My Frugal Baby Tips

Image: Indoor sandbox play, by OH Snap! Julie McGraw Photography, on Flickr

You can keep your little ones busy on a rainy stay-in day by creating an indoor sand-box or sensory box.

All you need is a large plastic dish-pan and a 5lb. (2 kg.) bag of cornmeal, rice, pasta noodles, dried beans, oatmeal, kinetic sand, etc. for sand.

ADD: plastic cups, spoons, scoops, bowls, measuring cups, funnels, strainers, etc.

Be sure to only fill to 3-4 inches below the top of your container to reduce spills.

The cornmeal, rice, pasta noodles, dried beans, and oatmeal vacuum up quickly and don't scratch the floor.

IDEA: Those Rubbermaid type bins that store under a bed make a nice big table type size container.

KINETIC Play Sand

Shopping Suggestions:

🏖️ KINETIC Play Sand

🏖️ Rubbermaid Dish Pan

🏖️ 50 Quart Underbed Buckle Up Box

🏖️ Rice in bulk bags

🏖️ Oatmeal in bulk

🏖️ Dried Beans in bulk

🏖️ Cornmeal in bulk

🏖️ Pasta in bulk

Image: Diaper Change on the Fountain Bench, by Sean Dreilinger on Flickr

Need a diaper cover in a hurry, and they're all in the wash!?

I used to keep nylon pull-on pants around for just such an emergency!

They are all in the wash too?? Use a plastic bag!

Cut a T-shape out of a grocery bag for a baby under about 16 lbs., or a kitchen garbage bag for a bigger baby.

Cut the bottom part of your T about 10" (25cm) wide on the bottom fold of the plastic bag.

This is the crotch part of your emergency diaper cover.

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt

Cut the top part of your T across the width of the plastic bag. This will be the waist ties.

Make your T about 8" (20cm) high for small, 10" (23cm) high for medium or 13" (33cm) for large.

Cut the sides of your T curved, for better coverage. Cut open the waist ties, so you can tie it on over baby's diaper.

Ties can be about 20" (51cm) long for small, 23" (58cm) for medium or 27" (69cm) for large.

Trust me, it sounds more complicated than it is . . .

When you open up the cover, you should have a giant H shape.

Place a folded prefold diaper inside, place baby on top, and tie at each side of baby's waist.

If you really like this style of diaper cover, you can cut some more out of waterproof, rip-stop nylon for no-sew, indestructible, washable tie-on diaper covers.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Diaper How-To Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Disposable Changing Pad

Shopping Suggestions:

👶 Diaper Quick Change Emergency Kit

👶 Safety 1st Oh Sh*t Kit

👶 Johnson's Tiny Traveler Baby Gift Set

👶 Daddy's Diaper Duty Apron

👶 Boudreaux's Complete Rash Kicking Kit, Diaper Rash Ointment and Applicator

👶 Disposable Diaper Changing Kit to Go

👶 Maki's Disposable Diaper Changing Kit to Go

Image: Crazy baby on a plane, by Madgerly on Flickr

I've flown twice with my daughter, Mackenzie - we flew to and from Massachusetts at 2.5 months, then to and from at 7 months. I was alone with her the first time, and my husband was with us the second time. We'll be going again in July-August, which would be 14 months.

If you can afford it, get the extra seat - holding a 2.5-month-old was easy. Holding a 7-month-old was harder. We're getting a seat this time - we'll be flying there alone, then back with my husband.

Primo LapBaby

Check as much as you can. If you get a seat for the kiddo, he/she gets two bags as well. But be sure to save at least one bag worth for things you're bringing back with you - even if you get no gifts, things never pack as well!

Roll the diapers to make them fit better in the diaper bag - and pack a day's worth (8-10 if possible) plus an extra shirt for you and an extra outfit for the kiddo. I don't know if it's the air pressure or what, but we have had our worst blow-outs on planes!

If you bring a stroller, gate-check it - it will get you to the gate, then you can ditch it. That way it can help you carry a diaper bag, baby, and sling through the airport.

Image: Child Airplane Travel Harness | Simple to use, Hands free for parents during flights | Cares Safety Restraint System | The Only FAA Approved Child Flying Safety Device

Flight Vest Travel Harness

Listen to my one word of advice - I don't care how addicted you are to your computer - do not try to carry baby, laptop bag, and diaper bag alone! It really isn't worth it - it gets bulky and heavy and cumbersome. But if you have a helper traveling with you, by all means, bring the laptop!

Finally, if you have a high-energy child, board *last* - if you pre-board that's just a longer period of time for them to get upset!

Happy traveling!

Rachel - who successfully cloth diapered through two airplane trips!

Thanks to Rachel for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Teddy bear bookends, by Camila Sanabria (cahmeelah), on Flickr

Decorating a little one's room can be so much fun! And can be so expensive!

But it doesn't have to be!

Steiff Teddy Bear

I took a look around and a Teddy Bear Bookend can cost you as much as $200 EACH!

Did you know... you can make your own matching stuffed toy book-ends out of your own adorable stuffed animals?

Simply undo the back of your stuffed toy, take out some of the stuffing and fill with marbles for weight.

Re-sew the back opening by hand.

Image: teddy bear sewing another teddy bear

To prevent sliding, glue a non-slip rubber /silicone mesh pad on the bottom of the stuffed toy.

This works great for matching the decor in your baby's room.

Thanks to Renata for this Frugal Baby tip!

Image: Country Teddy Bear Bookends, Adorable Teddy Bear Bookends, Bear Bookends, Books Are Fun Bookends

Shopping Suggestions:

🧸 Teddy Bear in a Jacke

🧸 Vermont Teddy Bear Cuddly Toy

🧸 Mega Marbles

🧸 Non-Slip Jar Lid Rubber Pad

Image: A Cool Dry Place, by Mark Gooding on Flickr

We love the fleece on Fuzzi Bunz (keeps the baby dry plus easy poop disposal).

Image: American Baby Company Fleece Blanket | Can be used in a baby carrier, stroller or as a traveling blanket | Ideal shower gift

American Baby Fleece Blanket

However we have a heavy wetter and can't stuff them enough with the Fuzzi Bunz diaper liners to prevent leaks, plus they are expensive.

So we cut up a $3.00 fleece baby blanket from the dollar store, to make fleece diaper liners.

Image: TotsBots Fleece Reusable Washable Nappy Liners (10 Pack) for use with TotsBots Reusable Washable Nappies

Reusable Nappy Liners

We used a flannel diaper liner as a pattern.

We add these to our regular prefold diapers and to our Kushies -- giving our regular diapers all the advantages of the pocket-style -- at a fraction of the cost.

Thanks to Kristin Verrill for this Frugal Baby Tips!

How To Make Cheap Re-usable Fleece Cloth Diaper Liners: How to make re-usable diaper liners out of Walmart fleece blankets. These are the $2.50 blankets that are stored in huge bins near the home area of the store. They have a ton of cute prints and make the PERFECT diaper liner.

Polar Fleece Fabric

More Do-It-Yourself Fleece Diaper Liners

✂️ How to Make DIY Cloth Diaper Liners – Cloth Diapers for Beginners

✂️ How to make your own Fleece Liners from a Walmart Blanket

✂️ Making your own fleece diaper liners - One Crunchy Square

✂️ The BEST Cloth Diaper Hack EVER: How to Make Fleece Liners for Cloth Diapers

✂️ DIY Cloth Diaper Inserts - Farmhouse on Boone

✂️ Making Cloth Diaper Inserts - Thinking About Cloth Diapers

✂️ How to Make Your Own Fleece Liners For Cloth Diapers

Image: The best second hand shop in Oxford, by Iona McNab, on PhotoBucket

Image: Danmeifu Baby Cloth Diaper Covers, Newborn One Size Adjustable Reusable Washable Nappy

Economical Diaper Covers

I had a blast today! There's a small second-hand children's store just down the street from me.

I decided to stop in and ask about cloth diapers/covers, and they showed me at least three bins of diapers and a basket full of covers.

At the second-hand store, the prices ranged from $1.29 for three liners, to $3.99 for a Kooshies...

I spent about fifteen dollars and came home with a bag full enough to make a full load for my washer.

I managed to pick up a couple of Dappi Contoured diapers, and a nice (unnamed) prefold.

I mostly got All-in-ones though for nighttime, and when my covers are in the wash.

Then I decided to check Amazon for their economical diapers and covers

- prices started as low as $0.59/each!!

I also checked out Ebay and found lots of great deals there!

Thanks to Ramona for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Shopping Suggestions:

🧷 Danmeifu Diaper Covers

🧷 Kushies/Kooshies Reusable Ultra Diapers

🧷 Dappi Brand--Pinless Contoured Cloth Diapers

🧷 OsoCozy Prefold Cloth Diapers

Image: Twin Girls with their dolls, on Pixabay

I made my own dolly diapers (though my daughter thinks all her dollies should be naked) from a cheap Gerber prefold.

It was pretty easy - just cut one in half, cut them into contour shapes sort of, and then put on some Velcro®.

Image: DC-BEAUTIFUL 4 Pack Baby Diapers Doll Underwear for 14-18 Inch Baby Dolls, American Girl Doll

Baby Doll Diapers

Here are a few patterns to make doll diapers:

🧷 Free Doll Nappy / Diaper Pattern and Tutorial | Willow and Stitch

🧷 Baby Doll Diapers and Accessories TUTORIAL

🧷 No-Sew Baby Doll Diaper | artsy-fartsy mama

🧷 Small Doll Crochet Diaper pattern by Victoria Stewart - Ravelry

Doll Diapers

🧷 Frilly pants/nappy/diaper cover knitting pattern for reborns and baby dolls

🧷 How To Make a Doll Diaper - Made Whimsy

🧷 How to make a diaper for a child's doll | Skip To My Lou

🧷 How to make cloth diapers for a baby doll

🧷 Goodness Gracious Preemie/doll diaper pattern

🧷 DIY Doll Diapers – Free Pattern + Tutorial!

🧷 Felt Baby Doll Diaper Pattern

One Size Diaper Patter

And if you want to make diapers for your own baby, here's a few great links:

🧷 Zany Zebra | Free Diaper Patterns

🧷 Making Baby Cloth Diapers – 18 wonderful Patterns {FREE}

🧷 Free Cloth Diaper PDF Patterns and Tutorials

🧷 Adorable Knitted Diaper Covers - DIYS.com

🧷 Make Your Own Diapers and Covers | BorntoLove.com

Thanks to Angela for this Frugal Baby Tip!

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

Image: Ice and Snow on Windshield, by Davie Bicker on Pixabay

Windshield De-Icer

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.

Windshield Snow Cover

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!

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!