My Ideas on How to Save on Baby Stuff

So... I have been going through these baby stuff for more than a month now, and I just want to share my thoughts on something. Once they add the word "Baby" to a regular item, it becomes more expensive. So... if you could, you can actually buy the normal/adult version because it can do the same process. I am going to share tips on what I think to save on baby stuff.

1. Feeding

They say this is one of the biggest expenses for babies. So the lesson: Breastfeed!
Aside that the milk is free, it also has more nutrients for the baby (and immunoglobulin), less side effects and constipation from the milk, good for the mommy who can lose weight and get back to their post-partum bodies faster, etc.

The equipment that you might need:

• Nursing Bra - well, your breasts are going to get bigger anyway, so why not buy the nursing kinds directly? I bought these online for less than 200 pesos only. But I am planning to invest on a really good pair after the baby is born. (I read about Marks and Spencer, and checked the price from Mothercare which cost less than 2000 for 2 pairs of nursing bra).
• Silicon manual breast pump - I bought a manual silicon pump, Haakaa style, because (1) the electric ones are too expensive (and I'm not yet sure if I might need them), (2) the manual ones have a less suction on them than the Hakaa-style manual pump, and (3) the Hakaa style is simpler and easier to clean because it only has 1 essential part and its lid. You can try the suctions themselves if you just go to an SM Department store (they don't have the Hakaa brand, but a cheaper similar silicon pump from Mom and Me was there only cost 300 pesos, which I compared with the Looney Tunes manual pump). If you want the original Hakaa brand, it's 950 pesos in Rustan's and The Parent Emporium (the lid is sold separately), but since I wasn't sure of a lot of things yet, I bought it online in Shoppee for only 100 pesos! It also comes with a lid, where I can even choose my preferred color :)
• Breast pads - actually, I just bought 1 or 2 washable pairs online because I wasn't sure yet  if I would have enough breast milk

Optional:

• Breast milk storage bottles/bag - optional actually especially if you're with your baby 24/7
• Nursing cover - actually, I didn't buy this because... I had a lot of sarongs and this wraparound multipurpose blanket from Headware, which I used during my camping and traveling days which I think would serve the same purpose
• Nipple cream - I haven't bought this actually since I wasn't sure yet if I will need it. They say to prevent those nursing pains, make sure I breastfeed correctly... And that I should just leave the residual milk which will be the ones to heal any nipple wounds.

My pediatrician friend told me that production of breast feeding is also about the mind and willpower of the mother. She told me to make sure to feed (or try) every 2 to 3 hours so the milk will just continue flowing. Don't wait until the baby is hungry but I should try and pump even while the baby is asleep just to keep the stimulation of breast milk continuous. (That and I was planning to take one of those seemingly-delicious lactation brownies and cookies that I've read about, and maybe those malunggay capsules which should be started on the 3rd trimester.)

But if I really can't.... then for bottle feeding, the essentials are:

• Bottles! - I have read about babies selecting their bottles and nipples, though I am not sure how common is that in the Philippines. Anyway, after reading a looooot of blogs, I decided on Philips Avent bottles. It's waaaay cheaper to buy them from the US (10 USD for 3 bottles as compared with 1800 per bottle here in SM) and fortunately, I had a friend who came from the US so I saved a fortune with those. Aside from Philips Avent, I also bought Tommee Tippee (because we liked how the nipple resembles a natural breast and Comotomo was still too expensive) and we were also thinking about Playtex (because it was just soooo cheap from the US but decided against it because I think we think we already have 10 haha). So if you could, do it like me, buy online from amazon, ship to someone you know in the US, and bring it back when your friend comes home hehe
• Bottle cleaner - this is actually pretty cheap since it's just basically sponge that can reach the bottoms of the bottle. We bought this online, though we also saw this available even in Daiso stores.
• Milk - now this is the expensive part. But I didn't buy any because well, sometimes the pediatrician is the one who will advise on the kind of milk. And... I am really pushing for breastfeeding.

Optional:

• Milk storage container - I wrote this under optional because you may just need this while traveling
• Bottle sterilizer - we weren't actually sure if we're gonna buy this because we think the old habit of "boil and dry" method works

Now, regardless if you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding, the baby will need this:

• Burp cloth - one of the most useful things for a baby, they say that you might need as many as 15! Good thing, a burp cloth can actually be a receiving blanket, a lampin, a towel, etc. They even say that the bigger the size, the better because sometimes the original burp cloth is not enough to catch all that spit. --> Personally, what we plan was use several lampin or microfiber towels to be used as burp cloth since they are bigger, more absorbent, and versatile
• Bib - we got the cute waterproof ones, and obviously this is to protect your baby's clothes from the spit and the milk so you won't have to keep changing their clothes. Though... what we did was bought a "Bib/Clip Holder", which means we can use any cloth actually as a bib as long as it was absorbent... so we bought wash cloth and microfiber towels instead which was cheaper. (Of course, these are also more versatile.)

Optional:

• Nursing pillow - we bought the U-shaped one which was what my friend advised me from PC Supermarket in Shaw for only 400 pesos (it was the only one left, not sure if they will restock)! Next to that, cheapest we've found was in Shopwise Cubao. Online and in baby stores, you can buy it for a whopping 1000 to 2000 pesos! So even though we weren't sure if we're gonna buy these, we bought one because it was really cheap compared to the baby stores haha

2. Diapers

Next of the bigger expenses are the diapers that a newborn baby can consume 12-15 per day because they say that a newborn has to be changed every 2-3 hours (about the same time frame that the breast needs to be stimulated for breastfeeding).

For me, in order to save bucks (and save the environment, plus also decrease the risk of diaper rash), I am going for cloth diaper. I already had a previous post on this topic, so I will just summarize my essentials:

• Lampin - they say gauze is more absorbent than bird's eye, though bird's eye is more durable and can be used as a burp cloth, bib, towel, cloth wipes, etc. Very much available in department stores, but cheaper in Baclaran (if you have the time and patience), and also available online.
• Cover-Type Cloth Diapers - our fave because if the baby only urinates, we can just change the insert and reuse the diaper. Unfortunately, I can only find this online in Shoppee and in Facebook
• Pocket-type Cloth Diapers - for night time use, so we can stack up inserts and increase absorbability. I found this cheaper online, but can also be found in department stores (usually with brands like Charlie Banana, Hush Tush, Next9, etc) 
• Microfiber diaper insert - actually, I wasn't a big fan of microfiber after reading that they will only last for a year and after which they lose their absorbancy. So... what we were planning to do (which I followed from certain blogs) was just use the regular microfiber towels, wrap them in lampin/cotton, and use them as inserts, which was cheaper and more versatile.
• Hemp diaper insert - my favorite so far because it's so thin! And it's one of the best in absorbing. However, it's a bit expensive, though there are only several online shops that sell this. I was thinking of making my own diaper insert, but the fabric seems to be not available in the Philippines.
• Cloth wipes - I was thinking about using disposable wipes (at least when we travel), but if we're doing cloth diaper, basically it's logical to also use cloth wipes because they can just be washed together. I've also read about several mixtures of oil or water to keep the baby's bum free from rash. I read that you can use just about anything (but preferably cotton) like old t-shirts, but we were also thinking of using the wash cloth or microfiber towels since we also bought them.
• Changing mat - for me... this is more essential than a changing table (which is more common in the US) because it's more portable. Also... I think this has the same purpose as a waterproof protector used in cribs.

Optional:

• Bamboo charcoal diaper insert - also not a fan, because I find them soooo thick and bulky, but we have them because they say this is better than microfiber inserts in absorbancy
• Bamboo cotton diaper insert - this is also a bit thick, but someone advised me that she would rather use this than microfiber for the absorbancy and duration of use
• Diaper clamps - if we're going to use lampin as is, without any cover, we would still need this
• Wet bag - used for traveling to store and separate clean and dirty diapers
• Diaper pail - common in the US, but for me... this is just similar to a hamper specifically for diapers, correct?
• Changing table - in the Philippines, this is not really common because you can just change the baby on the bed, right? Well, what we did to make it more convenient was just to buy the diaper caddy organizer (which can be stuffed with a changing mat, clean diaper, cloth wipes, powder, etc) which is also very portable.

3. Sleeping/Nursery

Essential:

• A place to sleep with a stiff and safe mattress - I didn't say crib or playpen because a lot of Filipinos co-sleep with their babies on the bed, and what we planned was use Baby Cuddle (which was a gift) on the bed with us. From what I read in several forums, cribs can be hardly used if the baby refused to sleep by themselves once they're co-slept. (We were thinking to just transfer the Baby Cuddle in the crib once the baby is asleep if we're not co-sleeping).
• Waterproof protector - protects the mattress from baby's accidents while sleeping
• Blanket/Swaddle - depends on the baby if she likes to be swaddled (because some swears on a wearable swaddle to keep the baby asleep), but my friend recommended Halo. Though I think a regular blanket for swaddling is also essentially the same thing.

Optional:

• Wooden crib - we were still deciding between a playpen and a wooden crib, when this was bought for us. Advantage would be a crib feels sturdier, but disadvantage with wood is that it's heavier. We were thinking of a playpen because we like its portability and multi-function use with the reversible napper and changer. Graco is so expensive here in the Philippines, and what we originally thought was to buy it online in Amazon (only 4000 pesos), then have it shipped here via sea (additional 2000 pesos) which is soooo much cheaper than the ones in bought in SM (14000 pesos). Anyway, the wooden crib was a gift and so... we will just save our money for future vaccines hehe
• Crib mattress - we had this customized in Mandaue Foam for only 900 pesos (Uratex costs more). Inquire about their mattress particularly for cribs, which was stiffer than the softer and more comfortable ones for adults. Their crib mattress has a warranty for 5 years (which is more than enough for a baby).
• Crib sheet set - since we had a crib size smaller than the usual size, we will just use one of the blankets as crib sheet (we bought 4 from Shopee just because it was so cheap, the equivalent of 1 muslin blanket from the mall)
• Baby monitor - common in the US because the parents room is usually separated from the nursery
• Night light - usually helpful at night for diaper changes. We already have two actually even before we got pregnant.
• Bassinet - Actually this is a gift... Though from the reviews of rocker napper, it can be used up to toddler months. This is actually one of the reasons why we weren't in a hurry to buy a crib or playpen because we know that the baby can sleep in this for at least 3 months. 
• Wooden Rocking Chair - We actually bought one because of my reflux during my third trimester, and I can hardly sleep sometimes because of that. And well, I realized we could use this while feeding the baby and rocking him to sleep. Online, there's ofix (physical shop was also located in Gilmore) selling it for 3000 pesos, but we wanted the old rocking chair type that our grandparents used because it feels more sturdy. It can be bought in Caloocan from 3500 to 5000 pesos.

Not really recommended

• Crib toys, pillows, bolsters, mobiles - they say this can promote SIDS. So... let's just minimize what's on the crib

4. Bathing and Health

This is one of the departments where putting "Baby" in front of the item becomes more expensive than their adult/ordinary counterparts.

Essentials:

• Wash Cloth - an alternate cheaper version to the baby version would be to just look for normal face towels
• Towel - I don't think it has to be hooded... but the hooded ones can be soooo cute!
• Shampoo and body wash - got a lot of free samples already
• Thermometer - I'm pretty sure the adult digital thermometer is similar to the pediatric one
• Nail filer/cutter - They say that the newborn nail cutter is different from the adult one...
• Nasal aspirator - imagine how hard it is to sleep with a stuffy nose as an adult, what more for a child who cannot express anything?

Optional:

• Bath tub - according to some american blogs, this is one of the things that you don't really have to invest in because you can just bathe the baby in your sink. Because... what happens when your baby outgrows your bath tub? It's just something bulky that can occupy space. So...  I had this idea to just use one of those big plastic storage boxes like the Megabox? They are made out of plastic just like the bath tub, but at least they can still be used when the baby is already big. But this is just in theory... We didn't really bought one, because apparently, my sister already bought us an inflatable baby bath tub! Hehe
• Bath net - my friend recommended this especially for newborns, who have no head support yet. The baby can just sit with his neck supported while you can easily bathe him even if you're by yourself... Though I was thinking that you can also use your arm (or maybe prop up some towels) to recline him? Anyway, after 3 months, the baby is supposed to have neck support already.
• Bath hat - honestly, I just bought these because I want to have free shipping on Shopee hehe but this is optional, though I guess could be helpful as I remember getting irritated as a child when the water would flow to my eyes and ears. What more for a baby who doesn't understand to close her eyes?
• Bath toys

5. Clothing

I reserved this last because personally, we haven't bought this since we were thinking if there was a baby shower, we would get a lot of this.

But personally, babies are small and they outgrow clothes very fast so I wouldn't really recommended the really expensive or branded ones. My friend even told me that I should just get second-hand ones because babies outgrow them very fast anyway.

Anyway, this is my list:

• Newborn set (3 sets of tie side sleeveless, short sleeves, long sleeves, shorts, and pajamas with 5 sets of bonnets, mittens and booties) - only 400 pesos from Shopee! Though I must admit I am not sure of the quality (because it's not Lucky CJ as they say)... but on the other hand, the baby will just use it for 3 months, so... Actually we weren't sure about the shorts and pajamas as well, because the baby will be in cloth diaper anyway, isn't that a cuter and better bottom for the baby? :) There are also blogs about bonnets not really that useful, and keeps on falling so they are also not a priority for me, but I've read that mittens will keep the baby from scratching themselves.
• Socks - I think socks are better than booties at keeping the feet warm and more secure
• Hooded long sleeves - we will also buy this hooded long sleeves just in case the bonnet keeps on falling off our baby's head (and also to reach the PhP 500 minimum for free shipping from Shopee hehe)
• Onesies - we are looking for those onesies with snap-ons on the side, and it was actually hard to find these in SM. If we do found one, they are usually long sleeves or long pants or frog suits, instead of the romper kind. Instead, we found 2 in Uniqlo for only 300 pesos! Haha

6. Travel

Optional: (until the baby is born because some say that you have to try these with the baby's approval)

• Carrier/Baby Sling - actually, they say that I should buy this when the baby is born because the baby may not want to be carried in a certain way. Anyway, we got this as a gift.
• Stroller - Did you know that there are many Japan Surplus selling strollers from Japan? While Aprica strollers are being sold online and in SM Department stores for more than PhP 17000, Japan Surplus stores like Mumsavers in FB sold them at only PhP 4500-5500 (depends on the model, but we are aiming for Aprica Karoon Plus High Seat because it's lightweight, one-hand operation, reversible handle). Actually Mumsavers also sells cribs, playpens, etc which are also cheap as compared to mall prices. Their physical shop is just in Gilmore area, so it's pretty near our place too.
• Car seat - actually, this is supposed to be required before bringing the baby home from the hospital, but is not very commonly done here in the Philippines. We are still thinking if we're going to buy this or not. Though if w did buy it, we will probably get it from Mumsavers too.
• Diaper bag - We prefer the backpack type because my back hurts if carrying heavy objects using only one shoulder. We got one from Shopee for only 300+ thanks to its coins and vouchers and promos haha 

Hmmm... I guess, that's all for now. This is what I think... as an expectant mother (but no experience yet) so I'm not sure what will hold true or not haha

Cloth Diapers

Babies mostly sleep, eat and urinate/poop generally.
This is one of the reasons why they can be so expensive, which is why I am planning on breastfeeding (versus 7K pesos per week), and using cloth diapers (which is also more environmental friendly and less prone to diaper rashes for the baby). Modern cloth diapers (versus the lampin) usually have cute designs (no need for the baby to wear separate shorts? Haha) with adjustable sizes (some even claim until 3 yrs old).

I have read on the different kinds of modern cloth diapers, but I have decided to focus on the following because I think this is where I will stick to. To read about the basics, you can click here, or here, or here, or just google it :)

1. Flats
Most Filipinos grow up with the concept of lampin (or flats).

Pros:
Cheap (1 dozen can only cost PhP 220)
Easy to wash and dry
Breathable (presko)
Easily adjusted based on size by using diaper clamps (I remember using pins when I was young, but clamps are safer)
Lampins are also versatile and can be used as burp pads, wipes, towels for the back, etc.


Cons:
Not waterproof - but can be remedied by using diaper covers
Can be hard to put on, especially when baby is makulit

2. Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers consists of an outer waterproof layer, and an suede inner layer with an opening on the end, to serve as a pocket. Inside the pocket, you can add flats or inserts or combine them together (to be discussed later).

Pros:
Inserts/absorbancy can easily be adjusted
No need for diaper pins/clamps
Popular (these are what I usually find in department stores)

Cons:
Needs time to stuff the pocket with inserts
Harder to dry when cleaning
May also be more disgusting because you have to separate the insert from the pocket when washing

3. All in Twos
I think this is our favorite. But I have seen different variations. It usually has two components, an outer waterproof layer with a separate absorbable insert that can be snapped on to the waterproof layer. The outer layer (also known as the diaper cover) can either have a snap for the insert, or flaps on both side of the diaper where the insert can be inserted.

The other variation I've seen is a waterproof outer layer with a suede inner layer that can be used as a pocket, but it also has a snap that can be used with a removable snap-on insert.

Pros:
Reusable in between washing (if only the insert gets wet or dirty with urine)
No need for diaper pins/clamps
Easier to dry than All in Ones and Pockets
Can be combined with a disposable insert (well, this is actually available only from the US and can be expensive)

Cons:
Need time to stuff the insert
Inserts can shift when the baby moves


From all these, I figured we would use All in Twos a lot because they are reusable in between washings (we just need to buy and wash more inserts). We would also use the pocket, especially for night use where we could stuff the pockets with more inserts. I think it's pretty useful also if the baby is constantly moving, which might displace the inserts with All in Twos.


I've been talking about inserts a lot, and base from my research...
1. Flats - lampin; because this is pretty cheap and easy to dry
2. Microfiber - most common default insert
Pros:
2-3x more absorbent than flats
Cheaper than other modern inserts

Cons:
Cannot be directly put on the baby's bum
Can retain the stink
Absorbancy properties gets lost after about a year

3. Bamboo charcoal
Pros:
More absorbent than microfiber
Can be direct on the baby's bum

Cons:
Bulky
Also said to retain the sink
Harder to dry when washing

4. Hemp
Pros:
More absorbent than bamboo charcoal
So much thinner than bamboo charcoal
Natural fiber so can be next to baby's bum
Softer with every washing

Cons:
More expensive

Because of all this, I was thinking on just going for the hemp inserts, and probably the microfiber ones because it is the free default insert that comes with most cloth diapers. Though I did also buy some bamboo charcoal and zorb already just to try it out when the baby comes.

I must say that I'm really excited about trying on cloth diapers on my baby. (Though maybe it's also because I don't really wash the laundry hahaha) They did say 20-30 diapers is already enough. But since I was planning to use AI2s, I think I can just buy 30 inserts and just make do with 15 diaper covers? Though I read from another blog, that a newborn can go through 15 diapers per day! Or... maybe I should just stick with the flats with nappy clamps and pins, which is bought per dozen anyway.

Though I was so excited when I first read up on it that I already bought 10 diapers when I was just 5 months pregnant (they are a mixture of 6 pockets, 2 AI2, and 2 diaper covers that I bought online) with a mixture of different inserts (including "special" ones like pure bamboo booster (for night use), hemp jersey (stiffer than pure bamboo, but just as absorbent), bamboo cotton, zorb diamond cloth (one of the most expensive but most absorbent out there), coffee fleece (claims to have absorb the smell).

Sample of a diaper cover with hemp insert

Sample of a pocket diaper with bamboo charcoal lining

Aside from the cloth diapers from shopee, I also bought a pure bamboo booster, hemp jersey, and bamboo cotton insert

Sample of a diaper with fleece as outer lining (in contrast to the usual TPU and PUL)

Aside from my cloth diapers from shoppee, I also bought a Wazoodle Zorb insert, microfiber, and bamboo charcoal insert

This is my favorite set from a certain shop in Shopee. It comes with 1 Diaper Cover with 2 snap on stay-dry (includes microfiber) layer and 1 hemp insert. There's a specific snap so they all match perfectly (3 diapers in 1!)

I just wanted to demonstrate the different sizes of the diaper depending on the buttons

Some diapers only have 3 rows adjustable (from small, medium, and large), but this one has 4 (to include newborn size).

This is a sample of All-in-Two with a snap-on Bamboo Charcoal Lining. (Unfortunately the snap on from the other diaper did not exactly match with the snap on from this shop but can still be used if I don't use the snaps.)

Aside from the cloth diapers, I also ordered a coffee insert (which isn't really common but I've read is good for the smells)

When I received them, this is when I realized that the AI2s were my favorite, particularly the "diaper cover-type" because we can just wipe off the PUL cover then reuse it again with another insert! Yey!