My Frugal Baby Tips

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!

Image: King of the Kitchen, by Gabriella Corrado, on Flickr

Photo credit: King of the Kitchen, by Gabriella Corrado

When my boys were little, we didn't have any door handles on our lower kitchen cabinets.

I just hooked a bungee cord from the door at one end, across the front of all the cabinet doors, to the door at the other end.

My son couldn't get in!

Thanks to Betsy for this Frugal Baby Tip!

NOTE: Some children might still be able to undo these cords, and they could snap back - so it is always best to monitor your child, do not leave them alone in the kitchen.

Image: Keeper 06051 10 inch Bungee Cord - Pack of 4 - Maximum tensioning with minimum force

Shopping Suggestions:
• Keeper 10" Bungee Cord
• Highland Fat Strap Bungee Cord Assortment
• Kiscords Safety Cabinet Locks
• Mommy's Helper Safe-Lok Cabinet Door and Drawer Lock
• Magnetic Cabinet Locks
• Dual Action Multi Use Latches

Image: Cupboards are Awesome!, by Amber Lynn Lane (amberlynnlane), on Flickr

Photo credit: Cupboards are Awesome!, by Amber Lynn Lane

Entertain baby in the kitchen by filling the bottom drawer in the kitchen with safe plastic aluminum/steel, or wooden kitchen items.

Such as... bowls and containers with lids, tools like whisks, spatulas, wooden spoons, pot lids and other safe kitchen things.

Baby will love to open and close this special drawer, taking the things out and putting them back in.

It may even give you some time to get your kitchen work done!

Thanks to Caroline for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Chef Buddy 6-Piece Kitchen Utensil Set on Ring | Slotted spoon, pasta fork, ladle, strainer spoon, pasta fork, ladle, strainer spoon

Shopping Suggestions:
• Chef Buddy Kitchen Utensil Set on Ring
• Totally Bamboo 5-Piece Utensil Set
• Utopia Kitchen Mixing Bowl set
• Silly Face Bowls Set

Image: Changing Fun, by Toby Bochan on Flickr

Photo credit: Changing Fun, by Toby Bochan

Place a bulletin board or sheet of cork on the wall near (but well out of reach) your baby's bed or change table.

When objects and colors begin to fascinate your newborn, you can attach different objects and pictures to your Discovery Board for your baby to look at.

Later, this can be a place to display your toddler's artwork.

Watch out if you are using pins, though!

I prefer to use a TAC-ON MAT or a fabric Memo Board.

You can post up or rearrange your notices without using risky push pins or any other pin!