What are the minimums needed to care for baby?

Question

(for someone on a tight budget)

After that, any item you think is "worth" the extra money, but not a necessity?

Best answer gets the 10 points.

Answer 1

Well if you breastfeed you will need a few nursing bras, wait til 2 weeks after you have the baby to buy them (your size should be pretty set by then). Then you won't need formula or bottles.

If you are staying home you won't need a pump. I live in Canada and we get 52 weeks of leave. If you need to pump get the best one you can afford. Also consider renting. Rental pumps are worth $1000s and come with free maintenance! Even and expensive pump (cdn dollars here, ok) worth $200-$400 is still waay cheaper than formula $50 per can of powder. At many grocery stores formula is the only thing locked up.

Oh and a basket to keep things in for when you are breastfeeding: remotes, books, bottles of water, snacks(granola bars and fruit), blankets, etc. Basket with a handle so you can carry it one handed. This saved my sanity. When you are learning to nurse it can be difficult and once you get all settled you won’t want to move, only 2 minutes later you will be 1) dying of thirst 2) realise your least favourite show is on tv 3) be starving or 4) all of the above!
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A crib. Even though I co-sleep 90% of the time, sometimes you need a safe place to put baby down.

I actually have two cribs (both second-hand and both free), one I use as a sidecar to make my bed bigger and one in the babies room. However, you could make due with just a playpen *if* you are co-sleeping. However most playpens are smaller than cribs, less comfortable, harder to clean and find sheets for, and may be a SIDS risk. You could use a bassinet or cradle for most of the early months, if you don't have a dog *lol* I do so those were useless.

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Crib mattress. Get a new crib mattress. Second-hand crib mattresses in addition to just being icky are a SIDS risk as the flame retardant chemicals break down. You can get mattresses very cheap at Wal-Mart or Ikea (prices depend on where you live! I'm in Canada, but I am pretty sure Wal-mart has one for less than $20 US). It *may* be worth buying a slightly better mattress, having never seen the one in question I don't know.

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I didn't get a playpen until baby could crawl, then I got the biggest one I can find (38" x 38"). That way I can get some laundry done and cook dinner without worrying about what I will find in the VCR. BUT you could make due with just a crib and use the crib for the same purpose. But playing and sleeping in the same place can cause issues for some babies, and none for others.

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Diapers. Cloth or disposable. Cloth are more expensive upfront, but cheaper in the long run. If you haven't checked out cloth for awhile they aren't the same old fold, pin and rubber pants thing you may be familiar with. They work like disposables, they have Velcro or snaps and most don't require a separate cover (though you can use one, generally wool, particularly for overnights to prevent leakage.

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Baby blankets. Get a bunch you need them for spit up, and a million other things. My baby spit constantly. Get them second hand though, if they have a stain who cares, you are just using them to clean up barf! Get some larger nice ones for the baby to actually sleep with.

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Crib sheets. I only used the flannel fitted ones even in the summer. They feel so much nicer over the icky vinyl mattress. If you would rather use cotton you would probably need a couple of mattress pads. I never bought *any* silly bedding sets. Dust ruffles? Bumper pads? Quilt covers? Pillow cases? The first is just silly the others are potential SIDS risks. You don't need bumper pads, quilts, or pillows!

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If you have a car you need a car seat. Convertible ones are a better value, though infant ones are more convenient for infants. Though you should never use an infant car seat for extended periods outside the car as it has been suggested that they deprive children of oxygen. They also cause babies to overheat because of the sides and padding.

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Baby carrier: A must! You can make your own easily for less than $20! I like mei tai (Asian baby carrier) and wrap styles. www.mamatoto.org/

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Stroller. Hmmm I got a lot of use out of mine, even though I used the wrap a lot.... Many moms never use them though. Definitely second hand though!

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Baby swing or bouncy chair. My baby loved his swing, however we got it for free from my cousin. His daughter never used it. It still had the tags on it because she hated it.

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Join a mommies group. Getting out of the house 2-3 times a month to have coffee at someone’s house, or walk around a mall with a bunch of moms will save you a lot of money. Because you will feel less trapped and more energized. You will cope better and the house will run better. Saving you money in convenience items such as take out and frozen dinners. You won't need to "get away" so you won't need a sitter.

Plus you may get more hand-me down clothes this way!

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Clothing. Don't buy any. You will get enough for at least the first 6 months from friends and family. Unless you don't have any. Seriously hand me downs just sort of show up. Plus gifts!

After that, second hand shops, most baby clothes get worn less than 10 times!

EXCEPT! Baby booties, knit baby booties with the draw string around the ankle are the BEST. They fit any sized leg, they are comfy, they are warm. And they don’t cause the problems socks do. Until baby is standing you don’t need anything else except in extreme cold. Once they are standing they need more grip. Socks are evil, seriously go look at the pictures of the scars on my son’s legs because I let him sleep 8 hours in his new, not tight socks, because I wanted his feet to be warm:
http://preoptimism.blogdrive.com/archive/3.html

After that I didn’t care what I had to do to keep him in knit ones.

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If people ask what to get you and you don't know what you will need, don't be afraid to ask for gift certificates that you can use at the local drug or grocery stores. People understand! And everyone needs food!

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Freecycle.com
Craigslist.org

Get stuff for free and get rid of your unwanted stuff!

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Toys, same as clothes. You don't need to bother until your baby is 4-6 months old. If then. First your baby won't care, second you will probably get lots!

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Portable highchair. This straps onto a regular chair. It takes up much less room than a highchair and you can use it when you are out. Plus the trays tend to be smaller which is better for baby (they can reach everything) and for you (easier to clean in the sink). However you won't need this until 6 months old.

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That's basically it: food (free), diapers, place to sleep, clothes and blankets, transportation.

Answer 2

Don't buy a fancy schmancy high chair! We did and what a pain in the butt! It's cloth, so we have to WASH IT ALL THE TIME!! Get one of the vinyl ones that you can wipe!

I think bassinettes are an extra. Little babies can be in a laundry basket or with mom & dad - but once they get older, off to a crib.

Lots of blankets are a must (recieving blankets)

If you breastfeed, you save a TON of money

Don't need a changing station, I had one & you only use them when they are little little babies... once they start squirming, it's easier and safer just to change them on the floor!

Clothes! Never get brand new clothes, well as many as you see fit, but there are many second-hand stores that cater to kids only, and as fast as these kids grow out of clothes, it saves ALOT to get used ones. These stores usually are selective about what they take, so the clothes are usually very nice and almost or are new.

All those bottle sterilizing things are a waste, you can sterilize yourself or in the hot water wash in the dishwasher, and really, you don't sterilize their stuff for all that long.

If your baby does not have a sensitive tushy, no need for name brand diapers. (my daughter is sensitive, so she gets a rash if we use generic, but my son didn't have a single problem)

I say brand name wipes are definately worth the extra money.

Your stroller and car seat are worth the extra money for lighter weight and better control and compartment room

Toys are worth the extra money - the cool thing is if you get the better ones (Playskool, Fisher Price) you really don't need that many.

Yes a baby swing and it doesn't have to be an expensive one. Just a safe one and one that doesn't crank. Battery powered. Gives you peace of mind!

Gosh there is so much. This is a really good question! I'm looking forward to seeing all the answers! I'm going to email this to my cousin who's preggers too! :)

Merry Christmas!

Answer 3

diapers, diapers and more diapers, that is somethig you can stock up on during the pregnancy, formula if u plan on bottle feeding, but not too much in case the baby can't handle regular and would have to go to soy. a crib, bassinets r cute but they outgrow them wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to fast to where the baby won't be safe and has to be moved to a crib anyways. i couldn't have gone without the babyswing for when they r fussy , mylacon and tylenol is something i would get before the baby is born, they will need that for having gas or teething. and an absolut neccessity is a car seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a good website if u r on a really tight budget is FREECYCLE, u can find clothes and everything u need there, it is a great site to find stuff or to get rid of unwanted stuff,only condition of the site is it has to be free

good luck with the baby, it is the greatest joy to have one. i had 3 and it is all worth it

Answer 4

A safe place to sleep, diapers, wipes, clothes, blankets, a car seat.

This time of year the baby will spend most of his or her time wearing sleepers (one peice outfits with feet). They'll sometimes need a change of clothes two or three times a day, so plan based on how often you can/are willing to do laundrey.

Three or four reciveing blankets. Some babies like to wrapped up tight, some can't stand it, but if you put the baby down on the floor, I liked to have a blanket to spread out under him.

I found a bouncy seat or swing to be worth the cost. Most babies like them and it gives you a place to put the baby down for a few minutes.

Answer 5

diapers and wipes, car seat if you will be driving :), a crib or a play pen to sleep in, play pens are cheaper and work too. or co sleep thats even cheaper yet! Some clothes. a few blankets, bottles and formula if you arent breastfeeding. a thermometer and possibly some infants tylenol. Those are about all.

I think a baby swing is worth it cause my son loved it. And of course a few cheap toys. Stroller wouldnt be bad.

Ive raised four boys and im pregnant with number 5, you learn as you go :)

Answer 6

Diapers (cloth will save you money, tons, in the long run but the initial investment is more expensive)
Baby bed and mattress
Sheets for baby bed (real easy to make if you can sew and you have some cotton fabric lying around)
Mattress pads for baby bed (if you cannot afford these, large bath towels work)
Baby shampoo
5-6 baby bottles
Some blankets (you can use a regular blanket if you want to cut it apart and hem the edges--1 regular blanket will make about 4 baby blanket)
Wet wipes
Onesies
sleepers

Items not needed but worth spending money on: infant swing, and bassinet (on wheels, so you can move it from room to room)

Answer 7

i would say the things you need are: diapers, wipes, bottles if you plan to bottle feed, sleepers, onsies, socks, crib or bassenet, and alot of love. you dont have to have the changing table or all the ruffles and lace, but when your baby turnes 2 weeks or loses the enblecord i would get a bath tub and baby soap. or i almost forgot the carseat cant come home without it. hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 8

the minimums are diapers...clothing...diaper rash cream...then what ever you need for yourself..breasting feeding is free or if you wish to fomula feed go to you local wic office they help with that..and car seat!!! good luck and merry christmas...i think a baby swing is well worth the money!

Answer 9

well if the baby is a newborn...you can breastfeed for free, clothes are cheap and free from agencies , and diapers are diapers. you can use cloth, which are cheap and disposables are alot more than cloth. did you think this out before getting pregnant ???

Answer 10

diapers, blankets, clothes, bottles(unless breastfeed) crib or playpen. and of course love