Comments on: Minimalist Baby Registry

By: What Baby Items Do I Need to Keep? | Ultimate Money Blog- Save Money and Live Green!

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:09:22 +0000

[...] when we found out we were expecting Penny and also after her birth. I’ve said before that I didn’t want a ton of baby “things” and that still holds true. However, my mother never got that memo (well, she did but she’s [...]

By: Corrie

Corrie — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:21:16 +0000

I know I’m late to the party (didn’t see this post earlier), but wanted to chip in the high chair discussion. We love the style that grows with your child, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Stokke-Tripp-Trapp-Highchair-Walnut/dp/B001D1505A/ref=sr_1_16?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1323551178&sr=1-16 or http://www.amazon.com/Badger-Basket-Embassy-Chair-Espresso/dp/B0036EFA84/ref=sr_1_19?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1323551178&sr=1-19. Our 4-year-old still uses his because he is small for his age, so I even bought another one for our new baby.
They are quite comfortable even for adults.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:01:57 +0000

We were also very minimalist and it worked out wonderfully for us- we just thought most things could be bought as we needed them, and it was true! Our high chair was from Ikea, and I love that the legs come off if you need to take it to someones house, plus there are not may cracks and crevices to be disgusting- after all, babies are messy! I also love that the trays are separate, we just pulled ours up to the table with us. Our baby bath tub was also from IKEA, and was 7 dollars, we used it on our counter because it was easier than bending over the tub and we could both fit at it that way- and now we use it to soak laundry!

The one thing that I thought we would not need and ended up using almost every day was a stroller- if not to put the baby in, then to carry the diaper bag and occasional purchases.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:44:37 +0000

We thought the pack n play was cumbersome and heavy. We travel a bunch and it wasn’t practical to travel with, even in the car I felt like it took up too much space. We got a kidco pea pod and love it. Light weight and portable. I now give them as shower gifts.

By: Mrs. Accountability

Mrs. Accountability — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:50:38 +0000

Mrs. Money, you go ahead and family bed with your new baby. I was told that nonsense about the baby NEVER sleeping on his or her own until a teenager and that is simply untrue. It is unsafe if you are a super heavy sleeper, or if you or Mr. Money drink heavily. Most new moms begin to sleep very light and you will hear every noise so don’t worry about it being unsafe! I thought I would put my first baby into his “nursery” by the time he was four months old but by then I was so madly in love with the little pumpkin that I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him all alone in another room by himself. :-) I am happy you are going to co-sleep. Be sure to read Tine Thevinen’s book The Family Bed, it is a classic and the one I read that convinced me to family bed.

By: Super Frugalette

Super Frugalette — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:51:06 +0000

Ikea has a $24 high chair which I have used for my kids. Works like a charm. The pack and play will be helpful when you discover while co-sleeping that your little one becomes a night crawler and wants to go somewhere out of nowhere.

By: The Saved Quarter

The Saved Quarter — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:04:53 +0000

I’m pregnant with my 3rd kid, so I have an idea of the things I’ve used so far and the things that ended up being clutter.

We used a space-saver high chair with both kids and will use the same one for #3. It is great and I’ve never needed anything bigger.

I had the baby bathtub with #1 and it ended up being a space hog. We often just bathed with the baby or laid down a folded towel in the sink for baby baths.

For things like a bouncer seat and swing, wait until the baby arrives and try one out at a friend’s house or the store. No point in buying what the baby won’t use. I had one baby who LOVED the swing, and one who screamed bloody murder if she was within 5 feet of it!

I’m a fan of cloth diapers, too, especially since a lot of elements can be found second-hand or reused for multiple babies. It will cost me $100 to diaper this kid until potty training! You can see my cost breakdown for diapering baby #3 in a post I did about cloth – http://thesavedquarter.com/2011/07/babies-on-a-budget-cloth-diapers/

Clothes can be bought for next to nothing at garage sales, thrift stores, and especially lots on Craigslist. I don’t spend more than $1 per piece, often far less, and have had plenty of everything to keep the kids well dressed.

You can skip those grooming/health kits and go for just a few little things – a good digital thermometer, nail clippers (because the grown up size just makes me too nervous!), and a NoseFrida for sucking the snot out. The rest of the stuff is just clutter. The NoseFrida infinitely better than the suction bulbs, and I routinely give it as a baby shower gift!

I would *highly* recommend the book “Happiest Baby on the Block”, readily available at your library, for infant soothing techniques. It worked wonders on my two completely opposite newborns.

Also, my absolute favorite book to prepare for birth was Ina Mae Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth. So many people want to tell you their birth horror stories and it’s hard to get into a good mindset, or at least it was for me. The first third of Guide to Childbirth is positive birth stories, where the women did the hard work of labor and felt strong and empowered by it. Having the idea that I could feel GOOD about my labor really helped me not be so afraid.

Good luck!

By: Mrs Money

Mrs Money — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:52:59 +0000

Becky R- I agree, I like the idea of a new car seat, or at least one from someone I trust.

I’m planning on using prefolds and covers, so it makes me feel good that you say they are the best! The all in one diapers are more expensive but look a lot easier. I have a couple newborn/small size all in ones so I’ll see how those work!

Thanks for the recommendation on the book- it sounds great! I’m going to do my best to breastfeed exclusively for at least 6 months.

I’m going to have to look for some used wraps/slings. The nursing mom tea is a great tip!

Thanks so much for all the help- I really appreciate it!

By: Mrs Money

Mrs Money — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:47:14 +0000

Jenny- That makes me feel good. We do have a nursery, but I honestly can’t see the baby being in there until at least 6 months old because it’s way across the house and in the beginning I’m going to do everything I can to make our lives easier My friend is letting me borrow a co sleeper. Yesterday my mom and her friend were asking me why I didn’t register for a bassinet and I said that I’m borrowing the co sleeper and they proceeded to tell me how bad co sleeping is and that I’ll never get the baby out of the bed and how it’s so unsafe to cosleep. Blah. The Bed Bug Bumpers look awesome! Thanks so much for telling me about those.

I hadn’t seen the Keekaroo high chair but that looks awesome! I didn’t really want a big plastic one, so that’s a great alternative.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful tips- I certainly appreciate it! I know you and I think a lot along the same lines!

By: Mrs Money

Mrs Money — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:42:13 +0000

Lynsey- I’ll have to see if I can find a used Bumbo! That’s a good idea. It’s so funny, because I was thinking yesterday I need some more soap nuts!

Thanks for all the tips- I appreciate it!