My Frugal Baby Tips

Image: Little Girl May Basket, by SewWithJan from Flickr

Photo credit: Little Girl May Basket, by SewWithJan

Too many receiving blankets? Make a couple dozen of them into great prefold diapers. Even with a high-needs baby, I was able to make at least one of these diapers per day.

Here's how:
1. Cut one receiving blanket down to about 20" x 36" to 40". This should give you a second strip about 7"-10" wide.
2. Fold this narrow strip in half or thirds to about 20" long.
3. Place this down the center of the large piece, as shown:
[ :: [] :: ]
4. Fold in the sides of the larger piece about 2/3 of the way across.
5. Overlap them on top of the folded strip down the center, leaving the diaper about 15" across: [::[]::] = [[]]

Sewing:
1. Zigzag stitch across the top and bottom raw edges of the folded diaper, making sure to catch in all layers.
2. Stitch down the center pad about 1/2" in from the edge of the center pad.

NOTE: All measurements depend on original size of the blanket. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Simple Joys by Carter's Baby 7-Pack Flannel Receiving Blankets | ideal for swaddling, burping, or cuddling

Shopping Suggestions:
• Simple Joys by Carter's Flannel Receiving Blankets
• Luvable Friends Flannel Receiving Blankets
• Gerber 100% Cotton Receiving Blankets
• Spasilk 100% Cotton Receiving Blankets
• Swaddling Hospital Receiving Blankets
• Kidalog Prefold Flannelette Cloth Diaper
• 4 Little Bits Boutique Prefold Diapers

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

Photo credit: The Tables Are Turned, by McBeth

I have a great recipe for wipe solution.

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

No sewing needed!

This recipe makes a good mommy wipe solution as well.

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

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!

Image: Dad's First Diaper Change, by Christi on Flickr

Photo credit: Dad's First Diaper Change, by Christin

We use Huggies disposable wipes because they can be washed with the diapers enumerable times.

I lost count and when one finally gets threadbare (20 washings?), I use it as the pooper scooper.

When I have finally rinsed the poopy diaper, I rinse off the poopy wipe in the rinse bucket and say farewell.

Image: Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance Free Baby Wipes Refill, 600 Count

Huggies Fragrance Free Baby Wipes

It is so ironic something intended to be used one time can be washed 20 or more times.

Other brands don't go as long 2-3 maybe 5 washes and they are very linty but not the Huggies wipes.

Image: Prince Lionheart Warmies Reusable Cloth Wipes | Using reusable wipes for your baby keeps tons of trash out of landfills annually | making Warmies the environmentally conscious decision

Prince Lionheart Cloth Wipes

To think I spent hours making little cloth wipes out of an old flannel sheet 12 months ago, and have yet to use them for a baby's bottom.

We use them as napkins at mealtime instead.

-- Stay-at-home dad, Mike Micklich

Thanks to Mike Micklich for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Disana 100% Boiled Merino Wool Diaper/Cover Made in Germany

Disana Merino Wool Diaper

Delirose asked: Is there a free pattern for making a recycled wool wrap?

I would love to make a few of these for the new baby and would prefer a ready-made pattern/directions instead of having to figure it out all on my own.

Any links to suggest?

Amberlina: Try the The Sewing Dork pattern. She tells you how to do different steps so you can take what you need from it, and it is really easy to understand.

Wheezy: There's a free Upcycled Wool Wrap. It will work well with recycled wool sweaters.

Mamatomax: Here ya go: How To Sew a Wool Wrap

More Patterns:

♥ Sew a Wool Diaper Cover

♥ Wool Diaper Wrap

♥ My Favorite Everyday Wool Diaper Cover

Thanks to DeliRose for this Frugal Baby Tip!

IKEA Mula Stack and Nest Cups

Baby Stacking Toys
Save any empty plastic lids like shaving foam and hair spray lids.

Wash well, and give to a baby who can sit up well.

Baby can practice stacking up, nesting inside each other, and banging together to make noise.

Baby Play Mats
Using a small blanket as your base, sew on brightly colored fabric pieces in different textures and sizes to create a play mat.

Attach short ribbon loops to the corners, and you could attach a teething toy or rattle or two for extra fun.

Image: Taggies Sherbet Lamb Lovey Toy | Adorned with interactive and soothing tags babies love to explore

Taggies Lamb Lovey Toy

Baby Sock Balls
Simply roll a clean pair of socks into itself so baby can practice gripping and throwing.

Stuff with crinkly paper to make a great sound!

Baby Lid Chains
Start saving plastic lids from milk bottle tops, soft drink bottles, etc.

Look for different colored lids.

Punch a small hole into the top of each with a nail, thread onto a length of cord, or ribbon to create a chain of lids with a rattle.

Thanks to Sharon for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Strings
-- Make sure any strings or ribbons are not long enough to get wrapped around baby and cut off baby's circulation. Also make sure they are firmly attached to the toy.

Supervision of babies with toys
-- Did we mention babies put everything in their mouths? It's important to remember any homemade toy can potentially cause choking – no matter how well you've made it. If anyone can pull it apart, your baby can! Keep an eye on baby at all times.

More: 17 Homemade Sensory Development Toys For Babies

Jose messing around with some ice cream, by EDu Dougall

When my eldest son was a baby, the weather got scorchingly hot, and my son decided he would go between refusing to nurse, to wanting to nurse every 30-45 minutes.

Out of desperation I had pumped off milk, and thrown it into the freezer.

The rest of us were all eating ice and slushies, and ice cream (and such frozen treats), my son was looking longingly at these frozen treats.

So I pulled some of the frozen breast milk out of the freezer, put it through my ice shaver, and Viola!

A frozen treat for my son.

He ate it up quite happily, practically living on it for the rest of the hot spell.

When I mentioned this to my pediatrician, he thought I was quite bright for trying it.

Thanks to Shelley for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: I have tons of cool sand toys, by Emmanuelle Bourgue on Flickr

Photo credit: I have tons of cool sand toys, by Emmanuelle Bourgue

Recycle your 1 liter and 4 liter (quart and gallon) plastic bottles - into sand toys!

Clean them out well, and using a craft knife - cut your 4 litre (gallon) bottle all around about 15 cm (6") from the bottom.

Poke a couple of holes on opposite sides near the top - attach a short rope handle and you have your sand pail.

The remaining piece becomes your funnel.

You can cut another 4 litre (gallon) bottle about 5 cm (2") high and poke the bottom full of holes for a sieve.

Image: Cut the bottom off your 1 litre (quart) bottle. Then cut a long U-shaped scoop, sloping your cut up along the sides

Photo credit: How to Make Plastic Bottle Sand Scoops, by PickleBums.com

Cut the bottom off your 1 litre (quart) bottle. Then cut a long U-shaped scoop, sloping your cut up along the sides.

If your bottle comes with a handle, make sure the handle ends up on the top side of the scoop. This becomes your shovel.

The best part of these toys is - if they get left behind on the beach, you can always make another set!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Chefs Quality Distilled White Vinegar | 1 jug, 1 gallon

Shopping Suggestions:
• Chef's Quality Distilled White Vinegar | 1 gallon jug
• Tajima Precision Craft Slide Lock Snap-Blade Knife
• Aztec Tool Sand Toy Set
• Aztec Bucket Sand Toy Set

Image: Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food and Breast Milk Trays

Fresh Baby Baby Food/Breast Milk Trays

We were so broke after my daughter was born, so I read a book from the library called the Tightwad Gazette, and got a lot of earth-friendly, cheap ideas on running your house.

I think that's when I first considered actually washing the cloth diapers my kid was wearing (someone gave us 3 months of diaper service for a baby gift), making baby food (fewer fillers and preservatives and cheaper!!!).

It turns out a lot of the frugal things to do are very good for the environment.

And another book, the Mommy Made one I mentioned, even had good ideas for making and freezing the meats, and great tips on picky eaters and order of introducing foods.

Altho' it sounds like most of our kids did fine, eating wise.

I spent a couple hours a week making foods, pureeing them, and freezing them in ice cube trays.

When I fed her, I just popped an ice cube or two of squash into a bowl and heated it.

Of course, she kinda transitioned into eating table food by about 11 months and I still sometimes find a cube or two of beans or chicken in the freezer when I'm hunting for something else! LOL!

I also saved a few baby food jars, and so when I'd go out, I found the food would melt to just about room temp by the time I needed it.

It worked well for my weekly MOMS group lunch at the park.

Thanks to Ness for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Beach baby bingo, by Ben McLeod on Flickr

Photo credit: Beach Baby Bingo, by Ben McLeod

Summer's coming! Kids whining about their itchy bug bites?

Here's some relief for both of you!

Find a small roll-on or sponge dabber type of bottle. Or even a small spray bottle.

Clean out the bottle very well.

If you don't have anything suitable around the house, you can find stamp moistener sponge bottles at an office supplies or dollar store for around $1.00-$4.00.

Antiperspirant bottles, by How can I recycle this

Fill the bottle with vinegar, and simply roll or dab onto the bug bites. Instant relief!

You could also just dab it on straight from the vinegar bottle, but the best part of using a roll-on or dab-on bottle is the kids can use it themselves - whenever their bites start to itch again!

If you don't like the vinegar smell - this next tip will take a bit longer.

Soak the left-over peels from a couple of oranges (or lemons, clementines, tangerines, limes) in vinegar for two weeks in a sealed 16-ounce mason jar.

After two weeks, pour the vinegar into your roll-on bottle and apply this yummy smelling bug bite relief!

Thanks to Caroline for this Frugal Baby Tip!