My Frugal Baby Tips

When I first started to cloth diaper I tried the frugal tip at Born to Love, washing them in the tub using old bathwater, and it didn't work for me.

They came out yucky.

I have two children in cloth, my daughter is finally starting to potty train but still wears cloth half the time, and I have to use a laundromat for the washing and drying.

Right now it costs me $2.00 to wash and $1.50 to dry (.25 = 8 minutes, and I usually dry for 48 minutes), and I wash two loads a week, so that's $7.00 per week.

Using Walmart's brand disposables would cost me $15 per week, so I'm still saving money.

When my daughter potty trains I'll be even, but there are so many more benefits to using cloth over saving money: not putting chemicals on your baby, better for the landfills, no human waste in landfills leaching into the water supply, etc.

Plus it's a heck of a lot cuter than using disposables.

Image: Household Essentials 6524 Tall Indoor Folding Wooden Clothes Drying Rack | Dry Laundry and Hang Clothes | Bamboo

Wooden Clothes
Drying Rack
Folds flat for storage

I don't dry my Bumkins diapers or my covers. I use a wooden drying rack for these.

You don't HAVE to use a dryer, it will just take longer for stuff to dry if you hang dry.

If I am short on funds, I dry however long I can and then hang them up to finish drying.

If I delay washing for a day or so, I use the huge washing machine for $3.00, which is cheaper than using two $2.00 machines, and I still dry for $1.50.

So, using cloth diapers with a commercial laundromat is not necessarily more expensive than using disposables.

You can get some Chinese Prefolds, some Thirsties diaper covers, some hemp doublers, make your own fleece liners, make your own wipes, and come out ahead (like me!).

Thanks to Melanie for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: uncut fruit, by Ugly Duckling's (im_an_ugly_duckling) on Photobucket

You can make pureed fruit on the go, with just a spoon or fork for babies eight months old and up.

Cut an apple, or pear in half.

Simply scrape across the surface of the fruit several times with a spoon, and feed the resulting puree to your baby.

You could also mash an avocado, melon, papaya, kiwi or banana with a fork - instant baby food!

Thanks to Susan for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Look ma - diaper pin! by Devon, on Flickr

My mom always said to help diaper pins go through the cloth easier I should keep them pushed in a bar of soap - it sort of greases the metal.

But I have a better tip!

Image: Terrycloth Sponges by Evelots | Terrycloth bath sponges turn any bar of soap or soap slivers into an easy-grip soap on a rope

Terrycloth Soap Cover

I used a terrycloth soap cover, but, after the bar of soap kept crumbling, I got smart.

I had been putting small pieces of sponges in the bottom of my soap dishes for years to make them a breeze to clean.

They sop up the soap which normally falls to the bottom of the soap dish. I decided to combine the two ideas.

For a month I put a Scrunge Scrub Sponge in the soap dish, rough side down. Then, once it had lots of soap I moved it to my diaper station and put the pins in!

Image: RTZAT Multi-Use Natural Fabric Non Scratch Kitchen Bathroom Heavy Duty Cleaning Scrunge Scrub Dish Sponge

Scrunge Scrub Sponge

The rough bottom kept the soap from getting the underside all yucky and also stops the pin from going through to the table.

The soap in the sponge keeps the pins nicely greased and easy to use, and it hasn't yet shown any signs of wear and tear the way the bar of soap did!

Thanks to Camille Mittermeier for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Child in the Washer, by Sharron on Flickr

Image: Rockin Green Cloth Diaper and Laundry Detergent (Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer), 16oz | gets rid of stinky smells while keeping you green | Suitable for both cloth diaper and general household laundry

Rockin Green Cloth Diaper Detergent

I do not use a diaper pail, I just put my used cloth diapers straight into the washing machine with no water (I have a front loading).

Then every two days I do a rinse and short spin the diapers with cold water (and a bit of vinegar).

Then do a hot wash with an organic detergent (only a TBSP).

Hang the diapers to dry, and start all over again.

Any smell is trapped in the washing machine, and I never usually need to do laundry more often than every two days, so it works out perfectly.

Thanks to Mandy for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Our bedroom - wall to wall bed, by William Heaton (billheat) on Photobucket

We, like many have posted, bought an expensive crib, decked it out in beautiful bedding, painted her room, etc.

Then she slept in our bed from birth.

We did decide there wasn't enough room in our bed, and moved her crib into our room, rather than buy one of those bedside cribs.

Our bed is high off the ground, and the top crib mattress setting is exactly the same height.

So we just stuck it right next to the bed and left the side down on that side.

But now she is getting more mobile, we were a little worried, so our newest solution was to dismantle our beautiful one-year-old cherry Queen Anne bed (yes, we are still paying it off...), and put it in the basement.

The mattress and box are on the floor, and next to it we have an older style full-size box and mattress (we don't own a twin or we would have used that) that has the wall on two sides, us on the other and a changing table at the foot.

So pretty much she is secure from falling off the bed.

It is also about four inches shorter than our set.

All of our more mainstream friends think we're nuts.

We figure she needs the security, and we like having her nearby.

But this way, we have a bit of room and at least a bit of privacy.

We figure if she is asleep, she has no idea what we're doing in the other bed, so our love life isn't on hold.

In fact, we keep trying for number two, we just haven't managed yet.

Thanks to Carla for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Smiling at a fresh delivery of diaper wipes, by Jessica Merz on Flickr

I prefer to use Puffs facial tissues for my baby's bottom rather than the homemade baby wipes to save money.

I have a squirt bottle filled with 2-3 tablespoons baby wash, 2-3 tablespoons baby oil and water.

I squirt his bottom, then wipe with the dry tissues.

Facial tissues are softer and much less expensive than paper towels - and I don't have to bother with cutting the paper towels in half (which can get quite bothersome).

Thanks to J. Buffett for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong Facial Tissues | Two times stronger when wet vs the leading value tissue

Shopping Suggestions:

• Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong Facial Tissues

• Tolco Flip Top Cylinder Bottle

• Johnson Head-To-Toe Baby Wash

• Johnson's Baby Oil

• Dr. Smith's On-the-Go Diaper Rash Spray

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.

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: 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!

Image: MPI Fastening Tape | One Wrap Velcro Hook + Loop Fastening Tape | Double sided, one side hook, the other side loop. Just wrap around and it fastens on to itself

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: Make your own diaper sprayer, by Nicole V. Bennett on NicoleVBennett.com

Dana asked: I found directions online on how to make your own Bumkins Cloth Diaper Sprayer.

Here's the link: DIY Diaper Sprayer Tutorial

Anyone try this? Was it difficult?

Jen replied: I have something like that connected to our utility sink in the basement. I didn't even know they had this listed online.

I just went to the hardware store and told them what I was looking for, and the wonderful man set me up with all the parts I needed.

One nice thing about having it attached to the faucet is you can adjust the pressure. With the toilet, you can't.

You will also need plumbers tape if it isn't listed on the things to buy.

Oh, I love mine and no leaks.

Thanks to Dana and Jen for this Frugal Baby Tip!