14 Ways We Save on Baby! // Minimalist Baby

The average family will spend $13,000 in a baby’s first year of life. That's A LOT of $$$! Here are the ways our family is saving literally thousands of dollars. With a few simple changes, you can save lots of money too. Baby's really don't have to be expensive!
*ALWAYS supervise baby when not in approved safe sleep equipment or when having blankets or pillows around baby.
How to safely co-sleep with your baby: • Video
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[@beckyshell4649]

Throughout history, babies were raised with very little extras. They were breastfed, ate table food, were cloth diapered, and were dressed in gowns until they started walking. Gowns were worn by both boys and girls and could be handed down to the next child. Cradles were handed down for generations. Toys were few and handmade. I am not saying that people should raise their babies this way but know that many of the "necessities" are not needed. The same goes for adults people lived for many centuries with 2 or 3 outfits 1 pair of shoes and 1 coat.

[@cherylT321]

What a wonderfully creative way to raise your baby…I hope other people take note of all that you are doing!

[@rickyandtheothers5835]

Could not agree more! We had a large family, I breastfed, made our own baby food,used towelling square napppies and any hand me downs we had or were offered. I have been astounded how much is spent on babies these days 😮

[@marywatkins6798]

So much good info. My babies are in their 20s now but I did all of this when they were babies. Best tip: don't let others tell you what you need for your baby. You decide.

[@lollipop3105]

I am so surprised that all of this is still so uncommon and unknown in the States... Over here in Europe, I noticed that almost every new parent practices some of these tips (we do it all and enjoy it!). I am thankful that you spread the message in the States :)

[@Evilgamesprite]

I made my cloth diapers out of old bath towels and tee shirts my kids out grew. They were 100% cotton. Made them on a 115 year old treadle sewing machine. Only bought the wraps, new but off FB from someone who got them and didn't want them . Went through 3 babies before I passed them on. Amazing way to save money and reuse. Love your videos so happy I found your channel.

[@CassieDavis613]

The leg warmers cracked me up! So cute!

[@raisingwildflowers]

Thanks! I have been saying they will really come in handy when baby starts crawling - a great way to help sweep the floor! 😂

[@rossicastellanos1333]

Yeah. The leg warmers..I was thinking little sandals lol

[@barbarawalker3366]

When our son was a baby, he wanted NOTHING to do with the bathtub and preferred being held in the shower. Love seeing your beautiful baby. 😊

[@pennynickels5216]

Great information! Your daughter might consider a baby etsy shop for her crocheting! Blankets, clothes, mobiles, what fun! Do you know what the clearance fleece sheet (that you made the wipes from) is made of? Cotton, hemp, polyester or rayon? Most fleece is polyester (along with tons of other clothing, sheets, towels. Its hard to get away from) which is bad. Even wetbags are polyester! Baby is cute!

[@eightyninetreasure]

I’m grateful you made this video, I’ll be a new mom this May 2023. I was becoming overwhelmed with creating a baby registry because the recommendations have been ridiculous/costly. I’ve fine tuned my list since chatting with a friend who is minimal/eco conscious and then this video really helped clear things up. Thanks a million. 💛🥰🙏🏾

[@raisingwildflowers]

Congrats!!! I am so glad this video was helpful. Society puts so much unnecessary pressure on new parents - and it starts with all the "things you must have." Enjoy these next few months :)

[@sammiesue3556]

Such a beautiful family and a beautiful way to live.

[@amandazplace5663]

You have a beautiful baby. I love your bedroom. Can we see a house tour where you show us everything you've done and purchased and cost?♥️🇨🇦

[@brenyule]

I'm a mother of 4 and grandmother of 5. I used cloth diapers. I had no idea it took 500 years for a disposable to decompose. Wish I knew about elimination communication! How cool is that? I did know their ques but was able to toilet train early. I bought safe used furniture and made all their bedding and and other cute usable items. Most clothes were gifted. I also was able to sew clothes. I nursed them all. They are all wonderful humans I'm proud to say. Great video.

[@sharonlugone5955]

What a wonderful video! You have substituted creativity for money and the results are amazing. You are giving your baby a loving start in the world without succumbing to the Baby/Industrial complex that says that babies are expensive. ❤️

[@kenyonbissett3512]

When I was sure we were done having babies, a friend’s sister was expecting. I had known her for 15 years. My baby furniture was in excellent condition, as well as the sheets and quilt. I gave them all to her, no charge. I just asked that if they were in good condition after her children that she give the set to someone else. I also made all the food for her baby shower. Her sister, my friend had cancer at the time and needed assistance. I was given a budget, but the menu was my choice. I had so much fun and everyone loved the choices.

[@bethanygrace8204]

I love these baby saving tips!! So practical. Thank you for sharing.

[@ZombiePilot7]

Yall raised your baby like we did our first and plan to do with our second.

[@jbdjessa2]

This is a very pleasant video. Thanks for making it! I felt like I did a lot of these things while preparing for baby and I still ended up spending more than I wanted to. But I did my best! I'm loving my cloth diapering experience and my elimination communication experience as well. But it isn't easier, it is more work and wouldn't work for every lifestyle. I love the hammock chair you have for baby feeds 😊❤️

[@brennamcdonald6265]

Love these tips! We do all of these except for cloth diapers! About to have my next baby in May and I have my cloth diapers ready to go this time! Also, your room is so beautiful! I love the colors!

[@theblackcottonball5987]

I dont even have a baby but I subscribed anyway because I enjoyed it and your content is in alignment of my interest of : self-sufficient / off grid lifestyle/ living on a budget / homesteading.

[@YohanakiflayRussom]

wow.what a powerful video.Thank you for sharing.

[@madelinem3216]

Loved this......what a pleasure to see a simple but loving way to bring baby into the world without all the TA DAAAA !!! LOOK HOW EXPENSIVE AND RICH I AM !! baby rooms.

[@raisingwildflowers]

Thank you :)

[@happycook6737]

Anyone who spends $13,000 on baby gear is very silly! Generations had healthy, happy babies on pennies.

[@aw6707]

Pretty sure that's mostly on childcare not accessories...

[@shirleysteeves4229]

Your baby is so adorable.

[@nellywolf8908]

you are lucky to have enough time to hand make so many things. as a single mum I unfortunately didn't manage.

[@rebeccapitschmann5427]

Thank you for making this video.

[@Shridra]

We've had 3 kids in 4 years, so we've been able to reuse a lot of the stuff we had. We were also blessed with a lot of gifts and hand me downs, and the things that we've bought new have been bought on sale or clearance. We do about 50/50 cloth and disposable just because I'm not good at remembering to wash the diapers in a timely manner (ADHD brain, woo), but when we buy disposables I wait until they're on sale and usually grab 2 boxes. I probably spent about $200 on cloth, and so over the course of 3 kids it's probably saved me several hundred dollars at least. We did baby led weaning so we weren't buying anything other than our usual food for when they started on solids

[@raisingwildflowers]

Hey, any amount of cloth diaper is going to save money! Especially with multiple kids. We are going to be doing baby led weaning as well :)

[@kateglastic9826]

Everything is so beautiful 😍

[@honeylovesluxury]

Thank you for making this video! I’m going to swap my baby lotion/soap to your recommended 😊 I have the same cloth diapers, love them!

[@yewandekoyenikan4732]

Really great video. I wish you showed how the furniture was refurbished. Great tip about crocheting amiguria and other toys for babies

[@cianapa99]

Great information 🫶

[@TrustGodandDoGood]

Excellent job and video 😊

[@smileysarahdr]

This is an excellent list and advice to save money!! So much of the extra baby stuff marketed is unnecessary.

[@kakelinga]

I think the families that spend around 13k per year are those that have to have all the latest gadgets. The biggest cost our son and his wife encountered was the hospital bill. Our grandchild is 10 months and she is still using diapers that her mother had gotten from her baby shower. She was 100% breast milk but now is consuming some formula as her mom is trying to wean her. Everything from her bassinet to her pack and play, that she has slept in since a newborn, was given to them second hand or as a baby shower gift. They have never had to buy her any clothes, bibs, blankets, burp cloths or anything else. They got a lot of things from their shower, friends hand me downs, and church friends. My daughter in law makes all of our grandchild's solid foods as well. If you're not picky, and don't mind second hand or hand me downs, it does not cost a lot to raise a child.

[@raisingwildflowers]

Hand-me-downs are amazing! There is so much baby stuff available out there - a lot of it hardly ever used because babies grow so fast or because it was a gift that did work for that family.

[@hannahguthrie9853]

Great ideas!

[@margaretghirardello5933]

What cute baby

[@jangreen5549]

Excellent video, Katie!

[@raisingwildflowers]

Thank you 😊

[@dianejenks9167]

Such a sweet baby! Great tips.

[@raisingwildflowers]

Thank you!! 😊

[@kristadavis2825]

We do so much of the same. We use flats and wool diapers and with 3 boys spent about $600 total and it wouldn’t have spent that much on diapers except our third was a surprise blessing, and we had gotten rid of everything except wool and wraps. We also practice elimination communication from birth, so they have been out of diapers by 12- 18 months. Which cuts on the laundry load. Seeing your wagon reminds me that we need to find a portable one. We have a great one for garden work and hauling kids around the neighborhood but it doesn’t fit in our car and I hate strollers, since you are limited to 1 or 2 kids.

[@raisingwildflowers]

The wagon is awesome and so versatile!

[@jessietaylor7706]

Im going to look into cloth diapers thank you

[@raisingwildflowers]

Yay! You're welcome!

[@majesticdovesaviaryllc1107]

Ive always been this type of parent. I focus on the basics of what they actually need. I have made the mistake here and there of falling for the hype of some products. Guess what: I hardly used them. One example is the wipe warmer.

[@antoinettepeeps1]

Absolutely love this video! You are absolutely correct!

[@raisingwildflowers]

Thanks so much!

[@malsawmsangijamatia2024]

This is so helpful ❤

[@raisingwildflowers]

I'm so glad!

[@elainevega1092]

Your baby, beautiful 💜 also love your video

[@raisingwildflowers]

Thank you so much!!

[@MyFavoriteColorIsBLUE]

Nice

[@newp848]

love this video. i highly recommend not putting castille soap on them (or your own skin). it is highly concentrated and their skin is paper thin. i use it for cleaning only

[@iselarodriguez6585]

Im so glad this video came on my feed. Thank you ! This video was very helpful (: Helps alot of moms on a budget! #Subscribed

[@kulrich10]

Love it all but the cloth diapers and wipes…..can’t …but love all else

[@ItsJustJayla]

lol the baby poots had me weak 😂

[@tl11316]

Cloth diapers need lots of extra work. I wanted to use them but I barely managed to wash my laundry... Let's face it, I didn't have time for their maintence

[@ashmc9754]

Your bedroom is beautiful

[@esthers9140]

I was curious when someone has a child and decides from the beginning they are going to raise it gender-neutral do they pick a gender-neutral name? The mobile that your daughter made is so adorable! That could make a nice little hobby that she could make money off of on Facebook Marketplace or maybe some other places.😊

[@raisingwildflowers]

I have been encouraging my daughter to sell her crochet items - they are so good! We did choose a name we consider gender-neutral. We actually chose a name no one was using that hadn’t really been gendered yet at all lol. Both my older kids, who were not raised gender-neutral, have g-n names too (Morgan and Skylar). It helps them to not be judged, at least on paper, for their gender and gives more opportunities for a fluid gender expression if they want ❤️

[@brenyule]

That's a great thing to consider.

[@jessicabulloch5302]

@@raisingwildflowers I have a question respectfully, do you use gender neutral pronouns for yourself and other family members? I have wondered if it would confuse a child to be called they or them when other family members are referred to as he or she?

[@kristen1324]

Do you sell crocheted items?

[@cyanramsey8636]

When your baby is older do you just put him or her in the shopping cart when you shop?

[@missdesireindependance5194]

My mother used cloth diapers and it saved her a lot of money.

[@cyanramsey8636]

I dont know how you only use the.shower onces a week with a baby because they do have bad poopy days?

[@raisingwildflowers]

Fortunately, we never really experienced very many bad poops. Our baby is very regular lol, so usually goes a small-ish amount often. I think we have only ever had 2 poop explosions - both times in the car on our way somewhere haha.

[@JM.5387]

There's so much baby gear purchased every year, that only gets used for a few months. By all means, buy used if you don't get hand-me-downs.

[@violetagira5128]

Can I ask you a question about your point of you in regard to vaccines. I am currently pregnant and I am in a constant debate with myself about all these baby vaccinations requirements recommended by FDA. Did you vaccinate Falcone with all the "recommended " vaccines or perhaps you opted out on some. I would really appreciate your insight. Thank you kindly

[@raisingwildflowers]

I honestly think it’s complicated and there is no “right” answer (same as you are feeling) 🙃 Vaccines are something I super debate too. I can tell you what we chose, but that doesn’t mean I think I am “right” 😆 We delayed the Hep B that is usually given at the hospital until 2 months. I wanted baby to focus on nursing and not feel crummy right after the trauma of birth (and the risk of Hep B exposure was extremely low). Because we do want to travel (possibly to other countries) in the near future, we did decide to do all the other recommended vaccines on schedule. Except for flu and Covid - we will likely never do those because they are just not very effective and we aren’t doing daycare. Some of these childhood viruses are scarier than others, and I do think the US vaccinates a LOT. So I kinda pick and choose a little 🤷‍♀️ Congrats on your pregnancy!!

[@violetagira5128]

@@raisingwildflowers thank you very much. I appreciate your prompt response.

[@user-ib7it2li8f]

Do you bring the baby to daycare?

[@raisingwildflowers]

No. My husband and I take turns watching baby while the other works.

[@astarisborn9820]

🙌🏽💗

[@cyanramsey8636]

I think i would still get a small bath dinces im clusmy an i know hiow i am ill feel better eith a lityke bath

[@margaretghirardello5933]

I haven't seen dad using that wrap but I am s nior probably why lol

[@jessywanders8829]

I am all for breastfeeding, but pumping if great to! Your spouse can help feed baby.