a host of different types before settling on one that you will use regularly with your baby.

Overnight Diapers Can Become Best Friend Of Sleep-Starved Parents, Accident-Prone Children

No two diapers types are exactly alike and no two children will share the same experiences on their way to being potty-trained. That’s just a fact of life and parents would do well to prepare their patience during this time. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! What’s more, there are a plethora of diapers on the market to fit a variety of needs: your run-of-the-mill diapers for daily use, swimming diapers, pull-ons and overnight diapers are just a few options parents will need to research as they prepare for life with an infant that is completely dependent upon adults. In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of overnight diapers as to better explain the benefits of these newborn essentials and how and when parents should put them to use.

Overall, the use of overnight diapers should be for prolonged periods such as the overnight hours. Somewhat self-explanatory, we know, but it wouldn’t be right to not cover every base. The key difference between this variety of diapers and every other kind is that they are more absorbent. The payoff here is that your infant will be dry during the overnight hours and that the absorbency will take in more of what could possibly leak out. In fact, most of these diapers are designed to eliminate leaks as best as possible. The trade-off, however, is that these are typically more expensive due to the increased absorbency. This isn’t a case of “getting what you pay for” in a negative sense; overnight diapers do the same exact job as daytime ones – they just work longer hours.

Some parents say that these diapers have been indispensable when it comes to avoiding middle-of-the-night wake-up calls. Others have had to conduct a cost-benefit analysis when it comes to paying for these diapers and how often they can tolerate changing them out. But, that’s well-worn territory for parents of infants and toddlers and putting their child first is always the utmost concern.

What Are Some Ways to Avoid Summer Diaper Rash?

Any parent of a newborn will tell you that preventing diaper rash is an ongoing fight where constant vigilance is needed. Although you can probably manage diaper rash without a doctor visit, it can still be a painful process for the baby and for you. And if the rash does become infected, a visit to the doctor’s office will be necessary.

There are a number of causes of diaper rash. One of the most common cases is wetness. Even if you buy the most absorbable diaper, it won’t clear moisture away completely. If your baby is experiencing diarrhea, the combination of that with urine can be especially irritating to the baby’s skin. Leaving a baby with a soiled diaper for too long can also lead to diaper rash.

Other causes of diaper rash include a bacterial or yeast infection, chafing, and introducing new foods to the baby’s diet.

Why Is Diaper Rash More Prevalent in the Summer?

The weather is heating up, which might not be the best thing for your baby’s bottom. If you are sweating from your forehead, your baby may be overheated as well, and this could lead to more moisture in the diaper area. In addition to that, people are often more distracted in the summer months. There are summer vacations, barbecues, and other activities that can cause new parents to not change their baby’s diaper as frequently.

So what can you do to prevent summer diaper rash while enjoying some great family time under the sun too? First and foremost, know that prevention is the key. Frequent diaper changing is a must. If you do find yourself getting distracted, set a timer. You may also want to use talc-free baby powder. In regard to cleaning your baby during a changing, you should dry your baby’s bottom completely by patting the skin dry. You can also use ointment if your baby is prone to diaper rash.

In addition to these and other tips for prevention, consider the type of diapers you buy. If your baby is getting diaper rash often, you may want to consider changing the type of diaper you are using. Shop for baby diapers that offer as much absorption as possible. Also, please know that some instances of diaper rash are caused by chemical irritants. If this is the case with your baby, you will want to buy diapers that do not include those chemicals. 

Five Tips for Successful Baby Changes

One of the first things any new parent will learn is that changing a baby can get a bit messy. Every time you change a baby, you have no idea what exactly you're walking into. One squirming movement from the baby or change in consistency of the waste, and there could be a big problem. Over time, parents do acquire the knowledge and experience to avoid any major disasters, but the risk is always there. If you're a brand new parent or have been changing diapers for a little while now, here are a few things to keep in mind for the first time or as a refresher:

Start Prepared: If you have to leave the room for a moment or need to take a second to open a cabinet, you're taking a major risk. Before you get started, make sure you have everything on hand so you can concentrate on changing the diaper.

Choose the Same Spot in the Home: Whether you change on the floor or on a changing table, be sure to change at the same spot every time to reduce the spread of germs.

Wipe Very Carefully: With girls, it's important that you wipe from front to back, so you don't run the risk of infection. With boys, it doesn't matter as much but you'll still want to make sure the baby is completely clean afterward to prevent the development of a rash or infection.

Get a Good Distraction: A squirming baby is not an easy baby to change. In order to reduce the squirm, keep a couple of toys nearby or have a favorite song playing to keep the baby distracted.

Purchase Quality Baby Diapers: The last thing you would want is to have a poorly designed diaper that breaks or is uncomfortable. Diapers are expensive. However, you shouldn't sacrifice quality for affordability. Luckily, you can usually find baby diapers online that are much less expensive. Take a look around to see if you find a brand or style that meets your baby's needs.

Tips for Choosing Diapers for Your Newborn

One of the first major decisions you'll have to make as a parent is what kind of diapers you want to buy. Diapers are a major expense for new parents as they'll literally spend thousands of dollars in the first year to keep their baby's bottom clean. In general, what you decide on will depend on your budget, lifestyle, and comfort level, but here are some factors to consider:

Cloth vs. Disposable: In truth, some families have strong feelings one way or the other. Cloth diapers are typically less expensive in the long run and can be used on multiple babies. However, they are messy and their use could increase the risk of rash. Disposables have a protective gel that wicks moisture and neutralizes the acidity of the urine. And yes, quick cleanup is a major positive as well.

Will You Being Using a Daycare Service? If so, Consumer Reports suggests that you stick with disposables because most day care centers require babies to be outfitted with newborn diapers that are disposable. If you travel a lot with your baby, disposables are logistically more convenient too.

Where to Buy Your Diapers: Whether you decide to purchase cloth diapers or disposable diapers, consider where you buy them. You can typically find disposable diapers online that are cheaper than those you would find at the grocery store. For families who are concerned about their budget, shopping online may be an easy way to offset the costs of disposables.