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According to a new survey by Amazon Family a quarter of new parents spend up to £350 on baby purchases that they don’t use !
So I was interviewed by a number of parenting magazines to BBC Three Counties Radio about my top tips for helping parents make better choices!
Here are some of my top tips:
Why do you think that a lot of money is wasted?
I think it’s only natural for parents to get excited and want to buy the very best for their baby so they may go out and buy impulse items that they later may not use.
How can new Mums save money?
The best thing to do is to sit down with a cup of coffee and write down a plan of the items you think you really need to start with – that way you will be less likely to impulse buy.
Do you think baby showers are a good idea or an over extravagance?
Who doesn’t want to celebrate the birth or impending birth of a new baby? I think presents are wonderful and using Amazon’s new Baby site is a great idea because people can buy you gift certificates for the big items like prams and cots saving parents money and worry over these items.
So what do babies really need?
Things you definitely need
Cot (plus mattress, sheets and blankets)
Car seat
Pram/buggy/travel system
Six sleepsuits/ long sleeved suits
Six vests/ short sleeved suits
Two cardigans/ jackets
Changing mat
Nappies
Bottles/teats/bottle brush (only needed if not breastfeeding)
Nursing bra and breast pads
Loads of bibs
Plenty of towels/ flannels/ muslin squares (for bathing and dribbles!)
Loads of kitchen roll and cotton wool pads
Brush and comb
Things that are handy
Moses basket/ crib (plus mattress, sheets and blankets)
Baby bath
Baby box or bag
Sling
Bouncy chair
Baby monitor
Changing bag
Steam steriliser
Breast pump
Baby lotion
Baby wipes
Bath thermometer
Nail scissors
Nappy wrapper
Is it best to wait till your newborn arrives or buy in advance?
It’s a balance really – I went out and bought lots of cute baby gro s to discover my son arrived 2 weeks early and was much smaller than I had anticipated so I had to rush out and buy lots more in a smaller size so buy some basics and wait and see !
What can you do to save money?
If you’re planning a big spend on baby goodies go online to Amazon & join their paid membership club, Amazon Family, it’s aimed at parents of babies and young kids (but open to all). It gives members free one-day delivery and discount offers each month, plus a voucher for £10 off £50 spent in its baby department so it will really help you plan & budget for all the lovely things you’d like to buy at this special time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/family/signup/welcome
Ask family and friends to help you by buying some gift certificates so you can save up for the bigger items like a car seat or a pram.
Buy neutral baby clothes if you plan to have more children as this will really save you a fortune
Don’t be tempted to buy designer clothes for your baby!
Your baby isn’t a brand snob. They just want clean, comfortable and safe clothing, not the latest labels and trends. So don’t be tempted to splash out on designer gear. They’ll soon reach their teens and demand expensive goods, so save the cash for later (you’ll need it!)
The best advice I can give anyone having a baby is to focus on the love and time you spend bonding with your baby not worrying about all the material things. Babies spell love T-I- M- E ! So cuddle, hug and talk to your baby
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