If you had a baby shower, you probably looked at the pile of gifts and thought, “I will never need all of this!” As the parent of a newborn, you have probably realized that you were wrong”you need even more stuff. Here are 5 tips to save money on the items your baby needs.
1) Fall In Love With Hand-Me-Downs
If this is your first baby, you will need everything. Talk to friends and family and see if they have gently-used baby items they would be willing to give, lend or sell to you.
If their kids have outgrown highchairs, for example, they might be eager to de-clutter and help you out.
You can also look online at resale sites like eBay, Craigslist and MoxieJean, but be careful of shipping costs and added fees. Sometimes those extra costs make it just as much as buying something new.
But, babies need sleep and stimulation, not stuff. 
2) Host a Swap
Swaps are a fun way to get together with friends and family”and get some great free stuff. Invite everyone to come over and bring the kids' stuff they aren't using anymore.
It's likely that you know people with kids of all ages. Ask everyone to bring their stuff and take what they need.
If this is your first baby and you don't have much to offer in the way of goods, make brunch for the group and offer to handle donating anything that is left behind to local shelters or churches.
3) Don't Buy What Your Baby Doesn't Need
The best tips to save money usually involve not buying things you don't need”which can be hard with a newborn. Everything's so cute!
Newborns typically sleep 10 1/2 to 18 hours per day, according to the National Sleep Foundation. And when they are awake, they are taking in the sights and sounds of their new environment.
Meaning, they don't care that you shelled out for the fancy version of the teddy bear.
Free stuff works just as well, like music, a story told by you or something colorful.
4) Books Are a Good Investment
You baby's language and literacy development begins in the first three years. Exposing your infant to books and stories from day one is linked to having h2 literacy in the future, according to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families.
Books for babies 0 to 6 months should have big, bright, simple pictures. Board books are easy to prop open when your baby is in the crib, too.
Diapers - the one thing you'll never have enough of.
The average baby uses 2,700 diapers in the first year.
Cost: about $550 per year plus $20 per month for wipes.
5) Buy In Bulk
If you are using disposable diapers, there's a good chance you will never have enough.
If you find a good deal, stock up. Just remember that the average newborn gains about 1 ounce each day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, so don't go crazy and buy enough newborn diapers for 5 months.
Baby wipes, baby laundry detergent, spit-up rags and diaper cream are other things yu'll burn through fast. So if you see a deal, grab it.
Be sure to review your shopping options. Check your local stores but don't forget about lifesavers like AmazonMom.
If you don't have to pay for shipping, it can be cheaper to order online”and you save yourself gas money as well as a trip to the store with a newborn.
Buying Things for Your Baby is Fun
But what your newborn needs most is you.
Focus on the essentials and invest the most in items related to your baby's safety”like her crib and stroller. Or just buy more diapers.
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