My Frugal Baby Tips: feature

I re-use an empty Foaming Hand Soap dispenser for all liquid baby soap I buy, and I've found it makes liquid soap go way further.

Shampooing my baby's hair or washing a slippery baby is much easier when I can squirt foam soap out of a dispenser.

Cuisipro foam pump dispenser

I usually put an inch of liquid baby soap (Johnsons, Aveeno, etc.) in the dispenser, fill the rest of the bottle with water, give it a good shake, and it's ready to use.

I have also bought an empty Cuisipro foam pump dispenser from a kitchen/bath store, which also works well.

Many products now come in foam pump bottle styles, which can be rinsed out and used for this purpose.

I've been saving lots of money by stretching one bottle of liquid soap about five times instead of using it straight from the container.

Thanks to Suzie Mah 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!

One Wrap Velcro®

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: Baby Splashing the the Tub, by StockSnap on Pixabay

Honeysticks Beeswax
Bath Tub Crayons

Here's how to make soap crayons for bath-time fun and easy quick clean-up!

I am wondering if we could use cookie cutters or somehow get them into better shapes than just the ice cube tray, but I haven't tried it myself yet.

Ingredients:
🖍️ 1 3/4 cups Soap Flakes (powder)
🖍️ 50 drops food coloring
🖍️ 1/4 cup water

Directions:
🖍️ Mix water and soap flakes together.
🖍️ Add food coloring.
🖍️ Put mixture into an bottle stick ice cube tray.
🖍️ Allow to harden.
🖍️ Break or cut into pieces.
🖍️ Fun to write with on the tub when bathing as well as your face and hands!

Image: Reading in Bed, by Squiggle, on Flickr

Gerber Birdseye Flatfold Diapers

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!

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.

Potty Training Pants

Shopping Suggestions:

🚼 Gerber Birdseye Prefold Diapers

🚼 Gerber Birdseye Flatfold Cloth Diapers

🚼 Dappi Waterproof Diaper Cover

🚼 Luvable Friends Training Pants

🚼 OsoCozy Diaper Pins

Your baby needs to nurse, but you are out in public and you are uncomfortable about showing off all that skin when you lift your top?

Layer one crop top, blouse, shirt, etc. over an old T-shirt or tank top (mix or match colors!).

Image: Smallshow Women's Maternity Nursing Tank Tops Breastfeeding Clothes 3-Pack

Nursing Shirts

Cut two nursing slits in the old tank top or T-shirt and hem around the raw edges (hemming is not necessary, but it's up to you).

The top layer shirt will provide discreet coverage, yet your baby will still have easy access to nurse.

When you lift or shift your outer shirt to nurse, your tummy is fully covered. If you unbutton your blouse to nurse, your cleavage is not exposed.

Your baby's head and your outer garment cover the exposed portion of your breast.

Plus, there are no slits or panels to readjust after feeding!

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Sosolism Rayon Nursing Tank Top for Breastfeeding Sleeveless Maternity Vest Pregnancy Clothes Maternity 3 Pack

Nursing Undershirts

Here are a few more no-sew nursing top ideas!

👶 DIY Nursing Top: Budget-friendly, No-sew, Totally Stylish

👶 30 second zero dollar NO SEW nursing tank top

👶 No-sew Nursing Tops

👶 Modest no sew nursing tops

👶 DIY Cute no sew nursing top

Have you ever wished there was an accurate up-to-date website, listing all the breastfeeding laws and their provisions for enforcement - all in one place?

Click for the: Breastfeeding Laws For US and Canada

Naked Nursing Tank

Shopping Suggestions:

👶 Naked Nursing Tank - Lily White, Charcoal, Midnight Black

👶 Sleeveless Nursing Tank Top

👶 Undercover Mama Nursing Tank

👶 Nursing Cami Tank Top

👶 Long Sleeve Nursing Top

👶 Short Long Sleeve Nursing Tops

From the picture's description: This was obviously taken before people started suing sucker companies for choking their babies to death!

Anti-Choking Hazard Device

Every home should have a choke tester to check if toys and other objects are safe for baby play.

However, commercial choke testers can be complicated to find, expensive, and too small to be effective.

Did you know you have a frugal baby choke tester in your home? (No, I don't mean the baby...)

How about an empty toilet paper tube!?

Commercial choke testers are made to gov't. regulation size of 3.5 cm (1 3/8") in diameter.

Your ordinary toilet paper tube is 4.5 cm (1 6/8") in diameter.

Image: You can consider any toy or object in your home that fits inside this toilet paper tube to be a choking hazard

However, the Consumer Products Safety Commission in the U.S. has reported many deaths of babies and children who have choked on objects slightly larger than 3.5 cm (1 3/8") in diameter.

Any toy or object in your home that fits inside this toilet paper tube can be a choking hazard to your baby or child.

Thanks to Catherine for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Choking Rescue Device

Shopping Suggestions:

🧪 Safety 1st Small Object Choking Tester

🧪 Safety 1st Small Object Choking Tester

🧪 Choke Tester for Small Objects

🧪 School Supplies Choke Tube Set

🧪 CDN - Safety 1st Small Object Tester

Image: Somebody unrolled all the toilet paper!, by Rob, Joyce, Alex and Nova, on Flickr

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

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

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

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-mounted 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 as a funnel for sand play!

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

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

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

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

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 color.

If using double-roll toilet paper, use a piece of plastic tape to tape across the open sides, attaching both sides. Leave 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 Photos credit: Catherine McDiarmid-Watt - All rights reserved

Shopping Suggestions:

Image: Wall Mounted Waterproof Paper Holder Bathroom Paper Roll Holder,Multifunction Toilet Paper Dispenser Cat Proof Wall Mounted No Drilling Waterproof Toilet Paper Holder

Cat Proof Holder

🧻 Cat Proof Toilet Paper Holder - Uses Self Adhesive Without Needing To Drill Holes Into Your Precious Tiles Or Wall And Risk Damaging Them. Easy to stick on most surfaces like Wood Surfaces, Glass Surfaces, Metal Surfaces, and Tile Surfaces. Plus, the top of the toilet roll holder can hold your mobile phone, tablet, watch, wet wipes, glasses, and other little gadgets while you use the toilet or have a shower, which is very convenient.

Image: Toilet Paper Holder Roll-Tissue Dispenser Cat Proof Roll Paper Cover Portable and Foldable Storage Bag for Camping Outdoor Tent Home Office

Toilet Paper Cover

🧻 Toilet Paper Cover - Lightweight and portable, carry it anywhere, applicable occasion decoration like a car, living room, kitchen, home, office, restaurant, etc. In addition, the design is pretty, so it helps with interior decoration. It can not only prevent cats and dogs from damaging the toilet paper but also dust-proof and moisture-proof.

Image: Upgraded Toilet Paper Holder Self Adhesive with Shelf, Dog Cat Proof Toilet Paper Roll Holder Wall Mount, Covered Toilet Paper Holder Waterproof Stainless Steel No Drill for Bathroom, Polish Silver

Pet Proof Holder

🧻 Pet Proof Toilet Paper Holder - A completely closed structure can protect toilet paper from water and also stop your pet from eating and shredding the toilet paper roll. Your days of picking up pet spit-sodden toilet paper are over! It can also be a shelf for cell phones and other small items.

Image: Cookie Monster, by Skeeze on Pixabay

Image: appy Birthday, Cookie Monster (Step into Reading) | Paperback: 32 pages | by Sesame Street (Author). Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (May 12, 1986)

Cookie Monster's Birthday
-- Even though the Muppets officially like to recognize Cookie Monster's Birthday as November 2nd, it looks like it is also recognized on May 25th, the birthday of Frank Oz, one of the famous Jim Henson puppeteers.

Read: Happy Birthday, Cookie Monster!, by Sesame Street
-- Cookie Monster plans a party to celebrate his birthday, but before the guests arrive, he can't resist a tiny taste of the cake. It isn't long before the cake disappears. Fortunately, Cookie's friends help him solve his party dilemma in a story that makes learning to read a piece of cake.

Image: Sesame St Boys' Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Sesame St Boys' Short Sleeve T-Shirt -- Super soft short sleeve tee. 100% Cotton. Made in the USA and Imported. Machine Wash. 100 percent officially licensed

Image: Marshmallow Furniture, Children's Transforming Flip-See-Do Cookie Monster Foam Chair, by Spin Master

Cookie Monster Foam Chair -- Your child will be excited to sit and watch their favorite Sesame Street episode in the Cookie Monster themed Marshmallow Flip-See-Do foam chair. This new fun and versatile seating option is designed just for kids to help turn their favorite chair into so much more.

🍪 Cookie Monster Coloring and Activity Books

Cookie Monster'S Best Bites

Amazon Freebies:

🍪 Free Sesame Street ebooks. No Kindle? Download a FREE Kindle Reading App

🍪 Read Sesame Street ebooks for free with a Free Trial of Kindle Unlimited

🍪 Free Sesame Street apps

🍪 Free Sesame Street game apps

🍪 Listen to Sesame Street Digital Music with a Free Trial of Amazon Music Unlimited

🍪 Watch Videos for Free with a Free Trial of Amazon Prime

🍪 Listen to Sesame Street Audible books with Amazon Audible, and Get Two Free Audiobooks

🍪 Free Alexa Skills | Sesame Street

Cookie Monster Recipes:

🍪 Cookie Monster Cookie Dough

🍪 C Is For Cookie Monster Desserts That'll Make Your Kid Go, Nom Nom Nom

🍪 The Recipe Presents: Cookie Monster Treats To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

🍪 Ultimate Cookie Monster Cupcakes - Baking Beauty

Sesame Street: The Cookie Thief

Cookie Monster and You

More Sesame Street Free Printables, Coloring Pages, Activities, and Crafts:

🍪 January 13th Special Days - Featuring 27+ Rubber Duck Freebies!

🍪 February 3rd Special Days - Featuring 28+ Elmo Freebies!

🍪 October 15th Special Days - Featuring 10+ Grouch Freebies!

🍪 November 2nd Special Days - Featuring 10+ Cookie Monster Freebies!

🍪 November 10th Special Days - Featuring 10+ Sesame Street Freebies!

Image: Laundrypile by Robin Skyler Tell, on Flickr

Ingredients:

🧼 one bar Fels Naptha soap, grated (2-3oz bars or 1 4-5.5oz bar) (the finer grated the better)
🧼 one cup washing soda
🧼 5 gallon bucket
🧼 Water

Directions:

Place grated soap in a small saucepan and cover it with water.

If you let this sit overnight, it is MUCH faster.

Heat on low until dissolved - don't stir too rapidly or too much, it will get foamy and you won't be able to see if it dissolved.

If you let it sit overnight, it takes roughly 20 minutes to dissolve.

If you didn't let it sit, it takes much longer.

Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap

When the soap is just about melted, put the bucket in the tub and fill with hot water almost to the top, then add melted soap.

Stir to combine.
Add 1 cup of washing soda and mix well.
Don't reverse the order or it won't turn out.

As it cools it will thicken.
Use about 1/2 cup for diapers.
And 1-2 cups for other types of laundry.

Plastic Bucket

If you keep it in the big bucket, you will need to stir each time before you use it.
I pour it into gallon jugs while it is still warm.

If you do this, only fill 3/4 of the way.
You will want to shake it to get it to mix and will need the room.
I learned this the hard way. LOL.

You can customize your detergent by adding essential oils to it.
Only add to the current jug you are using, because it loses its smell.

It is very soft without fabric softener.
If you add fabric softener, it makes clothes feel funny.

Thanks to Judi Sutherland 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!

Prince Lionheart
Warmies Wipes Warmer

More Baby Wipes Recipes:

👶 Baby Wipes: Frugal Baby Wipes

👶🏻 Frugal Baby Wipes: Diaper Wipe Recipe

👶🏼 Frugal Baby Wipes: Simple Wipes Recipe

👶🏽 Diaper Sewing: Hand-sewing Doublers and Wipes

👶🏾 Frugal Diapering: Using Washcloths

👶🏿 Frugal Baby Wipes: Home-made Wipes

👶 Diapering: Saving Energy with Wipes Warmer

👶🏻 Baby Wipes: Avoid Mineral Oil

👶🏼 Baby Wipes: Re-using Disposable Baby Wipes

👶🏽 Frugal Baby Wipes: Handi-Wipes Baby Wipes

👶🏾 Frugal Baby Wipes: Reusable Wipes and Recipe

👶🏿 Frugal Baby Wipes Recipes

👶 Frugal Baby Wipes: Two Wipe Recipes

👶🏻 Frugal Baby Wipes: Another Diaper Wipes Recipe

👶🏼 Baby Wipes: Homemade Baby Wipes

👶🏽 Baby Wipes: Make your own wipes recipe

👶🏾 Baby Wipes: Frugal Bum Wipes

👶🏿 Frugal Baby Wipes: Using a Thermos

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

👶🏾 Offpring Baby Bum Spray

Image: What are Those? by Teresia, on Flickr

Place a pair of thermal training pants, that fit snugly, over your baby's cloth diapers - instead of a diaper cover.

With a good absorbent diaper, maybe with the addition of a diaper doubler or two, this will let your baby's skin breathe - yet help to keep the wetness inside.

Plus, you can use these pants again when your baby is ready for potty learning.

Thanks to Anne for this Frugal Baby Tip!

BIG ELEPHANT Unisex Baby Pure Cotton Potty Training Pants Ultra Wide Pee-Proof Wing Underwear 6-Pack Set

Pee-Proof Underwear

Shopping Suggestions:

🧒🏻 Pee-Proof Underwear

🧒🏻 Gerber Baby Training Pants

🧒🏻 OsoCozy Gauze Diaper Unbleached Doublers

🧒🏻 Bambino Mio, Mioboost (Booster Pads)

🧒🏻 Best Bottom Potty Training Kit

Image: Indoor sandbox play, by OH Snap! Julie McGraw Photography, on Flickr

You can keep your little ones busy on a rainy stay-in day by creating an indoor sand-box or sensory box.

All you need is a large plastic dish-pan and a 5lb. (2 kg.) bag of cornmeal, rice, pasta noodles, dried beans, oatmeal, kinetic sand, etc. for sand.

ADD: plastic cups, spoons, scoops, bowls, measuring cups, funnels, strainers, etc.

Be sure to only fill to 3-4 inches below the top of your container to reduce spills.

The cornmeal, rice, pasta noodles, dried beans, and oatmeal vacuum up quickly and don't scratch the floor.

IDEA: Those Rubbermaid type bins that store under a bed make a nice big table type size container.