Having a baby entails its own special economics. It needs an entirely new kind of financial responsibility that requires planning way ahead before giving birth. Aside from crunching big numbers involving hospital bills, medical expenses, and even school tuition fees, however, there are small but smart ways you can save up for your new baby.

Come up with a practical baby gift registry.

New babies need a lot of things, and a baby registry is one of the best ways to receive them. Family and friends would want to help you prepare for your baby, and providing a list can help them help you.

You can register your future little bundle of joy at your favorite shops. However, make sure to come up with a smart list that will help you save money. Choose the essentials over the frivolous so that you can have a registry that’s affordable and practical. Another important tip: don’t merely skim catalogues before including items in your baby registry. Test strollers, cribs, and inspect baby peripherals minutely to see if you can really use them before adding them to the list.

Get the most necessary things first.

Tiny baby shoes may look precious, but an infant will not need them any time soon. Booties and socks that keep their tiny feet warm are better, so make sure to get them first. The same goes for designer infant clothes that are usually worn just a couple of times before your baby outgrows them.

Also, hospitals typically provide essentials for moms who just gave birth, including infant diapers, disposable baby bottle nipples, swaddling clothes, and nasal aspirators. They’re part of your hospital bill so take those home with you along with your baby. You’re bound to save plenty on infant essentials for the first months.

Choose multi-purpose baby furniture.

Double-duty baby items are practical and save you time, space, and money. For instance, a stroller that features a big storage space underneath can act as a diaper holder. A dresser that doubles as a changing table means you don’t have to buy two separate nursery furniture. You can also get a crib that can be converted into a toddler bed. In short, invest in furniture that grows with your baby.

Buy in bulk.

Getting baby essentials wholesale can spell out hundreds of dollars of savings yearly. Take advantage of buy-in-bulk promos and coupons for your baby diapers and formula. It will mean time and effort saved, (plus gas money!) for you, too.

Upcycle or borrow.

Don’t throw away money on “special occasion” clothes. Borrow from moms who have toddlers, or upcycle your own baby clothes. You can do the same with expensive baby furniture and accessories. Someone you know will have most likely held on to their infant’s items, hoping to pass it on to someone in need in the future…like you, for instance!

Best of Luck!

Julie McCaffrey

About Julie McCaffrey

Parenting expert Julie McCaffrey is a proud mommy to 3 kids and owns BabyNav Baby Planners where she offers personalized consultation to new and expecting parents along with functioning as the Chief Brand Officer at PishPoshBaby.com—the high-quality baby store that supplies the facts and advice, along with the right choice, to parents who are completely lost in the whirlwind of baby gear. She loves to help moms and dads navigate everything from baby gear, preparing for multiples, getting back to work and getting the whole family on a routine.

The post 5 Tricks to Save Up for the New Baby appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

As parents, we all look forward to the day our baby starts crawling and then walking.  It’s such an exciting time.  But the minute your baby becomes mobile, it’s time to begin the process of baby proofing your home. Baby proofing your home is essential to keeping your baby safe. Be prepared to baby proof the nursery, bathroom, kitchen, stairs, fireplace, and any furniture that could harm your child.  You can even hire a professional child proofer to do the job for you.  After 7 kids, I’ve done a lot of baby proofing as a parent.  Here are a few tips to help you in the process:

Baby Proofing Must Haves:

• Spout cover for the bathtub
• Door stop edges to prevent doors slamming on little fingers
• Corner guards for the coffee table and fireplace
• Toilet seat lid lock
• Outlet cover plugs or sliding switch outlets
• Door knob locks to keep your little one out of off-limit rooms
• Cabinet and door latches
• Baby gates for stairs and areas that are off-limits
• Safety straps/bolts for attaching dressers, bookshelves, and TV’s to the wall.
• Radon, lead & carbon monoxide tests/detectors

Getting Started Baby Proofing:

• Get Your Baby’s Perspective. Get down on your hands and knees and check out the view.  The most effective way to ensure your baby’s safety is to take a baby’s-eye view of your home.
• If it’s Hazardous, Lock it Up. Carefully lock up every potential poison, cleaning products, medicines, vitamins, and knives/sharp items. Use baby gates to limit your child’s access to areas of your home that might contain dangerous items such as a work area.  Carefully dispose of old or outdated meds and watch out for hidden poisons in products.
• Watch Out For “Chokeables.” If you have other children in the house that leave stuff laying around, always keep your eyes open for items your baby could choke on such as small toys, beads, coins, marbles, etc.  If they don’t put it in their mouth, the nose is always the next best thing.
• If It Can Tip, Bolt it Down. Thousands of accidents happen every year in the U.S. from large or heavy bookcases, dressers, and appliances falling on kids.  Bolt whatever you can to the wall. Push items like televisions back from the edge of the furniture they’re on or move them out of reach, and then secure them, too. Keep dresser drawers and cabinet drawers shut.  They make perfect ladders for little ones.
• The All Mighty Safety Gate. The first safety item most parents purchase is the safety gate.  They keep your little one within a designated room, and they block access to dangerous stairways and off-limit rooms (such as the bathroom or kitchen). The best gates are the ones that screw into the wall and have gate doors that open with a lever (never requiring an adult or child to have to climb over it).  And never use pressure gates at the top of stairs as it poses another safety hazard if pushed.
• Check Cords on Blinds and Curtains. The sad truth is a child can become entangled in a looped window cord and strangle themselves in a matter of minutes. Use cordless window coverings wherever possible, and avoid placing your baby’s crib near a window.  If you have curtains with pull cords in your home, either cut off the pull cords or use cord shorteners or wind-ups to keep them out of reach.
• Secure Your Windows & Doors.  April is National Window Safety Month, and reminds us to prevent accidents in the home from windows.  Always open double-hung windows from the top or fit them with locks to prevent small children from opening them. Low windows shouldn’t open more than 4”—window stops are available that can prevent windows from opening more than this. Window screens are not strong enough to prevent falls. To make windows safe, install window stops or window guards, which screw into the side of a window frame, have bars no more than 4 inches apart, and can be adjusted to fit windows of many different sizes. Always keep furniture and beds away from windows.
• The 3 Home Imposters—Lead, Radon & Carbon Monoxide. Well before your baby is even born, consider having these tests done in your home. Lead, radon and carbon monoxide each silently and severely affect the health of not only your baby, but the rest of your family, too.  Simple home tests can be purchased at your local home improvement store that can check for radon levels.  Once results are available, you’ll know whether your radon level requires mitigation.  A carbon monoxide detector is a simple detector, much like a fire detector, that plugs into an outlet and remains there—one on every level of your home is recommended.  Call a state certified assessor or inspector to have your lead levels checked in homes built before 1978.
• The Scoop on Emergency Numbers.  Always keep important emergency phone numbers near your phone or placed somewhere visible, like attached to your refrigerator.  Have every number listed including emergency, poison control, pediatrician, etc.

Baby proofing your home is an important job for the safety and well-being of your child, but keep in mind the best device is your supervision.  And remember, as your baby grows, baby proofing will have to be re-evaluated a few times over.

Be safe and happy parenting!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents. Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the Daily Daddy Blog which covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post Baby Proofing 101 appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.