My Frugal Baby Tips

Image: So windy! by thenamelessbear, on Flickr

There was a time in my childhood when we didn't have any toys - we moved so often.

We rarely took anything with us when we moved.

So I had to make up games and toys with what I had on hand.

If you are ever stuck anywhere with a child and need to entertain them, and there is space to run - here is an incredibly frugal and easy idea!

First Photo credit: So windy!, by thenamelessbear, on Flickr
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Take one plastic grocery bag with handles.

Tie a long length of string to one handle, and tell your child to hold onto the string, and RUN!!

TIP: if you don't have any string, just hang onto the bag handles. It won't fly as high, but little ones don't mind.

If you are out kite-flying with an older child, make one of these "kites" for your little ones.

Even a little one can handle this "kite"!

Thanks to Paul for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Second Photo credit: Liz Henry, on Flickr
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Image: Wellington Cordage #14299 300 feet Parcel Post Twine - made from natural soft fiber which handles easily and holds knots securely - made from natural soft fiber which handles easily and holds knots securely

Image: KO PACKAGING 100ct Black Plastic T-shirt Shopping Bags (6x4x15-13mic)

Shopping Suggestions:
• Wellington Cordage Parcel Post Twine
• Black Plastic Shopping Bags
• Kids' Paper Airplane Book
• Instant Paper Toys: To Pop, Spin, Whirl, and Fly

Image: Smiling at a fresh delivery of diaper wipes

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!

Photo credit: Smiling at a fresh delivery of diaper wipes, by jessicafm, on Flickr
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Image: Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong Facial Tissues, 6 Pack of 124-Count Family Boxes (Packaging May Vary) 2x stronger when wet vs the leading value tissue

Image: Tolco Flip Top Cylinder Bottle 4 oz. - Flip top spout, ideal for travel

Shopping Suggestions:
• Puffs Ultra Soft and Strong Facial Tissues
• Tolco Flip Top Cylinder Bottle
• Johnson Head-To-Toe Baby Wash
• Johnson's Baby Oil

Image: Jacob and his diaper pail by AmberStrocel, on Flickr

I find that deodorant disks don't work well at all after about a week...

I have two pails - a dry diaper pail for cloth diapers -- I don't put them in a solution - I soak them overnight in Bio Kleen Oxygen Bleach in the washer.

Then another pail for miscellaneous baby stuff - disposable diapers that I use occasionally, the odd disposable wipe when I run out of my homemade ones - but, I digress...

I can't remember who told me about it - but it really works -- I put in a Bounce dryer sheet - I cut them in half and put one in each pail.

They just end up being washed if they are in cloth pail - I suppose if I was a fanatic I could use it as poop catcher in diaper... or thrown out if in trash pail.

This was one tip that I found truly worked!!

Thanks to Lisa for this great Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo credit: Jacob and his diaper pail, by AmberStrocel, on Flickr
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Image: Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets, Outdoor Fresh Scent, 120-Count Box (Pack of 2) - Time-released fresh scent

Image: Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail - Deodorizer compartment with locking tabs

Shopping Suggestions:
• Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail
• Imse Vimse Citrus Circles Diaper Pail Deodorizing Disks
• Bio Kleen Oxygen Bleach
• Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets

Image: sweet dreams hunny bunny: Terlena dalam Susuan Mamin

I am a mom to 5 children, aged 5-19 and have used cloth diapers with all of them.

I also breast fed them all, and as a result needed good nursing pads.

With my last 2 babies, I found I had several cloth diapers that had seen much better days but I didn't want to use them for rags yet, plus I needed breast-pads.

Photo credit: sweet dreams hunny bunny, by ibu menyusui, on Flickr
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I cut out several nursing pads using a large glass to trace them in the middle of the prefold part of the diaper.

Image: Photo Credit: Nursing Pads by Ashley Barrett(monkeybunns), on Flickr

They ended up being about 5" circles. I didn't need to put several layers together since they were thick enough.

I simply zig-zagged around the edges, and voila! Great free nursing pads!

I still have them, and my little girls can use them for dolly pillows.

Thanks to Bev Qualheim for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo credit: Nursing Pads, by Ashley Barrett(monkeybunns), on Flickr
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Image: Sweet Pea Prefold - Newborn - 100% Indian Cotton

Image: TL Care Organic Cotton Nursing Pads, Natural - constructed from 5 layers of 100% organic cotton that is ecologically produced and healthier for you, your baby, and the environment

Shopping Suggestions:
• Sweet Pea Prefold diaper
• TL Care Organic Cotton Nursing Pads
• Philips AVENT Washable Nursing Pads
• FuzziBunz Reusable Cloth Nursing Pads
• NuAngel Washable Nursing Pads

Image: OsoCozy Better Fit Unbleached Prefolds | Baby Cloth Diaper Prefolds Made Of 100% Indian Cotton | Diaper Service Quality (DSQ) | Toddler 4x8x4 Fits 25-45 lb.

As far as absorbency goes, you might try using two diapers at a time, to increase the absorbency.

Then put a fleece liner between the diaper and his skin to keep the wetness away.

This is what I do with my son. It makes a HUGE difference!

I just got some polar fleece from WalMart, cut it into rectangles (about 6"x16"), and I place one, fuzzy side up (it's one-sided fleece) next to his skin.

It keeps him comfortable, while the double-diapering is absorbent enough. I use toddler-size Chinese diaper service quality prefolds - 4-8-4's.

Yes, this is bulky, but it works!

Thanks to Amy for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Bambo Nature Premium Baby Diapers | Eco-friendly diapers | Ultra-absorbent | Super-soft on baby's skin

Parents magazine said that a disposable diaper could be used as a breast compress for engorgement, because it stays hot for a long time (when filled with warm water).

Think about that - a peed-in diaper is 98.6 degrees F, and stays that way!

Well, the nurse at the hospital soaked a disposable diaper, and heated it up in the microwave to use as a warm compress to heat up Christopher's foot, before she did a heel prick.

I wondered why it didn't cool off right away - she had to keep doing the prick over and over, because his blood wasn't flowing well.

Labour and delivery nurse approved!

Thanks to Cathy for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo Credit: Bambo Nature Premium Baby Diapers
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Image: She's discovered her diaper pail! by supafly, on Flickr

This won't save a whole lot of money, but it will save your nose.

I think the deodorizers made for diaper pails often smell worse than the diapers.

The commercial deodorizers make my eyes water.

Instead, put six or seven drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball or pad, and put it in your diaper pail's deo-disk holder.

Image: Top 6 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Basic Sampler Essential Oil Gift Set- 6/10 ml (Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint, Tea Tree) All Edens Garden oils are 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil- no fillers, additives, bases or carriers added.

Or just tape to the inside of the lid.

Add a couple more drops every week or two to re-charge it.

Thanks to Sara Eames for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo credit: She's discovered her diaper pail!, by supafly, on Flickr
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Image: Classic Cotton Balls Jumbo Size, 100 Count - Classic cotton balls are soft and gentle to all skin types

Shopping Suggestions:
• Classic Cotton Balls Jumbo Size
• Basic Sampler Essential Oil Gift Set
• Munchkin Arm and Hammer Nursery Fresheners
• Citrus Circles Diaper Pail Deodorizing Disks

Image: Curly head by anitapeppers, on MorgueFile

Sally says: One more thing on rashes...

My daughter had a rash all the time when she was in disposable diapers.

I would let her sit in a tub of nice warm plain water between every change and that helped too. As well as the airing out (which most of you are probably already doing!!)

Carla adds: Pop him in an Aveno bath between removing and replacing the diaper.

It seems that excessive stomach acid was the culprit and he needed to have it both removed and soothed each diaper change.

Also her doctor recommended mixing creamy Desitin with Maalox (original)and using that as an acid neutralizer when she had to be out and about and couldn't do the bath each time.

Seemed to help.

Thanks to Sally and Carla for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo credit: Curly head, by anitapeppers, on MorgueFile
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I always have used a Prince Lionheart wipe warmer.

Most of the time I use it with just water, occasionally with ONE DROP of True Lavender Pure EO.

I unplug the warmer at the first diaper change of the day, and plug it in at pajama time.

It stays warm enough all day.

I don't plug it in at all in warmer weather, it's just a convenient place to hold wipes!

Thanks to Kimberly Walsh for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Photo Credit: Prince Lionheart on Amazon.com
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