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Wondering how to save money when you have a baby? For something so small, they definitely can get expensive! The good news is there are a lot of easy tricks you can use to save money when you have a baby.

Taking care of a new baby while on a budget can be challenging. As a mom of 6 kids though, I’ll tell you that you never need everything you think you do. Your baby definitely will not care whether you buy them expensive things or not.

When my first baby was born I thought I needed to have all the things. I quickly realized that most of the baby gear that is promoted as must-have items can be just clutter. There are very few essentials.

Hopefully, you can learn from my mistakes and use this list of money-saving tips to enjoy your new baby without stressing about how you are going to manage financially.

How to Save Money When You Have a Baby

Learn how to get Free Baby Stuff

The best way to save money is to get things for free. There are loads of ways that you can get free baby stuff (check out this enormous list of ways you can get free baby stuff).

Free samples of baby products may not seem like much but they definitely add up. Not only that but you’ll save money by testing out products first and then only buying the ones you know will work for. Bonus: Most free samples also come with coupons so you can save even when you do buy products in the future.

Save money when you have a baby by Breastfeeding (if possible)

First of all, fed is ALWAYS best. I’ve used formula with several of my babies and have zero judgement for it no matter what the reason. If you can, want to, and it doesn’t cause any excessive stress, breastfeeding is definitely a cheaper way to feed a baby.

People will tell you breastfeeding is free. It is not. There are still costs involved. First of all, you will end up eating more food. I breastfed twins and my grocery budget definitely took a hit because I was always hungry. If you want to breastfeed while working (and maybe if you aren’t), you will need a pump. Insurance will sometimes pay for breastfeeding supplies though, so be sure to explore that avenue. The cost is mostly upfront. You won’t have to pay for formula monthly though so it does save you quite a bit.

Definitely hold onto those free formula samples the hospital and doctor give you in case you end up needing them.

Skip the nursing wardrobe

If you do decide to breastfeed, you can skip the nursing wardrobe. Not only can those clothes be pretty pricey, they really aren’t necessary. I usually wore a regular loose-fitting shirt or button-up shirt and never had any problems. When I did buy nursing-specific clothing, the styles usually weren’t my favorite and I found that they were more hassle than they were worth.

Borrow baby items (whenever possible)

Babies change so quickly that even some of the more expensive items don’t always get a lot of use. If you have family or friends that don’t mind loaning baby items out for a few months, that’s a great way to save money. Things like baby swings, bouncy seats, and even portable cribs won’t be damaged much by extra use so they are great items to pass around between friends or family members.

Join a Freecycle Group (or a similar one)

People give away items they don’t use anymore all the time. Join a Freecycle group or a similar one on Facebook where people are able to offer up items for free. This can also be helpful when your baby outgrows items

Go easy on the newborn clothes to save money when you have a baby

Babies do not stay tiny for very long and those adorable newborn clothes that you can’t resist are going to be too small before you can blink. Also, everyone will buy you newborn clothes. My kids lived in onesies because they were easy to put on … and change 10 times a day whenever they got dirty. Save the more expensive clothes for photo sessions and bigger sizes that can be worn for longer.

Don’t buy most things until you actually need them

Baby items are so cute it’s easy to be tempted to buy things even if you don’t know whether they will actually get used. Other than a few baby basics (diapers, car seat, onesies, crib, blankets) everything else can be bought when and if you end up needing it.

I had so many baby items that barely got any use and that money would have been much better spent towards other things … like bills.

Have a baby shower

If a friend or family member is willing to throw you a baby shower it is a great opportunity to let the people who love you help with part of the financial burden that comes with having a baby.

If there are big ticket items you need, suggest people pool together for that instead of buying many smaller items. Most people love to help with something you actually need. I was utterly shocked when my friends threw me a baby shower with my twins (who were not my first babies) and pitched in to buy me a triple stroller that I desperately needed.

If you don’t need much, have a diaper shower … because you will always need more diapers.

Look for ways to save on daycare costs

If you are working, your largest baby expense will be daycare. Get creative and find some ways to save. See if you can work a hybrid schedule that will allow you to work from home a few days a week while your baby is young (and still sleeps most of the time). See if family members want to pitch in to help with childcare for a little while.

Look into childcare grants available in your area. Depending on your income, you may be able to get all or most of your childcare expenses covered.

Make sure that your income is covering the cost of daycare. Sometimes it makes more sense to alternate your work schedule with your spouse, work part-time, or look for a remote job that won’t require daycare if daycare expenses are going to eat up too much of your paycheck.

When my oldest son was born I got really creative and opened up my own daycare.

Exchange diapers for a different size when needed

Babies grow quickly, and if you’ve stocked up on diapers, sometimes that means being stuck with several boxes that no longer fit. Most stores will let you swap unopened diapers for a different size without a receipt. If you are left with an open box, you could donate them if you are in a position to do that or sell them at a discount on Facebook or OfferUp.

Babyproof with things you already own

Some babyproof items are just must-haves (like furniture anchors) but babyproofing some things can be done with items you already own. When my twins were born, we used a surfboard through the slats in our stairs instead of a baby gate, and it worked way better than any commercial gates we found.

Buy gender-neutral baby items

If you plan to have more kids, buying gender-neutral baby items (especially big-ticket items like strollers, car seats, and nursery decor) will allow you to reuse them. I was able to use most of the stuff I bought with my oldest so for my first three kids (who were all boys) which meant I hardly had to buy anything for the 2nd and 3rd babies.

Make your own baby food

Hear me out. Even if you don’t consider yourself a make-everything-from-scratch mom, babyfood is super simple. I bought the expensive jarred baby food for my oldest son but quickly realized that not only is it super expensive but it’s pretty gross too. After that I mostly mashed up whatever we were eating. Avocados mash up with a fork, and were what we used for a first food with all my kids. If you want to make baby food ahead of time, blend things up in your food processor or blender then use these handy baby food storage containers.

You can even make these fun baby “momsicles” if you want to use up extra pumped breastmilk.

Save on a Car Seat

A good quality car seat is one baby item that is important to buy new, however, there are ways you can save. Look for car seat trade-in events that offer a discount for trading in old car seats. You may not have a car seat to trade in but you can grab an old one from a yard sale or have a friend or family member give you an old one to use as a trade in.

Look for sales and coupons once you have decided which car seat you want. If it’s still out of your budget you could request that friends and family go in on a group gift rather than buying lots of smaller items.

Apply for WIC if you are low income

WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) provides supplemental food, formula if needed, and baby food for children under 5 and pregnant or nursing mothers. The income limits for this program are much higher than others. If you need it, this can help you keep your grocery bill within budget.

As an added bonus, the program also provides nutrition education and health care referrals.

Ask for hand-me-downs

I’ve found that a lot of people are hesitant to offer hand-me-downs because not everyone loves them. I always LOVED it when friends gifted me their old baby clothes and gear. It saved me from having to buy those things and I didn’t have to take the time to shop.

Let your friends and family members know that you like hand-me-downs. You may end up getting more than you need and be able to pass on the extras to another mom.

When my boys were little, I had a neighbor who routinely brought me boxes and boxes of outgrown baby clothes. The only clothes I bought for several years were just special occasion outfits so that saved me so much money.

Skip the crib bedding set

Crib bedding sets are adorable but super expensive. Most of the items they come with aren’t even recommended for safe sleep. All you really need is a waterproof mattress pad and several crib sheets … because those will need to be changed frequently.

I made the mistake of buying a boutique crib bedding set with my oldest. I used it for years with all my kids, but the quilt it came with was just used as decoration draped over my rocking chair, and I have no idea where the pillows even ended up. When my girls were born later, I just bought some nice crib sheets and swaddle wraps and called it good.

Skip the expensive baby enrichment classes

Those expensive baby enrichment classes may sound great. Don’t be tempted. You can find the same thing by creating a local playgroup or checking out free resources at your local library. Some local baby stores offer their own play groups and support groups for new moms too.

Keep a stash of basic baby care items in your car

Unless your diaper bag looks like you are packing for a week-long vacation, it’s pretty likely that you are going to run out of something while away from home at some point. I’ve had way too many situations where a diaper blowout forced me to buy a new outfit or I’ve had to grab an expensive package of diapers while away from home. I learned after several unplanned (and expensive) shopping trips. I kept a bag of baby basics in the car, including a spare outfit, diapers, wipes, and baby fever reducer. It was so much easier and more affordable to be able to restock my diaper bag without running home.

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Ready to save money when you have a baby?

Shopping for a baby, with all of the tiny little clothes and trendy patterns, can be a fun experience, but it is way too tempting to buy more than you need, especially if you are an excited first-time parent. Living within your budget will reduce your stress level and allow you to enjoy your baby because that baby stage does not last long. I hope these money-saving tips for having a baby are helpful and help you cut down on some of the unnecessary baby spending.