This guest post is from BC reader Amanda, a SAHM of two boys who thrive in their frugal nursery.
1. Diaper Pail
You do not need a fancy one. A separate trash can is sufficient and can be re-purposed when its life as a diaper pail is over. Even thriftier, skip the diaper pail. When we were using disposables with my first, we simply plunked the contents of messy diapers in the toilet (human waste should not go to the landfills anyway) and threw the diapers in our regular trash.
2. Glider
We have a La-Z-Boy rocker/recliner that I use as my nursing chair. It is far more comfortable than the gliders that I have had experience with. Additionally, many households have one already, or do not mind investing in one. The life span of a recliner tends to be much longer (and enjoyed by more people) than gliders.
3. Changing Table
This is an expensive piece of furniture that takes up a good amount of space and is not easily re-purposed. I keep diapers and supplies in baskets on top of the dresser (we use cloth diapers). Additionally, a changing pad on the floor or on top of the bed is as good or better for most circumstances, especially once baby gets squirmy.
4. Crib Bedding Set
Not only are bedding sets unnecessary, the comforter and bumper pads are not even recommended for safety reasons. You can purchase several cute sheets and a crib ruffle for less than the cost of a bedding set. Save your money on this and add cute touches to the nursery in more practical ways.
5. Nursery Paint and Decor
For the ultimate frugal nursery, skip these altogether. We lived in an apartment when our first was born, so it did not make sense to decorate the nursery, and I do not feel like I missed out. There are plenty of other ways to “nest” while preparing for your baby. In order to save money and decorate, plan a nursery that can be easily updated and/or is appropriate for an older child as well as baby.
6. Monitor
This depends on your circumstances, but we never needed one with our first. He slept in our room, so nights were not an issue and two adults are great at being quiet in order to not disturb the baby. We have a monitor now that there is a greater distance between the bedrooms and living area in our home, so now I run back and forth more often checking on the baby since I can hear every peep that he makes while sleeping.
7. Diaper Stacker and Wipes Warmer
Diaper stackers are cute, but they just add an extra step to the diapering process, ultimately. Baskets or small totes work wonderfully for keeping diapers in. Even more simple, just grab a disposable diaper straight out of the package when you need it, or keep an extra laundry basket for cloth diapers. As for wipes warmers, they are really more of a nicety than necessity. Unless your wipes have been left outside during the winter, they probably are not that cold, and running the occasional wipe under warm water as necessary is not a big deal, I write from experience here.
8. Bassinet
Many parents want baby close during the night and for night wakings, or think that a crib is too large for a tiny newborn. Invest in a play yard with bassinet attachment instead. The play yard can double as a travel bed, has a changing table attachment; in addition to the traditional play yard uses. Most families end up with a play yard anyway, so use it to its fullest potential.
9. Brand New Layette
Babies grow so quickly in the first few months, so some clothing may be worn only once (or never, after two children I still have some tiny baby clothing that is new with tags). Second-hand baby clothing tends to be in very good, or even like-new, condition. Take advantage of Craigslist, eBay, yard sales, and offers from family or friends.
10. Toys
Don’t bother with expensive stuffed animals or other pricey toys for a newborn. Most babies receive so many toys as gifts that they cannot actually play with them all before growing out of the appropriate developmental stage(s). I have found that many toys exist because someone will buy them, not because they are necessary.
A final tip: If in question about whether a nursery item is essential, consider that babies essentially need to eat, sleep, and be clothed. Thus, parents really only need the items required to make these three functions happen safely. Organizational and ease of use supplemental implements can be thrown into the mix to assist in the completion of such tasks.
Readers: These types of posts always generate a lot of discussion. What would you add or subtract from this list?
This post is part of BC’s Nursery on a Budget Series. See more posts in the series.
I totally agree about the wipes warmer. I've never understood the need! Plus, I hear they often burn the wipes.
This list is right on. We live in a condo and have never set up a nursery. We don't have a crib with bedding, and we repurposed a dresser for a changing table. We cloth diaper and use a laundry basket to store clean diapers (why add that extra step indeed??).
We do really like our monitors, but I think people should be aware that cheap, audio only ones are perfectly good. We have a Graco that was inexpensive and works wonderfully for us — no need to install video cameras, for goodness' sake!
Finally — NO BABY BATHTUB! I have tried several makes/models that I've received as handmedowns and have concluded that bathroom sinks are best for newborns, kitchen sinks for the middle months, and the tub good thereafter. Baby tubs are clunky and hard to store, and ridiculously priced. They're also a pain to use and my babies are always kind of freaked out in them. A hand towel in the bathroom sink works great for us with my 6 week old.
Garage sales and consignment stores are the best places to find good deals on children's clothing and nursery items. I got a $50 bouncy seat for $12.50 (I think bouncies are indispensable… but we have never used a swing.
I also think high chairs are overrated. We used a bumbo seat when our daughter was small, and now have a seat that pulls up to our table. Saves so much space and those plastic covers are such a pain to clean!!
This list is excellent. I agree with it all, now that I am a mom of two and have hindsight in my favor!
However, knowing the mentality of a new mom, much of it goes unheard. I fell victim to wanting new things just out of the sheer excitement of becoming a mom! The baby section of Target is still so exciting – with every thing so perfect!
I agree with most of these, but I whole heartedly disagree regarding a monitor! We're now on our second video monitor (we upgraded and sent the old one to Grandma's house) and I would not want to do without it.
It's SO helpful to be able to see what he's doing, know he's fine, without risking waking him. He's 2 1/2 now and I know that our video monitor has given us countless hours of "sleep," both his and OURS.
We even bring it with us when we travel in hotels, etc because if he SEES you while he's stirring, he automatically perks up.
I disagree! Glider, changing table, monitor, and wipes warmer were are on our must have list! We are about to have our second child, and these are all things I will be using again. Any list such as this is nice for suggestions, but each person will have their own opinion. Oh, and I still use my diaper genie to this day and my daughter just turned 2.
Monitor, wipes warmer, diaper pail, and a glider are on my list of MUST-HAVES– Sorry! I use monitors for my 3yr old and baby– who is six months and sleeps in his crib. The wipes warmer is fabulous b/c those wipes are cold on a sensitive little bum, a diaper pail helps the "stinkies", and my glider is my favorite place to rock and read to my baby! Just my two cents!
I agree with most things. For us a monitor is a must. I dont have the energy to run upstairs every few minutes. Plus if I peek on him he hears me and wakes up.
At first we did not buy a changing table but we found one at a thrift store for $35 and we were so happy we did buy it.
As a soon to be 1st time mom, I'm so happy to see this article!
Completely agree with all of these! Definitely disagree with the baby bathtub suggestion in one of the comments
I bathed our daughter in the sink once and found it really difficult, especially if you don't have a faucet that turns. I was also so nervous with her being up so high on a slippery surface. We never needed a monitor because we had a small place, but I can certainly see why others would want/need one. Some of the things on this list I did have and rarely used them. I've changed many many diapers and never seen one baby who seemed bothered by a wipe that wasn't warmed LOL
I agree with most of your list, but I think it really depends on how frugal you need (or must) be. I thought having a diaper pail was worth every penny. Also, formula fed babies tend to have smellier diapers, so that might want to be taken into consideration for any moms who are unable to breastfeed. We really liked the Diaper Champ because you didn't need to use special (and more expensive) bags for it, any regular trash bag would do.
If you don't have money so spend, you really don't NEED to buy much for your baby. Diapers, some basic clothing, etc… But everyone is going to have different experiences and different circumstances. If think you really need the glider then get it!
I've read dozens of these sort of lists, and I have yet to see one that I completely agree with. Everything depends on your own lifestyle, and another person's list isn't going to help unless your living situation and preferences are just like theirs.
Also, I'm surprised to see a La-Z-Boy recommended for a frugal nursery.
We read also that a wipe warmer was a waste of money, but we got one for a gift, so we decided to use it. When Sam was really little, he would be startled and jump when we didn't use the wipes warmer. We really only use it right before bedtime and if he needs to be changed in the middle of the night.
i TOTALLY agree with all of it! there are so many things out there but not much that a baby actually NEEDS. i wish i had known that before our baby. i WASTED so much money.
better luck next time right?
Since we are apartment dwellers and probably will be for a good five more years, we opted to use a porta crib with all the fixins instead of a full crib and changing table. Graco (and I'm sure other brands) offers some great models that have a sturdy, high changing table, compartments for wipes, diapers, etc., as well as has the bassinet hight. It's a little big to put at our bedside compared to a regular small bassinet but you don't have to purchase a separate unit. So I say that even a full size crib is something you don't need. Besides, I think many moms end up buying a porta crib anyway so it is really a nice all-in-one solution if you are trying to save space and money.
Have to disagree on a few points. First being the wipe warmer. My son screamed bloody murder during diaper changes until we got one for him. Now he enjoys being changed. Munchkin makes a great warmer that will not burn or dry out the wipes.
Monitors. A monitor IS actually quite necessary! Not all parents can or want to cosleep or sleep with their babies in the same room. For those of us whose babies prefer to sleep in their cribs, I doubt NOT having a monitor would allow us any sleep.
As for the glider, I actually have an easy chair in my sons room, which is where he prefers to nurse, so I am quite thankful for mine. It's also a good place to sit and read to him before I nurse him before bed.
I have to say your list is pretty accurate – except for one thing – the WIPES WARMER. A necessity, no, but IMO, its almost cruel to put a cold wet wipe on those sweet little bottoms. So as a mom to five, the oldest being quite grown now – agewise but maybe not emotionally – 23 – I've wiped a lot of bums.
But then maybe if I hadn't pampered his bottom with warm wipes, he'd be a bit heartier now – lol.
I used the wipes warmer for the first 6 weeks especially. Wipes are not recommended on babies the first 6 weeks. You should use just wet paper towels. I cut paper towels in half, wetted them and stuck them in the wipes warmer. I would have wasted so many gallons of water running it until it was warm enough for a human being. I switched to regular wipes afterward.
Couldn't have gotten by without a monitor in our house…you could scream in the nursery and not hear a peep in our den otherwise!
The rest of these are pretty spot on, although we have a diaper champ and its been great for our needs.
The wipe warmer is totally unnecessary. I agree. If all they ever experience is a room temperature wipe then babies won't expect anything different. Goodness knows our mothers didn't have wipe warmers and somehow they survived and so did our bums!
The diaper pail is a grey area IMO. Our son was breastfed exclusively for six months so his poopy didn't smell that bad. We used a trash can in his room and just emptied it daily. Once he started on solids I ran out and bought a Diaper Champ because the change was drastic and I wasn't going to run out to the garage after every poopy diaper change to dispose of those lethal things! Once he cut back to only one dirty diaper per day I put the Diaper Champ in the attic, used the bathroom trash can for the wet diapers, and just changed the bag every day.
I think a monitor depends on the size and layout of your home. I never used one at night since all our bedrooms are on the same hallway and I could hear my son sneeze from down the hall. I have other friends who have one for each child's room because they have a split floor plan (their eldest is three and they still use one for her) I did use the monitor quite a bit when I wanted to relax on the porch during his naps. I could sit outside by the pool or do light gardening with the monitor clipped to my shorts and know the instant he awoke. I bought the cheapest one possible since we didn't use it very often.
I agree with most of the things on the list…except for the diaper pail. When my daughter was a newborn, we had a diaper pail…that we ended up returning because we didn't need it at all. And for her entire first year we just went with a regular trash can. And after she turned one, we had to go get one again because without it her entire room stinks! Everything else I sort of agreed with, although my $5 bassinet really saved my sanity the first few months.
I agree except for #1 Diaper Champ is the way to go though (uses regular trash bags), #3 we LOVED our changing table and very helpful after having a c-section so you don't have to BEND over, and #6 monitor I really think a basic monitor is very vital for peace of mind and pretty cheap if you can return all the unneeded items you received for a gift card to spend on that monitor!
to Kristen and other interested moms,
I agree that a baby bathtub isn't needed but I would purchase a bath "sling" thing. I saw that these were still selling at Wal-Mart. It's what I used with the infants, it sat in the baby bathtub but then I found it worked just fine in the regular bathtub itself. Wonderful for bathing baby in the bath. The baby's weight pulls them down into it so they stay in one spot. Example here http://www.walmart.com/ip/Summer-Infant-Bath-Center-With-Shower-Blue/6457326 but just the lower left thing with the duckies on it. Just my opinion.
We got a changing table at a yard sale for $15. I LOVE it. I like having a place to change her that isn't the floor or our bed and that has everything in one place. I'm really tall and so is this table, so that is nice, too. Is it easily re-purposed? Not really, but I can give it away to someone else who can use it. Same difference.
I also love the high chair and hated the Bumbo… different kids like different things. But a wipe warmer… sorry, never even thought of it being a "need". And I had the queen of fussy babies!
I disagree with the changing table. I think it is a necessity for us. There is no way I could change him on the floor every time. We don't have a low dresser in his room so I couldn't put a pad on their either. The changing table was cheaper than buying a new dresser! We plan to reuse it as toy storage and buy some fabric boxes for the shelves. It already matches the crib.
We don't have a wipe warmer, however my wipes are on top on the changing table and directly in the sun for the majority of the day. That makes them nice and warm for him.
I agree the wipes warmer is a nicety and not really needed. We were given one as a hand me down and never once used it so we passed it down yet again to someone who would want it. Honestly my issue was being tied to it being plugged in! Warming the wipes in my hands worked just fine and my baby did great with no addiction to warm wipes.
The monitor on the other hand is a must for some houses. My sons room is upstairs on the opposite side of the house from our main floor master. The video monitor lets me see what he's doing if hes upset (which he sometimes cries in his sleep and will immediately stop) so I don't have to run upstairs everytime he sounds upset.
Lastly, for formula fed babies a diaper pail is a must! I didn't think it was until I stopped nursing my son and OMG those diapers can stink up the house! I was having my husband run them outside when they were bad but its not really practical when its the middle of the night and snowing! The diaper genie is wonderful for that!
My thing that was unneeded was the bumbo. I really wanted one and never got it… however since I never used anything to help my son sit he got good workouts in and I think that helped him sit earlier than if I had used something to assist. He sat at just past 4 months. And then for feedings I just used his bouncer (which turns into a rocker later for him to continue to use… one of my favorite hand me downs that I'll probably replace with the next baby!).
Glider and monitor are absolute musts in our house. No way I could have gotten by without either one.
No way I could have gotten by without a glider and a monitor. Absolute MUSTS in my opinion.
I disagree with Lauren W about teh baby bath tub. we bought one from IKEA for $6 and used until my daughters 9th month!
As a dad of twins, once ours got in their own room, we needed the monitor. When they were smaller, they were each sleeping in a bassinet on each side of our bed. We only have changing tables (one in our room, one in theirs) because we got them for free, hand me down.
This is a similar list I saw in all the books I read, babycenter.com, etc. and I went ahead and ignored them and ended up not regretting it.
1 – Diaper Pail. I don't know about your babies poop but I'd have to sit over the toilet and scrape it off with a spoon for about 15 minutes and it would still smell. I use that elite diaper pail for just the dirty diapers and it works great and keeps the smell blocked.
2 – I don't own a lazyboy and they are expensive. A cheap glider at Walmart or Target is about $200 and while I haven't bought one yet I'm still thinking about it. Lazyboys are also huge and I don't have a large enough living room to accomodate one.
3 – The changing table has 2 shelves below where I store a lot of stuff. Diapers, receiving blankets, burp cloths, baby lotions etc. I can't imagine stacking all that stuff on top of the chest of drawers in baskets. Plus, being a mother of twins bending down to get on the floor 16-20 times a day … not so much. And I don't want to risk getting aforementioned peanut buttery poo on my duvet cover.
4 – We have 2! bedding sets and sure we're not going to use the bumper or the comforter for a year but then we will and damn they're cute.
5 – agreed but we still painted the room anyway (it needed it). But nothing wrong with leaving the walls white or cream and decorating with paintings, toys and stencils.
6 – Agreed, we used ours twice. Those babes wail and you'll hear them unless you're on multiple levels maybe, I'm in a small ranch so definitely not necessary.
7 – The diaper stacker came with the bedding set I think. But I haven't pulled it out. Wipe warmer was going to be passed down by a friend but I still haven't gotten it yet. Not missing it and the babes don't know any different. Get the bottle warmer instead.
8 – Ha. My biggest waste. The only twin bassinet I could find by Graco is horrible. It buckles in the middle so the two girls roll to the center, talk about dangerous. It now sits in the living room taking up space and acting as temporary storage for outgrown clothes until it can actually be used as a pack n play.
9 – Different circumstances but seeing as my two girls were extreme preemies (born at 29 weeks) I've probably gotten more wear out of NB clothes than most. But agreed, I can't wait to hand down all those lil outfits that fit for about 1 week and save my mommy friends some money.
10 – Agreed. No toys here. Just soothing, songs and a smile.
I agree with most points but want to point out a few things.
We need a changing table. The way the walls in the nursery are situated really only one whole wall), my daughters dresser is 6 drawers tall. this changing table was been a life saver!
Also, with a one story condo, a pack and play would have been a silly investment, so we did get a bassinet. I liked being able to wheel her into the bathroom when I showered and was home alone. plus, the shower helped her sleep!
Beth
With a two story house, a special diaper pail and a baby monitor become necessities. We save money on diaper genie refills by using it only for the poopy diapers. The pee ones can just go in the regular trash can. I also needed a changing table because I do NOT want to risk getting poop on the couch or whereever. We had plenty of poop get on he changer, thanks. Thank goodness it's easily washable.
I agree on a changing table being unnecessary as we don't have one. We use a changing pad on our living room loveseat. But in hindsight, I kind of wish I'd figured out a way to fit one in to my DD's room. (We had an offer of a hand-me-down one, so it wouldn't have cost us anything.)
We also use our kitchen trash can for diapers. It's an expensive trash can, but one we've had for a while. I debated buying it originally because of the price, but it holds odors really well. We only empty the can when it is full, which can be almost a week, and there's no smell.
I would agree that there's no need for a video monitor, but we've used our audio one a lot. We have a small house, but it has three levels and there are places in the basement (like right by our washer and dryer) where you can't hear what's going on upstairs. It's also great when visiting family and friends and needing to put the baby down for a nap in a pack and play in another part of their house.
Never thought we would need a monitor as we have a small home. But our in-laws bought us a video monitor and now I cant live without it! I take it EVERYWHERE we go. No more sneaking in to "check" on him when he is taking a longer than usual nap. Just a quick glance and I know he is still asleep and fine and I havent interrupted what I was doing.