My Frugal Baby Tips: Baby Clothing

Image: Reading in Bed, by Squiggle, on Flickr

Image: Birdseye Flat Cloth Diapers 27x27 100% Cotton High Absorbency Birdseye Burp Cloth (6)

Have you got a bedwetter, but not enough money to afford those expensive cloth Bedwetter Pants, or the on-going expense of the disposable ones?

You can make your own - NO sewing required!

You will need: Two padded training pants (you can also use underpants, but padded training pants will be more absorbent), one or two flat or prefolded diapers, four diaper pins and a waterproof outer cover.

Or use a waterproof covered training pant for your outside layer - for a two-in-one combo!

Using the cloth diaper, fold it into a long thick rectangular pad. Lay this inside one of the training pants, so the folded diaper pad lays down the center of the training pant.

Image: Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist

Credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Use two diaper pins to fasten the folded diaper pad in place. Place one pin through the short end of the diaper pad and training pant at the front waist.

Place another pin through the opposite short end of the diaper pad and back waist. Pin from the outside of the training pant, so as not to cause discomfort to your child.

Next, add the second training pant on the inside of the first, so you now have a training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant sandwich.

Add nylon, vinyl or other waterproof pull-on pants over top of everything. Or check into some of the newer fleece pull-on pants!

Image: Dappi Waterproof 100% Nylon Diaper Pants, White, Medium (2 Count)

Dappi Nylon Diaper Pants

These work great for kids embarrassed by the baby-like nylon or vinyl pants. Your bedwetter sandwich now has four layers - training pant | folded diaper pad | training pant | waterproof cover.

Use the two remaining diaper pins to pin through the three layers - two training pants and one waterproof outer cover - this time placing one diaper pin at each side waist.

Push the pins through the same area as the stitching on the waterproof cover to prevent damage.

These pins help to hold everything all together, and will allow your child the independence to quickly pull up and down their Bedwetter Pants when they need to go to the toilet.

If your child needs even more absorbency, you can add another layer of folded diaper, but this could be very bulky.

These Bedwetter Pants can also be used during the day, for older children not quite ready, or not completely potty-trained.

Image: MooMoo Baby 6 Packs Potty Training Underwear Absorbent Vehicle Training Pants for Toddler Boys Pee Pants 2T-9T

Potty Training Pants

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Gerber Birdseye Prefold Diapers

🚼 Birdseye Flatfold Cloth Diapers

🚼 Dappi Waterproof Diaper Cover

🚼 Toddler Training Pants

🚼 OsoCozy Diaper Pins

Image: I see your baby mittens and raise you a sock! by Remy Sharp, on Flickr

Forget about those tiny mittens for winter babies.

Use your baby's older brother's or sister's woolly socks - clean, of course!

The socks will pull up high enough so baby can't get them off easily, and snow, etc. can't get in either.

Thanks to Arlene for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Sock Monkey Mittens

Opt for mittens, not gloves. Itty-bitty fingers are also super susceptible when the temperature drops, so always make sure your baby or young child's hands are covered — preferably with mittens, which keep those dainty digits in close company so they can work together to stay warmer.

Read more: How to Protect Babies and Toddlers From Extreme Cold

Image: Wee Dreamers | Baby Socks Wool Organic Toddler | Newborn Baby Gifts

Shopping Suggestions:

• Organic Wool Toddler Socks

• Warm Wool Socks

• Easy-On Sherpa Lined Fleece Mittens

• Sock Monkey Mittens

Image: I gotta fold ALL the clothes?! by Travis Seitler, on Flickr

I just use an old pillowcase for a laundry bag in the baby's room.

It is attached to the changing table by a cloth diaper pin.

It keeps all of my baby's dirty laundry and things together.

When it's time to wash, everything can be dumped right into the washing machine...

Including the pillowcase!

Thanks to Beth for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: GroVia Reusable Perfect Pail for Holding Dirty Baby Cloth Diapers

Shopping Suggestions:
• GroVia Reusable Perfect Pail

• Charlie Banana Hanging Diaper Pail

• Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag

• Ecoable Doorknob Diaper Pail

• Teamoy Travel Hanging Wet Dry Bag

• Bonng Baby Laundry Organizer

Image: This is soo tiring, by Mandie, on Flickr

Make your own soakers just like Grandma used to make!

Practical, economical and a pleasant alternative to plastic covers.

Wool soakers draw moisture away . . . help prevent diaper rashes . . . remain dry outside.

To make your own baby bum sweater:

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.

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

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt, on BorntoLove.com
All rights reserved

Sizing is 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)

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

Image: Picture one: Cut along cutting lines (dashes in picture) for one baby bum sweater

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

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

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

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

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

Image: Picture four: Sew along lines, about halfway along sides to form leg-holes

Picture four: (right) 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: Picture five: Your bum sweater should look something like this

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

Image: Picture six: As an alternative, you can sew it like above, but trim off the tip of the top of the triangle

Picture six: (right) As an alternative, you can sew it like above, but trim off the tip of the top of the triangle. This will give you a wider waistband, when you attach it to all together.

To Finish: Crochet a long string of single crochet twice as long as the waistband. Thread through the baby bum sweater waistband about every inch - poking the crochet string in and out - and tie in front.

Click for more free diaper patterns on BorntoLove.com
-- includes complete instructions to knit, crochet or stitch your own hand-made soakers! Plus lots of options, ideas and easy diapering hints . . .

Photo credit: Thanks to Angela for drawing the pictures!
All rights reserved

Image: zefen Reusable Baby Diaper Cover/Knit Co | Natural, so soft, breathable, waterproof. Perfect with prefolds for hot climate

Reusable Diaper Cover

More Frugal Diaper Covers and Soakers:

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Easy Homemade Soaker

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Free Crochet Wool Soaker patterns

🚼 FREEBIE: Knit/Crochet/Sew Soaker patterns

🚼 Frugal Diaper Sewing: Free Diaper and Cover Patterns

🚼 Frugal Sewing: Make your own diaper cover pull-ons

🚼 Diaper Sewing: Making a fleece pull-on pant

🚼 Frugal Diapering: Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters

🚼 Diaper Sewing: More Free Wool Soaker Patterns

🚼 Diaper Sewing: 2 layer fleece soaker

🚼 Diaper Washing: Washing Wool Soakers

Image: LANACare Diaper Covers/Soakers | Made of soothingly soft merino wool | meets Europe's highest standards for organic products | Natural lanolin content removes bacteria and odors

SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS:
• ANACare Diaper Covers/Soakers

• Pea Patch Diaper Soaker Knitting Pattern

• Soaker Pantie Vintage Knitting Pattern

• Vintage Knitting Pattern

• Unisex adjustable Crochet Pattern

Image: Cute Baby in Blanket, by Punit Sharma on Pixabay

Here are some quick and easy baby gift ideas:

If you can crochet, you can either buy flannel, burp cloths or ready-made receiving blankets, and finish the edge with crochet.

You can make a double layered receiving blanket just by sewing two together along the serged edge.

You can trim a receiving blanket with lace, ribbon, etc. for a beautiful finish!

More Receiving Blanket Ideas!

• How to Sew a Receiving Blanket

• Receiving Blanket with Matching Burp Cloth

• Reversible Flannel Receiving Blankets with Decorative Stitching

• Crocheted-Edge Blanket Tutorial

• 5 Crochet Edges You Should Know

And more baby gifts to make:

• Homemade Baby Gifts to Make

• Tutorial: DIY Lovey Tag Blanket

• Sew an Easy Beginner’s Baby Quilt

• 25 Fabulous Free Baby Sewing Patterns

Image: Lunchtime, by Joshua Zamrycki on Flickr

Need a bib and left yours at home? Or the one you brought is covered in food, and you need another one?

You'll just need to make and keep this in your purse or diaper bag!

Take two suspender clips and about 10 inches (25cm) of fabric elastic to make a bib for your baby, instantly, wherever you are.

How to Make: Just fold each end of the elastic around the loop of one of the suspender clips and stitch.

Image: Take two suspender clips and about 10 inches (25cm) of fabric elastic to make a bib for your baby, instantly, wherever you are

Now you can use this handy gadget to clip a washcloth (or two, for heavy droolers!) cloth diaper, or hand-towel around baby's neck

Image: Just fold each end of the elastic around the loop of one of the suspender clips and stitch

Image: store it in your purse or diaper bag for on-the-go, and use it with the restaurant's cloth or paper napkins

Or store it in your purse or diaper bag for on-the-go, and use it with the restaurant's cloth or paper napkins.

Other Uses: With a shorter piece of elastic and two more clips, you can make mitten clips (attach one end to mitten, other end to sleeve).

Or even shoe clips for those little ones who like to kick off their shoes! (Fasten one end at the back of a shoe, the other end to pant leg.)

Or fasten to snow pant cuff, wrapping under sock foot, to the opposite side of snow pant cuff - to keep snow pants from riding up!

Thanks to Linda for these Frugal Baby Tips!

Photo credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt
All rights reserved

Image: Baby Buddy Bib Clip | Eliminate the need to carry bibs on-the-go | bring along this compact bib clip instead

Shopping Suggestions:
• Baby Buddy Bib Clip

• Dritz Mitten/Suspender Clips

• Dritz 9517W Knit Elastic

• CTM Little Kittens Mitten / Gloves Clips for Little Hands

• 20 DIY Bib Snap Clips

• Adjustable Napkin Clip

• One Piece Mitten Clips

Image: Socks drying, by Waldryano on Pixabay

My baby is just starting to learn how to walk, and it is cold in the evenings (the reason for not being barefoot).

Instead of buying socks with grips on the soles already, we buy the socks in the bulk bag and use puffy paint on the soles.

If applied properly, this doesn't peel off (if you're worried about this, you can also get the non-toxic kind).

You can write anything you want, or draw pictures, and your baby has a better grip on the floor.

Thanks to Lisa for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Tulip Dimensional Puffy Fabric Paint | Dries permanent | won't crack or peel | machine washable

Shopping Suggestions:

• Tulip Puffy Paint

• Luvable Friends 10-Pc Baby Socks

• 3D Fabric Paint Set Kit

• Skidders Baby Gripper Socks

• Non Skid Baby Socks

Image: Hipster baby bandanas, by Todd and Anne Hoffman, on Flickr

Here is my Frugal Baby Tip - we always keep a small stack of bandanas in our backpack diaper bag.

We are learning what the cowboys learned, and more.

They are thin, lightweight, wash well, don't show stains, and are pretty much indestructible.

We use them for hats, scarves, diaper changing pads, bibs, light blankets, drool catchers, nursing shawls, washcloths, teethers, blindfolds, doll blankets and doll slings, and of course, for handkerchiefs.

Image: TCI 12 Color Pack Double-Sided Print Paisley Bandana Scarf, Head Wrap - Black, White, Red, Pink, Purple, Light Blue, Orange, Navy, Royal Blue, Green, Periwinkle, And Yellow

You can also read Cowboy Bandanas: Uses and Abuses about the bandana and where they came from and what they can do.

They rinse out well on the spot and, if you hang them on a stroller bar, they are dry again within an hour.

You can get them for about $10 a dozen, and if you shop online, you can get them in just about any imaginable color or pattern.

Thanks to Kim McKay for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Baby in the evening in a diaper, playing with a book. Photo credit: Ramona Gaukel on FreeImages

To protect your crawling baby's tender knees, take a pair of adult's thick socks.

Cut off the foot part.

Fold up the raw edge of the ankle part.

Zig-zag stitch around.

Slip over your baby's legs to protect their knees from crawling.

Image: Flyou 7 Pair Baby Crawling Knee Pads | Anti-slip Kneepads | Toddler Knee Elbow Pads Safety Protector | 9 months - 2 years

Anti-slip Baby Kneepads

If your socks are not thick enough, use two socks each, one inside the other and stitched together.

Can be used over bare knees - or over baby's clothing.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Would you rather buy them ready-made?

• Anti-slip Baby Kneepads

• Ashtonbee Baby Knee Pads

• Baby Knee Pads

Image: Young Mother Breastfeeding Bebe on Maxpixel | CC0 Public Domain

Three great craft ideas for nursing moms I came across today!

You can buy a nursing necklace already made from various places online.

You could find a suitable nursing necklace in a store.

Breastfeeding Support Bracelet

However, making your own nursing necklace is fun and special because you can tailor it to your child.

It is also likely less expensive than buying a nursing necklace pre-made.

If you have more than one nursling, it is fun to have more than one nursing necklace.

How to Make a Nursing Bracelet
-- Nursing bracelets are a wonderful gift for the mother of a newborn. Not only are they stylish, but they are also functional. These bracelets are a helpful tool for a nursing mother to remember the time of the next feeding.

Nursing Bracelet Pattern
-- The following nursing bracelet pattern is made on memory wire to make it easy to transfer the bracelet from one wrist to the other (even while half asleep).

BusyTabs Breastfeeding Clips

This bracelet will help you remember which breast you fed the baby on during the baby's prior feeding. A little charm on a lobster clasp is then used to mark the time of the feeding on the bracelet.

Or try this idea!!

DIY Nursing Reminders
-- Safety pins are a popular suggestion to remember which side you last fed on, but too easy to get pricked. You could also use a bobby pin or paperclip, easily lost, and you can see them through your shirt.
Or a bracelet you switch from arm to arm but ultimately you will forget. So try this ribbon reminder!

Thanks to Catherine for these Frugal Baby Tips!

Image: Hey, kids... how ya doin'? by Emily (Spamily), on Flickr

Make your baby a really cute-looking romper from an older child's T-shirt or tank top.

Just make sure the hem of the shirt hangs a few inches lower than the baby's diaper crotch.

Stitch 2"-3" of Velcro® loop (or 2"-3" of snap tape head) on the inside of the hem, centre-front, and 2"-3" of Velcro® hook (or 2"-3" of snap tape holes) on the outside of the hem, center-back.

If you find the neck opening a bit too big, just overlap the fabric at the back of the neck, and add a dot or square of Velcro® or one snap to hold it closed.

The extra bonus is there is room in this romper to fit over a cloth diaper, AND the legs cover the diaper nicely.

Then you just slip your new baby romper onto your baby, and fasten at the crotch - how adorable!!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
• How to Make a Baby Romper from a T Shirt
If you need more detailed instructions, I found this tutorial with pictures - however it uses a bigger t-shirt, and requires more cutting and sewing

Image: FNB Fashion Baby Dragon - Funny Wizard Baby Romper Onesie Unisex

Shopping Suggestions:
• Velcro® Brand Soft and Flexible Sew-On Tape

• Velcro® Brand Sew On Squares

• DraperyDIY Snap Tape

• Dritz Sew On Snaps

• Lord and Hodge Snap Fastener Kit

Image: Ecofrugal Baby: How To Save 70% Off Baby's First Year, by Laura Cowan (Author). Publisher: lulu.com (September 2, 2010)

It's been a long time coming, but I have started updating the BorntoLove.com website. This past few days, I have been updating the Frugal Baby Tips section:

Here are all of our Frugal Baby Tips articles on Born to Love:

• Frugal Baby Tips Index
• Frugal Diapering
• Frugal Diaper Washing
• Frugal Diaper Rash and Baby Wipe Tips
• Make Your Own Baby Bum Sweaters!
• Let Sleeping Babies Lie - please...
• Frugal Safety Tips
• Frugal Toys and Playthings Tips
• Frugal Baby and Mom Clothing Tips
• Frugal On the Go! Travel Tips
• Frugal Miscellaneous Tips
• Make Your Own Rebozo Sling
• Stacking Tactile Toys and Healing Post-partum Stitches
• Mosquito Bites Relief and Frugal Cloth Menstrual Pads
• Absorbent Cheap Diapers and Protect Your Computer!
• Bedwetter Pants and Soothing Breast Pads
• Breathable Diaper Covers and Reusable Tampons
• Frugal Tips From My Readers!

Come check them out!

Image: The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle, by Amy Dacyczyn (Author). Publisher: Villard; 1 edition (December 15, 1998)

Recommended Reading:
♦ Ecofrugal Baby: How To Save 70% Off Baby's First Year
♦ The Naturally Frugal Baby
♦ How to Save Hundreds of Dollars in Diaper Costs and Have Fun with Your Baby!
♦ Everything You Need To Know About Cloth Diapers
♦ Live Green and Frugal: Make Your Own Cloth Napkins, Wipes, Diapers, Rags and Other Household Items
♦ The Complete Tightwad Gazette

I use an old pillowcase for a laundry bag in the baby's room. It's attached to the changing table by a diaper pin. It keeps all of baby's dirty things together and when it's time to wash, everything can be dumped right into the washing machine, including the pillowcase!

Thanks to Beth for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Thanks to Lisa for this Frugal Baby Tip!

As my baby is just starting to learn how to walk and it is cold in the evenings (the reason for not being barefoot), instead of buying socks with grips on the soles already, we buy the socks in the bulk bag and use puffy paint on the soles.

If applied properly, this doesn't peel off (if you're worried about this, you can also get the non-toxic kind). You can write anything you want, or draw pictures, and baby has a better grip on the floor.