Pregnancy and babies bring added bills you may not have been expecting. With the cost of virtually everything going up, most of us have had to tighten our budgets, focusing on saving money where we can. In this post, I will show you the newborn essentials you must have (and nothing you don’t need) to have a baby on a budget.
You can find my full baby registry list here for first-time moms, but if I had to choose only a few items for my new baby, these would be the must-haves.
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Make A Baby Registry!
This is a BIG MONEY-SAVING TIP!! Even if you don’t plan to have a baby shower, still create an online baby registry!! Hear me out!
With Amazon, when you create a baby registry, they give you 15% off to purchase ($2,000 or less worth of items) from your baby registry (this can be split between two orders). This is called a “Completion Discount“.
All you have to do is:
- Click the “create a baby registry” link in the previous paragraph
- Enter your information (name, contact info, shipping info), including your due date
- Add the baby essentials from this list along with anything else you think will make your life easier with a baby
- Wait for your completion discount to activate (or purchase what you need as you’re able to)
- Share your list with loved ones so they know what you need if they want to help
You can utilize this discount 60 DAYS BEFORE your due date extending to 60 DAYS AFTER your due date. Amazon will let you know the exact starting and ending dates according to the due date you entered.
With my second child, I made a baby registry (without having a baby shower) mainly for myself to grab things as I had the money for it. But family and friends started asking what I needed. I simply sent them the link to my list to make it easier for them to get exactly what I needed if they wanted to help. People who were eager to help ended up purchasing most of the essentials! I only needed to purchase about $200 worth of items by the end! Therefore, make a baby registry even if you’re not having a baby shower!
Now on to the newborn baby essentials list you came for!
Newborn Travel System
With newborns, they need to be transported safely, comfortably, and not wake them if they’re napping.
For example, if you go to the grocery store and your baby falls asleep on the way there; you don’t want to have to get them out of the car seat to go shopping. It’s easier for you and the baby to just use a newborn car seat.
I recommend purchasing this travel system that includes the newborn car seat and a stroller that are compatible with each other.
My stroller has come in handy at stores that don’t have shopping carts large enough to set the car seat inside.
Important Safety Tip: Do not place the car seat on the front of a shopping cart at the handle. This can result in injury to your baby. Instead, set it in the large area of the cart.
You may also like: Money Saving Tips For Having A Baby On A Budget
Bassinet Or Crib
This Pack N Play can be used as a bassinet to keep your newborn next to your bed in arms reach. You will be woken up by your newborn baby multiple times during the night for feedings and diaper changes.
Since your body will be in pain and most likely exhausted; having your baby as close as possible is a must. Not to mention, you’re not going to want to take your eyes off of your newborn. Or at least I didn’t. When your baby grows out of the bassinet insert, you can simply take it out of the Pack N Play and use the pack n play as a crib or daytime nap/play area. I ended up co-sleeping once my baby grew out of the insert. (If you think co-sleeping is right for you, do your research about safe sleep and speak to your pediatrician to ensure your baby is safe.)
My older child is 3 years old and has yet to spend the night in the nursery. Therefore, there is no need for purchasing all the typical nursery furniture if it’s not in your budget. I understand a lot of parents initially don’t want their children sleeping in the bedroom with them. But you would be surprised how many children room-in with their parents throughout childhood. Most young parents I know in my personal life let their kids sleep with them in their bed or bedroom (separate bed). For my family, it feels natural. If you look back in history or even in other countries other than America, it is typical for babies and children to sleep in the same room as their parents. So don’t stress if you don’t have an extra bedroom for them or can’t purchase lots of furniture. It’s unnecessary for a baby on a budget.
Feeding A Baby On A Budget
Breastfeeding or breast pumping are the cheapest and most beneficial forms of feeding a baby (It’s also the best method for feeding a baby on a budget). Beneficial for both baby and mom in so many ways.
The new recommendations for breastfeeding from the American Academy of Pediatrics state: “The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months after birth. Furthermore, the AAP supports continued breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods introduced at about 6 months, as long as mutually desired by mother and child for 2 years or beyond. These recommendations are consistent with those of the World Health Organization (WHO).”
Starting from birth, you have a free, nutrient-dense, source of food for your baby in the form of breastmilk! I exclusively breastfeed, but it’s always good to have a breast pump on hand if you need to be away from your baby for any reason (like appointments that run longer than expected, work, or emergencies).
If you haven’t gotten a breast pump yet, you can get a FREE BREAST PUMP through your insurance using AEROFLOW! I went through Aeroflow to get a Medela breast pump and the experience was very easy. All I had to do was enter the info it asked for, choose my breast pump and other pumping supplies and wait for them to send it to me (which didn’t take long at all)! Breast pumps can run you hundreds of dollars. Why spend that on your own when you don’t have to!? Let your insurance cover that!
Formula is expensive and adds up quickly. It also doesn’t provide the lifelong immune and digestive system support for your baby that breastfeeding does. Check out all my breastfeeding tips and information here.
Shampoo/Body Wash & Tub Support
While your newborn’s umbilical cord stump is still attached, you’ll be instructed by hospital staff to give your baby little birdbaths every few days until the cord stump falls off.
To do this, you’ll need baby shampoo and body wash. (And a cup or wet washcloth to rinse the soap off). Baby shampoo/body wash usually comes packaged all in one bottle.
My favorite has been Aveeno. It has a nice subtle scent and is very gentle on our baby’s skin. As for a baby tub or tub support; the Angelcare baby bath support is incredibly helpful.
It allows the baby to feel the warm water in the bathtub while being supported; sitting with their upper body above the water. I’ve also seen mamas using it next to their kitchen sink to give their baby a quick birdbath. It fits babies up to 6 months or 20 pounds, whichever comes first. So it will last you quite a while.
Swaddle
Without a swaddle, I don’t think any of us would have gotten sleep. Swaddles are a necessity when it comes to newborn babies. Newborns have what’s called a startle reflex. You may see them throw their arms up and legs straight out all of a sudden. This is that reflex. It makes them feel like they’re falling and is upsetting to the baby.
To help them not wake frequently from this reflex, and to help them feel more comfortable as if they’re still in the womb; a swaddle is needed.
In the book The Happiest Baby on the Block, Harvey Karp talks about the fourth trimester, in which we need to mimic qualities of the womb for the baby’s comfort. This book was a great learning resource in the weeks leading up to the birth of my baby.
You may want to try two different swaddle options, as all babies are different and yours may sleep better with one better than the other. To begin with, we used the SwaddleMe swaddle. This one is designed to hold baby’s arms close to the body. Our little one did not sleep well in this one.
I finally came across the Love To Dream swaddle, which is designed to allow the baby’s hands to be near their face. My daughter loved this swaddle because while she was in the womb, her hands were always up by her head. You could imagine if you always slept with your hands at your head; strapping them to your side would be frustrating. That’s why we used the Love To Dream swaddle.
An option we also loved was the muslin swaddle blankets. These are good for multiple uses. I explain it here in my baby registry list post.
Diapers For A Baby On A Budget
While preparing for our baby, I did lots of research about what are the best diapers to use. My favorite by far are Pampers Swaddlers. They never gave my baby a rash, and absorbed the best out of all the brands we tried. If you’re interested in saving even more money on diapers, please consider cloth diapers.
You may also like: The 3 Best Diapers For A Baby And Toddler
On average, a baby can go through about 3,000 diapers in their first year according to Healthline. They can use about 700 diapers just in the first 3 months of life! When buying diapers in bulk boxes, which have a little under 200 diapers in them, you could easily spend $750+ on diapers alone in the baby’s first year!
Cloth Diapering On A Budget
Cloth diapers are a great alternative if you need to save money. Most cloth diapers extend, holding as small as a 7-pound baby, all the way up to a 35-pound toddler.
When buying cloth diapers, the initial cost may seem high, especially depending on the brand you choose, but when thinking about how much you will save in the 3 years your child will be in diapers, it is a no brainer. The magic number for how many cloth diapers you will want is about 30, just so you aren’t having to wash them every day. You can wash them every 2-3 days.
I use Wegreeco brand cloth diapers for my baby and toddler. They come in packs of 6, so you will need about 5 packs. They cost around $30 – $40 per pack, adding to approximately $150 – $200.
Want to learn more about cloth diapering? There are lots of mamas teaching about it on Youtube. Simply youtube search “cloth diapers” to learn more! That’s how I learned before I decided to give it a go!
Wipes
I love Huggies Natural Care Sensitive Wipes. They are plant-based wipes and made with 99% purified water. They’re also hypoallergenic, unscented, infused with aloe & vitamin E, and pH balanced to help maintain healthy skin. What more could you ask for?!
Nasal Aspirator
A nasal aspirator has multiple uses. The main thing being sucking boogies and snot from the nose of course. But one thing I wasn’t expecting to use it for was to clear our baby’s throat as she choked on some goopy stuff (amniotic fluid maybe?) from being in the womb.
I was told by our nurse (who helped clear the mucus while still in the hospital recovering) that if this incident does happen, it usually does so while still in the hospital (thank goodness). Don’t stress yourself out about this either. Not all babies have this happen.
Clothes
The time of year will determine what type of clothing items you need most of.
I would start off with:
10 newborn onesies (unless you’ve been told you’re having a larger baby)
2 extra in the opposite sleeve length (For example, my daughter was born in a hot summer month, therefore, we bought mostly short sleeve onesies and 2 or 3 long sleeves just in case she needed them.)
4 pants
3 footed onesies (zip-up is easiest to get on and off when you’re half asleep!)
5-8 Baby socks
5-8 Baby hand mitts
1-3 baby hats (Most body heat escapes through the baby’s head. Our nurse recommended to keep a hat on our daughter for the first 2 weeks. Ask your nurse or doctor their opinion for your baby.)
Baby On A Budget – Final Thoughts
When I was pregnant for the first time, I was overwhelmed. I wondered what I actually needed and what I could go without. To be honest, my husband and I went ahead and bought everything we could think of and more. (Our baby registry made it easy for loved ones to help us tremendously at our baby shower).
We got everything because we wanted to be prepared for any situation that may arise with our precious baby. Especially because the closest stores are about 20 miles from our home. It wouldn’t just be a quick trip to the store for whatever we need.
This time around with our second child, finances just arent the same. The economy is insane, prices for everything is steadily increasing. We are not having a baby shower this time around and are thinking about what we could live without. I came up with this list while thinking through what all we are going to need for our second baby on a budget.
This is such an exciting time for you mama. Try to stay positive in this journey going into motherhood and be grateful for every moment.
I wish you the best and can’t wait for you to feel the joyous love God has gifted you with a baby.
