My Frugal Baby Tips

Photo Credit: St. Lunaire Refugee Home
by Otis Historical Archives National Museum

After trying two doses of Nix and ending up with lice that were still wiggling (ICK!)

I used olive oil as a friend suggested.

She says mayonnaise also works.

You don't have to leave it on overnight, although I did - just to be safe.

A few hours will do the trick.

Comb out dead buggies with a lice comb, then wash hair and pick out remaining nits.

This treatment should be done on days 1, 2, 5, 9, 17, 19, and 21 - to coincide with the life cycle of the lice.

Value added is it's not so hard on your drains when you wash it out.

Thanks to Katie for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Warm Mittens, by MabelAmber on Pixabay

I spied some Bed Sheet Grippers in the Dollar store and put them to Frugal Baby use!

I keep several in our diaper bag...

• to use with restaurant napkins to make an emergency bib

• to hold a receiving blanket in place over a stroller or car seat

Adjustable Bed Sheet Grippers

• to clip mittens to their coat sleeves.

• to clip boots and shoes to their pants or snow pants for non-walkers.

• under the foot, clipped to each pant leg, to keep their legs covered.

• I use another one to use to keep baby's shirt tucked in, fastening the shirt at the front and back over a diaper.

Thanks to Cathy for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Cute Baby in Blanket, by Punit Sharma on Pixabay

Here are some quick and easy baby gift ideas:

If you can crochet, you can either buy flannel, burp cloths or ready-made receiving blankets, and finish the edge with crochet.

You can make a double layered receiving blanket just by sewing two together along the serged edge.

You can trim a receiving blanket with lace, ribbon, etc. for a beautiful finish!

More Receiving Blanket Ideas!

• How to Sew a Receiving Blanket

• Receiving Blanket with Matching Burp Cloth

• Reversible Flannel Receiving Blankets with Decorative Stitching

• Crocheted-Edge Blanket Tutorial

• 5 Crochet Edges You Should Know

And more baby gifts to make:

• Homemade Baby Gifts to Make

• Tutorial: DIY Lovey Tag Blanket

• Sew an Easy Beginner’s Baby Quilt

• 25 DIY Gifts for Baby's First Christmas

• 25 Fabulous Free Baby Sewing Patterns

Image: Family Bed, by Simon Matzinger on Pixabay

We sleep all together in a family bed.

I have always just folded up a flannel receiving blanket in fourths and put it under baby.....

When they got older and were potty training... I put the rubberized crib sheet under their portion of the sheet and cover that with the folded up blankie.

Makes the leaks less devastating to the night.

Plus... remember I have had waaaaaaaaaay more leaks with disposable diapers than with cloth diapers...

In fact, that is when I started using this blankie thing was when I was using disposable diapers.

Thanks to Elke for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: She loves a napkin on her head, by HeyGabe WW on Flickr

Photo credit: She loves a napkin on her head, by HeyGabe WW

Last night, I was going through my linens, about to toss out those ragged washcloths and towels.

When it occurred to me a washcloth is the perfect size for a diaper doubler!

Cut two layers of towel 1/3 the width of the washcloth and stitch to the middle of the washcloth using a zig-zag stitch, just like a prefold diaper.

Image: Cut two layers of towel 1/3 the width of the washcloth and stitch to the middle of the washcloth using a zig zag stitch, just like a prefold diaper

Snappi Cloth Diaper Fasteners

To use: fold into thirds and place inside a diaper for a five layers of terry, quick drying, super absorbent, and free doubler.

These can also be used as newborn diapers fastened with a Snappi diaper fastener

Or just laid inside a wrap cover.

Thanks to Suzanne for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Laundry Days by Renee Ya, on Flickr

Photo credit: Laundry Days, by Renee Ya

When my son Angus was old enough to sit up, but not steady enough keep himself from falling over, I would put him in a square laundry basket.

He could sit up, and if he started to fall, he could just push himself up again from the sides of the basket.

His toys stayed right within reach.

He spent many an hour at the foot of my desk, playing happily right next to me, choosing his toys from the pile at his feet, dropping them over the sides, etc.

I would never leave him alone in the basket but keep him right next to me.

Thanks to Valerie L'Herrou for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Sterilite Square Laundry Basket | features heavy duty construction including a thick reinforced rim and reach through handles

Shopping Suggestions:
• Sterilite Square Laundry Basket
• Woven Willow Laundry Basket
• Baby Buddy Secure-A-Toy
• Summer Infant 3-Stage Deluxe SuperSeat

Image: Emma follows in family tradition, by Paul Roberts on Flickr

Photo credit: Emma follows in family tradition, by Paul Roberts

Have you got a funny baby that loves to turn off your computer, right in the middle of your work or writing?

If the front of your computer is flat, you can protect it with a sheet of plexiglass and some sticky-back Velcro® dots!

Just get a small piece of plexi-glass or even a plastic bread board - say about 5" by 7" (or to fit your computer) - and six Velcro® dots.

Place one side of the Velcro® dots at each corner of the plexi-glass or bread board, and one in the centre of each longer end.

Next, place the other side of the Velcro® dots on the coordinating spot across the front of your computer, covering up the ON button. Line up the two sides of Velcro® and install your:

Frugal Baby Computer Protector TM!

Image: Norpro Icon Cut N Slice Flexible Cutting Boards | Flex it, bend it or funnel it

If the front of your computer is not flat, don't despair! Get a flexible cutting board from the Dollar store, or keep an eye out for some clear rigid packaging, that you can wrap across the front of your computer, and fasten with Velcro® dots along each side.

This time you will need the rigid plastic to be about 8.5" by 11" (or to fit your computer).

Place three Velcro® dots along each side of the shorter end of the plastic.

Then place the coordinating dots along each side of your computer front, to match the ones on your piece of plastic.

Then just line up and fasten one side, wrap around and fasten on the other side. There you go!

NOTE: This will not stop a determined troublemaker, but is very effective for most babies and toddlers who don't really understand the frustration turning off mommy's or daddy's computer can cause!

Image: Parent Units PC Guard Tower Protector | PC guard tower protector covers computer front panels | protecting power buttons, DVD/CD draws, and disc drives

Shopping Suggestions:
• Parent Units PC Guard Tower Protector
• Norpro Icon Cut N Slice Flexible Cutting Boards
• Velcro Brand Sticky Back Coins 5/8 inch 15/Pkg-Clear
• Safety 1st Power Strip Cover
• Mommy's Helper Power Strip Safety Cover

Image: Kids love this, by Philippe Teuwen, on Flickr

Photo credit: Kids love this, by Philippe Teuwen

Cover your hands with bubble solution. Then place your hands together as if to form a cup, leaving a small opening at the bottom.

Hold your mouth about one foot above your hands, and BLOW!

Homemade Bubbles
• 1/2 (500 ml) cup dish-washing liquid/soap
• 4-1/2 (4.5 liter) cup water
4 tablespoons (60 ml) glycerin

Measure out the water, detergent, and glycerin into a container with a cover and stir gently.

Note: The longer you let the mixture set, the larger the bubbles are and the longer they seem to last.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

More Bubble Ideas:

Giant Bubble Maker

The Most Fantastic Bubble Wand

Have you ever made giant bubbles? How fun!

Here is a DIY giant bubble wand tutorial

Giant Bubbles Recipe

• 6 cups water
• 1 cup Karo® Light Corn Syrup
• 2 cups (16 ounces) clear dish-washing liquid/soap

Image: Ultra Bouncing Bubbles | These bubbles will defy physics and you won't believe your eyes

Bouncing Bubbles

Can you make bubbles bounce?

I wonder if I made this if my dogs would appreciate it as much as kids might?

• 1 cup distilled drinking water
•1 Tablespoon dish soap
•1 Teaspoon of glycerin
•1 straw (this is just what I chose to blow the bubbles with, I'm assuming you can use a typical bubble wand)
•1 clean glove (or sock) - (this is to keep the bubble from popping)

Mix all ingredients together and let sit for 24 hours.

Recipe thanks to PlayAtHomeMomLLC.com

Image: Snake Bubbles, by acoupleofcraftaddicts

Snake Bubbles

How fun would it be to make snake bubbles!?

This craft is so easy and I bet you already have all the supplies in your house.

All you need is a plastic water or juice bottle.

Cut off the bottom, cover the raw edges with duct tape, dip in bubble solution and BLOW!

Have a contest to see who will make the longest snake!

Idea and photo credit: acoupleofcraftaddicts.blogspot.com
All rights reserved

Image: Palmolive Ultra Soft Touch Dish Liquid | Leaves even your toughest dishes, pots, and pans sparkling clean

Shopping Suggestions:
• Palmolive Ultra Soft Touch Dish Liquid
• Heritage Store Vegetable Glycerin
• Ecover Grapefruit and Green Tea Dishwashing Liquid
• Karo Light Corn Syrup

Image: Painted pails, by Monica Arellano-Ongpin on Flickr

Photo credit: Painted pails, by Monica Arellano-Ongpin

Just thought I would add to this tip...

I too use this type of bucket, but being an artist, I can't stand to have things around that just aren't aesthetically pleasing.

Using regular acrylic paints which are non-toxic, I paint the entire bucket and lid to match the painting I did on the dresser and crib.

Behrens Locking Lid Can

Once it's done and dry, you just put on a few coats of water based polyurethane which is also non-toxic and it keeps it from chipping or peeling off.

Now you have a nice, one-of-a-kind, decorative diaper pail!!

Thanks to Karylann Love for this Frugal Baby Tip!