Raising a baby is beautiful. But let’s not forget the bills that roll in with a baby. From diapers to formula, toys, and clothes, costs quickly add up. Sometimes, the bills may become overwhelming if finances are poorly planned. Don’t worry! There are various practical tips you can use to save money, without compromising on your little one’s care.



Practical Tips to Save Money as New Parents

Save Money in the Hospital by Making Smart Choices

• Compare Hospital Packages: Many hospitals offer delivery packages that cover maternity checkups, delivery, and postpartum care. Compare prices of various hospitals before choosing one.
• Check Insurance Coverage: Make sure your health insurance covers delivery, C-section, and newborn care to avoid unexpected bills.
• Bring Essentials from Home: Carry essential items like maternity pads, baby clothes, diapers, and snacks from home. This can save you from buying expensive hospital versions.

At Home Hacks to Save Money

• Buy Baby Clothes Consciously: Newborns outgrow clothes and diapers quickly. Stock just enough for the first few weeks and buy more as needed.
• Borrow and Reuse: As newborns outgrow clothes quickly, you can ask for hand-me-downs from family and friends. In most cases, these hand-me-downs are or look new.
• DIY Baby Essentials: Make use of cotton towels and muslin cloths for wiping and burping instead of buying from the market. While diapers are helpful, you can use muslin and cotton cloths to make your DIY langots. This way, you can also give your little one some diaper-free time.
• Plan meals in advance: Batch cook your meals and freeze them for yourself. You never know when you will be able to cook food. Batch cooking and freezing meals can save money on takeouts when you feel tired.
• Skip Fancy Gadgets: Fancy baby products like bottle sterilizers, baby shoes, wipe warmers, etc, are cute. But you don’t really need them.
• Borrow or buy secondhand short-term items: Bassinets, carriers, or bottle warmers are used for a few months only. If possible, try borrowing these from your family or friends.

Baby Clothes Hacks

• Buy One Size Up: Babies grow very quickly. So always buy one size bigger when shopping for baby clothes, so that your little one can use them longer.
• Avoid fancy clothes: Babies don’t wear fancy clothes daily. So try sticking to regular cotton clothes like onesies over designer clothes.
• Sell or Exchange Outgrown Items: Use mom groups or online marketplaces to resell gently used baby clothes and gear.
• Shop during seasonal sales: Indian marketplaces host plenty of festive season sales. When buying baby clothes, make use of these seasonal sales.

Feeding and Nutrition

• Breastfeed if you can: Breastfeeding is a choice. But if you want to save some money on formulas, opt for breastfeeding,
• Prepare Homemade Baby Food: Once you start giving solids to your baby, make homemade food. Give fruit and vegetable purees made at home to your baby instead of buying pouches or jars from the market.
• Sterilise Smartly: Instead of buying a baby bottle steriliser, use a pot of hot boiling water at home. If you still want a steriliser, try borrowing from friends or family if possible.

Self-Care and Health

• Use Hospital Follow-Up Visits Wisely: Ask all the questions you may have about postpartum and baby care to your healthcare provider in one visit. Write down your questions before visiting your doctor so that you don’t forget anything and can avoid multiple hospital visits.
• Home Workouts for Recovery: Avoid signing up for expensive workout classes. There are plenty of free resources available online. Use them to work out for recovery.

General Money-Saving Tips

• Make a Baby Budget: Track each expense of your baby every month. See where you are spending your money and where you can save money. Set monthly baby budgets. Download budget tracking apps to manage your expenditure better.
• Limit impulse shopping: The ads you see online can be persuasive. Everything you see online will look too cute. But before you add it to your cart, wait for some time. Not everything that looks cute is required.

Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.



FAQs on How to Raise a Baby on a Budget: Practical Tips for New Parents

What baby products can I skip as a new parent?

You can skip buying wipes, warmers, baby shoes, and sterilisers for newborns. Instead, focus on buying what is important.

When should I start buying baby items during my pregnancy?

You can start buying baby items anytime during your pregnancy. However, it is best to buy them in the third trimester. This will give you plenty of time to compare brands, prices, and more. You can also leverage seasonal sales.