My Frugal Baby Tips

Image: Deep thinking, because it's King! Spooky - by Lech Karol Pawłaszek, on Flickr

When our Diaper Duck broke for the second time, we decided not to pay the shipping to get another replacement.

Out of necessity, we discovered a frugal and effective fix - regular salad tongs work great for swishing and dunking diapers, and for holding the diaper and flushing at the same time.

The tongs have a metal piece that slides from the hinge end to the holder end, to keep the ends closed - when holding the diaper with the tongs, we slide this metal piece down, so the diaper stays clamped in the tongs.

You can swish and dunk without having to touch the toilet water at all.

Diaper Duck

Another great idea:
The Diaper Sprayer

Sometimes we swish and flush the big stuff, then just leave the diaper held in the tongs soaking in the toilet bowl until somebody needs to use the toilet.

Rolling the diaper around the tongs like rolling spaghetti on a fork, squeezes out enough water for the diaper to be whisked into a nearby diaper pail.

Thanks to Monica Thomas for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: ice on the windshield, by Anni and Bryan's (anniandbryan) from PhotoBucket

I guess this isn't really a baby tip, but when you have the kids already strapped into their car seats in the middle of winter, and the windshield is frosted over, anything to gets you moving quicker is a good idea!

What I did was fill a small spray bottle I bought at the Dollar Store with windshield washer fluid, good to 45 degrees below zero.

We start the car, have the heat settings on defrost, high and hot, and I spray the windshield quickly before strapping in the kids.

Once I am done, the ice scraper does a quick job of any remaining ice.

Another idea: Cover your windshield with an old bedsheet when snow or ice is in the forecast.

Hold the sheet in place, by closing it in the door on each side.

In the morning, just peel the sheet off the windshield.

Thanks to Cathy for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo credit: Ice on the windshield, by Anni and Bryan

Image: The tables are turned, by McBeth, on Flickr

I have a great recipe for a diaper wipe solution.

I cut my own reusable baby wipes out of fleece fabric.

No sewing needed!

Image: Burt's Bees Baby Bee Apricot Nourishing Baby Oil | Apricot oil is infused with grape seed, olive and avocado oils | creates a rich, natural treat for precious skin | added vitamin E and lanolin to help keep baby's skin fresh, soft and smooth

Burt's Bees Apricot Baby Oil

This recipe makes a good mommy wipe solution as well.

Diaper Wipes Ingredients:

• 2 TBSP Baby Bee's Apricot Oil

• 2 TBSP Baby Wash

• 1 tsp vinegar (to cut the yeasties) per 8 oz of distilled water

Thanks to Melanie for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Here's what I like to do to comfort a teething baby.

Babies, especially when they are teething, love to suck on pretty much anything.

Get a clean washcloth, tie a couple knots in the corners.

Nuby Soothing Teething Mitten

Then wet the washcloth with either water or breastmilk, and freeze it.

The cloth won't get hard enough to damage anything.

It will be easy to grab, and not too cold for baby to handle.

Another idea is to let your little one suck on a chilled, soft tip spoon.

The coolness of the spoon will help comfort your baby's swollen gums.

NOTE: Be sure to place the spoon in the refrigerator to chill, not the freezer.

A frozen spoon might stick to your baby's gums.

Thanks to Ann for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Wife and Baby, by Csaba Magdo (Ywerd) on FreeImages

Image: NeatoTek 2 Pack Large Size 35x27 Bed Pads Washable WaterProof Mattress Protector, Reusable Pee Pads for Bed Wetting Toddlers, Adults, Elderly, Women or Kids, Children Waterproof Mattress Pad

Waterproof Mattress Pads

We use a waterproof crib pad under the baby in our family bed.

Actually, we use half of one -- we got two waterproof crib pads and cut them in half, so now we have four to rotate.

So if my son's diaper ever leaks (very rarely), all we have to do is change the pad, not the sheets.

Thanks to Linda for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Baby eating baby food), by Ravedave on Wikimedia

Here's a hint: Make baby bibs out of a shower curtain you would otherwise throw away.

Clean it well, and cut it into large squares.

Round off the corners, if you prefer.

Sew a hem around the edges, and cut a hole to go over the baby's head.

Use a soft fabric to sew around the inside edge of the hole.

Fold up and sew the bottom edge to make a food pocket.

Thanks to Lindsey and Justin Cannon for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Anderson eating baby food, by Brian Brodeur (mightyb), on Flickr

If you are making your own baby food, and baby is still only at the tasting stage - storing your prepared food in ice-cube trays can be wasteful, since it is way more than your baby will eat in one sitting.

Look around for some cocktail ice-cube trays (I found mine at the Dollar store).

Depending on the size you find, each cube is only about 1-2 teaspoons - just the right size for a taste!

Then you can use the tray again when your child is older, to make fun ice cube shapes for their drinks!

Thanks to Suzanne for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: TraderPlus 160 Mini Cubes | Silicone Frozen Ice Cube Tray | Candy Chocolate Jelly Mold | 100% BPA Free food grade silicone

Shopping Suggestions:

• Silicone Mini Ice Cube Tray

• Casabella Silicone Mini Ice Cube Tray

• Arrow Ice Cube Tray

• Mumi+Bubi Solids Starter Kit

• Juvenile Solutions Baby Food Storage Cubes

Image: Play Mates, by Jeff Osborn on FreeImages

Tip #1 - Use a laundry basket for baby's toys. It will fit right under your baby's crib.

Tip #2 - Use coloured construction paper (or black, depending on baby's age) and cut shapes out.

Multi-Color Construction Paper

Put on the wall around the baby's change table, but out of baby's reach.

It helps to distract the baby a bit.

Use putty adhesive, so you don't damage the wall.

Move shapes around once in a while.

Plastic pocket mirrors work better for older babies.

Thanks to Renata for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Two women work hard on a reusable menstrual hygiene kit made by Sierra Leoneans for Sierra Leoneans, by Geraint Hill on Wikimedia

Image: Organic Bamboo Reusable Cloth Menstrual Period Pads | SAVE the environment and money within TWO MONTHS these pads will pad for themselves | you'll be able to use them for YEARS!

Organic Bamboo Cloth Pads

I used cloth pads for about a year before I got pregnant. I LOVED them.

I will definitely go back to using them and take some of the bigger ones to the birth center with me when I have my baby.

They are soft, super absorbent, and I no longer get a terrible rash (not mention all sorts of other unmentionable things with disposables -- UGH.)

And in my opinion, cloth smells completely different, much more earthy, not at all fishy like disposables.

I soak mine in cold water for a day, empty, then put them in a dry bucket and wash them with my underwear when I wash laundry once a week (that will change as soon as the baby comes, I know).

Image: Brino Sanitary Napkins, 250mm Reusable Organic Cotton Menstrual Pad Washable Day and Night Panty Liner Sanitary Cloth(#1)

Reusable Organic Menstrual Pads

I have PixieCup Bamboo pads which are black, so stains are hardly noticeable.

I prefer dark colors, which won't show stains like unbleached cotton does.

I like PixieCup, but I haven't tried others. I saw one site on the web for ones you could even wear as a thong!

The only thing I don't like is if I run out and have to use a disposable ---- ICK!!!! I was about to buy more when I got pregnant, so... I'll get some before March.

If you liked the look of these pads, you can find instructions for making your own look-alike ones:
Make Your Own Cloth Menstrual Pads Pattern

Thanks to Kathryne for this Frugal Baby Tip!