Cutting The Cost Of Having Your Second Child? It’s Easier Than You Might Think!

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If you’re already a proud parent to one little bundle of joy, chances are you’ll have learned a few life lessons about parenting pretty quickly. The fact that you have to survive on four hours sleep for the first few weeks, the fact that they go through more diapers than you’ve had hot dinners… but the one thing most new parents realize is that babies are expensive. Of course, family and friends are very generous pre-birth, and the baby shower tradition means we do get a lot of stuff bought for us. But essentials such as strollers, bottles, bibs and clothes all add up to a pretty big price tag. Then, if a few years down the line you’re expecting your second child, the thought of doing it all again may fill you with financial dread. In fact, it is estimated the average earning American family spends around $12,000 in the first year of a new baby’s life. But if you get savvy about what you can re-use with your second child, there are plenty of ways you can cut the cost.

Clothes

When you have your first child, it is super tempting to buy a whole hoard of tiny baby clothes for those first few months of life. After all, they’re just so adorable! But what you may find is that these supposed months actually turn out to be weeks. Babies simply grow so fast in their early stages, and you may find that they quickly outgrow the fifteen rompers you got them. But rather than sighing and putting them all in the trash can save them for when you have your second child. They won’t have been worn much, so unless they fell victim to a particularly bad baby accident, they will be as good as new.

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Strollers

Buying a stroller is one of the most exciting parts of being a new mom. After all, this is the true sign of motherhood; the thing that people will see you out with and know that you’ve had a little person. Many new moms go for as flashy number such as an old-fashioned perambulator. Of course, they do look stylish and very glamorous. But, they’re pretty impractical when you get down to it. They are only suitable for small babies lying down, so as soon as your child wants to sit up, it will be redundant. Instead, go for a more practical stroller, and ideally one that can double up for two children. This is especially useful if you have both your children within quick succession of each other, as that way you can take them both out together. Take a look at online reviews such as http://wholovesbabies.com/baby-jogger-city-select-review/ for some inspiration.

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Bottles

Whether you choose to breastfeed or not, your baby will end up going through a lot of bottles during the early stages of his or her life. Most new moms have a range of different bottles to use; as they are used nearly every day, just having one that you need to re-wash all the time can be a pain. But don’t think that you need to throw all these bottles away to get new ones for your second child. Of course, it’s always better to replace the teats on the bottles, but there’s no reason why you can’t keep the bodies – just make sure they are thoroughly sanitized by washing them on a high heat.