My Frugal Baby Tips

Image: Dressing Everett, by Peter Dutton on Flickr

Photo credit: Dressing Everett, by Peter Dutton

When old cloth diapers, receiving blankets, or terrycloth towels wear out; cut them into squares and serge or sew around the sides. Or just buy some inexpensive washcloths!

Then put them in a Tupperware container or old wipes tub or a ChangePal.

Add a recipe for home-made baby wipe solution.

Image: ChangePal (Pink)-3-in-1 Case for Diapers/Wipes/Ointment - Portable-fits in diaper bags, totes, strollers, vehicles, baby stations, and holds 1-2 day supply of baby changing items

ChangePal 3-in-1 Case

You will have reusable wipes that are super soft, and last forever.

- Baby Wipes Recipe -

• 1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
• 1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup olive oil (use extra virgin so there are no chemicals)
• 2 tsp. Baby Shampoo
• 2-3 drops Tea Tree oil or Calendula oil (optional)
• 2-3 drops Lavender oil (discourages molds)

Mix this solution together, use to wet your recycled wipes

Thanks to Maggie Atkinson for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo credit: Ouch by Joshua Allen, on Flickr

I haven't had to try it myself, but a lot of people swear smearing an antacid like Maalox or Mylanta on your baby's diaper-rashed bum will help clear it up.

Image: Mylanta Maximum Strength Antacid | Paraben-Free

It will fight the acidity of urine hurting the rash. It makes sense to me!

Thanks to Jennifer Ward for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Picture Caption: Cashen had a bit of a diaper rash this weekend and was not too happy about it.

Car Seat Strap Covers

Protect your baby's tender cheeks from rough shoulder strap webbing in strollers and car seats, with these easy-to-make covers.

Just cut two 5" (13cm ) squares for a baby under 6 months from quilted fabric, acrylic fleece or Sherpa fabric. For an older child cut a 5" by 8" (13cm by 20 cm) rectangle.

Bind with bias tape, or serge around all edges.

Sew a strip of hook Velcro® down one edge, and loop Velcro® on the opposite edge (and side) of fabric.

Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Or hammer-in a row of three snaps.

Fold one cover over each shoulder strap, and fasten Velcro® or snaps.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Shalan Bate posted: As a certified child restraint safety tech: I highly advise against putting aftermarket covers on your car seat.

1. It could interfere with harness during an accident,
2. it is not even tested with the seat. So no idea how it would work in a collision.

Most seats come with covers, but if you find the harness is bothering baby's neck, the best bet is to snug the shirt up some, so it is between neck and straps.

Image: Jeep Strap Covers- The strap covers can be used on any harness strap - perfect for car seats, strollers and more

Shopping Suggestions:
• Organic Sherpa Natural Fabric
• Double Fold Bias Tape
• Velcro Brand Soft and Flexible Sew-On Tape
• Dritz Heavy Duty Snaps
• Jeep Strap Covers
• Jolly Jumper Soft Straps Carseat Strap Covers

Button Bum Diaper cover and hat

I also am a crocheter, but no knitter. I haven't found a whole lot of patterns but have found a few, and I'm working on creating one myself.

A good place to go is Ravelry.com - a free site for knitters and crocheters.

I just found this site last week and I'm completely in love with it! The wool soaker group on Yahoo also has a few good patterns.

Here are a few others I found...

Little Fire Crochet Soaker Pants

-- The first one is super easy!
This pattern is written in four sizes

Click for pattern: Little Fire Crochet Soaker Pants

Tickle Turdle Wool Wraps

- allows you to select the closure method you prefer. A Snappi works great! So do diaper pins!

Click for pattern: Tickle Turdle Wool Wrap

Rolled Edge Wool Soakers

- Crochet it, put it on your baby and adore how cute it looks!

Click for pattern: Rolled Edge Wool Soakers Pattern
(archived on the Wayback Machine)

Thanks to Jennostlund for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Shopping Suggestions:
• Patons Classic Wool Yarn
• Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Yarn
• Susan Bates Luxite Plastic Crochet Hook Set
• Boye Aluminum Crochet Hook Set

Somebody unrolled all the toilet paper!, by Rob, Joyce, Alex and Nova

Would you like to prevent your toddler or pets from unrolling the entire roll of toilet paper, and stuffing it into the toilet, or trailing it through the house?

Image: Make your own toilet roll protector by recycling a plastic 2 litre pop bottle

Make your own toilet roll cover/protector by recycling a plastic 2 liter soda pop bottle.

Image: Cut off the bottle top and bottom of the soda pop bottle, to form your toilet roll cover/protector

HOW TO MAKE:

Cut off the bottle top and bottom of the soda pop bottle, to form your toilet roll cover/protector.

Measure your wall mount toilet paper roll holder to see what size you need - mine was 4 3/4 inches (12 cm) across.

TIP: you can use the leftover bottom to make fancy flower shaped ice cubes for punch - and the leftover top for a funnel for sand play!

Image: Cut a slot in this toilet roll cover/protector, to allow you to pull the toilet paper through, about 1/4 inch

Cut a slot in this toilet roll cover/protector, to allow you to pull the toilet paper through, about 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) high and 4 inches (10 cm) across.

If you are using double roll toilet paper, simply cut across completely - from one side to the other.

If you wish, cover all raw edges with plastic tape to match your decor - I only had black tape on hand, but you can use any colour to match your decor.

If using double roll toilet paper, use a piece of plastic tape to tape across the open sides, attaching both sides, leaving an opening of about 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) or larger, for the toilet paper to hang out.

Image: Remove your toilet roll and spindle from the wall mount, slide both inside your new toilet roll protector, and reattach the roll to the wall mount

Remove your toilet roll and spindle from the wall mount, slide both inside your new toilet roll protector, and reattach the roll to the wall mount.

This should at least slow your toddler or pets down!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Tutorial Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Image: Paws-Free Toilet Paper Cover - Stops children and pets from unraveling toilet paper

Shopping Suggestions:
• Paws-Free Toilet Paper Cover - Stops children and pets from unraveling toilet paper.
• Mom Invented TP Saver - Perfect for kids and pets
• Control-n-Roll - Avoid bathroom messes by stopping waste by children and pets
• EZ-Load Toilet Paper Holder - Spring hinges on both sides makes loading toilet paper a snap
• Plush Cloth Toilet Paper Container - keep pets and kids from playing with the TP roll and unraveling it.

Image: Pecho y lectura. Photo Credit: Daniel Lobo (Daquella manera) on Flickr

Photo credit: Pecho y lectura, by Daniel Lobo

I used Dr. Jack Newman's recipe for the homemade version of All Purpose Nipple Ointment, which one of the labor and delivery nurses gave to me after she saw all the blisters.

Take equal parts Polysporin, Lotrimin, and Cortisone.

Mix in small batches and use after anywhere from 4 to all feedings in a day, remix every 3 to 4 days.

The Polysporin has to be brand name but the others can be generic.

It was a lifesaver and no need to find a compounding pharmacist to mix it.

Thanks to Emily for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Polysporin Ointment | Bacitracin Zinc/Polymyxin B Sulfate | Helps prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes and burns

Shopping Suggestions:
• Polysporin Ointment
• Lotrimin AF Antifungal Cream
• Cortizone Anti-Itch Creme

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

Photo credit: Soaker Butt, by Devon

Do you have any old, shrunk and matted wool sweaters?

Then you can make two excellent diaper covers per sweater. The more matted the sweater - the more waterproof the covers!

To Make: Cut equal-sided triangles from old, shrunk and matted 100% wool sweaters, and zigzag-stitch edges to prevent unraveling (optional).

You can usually get two small "baby bum sweaters" from one adult sweater, or one large baby bum sweater.

Sizing as follows:
Premie.....cut three sides of triangle by 10 inches (26cm)
Newborn....cut three sides of triangle by 12 inches (31cm)
Medium.....cut three sides of triangle by 16 inches (41cm)
Toddler....cut three sides of triangle by 20 inches (51cm)
Super......cut three sides of triangle by 24 inches (61cm)

Image: Cut along cutting lines for one baby bum sweater. Set aside the wrist-bands for use as leg bands on your baby bum sweater

Picture one: Cut along cutting lines (red dashes in picture) for one baby bum sweater. Set aside the wrist-bands for use as leg bands on your baby bum sweater.

Image: This is what your pattern should look like - using the sweater's waist band as the baby bum sweater waist band

Picture two: This is what your pattern should look like - using the sweater's waist band as the baby bum sweater waist band.

Image: Fold up the material towards the waist band. Bring waist-band sides together at front

Picture three: Fold up the material towards the waist band. Bring waist-band sides together at front.

Image: Sew along lines, about halfway along sides to form leg-holes. Be careful not to sew the leg-holes completely shut. You can adjust the leg hole openings, larger or smaller, to fit your baby's legs

Picture four: Sew along lines, about halfway along sides to form leg-holes. Be careful not to sew the leg-holes completely shut. You can adjust the leg hole openings, larger or smaller, to fit your baby's legs.

Image: Your bum sweater should look something like this. Now take the wrist-bands you set aside earlier, and sew around the leg openings

Picture five: Your bum sweater should look something like this. Now take the wrist-bands you set aside earlier, and sew around the leg openings.You can thread a crochet tie through the waistband.

To use: Multi-layered or double diapers work best with these covers. Pull-on over diaper and tie in front.

TIP: Check out your local Goodwill, second-hand stores or other thrift stores for second-hand wool sweaters to use - very cheap!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip and instructional pics!

Image: Baby Soakers Vintage Knitting Pattern

Shopping Suggestions:
• Pea Patch Diaper Soaker Knitting Pattern - This pattern is for a knitted wool cloth diaper cover much like your grandma or great-grandma may have used!
• Princess of Patterns - Baby Soakers Vintage Knitting Pattern - Baby Soakers Vintage Knitting Pattern
• Unisex Diaper Cover Pattern - This adorable knit diaper cover is perfect for baby to wear anytime, or for pictures.
• PATTERN PDF - Little man diaper cover and bow tie set -- 2 sizes From CrochetMyLove

Image: Daddy left me alone with the nappy cream, by Hamish Darby on Flickr

Photo credit: Daddy left me alone with the nappy cream, by Hamish Darby

Here is my diaper rash recipe - (I use sweet almond oil) can use olive oil - even extra virgin smells to me.

I make in smaller batches - half the recipe and add a tablespoon or so of Lanolin.

Sweet Almond Oil

After I made it a few times I get more experimental and less anal about exact ingredients.

The lavender oil is a MUST for me.

I use this for everything - chapped lips, skin, elbow, cradle cap. It is similar to Weleda Calendula Cream.

CALENDULA SALVE/DIAPER CREAM
• 2 cups calendula flower
• 1 cup comfrey leaf
• 1 cup chamomile flower
• 1 cup lavender flower
• 1 litre Olive oil (or Sweet Almond Oil)
• Grated beeswax
• (Optional) Essential oil of Lavender
• (Optional) Vitamin E Oil
• (Optional) 1/2 cup marshmallow root
• (Optional) 1/4 cup myrrh gum
• (Optional) 1 cup St. John's wort flower
(it just depends on what you can find!)

Stainless Steel Boiler

1. Combine the herbs and oil in a glass jar. Cover tightly and place in a warm, sunny spot for 2 weeks. Strain through muslin or cheesecloth - squeezing tightly to get all the drops out.

Alternately - combine 1/2 the herbs with oil for 2 weeks/strain - then other half for 2 more weeks in same oil for a stronger infusion

2. Place mixture in a double boiler and warm for 1 hour over very low heat. Strain.

3. Add 1/4 cup grated beeswax for each cup of oil. Continue to warm until beeswax is melted.

4. Check for desired consistency by placing 1 tablespoon of mixture in the freezer for a few minutes. If too soft, add more beeswax. If too hard, add more oil. (it should be easy to spread on a baby's bum but firm enough to keep it's shape)

5. (Optional) Add Vitamin E oil and Lavender essential oil.

6. Store in small jars or tins.

Thanks to for LJ Stewart this Frugal Baby Tip!