Dont spend a ton on baby sized fun!!!

     WE bought EVERYTHING when I had Sam, I bought a Crib, I got a bassinette from a friend, I bought an exersaucer. My Dad went Baby crazy he got a Walker a play mat clothes out the wazzu, bibs and outfits galore! At the shower I got about 100 toys, bibs, burp cloths, towels teethers ...we spent major bank on the baby to be! and we hardly used any of it. Really I was single and Sam slept mostly in the bassinet and then he slept with me until he was three (that crib was unneeded) I gave him frozen bananas while teething he didn't wear many of the clothes and I think he used the walker about twice, the point is that babies grow so quickly that this time around spending all that green on some stuff that I only plan on using for several months (and other babies likely haven't used for even that long) seems wasteful so I had a novel idea ! I have been checking Freecycle and craigslist and have found some really GREAT items for FREE. I have also gotten a few things from Once Upon a Child and yard sales for CHEAP!!! Here are some items I purchased and got from freecycle and from thrift shopping and and some price comparisons of similar items at retail!

Exersaucer $99.99 I Paid  $0
graco travel system $299. Freecycle $0

Fisher Price Rainforest swing
Retail Price $139.99
Once Upon a Child consignment store
$60




HOT SLING TATTOO Print
                                                     hotsling website price $68
                                                  Once...price $12 (looks new)



SO Keep an eye out for giveaways (I have won a few NICE baby items including one of these Bean bags and a Water wrap carrier. Look at Craigslist daily for items you need or want, Look at the cheap stuff section in the newspaper. And Sign up for Freecycle, buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook and yahoo groups. And don't be afraid to take something that you might need to clean up from thrift stores or from yard sales. People are usually trying to get rid of stuff they can't use and if you have a spray bottle and a dish cloth you can have a new looking item that you paid little for!





ON a side note be aware that car seats expire so check out the date stamped on the item before buying it or using, make sure when getting items like car seats you are sure they haven't been in an accident. I don't recommend using car seats second hand but I do have one myself that I know was properly cared for and in date. Also before purchasing an item second hand be sure to search the recall list for that item but entering the name of the item and "recall" on an internet search engine or by calling the retailer. Some people are unscrupulous and will sell you a recall item if you don't check it out, they themselves might be unaware of the recall. Notably Bumbo seats have been recalled and I have noticed that A LOT of people have been selling them. So be aware! and be thrifty!!