My Frugal Baby Tips

Image: Maybe if I STARE really hard at the child proof cap, by Nathaniel Stern, on Flickr

When your childproof bottles are empty, save the childproof bottle-tops.

Wash out the bottle tops, and store in your kitchen drawer.

When you buy something in a bottle you wouldn't want your child to get into - but it doesn't come with its own child-proof top, just check your child-proof bottle-top stash for a bottle-top that fits!

IDEA!: Some pharmacies will also give you a child-proof bottle-top free, upon request.

NOTE: A storage box or cupboard with a lock is a safer place to store any medicines or cleaning supplies.

Image: Cafe Cubano(r) Amber Vials | 6 Dram Pharmacy Plastic Prescription Vials with Child Resistant Snap Caps

Shopping Suggestions:
• Child Resistant Snap Caps

• Assorted Child Resistant Plastic Vials

• Certified Child Resistant Pop Top

• Medi Guard Medicine Lock Box

• Storage Box Organizer/Medicine Box/Family Emergency Kit

Image: Bookcase climber by Hogan, on Flickr

Bolt your dressers, bookshelves, or any other tip-able furniture to the wall.

Secure to the floor or wall with L-braces, or to the wall with hook and eye - available at any hardware store.

From the photo: This is why we have small bookcases or hidden wall supports.

Goodness knows, if the supports were technically able to be lower, she'd probably sabotage them.

Thanks to Teresa for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Kidco Anti-tip Furniture Strap | Secures furniture to wall | Helps prevent accidental tipping

Shopping Suggestions:
• Kidco Anti-tip Furniture Strap

• Battalion Corner Brace

• Stanley Hardware Hook and Eye Latches

• Mommy's Helper Tip Resistant Furniture Safety Brackets

Image: We need one of these! by Tarah Tamayo on Flickr

Create a bumper for your fireplace hearth with a large pool noodle!

Or buy some pipe insulation from any hardware store - sometimes even cheaper!

Just cut the foam stick to the same length as your hearth.

Photo credit: iheartnaptime.net

Cut a slit halfway through the long way - cutting through from the outside to the hole already in the middle.

Kidkusion Hearth Kushion

Then push the pool noodle onto the edge of your hearth.

The tension of the foam trying to revert to its natural shape is what holds it in place.

If you have a toddler who would pull it off, use some removable Command Adhesive tabs - you can buy them without the hooks.

Image: Oodles Monster | 55 Inch x 3.5 Inch | Jumbo Pool Noodle Foam | Multi-Purpose

Shopping Suggestions:
• Jumbo Pool Noodle

• 3M Command Poster Adhesive Value Pack

• Cardinal Gates Hearth Guard

• Prince Lionheart Fireplace Guard

• Kidkusion Hearth Kushion

Image: Jacob playing with his baby wipes by AmberStrocel, on Flickr

Use old and stained diaper liners and/or diapers as bum-wipes.

Store damp cut-up pieces in an old commercial wipe box or a Tupperware® container (leave lid slightly ajar to avoid mustiness).

You can use either plain water, mild baby soap and water (very dilute, not my top choice) or witch hazel to dampen your wipes.

This saves you having to stop by the sink on the way changing change table.

You can also keep plain water wet wipes handy, then just use a spray bottle with mild soapy water and rinse with the plain water wipes.

Then we toss the used wipes in the diaper pail and wash with the cloth diapers.

Thanks to Julia for this Frugal Baby tip!

Image: Tupperware Sub Sandwich Hoagy Rectangular Sandwich Keeper

Shopping Suggestions:
• Tupperware Rectangular Sandwich Keeper

• Hemp/Organic Cotton Diaper Inserts

• Kushies Washable Liners

• Ah Goo Baby The Wipes Case

• ChangePal 3-in-1 Wipe Case

Image: Diaper Change, Kevin Phillips by on Flickr

Tea Tree Oil cured my Abby's recurrent yeast infections, plus her skin just has a more healthful, and translucent quality to it with the addition of the lavender.

Tea Tree oil comes from a tree (Melaleuca) in Australia.

Tea Tree Oil

You can purchase both tea tree oil and lavender at your local health food store.

However I bought my tea tree oil and lavender from Amazon.

It was half the price of my health food store, the tea tree oil was Thursdays Plantation brand.

Both are antibacterial and antifungal.

Wonderful things to have on your baby's bottom.

Thanks to Julie for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: The Jo Fold - How to Fold a Flat Diaper, by Green Mountain Diapers

Photo credit: The Jo Fold - How to Fold a Flat Diaper, by Green Mountain Diapers

I know it probably isn't new to anyone but me, but I am completely amused with it!

I had all of her cloth diapers in the dryer, so I took one of her flannelette receiving blankets and fashioned it into a diaper.

I think it is the cutest thing, she fought because she wanted it to wrap one of her dolls in, oh well

The butt covering is more important than a doll being wrapped up in 80-degree weather...

Made a very pretty diaper too!

Thanks to Dawna for this Frugal Baby Tip!

The Jo Fold - How to Fold a Flat Diaper from Green Mountain Diapers on Vimeo.

Boudreaux's Rash Kicking Kit

My grandmother gave me a great tip - to kill yeasty diaper rash.

Burn 1/2 cup flour in a clean frying pan.

White Lily All-Purpose Flour

(Yes, it smells bad)

Store in airtight container.

Put a little on the baby with each change.

I know it sounds strange... but it really works great!

And, since it's probably something you already have in your cupboard, it is almost free!

Thanks to Ruth Liew for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: The case for child safety locks, by Smiley, on Flickr

Need to lock up the fridge, oven, cupboard, etc. to keep out the kids (or pets!)?

Anywhere you can place this lock on a door and around a corner edge, it will work!

Cut two pieces - 2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm) - of self-stick loop Velcro®.

Cut one piece - 6" x 2" (5 cm x 15 cm) of hook Velcro®. Cut this piece longer if needed to wrap around corner of fridge or cabinet.

Attach one short piece of loop Velcro® at each end of the long hook Velcro®. ⇒

Image: Attach one short piece of loop Velcro (r) at each end of the long hook Velcro(r)

Drawing credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Place high, out of your child's reach, on the fridge, microwave, freezer, cabinet, etc. - wrapping it around the edge of the door and onto the body of the fridge, microwave, freezer, cabinet, etc.

Clean the area with an alcohol wipe first, for a strong adhesive effect. Peel off protective papers, and stick loop Velcro® pieces into place - one on the door, one on the side - about 6" apart (or further if you cut a longer Velcro® strap). Let dry overnight for best results.

To use: Just unfasten hook Velcro®, and open the door. Then refasten when the door is shut.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Adoric Baby Proofing Cabinet Locks for Child Safety | Child Proof Cabinet Cupboard Lock Latches | 3M Strong Adhesive Tape

Shopping Suggestions:
• Cabinet/Cupboard Child Locks

• VELCRO® Brand Industrial Strength

• Genuine First Aid Alcohol Prep Pads

• BabyKeeps Child Safety Locks

• Child Safety Cabinet latches

• Child Safety Locks

Image: Young street vendor with baby carried in a rebozo in the main square of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico, by Alejandro Linares Garcia on Wikipedia

Rebozo is a Mexican word for the shawl which is a woman's constant companion - day and night.

This shawl was commonly used to carry babies on mother's back. The fabric is simply tied in a knot, at the front, and placed around the mother's body.

An amazing tool, a Rebozo provides your baby with a safe and secure place while participating in life with mom and dad. So simple, yet so elegant!

Image: Woven wrap mexican rebozo hip back carrier for infants and toodlers | Baby Trapoz | Hand made with ancient pedal loom technique in Tlaxcala, Mexico

Mexican Rebozo Carrier
Hand made with ancient pedal loom technique
in Tlaxcala, Mexico

Now you can make your own!

First, pick out a suitable fabric. Look for a gorgeous print you love, in resilient and breathable cotton, silk or wool. It should be strong enough to hold your baby's weight, yet still, allow air circulation for when your baby is all bundled up. If you aren't sure, place it over your mouth and try to breath through the fabric!

Image: Fold your fabric over lengthwise, then measure and mark your fabric into thirds along the length

You will need 2 7/8 yards (100") or 2.54 meters (254 cm) of fabric at least 29" (73.7 cm) wide. Fold your fabric over lengthwise, then measure and mark your fabric into thirds along the length. You should have three equal sections of about 33.3" (84.6 cm) long each.

Image: Next measure out the width at 14.5 inches (36.8 cm) in the middle third, and mark straight across the open side, parallel to the fold

Next measure out the width at 14.5" (36.8 cm) in the middle third, and mark straight across the open side, parallel to the fold, with a pencil or piece of chalk.

On the other two thirds, measure 12" (30.4 cm) from the fold, and draw a tapered line from the middle third to the outer measurement at each end. You can do a straight line or a slightly curved line.

Pin the fabric together so it doesn't move about, and cut along your marked line. This leaves you with a 1/2" (12.7 cm) border for hemming. Fold in the raw edge 1/4" (6.4 cm), then again another 1/4" (6.4 cm) and stitch.

Image: For an quick Rebozo trim, open up your fabric and simply add 10 inches for the fringe, at each end

For an quick Rebozo trim, open up your fabric and simply add 10" (25.4 cm) of ready-made fringe at each end.

For a Real Authentic Rebozo Look:

You will need 3 1/3 yards (1,207 inches) or 3.04 metres (304 cm) of fabric. Before marking your Rebozo in thirds, mark off 10 inches (25.4 cm) for the fringe, at each end. Now follow the instructions above, within these two lines.

Open up your fabric and sew two rows of stitching 1/4" (6.5 cm) apart, across the width at the 10" (25.4 cm) mark to reinforce it.

Pull out the weft threads, which are the ones which form the cross-wise grain of the fabric, up to the 10" (25.4 cm) mark.

Secure these newly released warp threads artistically, by tying, macrame, beading, etc.

Mexican Rebozos are highly valued for the artistry going into this fringe. The expense and prestige of the Rebozo increases with the time put into the fringe. The best Rebozos have hearts, stars, ducks, donkeys and other geometric patterns knotted into the fringe.

Some have been embroidered with rural scenes flowers and animals, stories, religious experiences, to name a few. For those adventurous souls, you can even dye your own fabric, using natural dyes of green walnuts, indigo, iron, molasses, and cochineal.

It is said the beauty of a Mexican woman is to be judged by her braids and her Rebozo.

For Best Results:
1. Buy extra fabric to compensate for shrinkage and the fact most fabric isn't cut straight. Cut it down to measure yourself.
2. Straighten the grain before sewing by pulling on diagonally opposite corners of the fabric.
3. Pre-shrink your fabric before cutting.

Acknowledgements: Parts of our article were taken from (1)How to Sew Your Own Rebozo Sling © 1995, and (2)History of the Rebozo, used with permission. The Rebozo Way Project is an educational project that teaches about traditional babywearing, in-arms and attachment parenting, and traditional ways of birthing and family and community relationships. You can learn more by visiting NurturingAcrossCultures