Hey mama birds!
Today I wanted to talk about mama + baby products. When I was pregnant with Willow, I did so much research on products to register for because there are just SO MANY CHOICES. And with “modern mom” claims and all these new products that hit the market, some at very steep prices, it is easy to get sucked in. I’ll be the first to admit that I bought unnecessarily expensive products and have product regret. I actually sold a lot of them on eBay, which was nice to get some cash back.
If I could do it all over again, there are so many products that I would swap out for something less inexpensive that would get the job done equally as well.
How do I know they would be equally as good? A lot of products my mom grabbed for her house when Willow would be there… the inexpensive ones. And truth be told, Willow enjoyed a lot of them way more! Because at the end of the day, babies are not interested in fancy… they just want to be loved, fed, and cuddled. They don’t need all the bells and whistles of a bouncer. They just need a bouncer! And the other thing is… your baby might not even like a bouncer. So personally, I would forget about the $200 bouncer and go cheap, because who even knows if they will enjoy it. AND they are only in it for a short period of time. It goes by in the blink of an eye. Save your money for diapers (unless you cloth diaper), wipes, and family vacations.
I wanted to share just a few products that I personally believe you should save your money on. If you are an expecting mama on a budget, I hope you find this helpful.
Just a note – I am going to be linking to Amazon products and the prices on these change constantly (one thing that I’m not always crazy about on Amazon… sometimes they really jack things up). I am going to use the price that they are as I am writing this, so hopefully it remains the same (or hey, maybe goes down) as you explore these products.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that I’ll receive a commission if you purchase from this link. This will not change or increase the cost of your purchase. This extra income provides for my family and keeps The Friendly Fig running strong.
Bouncer
The Baby Bjorn bouncer is probably my biggest product regret. It was a disappointment because Willow really did not like it. There are no toys or anything for her to look at… and the toy bar was an extra $30 ontop of $200! Instead, my mom ended up grabbing this one for her house and Willow LOVED it. So much that my mom bought me one for my house, too. It was a lifesaver during the first 3 months. She would watch me as I did errands around the house and I could place her anywhere. Most mornings, she’d take a quick nap in it.
Baby Bjorn Bouncer: $199.99
Fisher Price Bouncer: $28.49
Burp cloths
I spent way too much time looking for the cutest patterns and colors for burp cloths. So many options… man, you really get sucked in. Here’s a reality check: they are going to be covered in vomit, spit up, milk, and who knows what else! Any ‘ol pack will do, as long as there are A LOT OF THEM! I understand grabbing the Burt’s Bees burp cloths if you want organic. But, if that isn’t your priority, don’t bother. I grabbed them, and then found out that they really do not compare to the pre-fold cloth diapers. AT ALL. They are so absorbent and come in a pack of $10 for way less than Burt’s Bees (or any other brand, at that). I bought 2-3 packs… and I’ll never long for beautiful burp cloths again.
Burt’s Bees burp cloths: pack of 5 for $22.99
Gerber pre-fold cloth diapers: pack of 10 for $13.99
Swing
Willow really loved the swing, but I know some babies don’t. And honestly, I think it is quite a gamble to assume your baby will and purchase a bulky $200+ swing. I know a lot of moms swear by it, and if you can swing it, that is great. If you are doing this mom thing on a budget, do yourself a favor and grab a cheaper swing. So in the event that your baby doesn’t like it, you won’t feel as bad. And if they do like it, well, a swing is a swing! We had this one and loved it (especially because you plugged it in instead of using battery. It isn’t available anywhere anymore (not sure why) but I believe it cost us around $75. Sharing another great option below in the similar range. It is low to the ground than what we had, but good for a budget.
4Moms mamaRoo: $219.00
Ingenuity portable swing: $49.39
High chair
Another one of my biggest regrets. I don’t know why I decided to get a fancy high chair, but I did. My biggest complaint is the fact that it is so hard to clean the fabric and every piece of food gets stuck in every little nook and cranny. It is impossible to clean it well and even more impossible to take the cover off. Your baby is going to eat in this, and that is pretty much it. It doesn’t need cushioning, honestly. Go for the Ikea one! I have heard amazing things about it. I will most likely grab this next time we visit an Ikea to have for the next kiddo. The only downside is that if you don’t live near an Ikea, I think they charge a ton for shipping, which will definitely jack up price. Hopefully you can go to the actual store and grab it!
JOOVY Nook high chair: $109.99
Ikea high chair: $29.99
Bibs
You’ll most likely get a lot of bibs at your shower (I feel like everyone buys bibs) which is nice, but if you are grabbing your own, go for the snap bandana bibs from the get-go. They will grow with your baby as they begin teething. They may not always be the cheapest up-front, but they are thick and will accommodate all ages. We used them for Willow as an infant and she still uses them today. I ended up giving any other bibs we had away!
Green Sprouts infant bibs: 10 pack for $17.99
Ana Baby Drool Bibs: 10 pack for $16.98
Bassinet
I was so sold on the Halo bassinest. It was one of the first items I added to my registry. Now that I’ve had it and used it… I’ll say that I don’t have many complaints (it did its job) but it is just extremely overpriced and Willow outgrew it by 3 1/2 months – she was so long and it was just too cramped. We soon just started using the pack ‘n play next to our bed with a fitted sheet until we transitioned her into her crib around 5 months. We’ll use it again for then next baby, but if I could do it again, I would definitely grab a cheaper bassinet. More specifically, I would just grab a pack ‘n play that has adjustable height for the first few months. That way you can use both, but I will include both the pack ‘n play and a regular ‘ol bassinet below. The expensive ones are just not worth the hype. Your baby is going to get up in the middle of the night and it is equally as tiring to sit up and grab her out of the Halo as it is to just reach down and pick her up at a lower level.
And as for a motion bassinet… I’ll be honest. I know some people love that and maybe it helps a bit, but I didn’t want Willow to get too used to motion as she slept. It’s total preference, but just my two cents.
Halo bassinest: $199.99
Graco Pack ‘n Play: $58.50
Ingenuity FoldAway Rocking Bassinet: $53.99
Carrier
A couple things when it comes to a carrier. I am torn on what to include, because I love Ergobaby so much (I was gifted this) but it is not the least expensive. You really do want comfort. I use it every single day, and regardless of the price, I believe it was worth every penny. I will include it below if you can swing it, because I feel guilty not including it. That is how much I love it (and no this isn’t sponsored!) BUT since this is a budget post, I am including another option. I have heard amazing things about the Infantino brand and $29.00 is NO JOKE.
BUT something else I want to say it – pick one and only one. You don’t need more than that. I went and bought a Baby K’tan AND a baby wrap. I have no idea what I was thinking. I have no issues with either, but she just outgrew them pretty quickly and they really did hurt my back. Yes, the k’tan is cheaper than the Ergo, but the Ergo will last much longer (and I am sure that is the case with the Infantino, too). Go for the carrier with support so it can grow with you and your babe and grab the infant insert if necessary.
Baby k’tan: $59.95
Ergobaby carrier: $96.98
Infantino carrier: $29.00
If you have used the Infantino and can vouch for it, please do in the comments!
Blankets
Much like the burp cloths, I was suckered into buying every blanket with pretty colors and patterns. And so many of the ones that I bought were not only poor quality, but so small. Your babe grows FAST. Aden + Anais swaddle blankets are more expensive up front but worth every penny… and their Aden by Aden + Anais line is less expensive and very soft. I use them everyday for more than just a blanket – swaddling, playtime, tummy time, car rides, clean-up, and everything in between. And they are HUGE. A great size to grow with your baby. All the less expensive and smaller packs of blankets I got were used maybe the first month and quickly forgotten about. This one isn’t about cost as much as it is quality. Including another option below, as well. I can’t comment on quality of these, since I haven’t personally used them, but they are a great price for size.
Carter’s blankets – pack of 7 (30 X 30 inches) for $15.99
Aden by Aden and Anais – pack of 4 (44 X 44 inches ) for $34.95
Muslin Swaddles – pack of 3 (47 X 47) for $12.77
Quick tip – visit your local Marshalls because I have found a 4-pack of Aden by Aden + Anais swaddle blankets there for only $24.99. Worth taking a look!
Bottles
I bought so many types of bottles. The ones that I was most excited about were of course the most expensive – the Comotomo bottles. They are all the rage, apparently. There’s nothing wrong with them, but they definitely were not our favorites and they leaked a ton. Our favorite brand was actually Avent – and luckily, they are one of the more inexpensive brands out there! The best part is that these bottles worked with my breastpump… so much easier. My advice to you is to grab bottles that work with your pump, if you are pumping. Just don’t get suckered into fancy bottles. A bottle is a bottle, honestly! And they all leak to some degree – don’t let their claims fool ya.
And another thing to note – don’t even bother with the 4/5 oz bottles. Go for the 8/9 oz bottles only. That way, you’ll always have the extra room if need be. Willow was drinking up to 6 oz by 4 months and we never used the small bottles again. But be aware that the 8/9 oz bottles usually have a fast flow nipple, so maybe purchase a couple slow flow ones in addition. They are not expensive.
Comotomo: 2 for $23.99
Avent: 4 for $28.90
Crib sheets
I wanted organic sheets, and there are a ton out there. Again, try your best not to get too caught up in designs and patterns… Burt’s Bees Baby makes the sweetest and softest crib sheets for almost half the price as some of the higher end brands.
Aden + Anais/Little Unicorn/Crate and Barrel crib sheets: $20-$25 per sheet
Burt’s Bees Baby organic crib sheet: $12.99 – $17.99 per sheet
Towels
The hooded towels are the cutest, right? Yes, but they do NOT last long! I regret buying so many. Buy one hooded/animal ear towel to satisfy the need for the sweet photo, and then honestly use a very soft regular towel. I don’t really even have a price comparison here… I just had to say this. We use super soft towels from HomeGoods now and they were half the price of the hooded ones.
Baby walker
Walkers are another item that come in a wide range of prices. We used the walker a lot with Willow, I have to say. It is so convenient when you are cooking dinner or trying to get cleaning done around the house. But there is really no need for it to be top tier. As long as your babe can sit and move around in it comfortably, that’s it. We love the Safety 1st walker! It is so smooth and compact.
Joovy walker: $79.99
Safety 1st walker: $44.99
So these are just some of the items that come to mind when there’s an option for something way more expensive than necessary. Babies are not interested in what is fancy! Motherhood on a budget is easy – just don’t get wrapped up in all the marketing.
Once baby number two comes for us, I am fortunate to have almost everything I need from Willow, but if I could do it again (or if for some reason I need to grab something else) I would sure as hell go the inexpensive route. Trust me. You don’t need everything you read about. Save, save, save!
If you have something to add to this list or any insight, please share with me in the comments. I’d love to hear from other mamas on this subject.
Have a great day, friends. You’re wonderful. xx bianca
I agree, those hours towels are pretty much worthless. They are thin and small. I did love the Aden and Anais blankets. Those are the best. Great tips. Thank you for this post!
Yes, I agree! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. xo