Comments on: Tightwad Tips for Raising Baby from Frugal Zealot, Amy Dacyczyn

By: Donielle @ Raising Peanuts

Donielle @ Raising Peanuts — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:03:33 +0000

I forewent the shampoo all together. The cheap stuff is just full of chemicals and fragrances, water works just as well! And how dirty does a baby really get?!

Unfortunately moms don’t breastfeed as much as you might think. It’s only like 17% that make it to a year and most quit before 6 months! Sad really. Not only is it the healthiest option (that proves healthier in the long run as well) but the cheapest. It’s free, you don’t HAVE to buy bottles, and it also cuts way down on medical bills the first few years.

And I don’t think babies ever really slept in cribs ‘back in the day’! Both mine and hubbys grandmas have told us that a lot of folks just used dresser drawer. Now a days though, you’d probably have child protective services after you if you did that. (You know with SIDS and all) Thing is you can always check out freecycle.com or craigslist.com and ask for a free one. There is always someone out there willing to give to someone in need! For our next one I picked up a moses basket at a garage sale for just a few dollars, cheaper than a bassinet!

The cheapest thing I’d do next time is not buy so much stuff! Babies don’t need THAT much clothing. Or toys for that matter. They are pretty small and simple little beings! As Americans we tend to go way overboard and fall into all of the marketing (from the manufacturers – they want us to buy!) that we NEED certain things. Guess what? We went centuries without squeaky toys and tons of stuffed animals. You think the pioneers had a NURSERY for the babies? Nope, they fit them in wherever they could, no specially decorated rooms just for baby.

By: rebecca

rebecca — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:21:04 +0000

Mimi–what a coincidence! My grandfather also slept in a shoebox when he was born.

By: mimi

mimi — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:39:43 +0000

I’ve always liked the idea of having my baby sleep in a dresser drawer – maybe because it is a family tradition. I first heard the story of my grandfather sleeping in a shoe box as a baby when I was a kid and always thought it was so clever. My older brother slept in the bottom drawer of a dresser, and he turned out just fine!

Has anyone else given this a try?

By: rebecca

rebecca — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:55:46 +0000

Hils, I got a Snappi and never used it, as I preferred the just-fold-in-thirds method, too. (If anyone wants me to send them my Snappi, please email me and I’ll be glad to pass it on!)

The vast majority of women do not breastfeed at all, let alone to a year. (I know it does not seem like that in some circles, especially if you live somewhere like Portland or Eugene!) Although breastfeeding is common in my world, I’m still impressed that Dacyczyn used no bottles, breast pump, or sippy cups at all! Even the stay-at-home moms I know used a breast pump and bottle every once in a while.

By: Joy

Joy — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:57:36 +0000

Thanks for your tips! We got away with just folding our prefolds in thirds and using covers. Cloth diapering is far easier and cheaper than most people realize!

By: hils

hils — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:52:59 +0000

For prefolds, which are still the least expensive way to use cloth, a Snappi is great! Or, skip the diaper pins altogether and just fold the prefold in thirds and slap a PUL cover (with velcro) right over it. You only need 3 or so covers in your stash, because they last through several changes.

Who doesn’t breastfeed until at least a year? heh.