My Frugal Baby Tips: reduce

Image: Ooohhh...Baby Wipes, by Mitch Bennett on Flickr

Prince Lionheart

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 Essential Oil.

I unplug the warmer at the first diaper change of the day and plug it in again 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!

Image: Sweet Dreams Hunny Bunny: Terlena dalam Susuan Mamin, by Ibu Menyusui on Flickr

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

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

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

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!

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

Shopping Suggestions:
• TL Care Organic Cotton Nursing Pads

• Humble Bebe Prefold diaper

• Philips AVENT Washable Nursing Pads

• Bamboo Nursing Pads

• NuAngel Washable Nursing Pads

Image: She loves a napkin on her head, by HeyGabe WW on Flickr

Last night, I was going through my linens, about to toss out those ragged washcloths and towels.

Image: Cut two layers of towel 1/3 the width of the washcloth and stitch to the middle of the washcloth using a zig-zag stitch, just like a prefold diaper

When it occurred to me a washcloth is the perfect size for a diaper doubler!

Cut two layers of towel 1/3 the width of the washcloth and stitch to the middle of the washcloth using a zig-zag stitch, just like a prefold diaper.

Snappi Cloth Diaper Fasteners

To use: fold into thirds and place inside a diaper for a five layers of terry, quick-drying, super absorbent, and free doubler.

These can also be used as newborn diapers fastened with a Snappi diaper fastener

Or just laid inside a wrap cover.

Thanks to Suzanne for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Image: Beach baby bingo, by Ben McLeod on Flickr

Summer's coming! Kids whining about their itchy bug bites?

Here's some relief for both of you!

Find a small roll-on or sponge dabber type of bottle. Or even a small spray bottle.

Clean out the bottle very well.

If you don't have anything suitable around the house, you can find stamp moistener sponge bottles at an office supplies or dollar store for around $1.00-$4.00.

Image: antiperspirantbottles by How can I recycle this, on Flickr

Fill the bottle with vinegar, and simply roll or dab onto the bug bites. Instant relief!

You could also just dab it on straight from the vinegar bottle, but the best part of using a roll-on or dab-on bottle is the kids can use it themselves - whenever their bites start to itch again!

If you don't like the vinegar smell - this next tip will take a bit longer.

Soak the left-over peels from a couple of oranges (or lemons, clementines, tangerines, limes) in vinegar for two weeks in a sealed 16-ounce mason jar.

After two weeks, pour the vinegar into your roll-on bottle and apply this yummy smelling bug bite relief!

Thanks to Caroline for this Frugal Baby Tip!

Shopping Suggestions:
• Dauber Top Applicator

• Universal Squeeze Bottle Moistener

• Fantasea Fine Mist Spray Bottle

• Heinz White Vinegar Distilled

Image: Dishtowel cape, menstrual pad bodice, and a green bean salad, by moppet65535, on Flickr

Cloth menstrual pads too expensive to buy - but you couldn't sew one if your life depended on it??

Here's a cheap way to make your own - without sewing at all!

Simply buy the cheapest terry washcloths you can find.

Red washcloths would be a great color to buy, but if not - choose a color separate from anything you would normally use as a facecloth.

Image: BorntoLove.com | Make Your Own Cloth Menstrual Pads Pattern

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

To use, fold one washcloth in half, then half again - both long-wise. You should have a long narrow pad now. (If you need a wider pad, fold in thirds instead.)

Place the folded washcloth in the crotch of your panties, and you are all set - cloth against cloth doesn't move much.

For more absorbency, fold two washcloths together.

For waterproof protection, you could cut 3" by 12" (8 cm by 30 cm) strips of a rubberized flannelette, or Polar fleece, and lay it between your cloth pad and your panties. No sewing required!

To wash, simply rinse out the washcloths, and toss in the laundry hamper. Wash together with the regular laundry, no special care is needed.

Image: Shop Towels Commercial Grade | Machine Washable Cotton Washcloths | Lint Free Shop Rag | Perfect for Auto Mechanic Work and Bar Mop | by Utopia Towel

Shopping Suggestions:
• Washable Cotton Washcloths - 100 Red Washcloths

• 100% Turkish Cotton Burgundy Washcloths

• AmazonBasics Cotton Washcloth - Pack of 24

• Duro-Med Flannel/Rubber Waterproof Sheeting

• Wintry Fleece Red Fabric By The Yard

Image: Baby sleeping POV, by Robert Freiberger, on Flickr

You rock or nurse baby off to sleepy-time, but the minute you try to lay him or her down - the eyes snap open and the screams begin!

Oh, dear...

The reasons your baby often wakes when being laid down are:
• your baby was not completely asleep,
• the feel of the drop in height onto the bed,
• missing the motion, warmth and/or scent of your body.

But what can you do?

Not Completely Asleep:
If you aren't sure if your baby is completely asleep, use the Limb Test.
Lift baby's arm or leg, and let it fall a (very) short distance.
If your baby doesn't react, then it is usually safe to lay baby down and creep away.

Feeling the Drop:
Place a small step stool next to baby's crib, step up and lean as far into the crib as you can, before laying baby down.
If you can reach in far enough to lean on the crib mattress with your elbow, that's perfect. The shorter the drop, the better. Then lay baby down gently.

Or wear baby in a sling, and use the sling to lower baby into the crib.
Once you know your baby is asleep, lift the sling over the crib rails, and slowly lower the baby down, unfasten sling and leave your baby to sleep with it.
The sling will carry your scent and some of your warmth.

If you use a family bed, simply lay down on your bed to nurse or cuddle baby to sleep, then quietly creep away once your baby is snoozing - making sure baby is safe before you leave.
Have a baby monitor nearby so you can return if your baby should start to whimper or move about.

Lack of Motion:
Wear baby in a sling to nurse or rock to sleep.
Then you can either leave your baby in the sling to nap or - making sure baby is completely asleep - slowly lower the baby, sling and all, onto the family bed or into the crib.

Warmth and/or Scent:
Make a rice bag out of the leg of an old pair of pants, and a pound (2 kg.) of rice.

Simply cut off one pant leg about 24-28 inches (38-46 cm).

Stitch closed one end of the cut-off pant leg, and pour in the rice.

Stitch the other end of the cut-off pant leg closed.

To use, place the rice bag inside the microwave and heat on HIGH for 1-2 minutes.

Or you can wrap it in tin foil, and place in a regular oven for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees F. (Remove foil wrap before using)

Give the rice bag a good shake, and make sure it isn't too warm.

Then get a T-shirt (or any type of shirt) you have worn, but not yet washed. Wrap it around the rice bag. The rice bag will hold it's heat for about 30-40 minutes.

Before nursing or rocking your baby, place the rice bag in the crib or bed. It will warm up the bed nicely.

So when you remove the rice bag and lay baby down, he or she won't notice such a shift in temperature.

And that smelly t-shirt? The warmth of the rice bag fills the baby's crib with the wonderful scent of you.

If you use a family bed, the warm rice bag is great to tuck next to the baby, as you creep away.

This scent-filled bag will make baby think you are still near-by.