My Frugal Baby Tips

Image: Somebody unrolled all the toilet paper!, by Rob, Joyce, Alex and Nova, on Flickr

Would you like to prevent your toddler or pets from unrolling the entire roll of toilet paper, and stuffing it into the toilet, or trailing it through the house?

Make your own toilet roll cover/protector by recycling a plastic 2-liter soda pop bottle.

Image: Make your own toilet roll protector by recycling a plastic 2 litre pop bottle

HOW TO MAKE:

Cut off the bottle top and bottom of the soda pop bottle, to form your toilet roll cover/protector.

Measure your wall mount toilet paper roll holder to see what size you need - mine was 4 3/4 inches (12 cm) across.

TIP: you can use the leftover bottom to make fancy flower-shaped ice cubes for punch - and the leftover top for a funnel for sand play!

Image: Cut off the bottle top and bottom of the soda pop bottle, to form your toilet roll cover/protector

Cut a slot in this toilet roll cover/protector, to allow you to pull the toilet paper through, about 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) high and 4 inches (10 cm) across.

If you are using double roll toilet paper, simply cut across completely - from one side to the other.

Image: Cut a slot in this toilet roll cover/protector, to allow you to pull the toilet paper through, about 1/4 inch

If you wish, cover all raw edges with plastic tape to match your decor - I only had black tape on hand, but you can use any color to match your decor.

If using double roll toilet paper, use a piece of plastic tape to tape across the open sides, attaching both sides, leaving an opening of about 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) or larger, for the toilet paper to hang out.

Image: Remove your toilet roll and spindle from the wall mount, slide both inside your new toilet roll protector, and reattach the roll to the wall mount

Remove your toilet roll and spindle from the wall mount, slide both inside your new toilet roll protector, and reattach the roll to the wall mount.

This should at least slow your toddler or pets down!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Tutorial Photos credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt - All rights reserved

Shopping Suggestions:

Image: Toilet Paper Holder - Wall Mounted Waterproof Paper Holder Bathroom Paper Roll Holder,Toilet Paper Dispenser Cat Proof Wall Mounted No Drilling Waterproof Toilet Paper Holder | Visit the BICMTE Store

Cat Proof Holder

🧻 Cat Proof Toilet Paper Holder - Uses Self Adhesive Without Needing To Drill Holes Into Your Precious Tiles Or Wall And Risk Damaging Them. Easy to stick on most surfaces like Wood Surfaces, Glass Surfaces, Metal Surfaces, Tiles Surfaces. Plus the top of the toilet roll holder can hold your mobile phone, tablet, watch, wet wipes, glasses and other little gadgets while you use the toilet or have a shower, very convenient.

Image: Paws-Free Toilet Paper Cover | Stops children and pets from unraveling toilet paper

Paws-Free Cover

🧻 Paws-Free Toilet Paper Cover - Stops children and pets from unraveling toilet paper. Out of site, out of mind! Variety of patterns to pick from.

Pet Proof Holder

🧻 Pet Proof Toilet Paper Holder - Complete closed structure can protects toilet paper from water, also stop your pet from eating and shredding the toilet paper roll. Your days of picking up pet spit sodden toilet paper are over! Can also be a shelf to cellphones and other small items.

Self-Adhesive Holder

🧻 Self-Adhesive Toilet Paper Holder - Perfect for kids and pets. Easy to install, uses self adhesive sticker to keep the box on the wall, with a serrated edge, easy to tear toilet paper down. Also includes a storage box, to store garbage bags and privacy items such as sanitary napkins. Plus, the top of the toilet roll holder can hold your mobile phone, tablet, watch, wet wipes, glasses and other little gadgets while you use the toilet or have a shower, very convenient and practical!

Image: Naked Nursing Tank | Open Busted Breastfeeding Tank Top | Layering Cami and Maternity Undershirt | Bamboo/Cotton

Naked Nursing Tank: Open Busted Tank Top

Your baby needs to nurse, but you are out in public and you are uncomfortable about showing off all that skin when you lift your top?

Layer one crop top, blouse, shirt, etc. over an old T-shirt or tank top (mix or match colors!).

Nursing Undershirts

Cut two nursing slits in the old tank top or T-shirt and hem around the raw edges (hemming is not necessary, but it's up to you).

The top layer shirt will provide discreet coverage, yet your baby will still have easy access to nurse.

When you lift or shift your outer shirt to nurse, your tummy is fully covered. If you unbutton your blouse to nurse, your cleavage is not exposed.

Your baby's head and your outer garment cover the exposed portion of your breast.

Plus, there are no slits or panels to readjust after feeding!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Nursing Undershirts

Here are a few more no-sew nursing top ideas!

👶 The no sew nursing top solution

👶 30 second zero dollar NO SEW nursing tank top

👶 No-sew Nursing Tops

👶 Modest no sew nursing tops

👶 DIY Nursing Top: Budget-Friendly, No-Sew, Totally Stylish

👶 DIY Cute no sew nursing top

Have you ever wished there was an accurate up-to-date website, listing all the breastfeeding laws and their provisions for enforcement - all in one place?

Click for the: Breastfeeding Laws For US and Canada

Naked Nursing Tank

Shopping Suggestions:

👶 Naked Nursing Tank - Lily White, Charcoal, Midnight Black

👶 Sleeveless Nursing Tank Top

👶 Undercover Mama Nursing Tank

👶 Nursing Cami Tank Top

👶 Long Sleeve Nursing Top

👶 Short Long Sleeve Nursing Tops

I re-use an empty BabyGanics Foaming Hand Soap dispenser for all liquid baby soap I buy, and I've found it makes liquid soap go way further.

I find it a lot easier to shampoo baby's hair or wash a slippery baby when I can squirt foam soap out of a dispenser.

Cuisipro foam pump dispenser

I usually put an inch of liquid baby soap (Johnsons, Aveeno, etc.) in the dispenser, fill the rest of the bottle with water, give it a good shake, and it's ready to use.

I have also bought an empty Cuisipro foam pump dispenser from a kitchen/bath store and they work well too.

Many products now come in foam pump bottle styles and can be rinsed out, and used for this purpose as well.

I've been saving lots of money by being able to stretch one bottle of liquid soap about five times the length of time as opposed to using the soap straight from the container.

Thanks to Suzie Mah for this Frugal Baby Tip!

From the picture's description: This was obviously taken before people started suing sucker companies for choking their babies to death!

Anti Choking Hazard Device

Every home should have a choke tester to check if toys and other objects are safe for baby play.

But commercial choke testers can be very difficult to find, very expensive and too small to be effective.

Did you know you have a frugal baby choke tester right in your own home? (No, I don't mean the baby...)

How about an empty toilet paper tube!?

Commercial choke testers are made to gov't. regulation size of 3.5 cm (1 3/8") in diameter.

Your ordinary toilet paper tube is 4.5 cm (1 6/8") in diameter.

Image: You can consider any toy or object in your home that fits inside this toilet paper tube to be a choking hazard

However, the Consumer Products Safety Commission in the U.S. has reported many deaths of babies and children who have choked on objects slightly larger than 3.5 cm (1 3/8") in diameter.

You can consider any toy or object in your home fitting inside this toilet paper tube to be a choking hazard to your baby or child.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Sims Choke Tester

Shopping Suggestions:

🧪 Sims Choke Tester

🧪 KidCo Small Object Tester

🧪 CDN - Safety 1st" Small Object Tester

🧪 UK - Safetots Choke Tester

🧪 UK - BabyDan Choke Tester

Image: Reading in Bed, by Squiggle, on Flickr

Image: Gerber Birdseye Cloth Diapers, Flatfold, 20Count, White

Gerber Birdseye Flatfold Diapers

Have you got a bedwetter, but not enough money to afford those expensive cloth Bedwetter Pants, or the on-going expense of the disposable ones?

You can make your own - NO sewing required!

You will need: Two padded training pants (you can also use underpants, but padded training pants will be more absorbent), one or two flat or prefolded diapers, four diaper pins and a waterproof outer cover.

Or use a waterproof covered training pant for your outside layer - for a two-in-one combo!

Using the cloth diaper, fold it into a long thick rectangular pad. Lay this inside one of the training pants, so the folded diaper pad lays down the center of the training pant.

Image: Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist

Credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist.

Place another pin through the opposite short end of the diaper pad and back waist. Pin from the outside of the training pant, so as not to cause discomfort to your child.

Next, add the second training pant on the inside of the first, so you now have a training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant sandwich.

Add nylon, vinyl or other waterproof pull-on pants over top of everything. Or check into some of the newer fleece pull-on pants!

Image: Dappi Waterproof 100% Nylon Diaper Pants, White, Medium (2 Count)

Dappi Nylon Diaper Pants

These work great for kids embarrassed by the baby-like nylon or vinyl pants. Your bedwetter sandwich now has four layers - training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant | waterproof cover.

Use the two remaining diaper pins to pin through the three layers - two training pants and one waterproof outer cover - this time placing one diaper pin at each side waist.

Push the pins through the same area as the stitching on the waterproof cover to prevent damage.

These pins help to hold everything all together, and will allow your child the independence to quickly pull up and down their Bedwetter Pants when they need to go to the toilet.

If your child needs even more absorbency, you can add another layer of folded diaper, but this could be very bulky.

These Bedwetter Pants can also be used during the day, for older children not quite ready, or not completely potty-trained.

Potty Training Pants

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 5-Layer Potty Training Pants

🚼 Gerber Birdseye Prefold Diapers

🚼 Gerber Birdseye Flatfold Cloth Diapers

🚼 Dappi Waterproof Diaper Cover

🚼 Luvable Friends Training Pants

🚼 OsoCozy Diaper Pins

Image: Baby Splashing the the Tub, by StockSnap on Pixabay

Honeysticks Beeswax
Bath Tub Crayons

Here's how to make soap crayons for bath-time fun and easy quick clean-up!

I am wondering if we could use cookie cutters or somehow get them into better shapes than just the ice cube tray, but I haven't tried it myself yet.

Ingredients:
🖍️ 1 3/4 cups Ivory Snow (powder or soap flakes)
🖍️ 50 drops food coloring
🖍️ 1/4 cup water

Directions:
🖍️ Mix water and soap flakes together.
🖍️ Add food coloring.
🖍️ Put mixture into an bottle stick ice cube tray.
🖍️ Allow to harden.
🖍️ Break or cut into pieces.
🖍️ Fun to write with on the tub when bathing as well as your face and hands!

Image: Personalized merino wool baby cloth diaper cover soaker

Personalized merino wool diaper cover soaker

Want to make some wool soakers/diaper covers for a baby, but you are a crocheter, not such a great knitter?

I found a few patterns, and I thought I would share them with you!

A good place to go is Ravelry.com - a free site for knitters and crocheters.

I just found this site last week and I'm completely in love with it! The wool soaker group on Yahoo also has a few good patterns.

Here are a few others I found...

Image: Quick to Crochet Baby Boy Soakers

Quick to Crochet Baby Boy Soakers

-- Once you make your first couple of crocheted diaper covers, you'll be hooked on them and so will your little boy!

Click for pattern: Quick to Crochet Baby Boy Soakers

Curling Baby Set

-- Julia says, I wanted something absorbent so I chose the front and back post stitch to give it extra padding. The moms who have tried them have been really excited about how well the diaper covers work.

Click for pattern: Curling Baby Set

Little Fire Crochet Soaker Pants

-- The first one is super easy!
This pattern is written in four sizes

Click for pattern: Little Fire Crochet Soaker Pants

Tickle Turdle Wool Wraps

- Allows you to select the closure method you prefer. A Snappi works great! So do diaper pins!

Click for pattern: Tickle Turdle Wool Wrap

Rolled Edge Wool Soakers

-- Crochet it, put it on your baby and adore how cute it looks!

Click for pattern: Rolled Edge Wool Soakers Pattern
(archived on the Wayback Machine)

Image: Easiest Crochet Wool Soaker Pattern

Easiest Crochet Wool Soaker Pattern

-- This soaker pattern is the simplest of the simple to crochet. It is very economical, as it will fit most babies from start to finish because it is so S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y. Even the most novice of crocheters can work it up in no time.

Click for pattern: Easiest Crochet Wool Soaker Pattern

Image: Learn to Crochet Wool Diaper Covers

Learn to Crochet Wool Diaper Covers

-- Although these pants can be knitted, Stephanie found it faster to crochet them ... and all I need to make a pair is a size J crochet hook and four ounces of wool.

Click for pattern: Learn to Crochet Wool Diaper Covers

More Free Crochet Diaper Cover Patterns:

🚼 16 Crochet Diaper Cover Patterns

🚼 Princess Diaper Cover

🚼 Mickey and Minnie Inspired Crochet Diaper Covers

🚼 Bubbly Diaper Cover

🚼 Adirondack Babie Crocheted Soaker

Image: zefen Reusable Baby Diaper Cover/Knit Co | Natural, so soft, breathable, waterproof. Perfect with prefolds for hot climate

Reusable Diaper Cover

More Frugal Diaper Covers and Soakers:

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Easy Homemade Soaker

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Free Crochet Wool Soaker patterns

🚼 FREEBIE: Knit/Crochet/Sew Soaker patterns

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Free Diaper and Cover Patterns

🚼 Frugal Sewing: Make your own diaper cover pull-ons

🚼 Diaper Sewing: Making a fleece pull-on pant

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters

🚼 Diaper Sewing: More Free Wool Soaker Patterns

🚼 Diaper Sewing: 2 layer fleece soaker

🚼 Diaper Washing: Washing Wool Soakers

100% Merino Wool Diaper Cover

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Ready-Made Baby Wool Diaper Covers

🚼 Crochet Diaper Cover Patterns

🚼 100% Merino Wool Yarn | super-fine and soft

🚼 Fishermen's Wool Yarn | 100-Percent Pure Virgin Wool

🚼 100% Wool Yarn

🚼 Bamboo Handle Crochet Hooks

🚼 Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook Set

Image: Gustav in gDiaper, by Majorbonnet on Flickr

Here's a fast and simple way to make all your flat, prefold and shaped diapers into easy Velcro®-closing diapers!

Just cut one piece each of both hook and loop Velcro®.

Sizing: Small - cut 12" (31cm) long; Medium - cut 18" (46cm) long; Large - cut 24" (61cm) long; XLarge - cut 30" (76cm) long.

Trim off all the corners, into curves.

Place the Velcro® pieces back to back (with the hook and loop sides facing out, away from each other.)

Image: DIY Velcro(r) Diaper Fastener, by Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Sew together, around all four edges.

That's it! One fastener is all you need! If you wish, you could make one or two more, in case one gets soiled or lost.

Is that too much work??

Then you could just buy the One Wrap Velcro straps - no sewing involved!

Care: Wash by hand in the sink and hang to dry for longer wear.

To Use: Simply place the diaper on your baby as you normally would.

But, instead of using pins or clips, simply wrap this Velcro® diaper fastener around the diaper at your baby's waist, with the hook side facing the diaper, overlapping the Velcro® at baby's front (or back, if your baby can undo the strap!) to fasten.

The Velcro® hook part helps to hold the diaper in place.

Make sure the hooks are completely covered by the diaper, or they may irritate your baby's skin.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

One Wrap Velcro®

Shopping Suggestions:

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - Blue

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - White

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - Red

🧷 MPI One Wrap Velcro® Hook/Loop Fastening Tape - Green

Image: Oooh, soft, by Jenny Cu on Flickr

Here is the diaper wipes recipe I use now:

👶 2 1/2 cups warm water (distilled is best, but I'm lazy)
👶 2 teaspoons castile soap or baby shampoo
👶 1 tablespoon baby oil
👶 2 drops tea tree oil
👶 3-5 drops lavender oil

Here's another diaper wipes recipe:

👶 2 1/2 cups warm water
👶 2 teaspoons almond castile soap
👶 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
👶 2 drops tea tree oil
👶 2-3 drops ylang ylang

I think the Tea Tree oil is still necessary to keep in from getting funky.

Thanks to Julie for this Frugal Baby Tip!