Frugal Baby

Saving Money on Baby Stuff: The Only Five Items Your Baby Needs

July 19, 2011 By Marybeth Hamilton

This is the beginning of a series on How to Save Money on Baby Stuff. We’ll be getting into the nitty gritty of how to have a baby without spending a fortune or otherwise breaking the bank!

I’m ashamed to say that, while I I’ve always been a bargain shopper when it comes to baby stuff, I definitely haven’t always been frugal.

One look at my basement will tell you that I had a serious inability to say no to any cute toy, outfit or baby item when I found it in a store for 90% off. And forget about stumbling upon a garage sale with great prices! I handed over cash by quarters and dollar bills from the beginning of one pregnancy until I could safely say that my second child was out of the baby stage.

After all that, I cringe to even think about the money I wasted on baby products we didn’t need. Even if it was the best product, in brand new condition and I paid pennies on the dollar for it, that dollar should have been saved rather than spent.

What Does a Baby Really Need?

I was in a fortunate position where I had wiggle room in my budget to buy extra things and make impulse purchases here and there, but I truly get that there are many people with no extra cash who still need to provide for a baby.

It’s easy to get swept away by the allure of shiny, modern baby products, but, believe me, your baby truly has the most basic of needs right now. Love, Food, Clothing , Shelter and Safety are all newborn infants really need. Translated into products, there are only five essential items:

Clothing
Crib and bedding
Blankets
Car seat
Diapers/Wipes
Bottles/formula/breast pump (optional)

{There are a few caveats to that list. If you co-sleep, then a crib and the bedding aren’t needed. (Although the practical side of me advises you not to co-sleep just to save money!) If you don’t own a car and never plan on bringing your baby into a vehicle, then you don’t need a car seat.}

Can you think of any one item that a baby needs, actually NEEDS, that’s not on that list? Of course, there are plenty of other items that are nice to have (a stroller or baby carrier/sling, a diaper bag, to name a few!) but none of those are pure necessities.

In the next installments, we’ll talk about how the necessities of pregnancy. We’ll also discuss how to acquire those essential items as inexpensively as possible (and maybe even get them for FREE). Stay tuned!

Image credit: Kenteegardin.

Readers: What do you think of this list? Is there anything you would change?

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How to Make Bubbles for Kids :: 7 of the Best Homemade Bubble Recipes!

July 15, 2011 By Marybeth Hamilton

The warm weather has reminded me that I’ve been wanting to share how to make homemade bubbles. There are plenty of homemade bubble solution recipes. Some are really simple with ingredients I’m 99.9% sure you have in your home. Others have ingredients that are a bit more obscure.

The most straightforward homemade bubble recipe consists only of soap and water. But there are a few that have some additions you might not expect. Here’s a quick FAQ to answer some questions you might have about the bubble recipes below:

Where Can I buy glycerin?
Glycerin can be found in the cake decorating area of most craft stores. If you’re near a Michael’s, you can find it with the rest of the Wilton cake and candy-making supplies.

Why would there be sugar in a recipe for homemade bubbles?
Plain and simple, sugar makes the bubbles “stick” and last longer.

Why would a recipe for bubbles include corn syrup?
Corn syrup works the same way sugar does, so it helps make your bubbles last longer.

What’s the best Dishwashing Detergent to use for making homemade bubbles?
An extensive Google search revealed that almost everyone stood behind Dawn Original dish soap as the best dish soap for bubbles.

Are there any dish soaps that shouldn’t be used for making homemade bubbles?
Yes. Generic soaps that are usually found at dollar stores and the like are generally too watered down to produce quality bubbles.

Can I use these homemade bubble recipes to blow bubbles indoors?
The Basic Homemade Bubbles recipe shouldn’t cause any problems indoors. It’s just diluted soap! Take care with the bubble solutions containing sugar and corn syrup, as they may leave a slightly sticky residue on surfaces. Finally, the Beautiful Bubbles and Jello Bubbles recipes contain a small amount of food coloring and dye, so it’s probably best to save those solutions for outdoor use.

How should I store my homemade bubbles?
Store all homemade bubble solutions in an airtight, labeled container. A clean glass spaghetti sauce or jelly jar works perfectly for storing bubbles.

How long can I store my homemade bubble solution?
Many bubbles actually get better with age. If the mixture has sat for more than a few weeks, give the container a gentle swirl to combine the ingredients that may have separated. Don’t shake the container; you want to save those suds for your bubbles!

Basic Homemade Bubbles Recipe:
1 Cup water
1 Tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Combine the water and dishwashing liquid in a cup, bottle or dish. Stir gently and thoroughly to combine. Dip your bubble wand and get started!

Deluxe Bubbles Recipe
1 quart (4 cups) warm water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dishwashing liquid

Combine the sugar and the warm water. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Add the dishwashing liquid and stir again. Store in an airtight container.

Crazy Deluxe Bubbles Recipe
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons liquid dish or laundry detergent
1 tablespoon glycerin
1 teaspoon white sugar

Gently stir all ingredients together and store in a airtight container. These bubbles have staying power! Given the right conditions you might lose sight of your bubbles before they pop!

Jello Bubbles
1 part dishwashing liquid
1 part Jello brand (or generic) powder, any flavor/color
8 to 10 parts warm water

Gently combine all three ingredients. Avoid creating suds by mixing too vigorously. Suds will affect the “bubbliness” of your bubbles.

Tear-Free Bubbles
1/4 cup tear-free baby shampoo
3/4 cup water
3 Tablespoons light corn syrup

Mix all ingredients, then wait for the bubbles to settle before using.

Beautiful Bubbles {with food coloring}
1/3 cup dishwashing liquid
1 1/4 cups water
2 teaspoons sugar
1 drop food coloring

Gently stir all ingredients together. Use outside to avoid staining any indoor fixtures, carpet or upholstery.

Non-Toxic, Natural Bubbles
1/4 cup natural, biodegradable dish detergent (Like Seventh Generation Free & Clear)
1 cup water
1 teaspoon glycerin

Mix all ingredients in a resealable container. Let stand overnight for best results.

Have you made homemade bubbles? What’s Your Favorite Bubble Recipe?

Image credit: Maricel Cruz

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Weekend Inspiration: On Children and Material Things

July 9, 2011 By Marybeth Hamilton

baby deals

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DIY: How to Make Adorable Homemade Burp Cloths

July 2, 2011 By Marybeth Hamilton

I was recently shopping at Target and I saw a mom feeding a baby using the most adorable burp cloth. Since I’m bold when it comes to talking to strangers about baby products (really, who doesn’t want to hear how cute their supplies are??), I asked where she bought the burp rag she was using.

To my surprise, she said a friend of hers had made a set of burpees for her and given them to her for a baby shower gift. I’ve known for a long time that burp cloths can be a great DIY project, but he discovery reminded me that I should share the information with all of you! Even better, if you have the fabric laying around, these can be a very low-cost project for your own baby, or a gift for another lucky baby.

I also want to note that this is a fantastic beginning sewing project. If you’ve been looking to start sewing, few projects are easier than most of the burp cloth tutorials featured below!

How to Make Burp Cloths:

Originally linked in the post about DIY baby shower gifts, See Kate Sew shows you how to make burpees with just fabric and prefold cloth diapers.

Here’s a great DIY burp rag tutorial using cotton and chenille fabric. These look super-soft!

These homemade baby burpies are similar to lots of other patterns, but they’re dressed up and made even more adorable with the addition of ric rac.

Here are fabulously easy instructions for how to make burp cloths, package them in a set and present them as gifts!

These directions for making homemade burp rags include adding ribbon for a special touch.

(photo credit: OnTheDotCreations)

Have you made your own burp cloths?

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DIY Shaving Cream Art Projects for Kids and Toddlers

June 22, 2011 By Marybeth Hamilton

Is it any surprise that kids love to play in shaving cream? The glossy, fluffy foam makes for a great sensory activity for little ones from small toddlers to big kids! Plus, it’s a super-easy, frugal art project, especially for the summer months.

The best shaving cream to use is the basic shaving foam that, happily, is usually the cheapest stuff you’ll find at your drug store. You might even be able to find it at your dollar store! Look for an old-school can like Barbasol or Colgate. Some are scented, which adds an extra dimension to the creative experience!

Shaving cream art doesn’t make as big of a mess as you might imagine. Of course, At the same time, it’s a fun art project for kids to work on outdoors if the weather is nice enough! If you’re wanting to do a shaving cream art project indoors, a cookie sheet makes a fun, contained surface for kids to create their masterpieces! Here are the basic materials you can use:

Shaving Cream
Cardboard, poster board or paper plates (this is a great way to repurpose old gift boxes!)
Food coloring (optional)
Cookie sheet, foil or pie tins (optional)
Dry sand, rice, noodles, beans or other solids to mix in (optional)

There are a few different ways to have your kids create and explore their creative sides with shaving cream. Here are some ideas:

Hand over the entire can of shaving cream: Having kids push the button to see how much foam comes out, then watching it grow is a sweet way to help their little hands learn a little bit about pressure, force and mass. They can then spread the foam, pile it up and mash it down.
Finger Paint with Shaving Cream: Spray food coloring in a bowl and mix in a drop of food coloring, then give the bowl to your kiddos and let them start working.
Shaving Cream Sculptures: Mix in sand, rice, dry noodles, dry beans, pebbles or any other small, grainy item that can easily be coated with shaving cream. Have the kiddos pile it up, smooth it out, and create different shapes.
Letter, Number and Shape Recognition: You can use your hands or a paintbrush to write numbers, letters and shapes in shaving cream on a cookie sheet, then easily “erase” them to practice different ones! It’s also a great way for kids to practice “handwriting” because they have more control over just their fingers than their fingers holding a pencil.

Cleaning up Shaving Cream Art: If the art project is a thin layer of shaving cream on paper or cardboard, you can let the artwork dry and see a cool final result. If it’s on a cookie sheet (or a table, or hands, or faces) a dry towel is best to wipe away the foam. After that you can use warm, soapy water to rinse away the residue.

Now that I’ve started thinking about all the possibilities for shaving cream art projects, it has endless potential for both creative indulgence and teachable moments!

As with almost all crafty projects for kids, be sure your little ones are supervised while doing shaving cream art. the shaving cream doesn’t belong in their eyes or mouths!

Have your kiddos done any art projects with shaving cream?

Photo credit for top image: Artfulblogger (our family didn’t make anything as gorgeous as those projects! I couldn’t resist sharing them with all of you!)

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How to Make a Mini Top Hat Headband {With Tutorials}

May 27, 2011 By Marybeth Hamilton

After finally watching the prom episode of Glee, I couldn’t stop thinking about the absolute adorableness of Brittany’s little top hat headband!

A mini top hat just isn’t my style, but I can’t help but think that a mini top hat on a headband could be a fabulous prop for a toddler photo shoot, or a fun party favor for a children’s birthday party!

It occured to me that it couldn’t be that hard to recreate a mini hat headband of my own, and I was able to find a few other sites offering far better tutorials than I could ever make!

Trisha of Momdot tested and explained her process of how to make a mini top hat to prove that it is indeed a child-friendly project!

Cut Out and Keep added to the DIY-ness of this project when she included making the actual hat to her mini top hat headband tutorial!

i Love to Create Blog’s mini hat tutorial adds embellishments to make it a Moulin Rouge-style tiny top hat (complete with marabou feathers, netting and crystals)!