DIY Baby Projects.

Even though having a baby does cost money, I'm of the firm belief that it doesn't have to be THAT much.


Unless you have a mandatory C-section.  In which case, you should be prepared to pay approximately one million dollars.


But in all honesty, we've found a few ways to decrease the expenditures on our wee-one.


What?  Are we talking about babies again?  Sorry.


I can't help it.


Anyways - back to saving money.


For starters, we use cloth diapers.  Despite the initial investment, cloth diapers have truly saved us a ton of money.  And honestly - they're really aren't that hard.  Just intimidating.  But once you jump in - don't worry!  The water's fine!


I also breast fed until Georgia was a year old, which saved us mass money on formula.  Have you priced that stuff lately?  Holy cow!  And people say raw milk is expensive...


We also have come up with a few re-purposed items to use in her bedroom!  And not only did these items cost next to nothing, but they also help keep me organized.


First item: Shelves for clothes.


While my initial thought was to use a dresser for clothes, I know that it can be very easy for clothes to get lost in the great-void-of-a-drawer.  I wanted something easier to keep under control.  Insert: shelves.  Stuart and I tore apart an old, run-down book case that we had, cut and reconfigured the wood, and stained it.

Bam.  Shelves.

The baskets I used were from the Dollar Store - and yep! You guessed it!  They cost $1 a piece.


There is a different basket for different "categories" of clothes: Onesies, pajamas, dresses & shirts, pants, outwear (sweaters, jackets, vests, etc.) and socks/shoes.  


My favorite part about these baskets is that it is incredibly easy to sort out the too-small-clothes.  Each month, I take five minutes and refold the clothes, pulling out the old clothes and sorting them into boxes for the cellar.  How easy is that!


Except for the fact that I cry every time because I am so sad that my little babe can't fit into her little clothes anymore.  She is a giant now.  And it makes my heart hurt.  Whoa, is me.


I also love that these baskets make me accountable.  I can't just stuff a bunch of clothes into drawers and call it good because the baskets are out in the open - it's not good if they look like a disaster!  They are like accountabil-a-baskets.  Bah ha.


Total project cost = $6.  Not bad, not bad.


My second favorite project that we took on was building Georgia a changing table.  Before I had her, I priced a changing table out at Target that I loved.


It was $200.


I shan't be buying that.


So instead, I put on my creative-cap and got to work reconverting a three-shelved plastic stand that I had from college.  We bought a cheap piece of plywood, cut it to size, covered it in thick quilting padding, stretch and stapled some cute fabric across the top, screwed the plywood onto the top shelf...

...and voila!  Changing table.


Though we primarily only used this in the first couple of months when I was doing middle-of-the-night feedings, it is still very handy as we now use it for more basket & toy storage.

  
Total cost = $15 for fabric, padding, and plywood.

I tried to keep the material gender neutral so that when we welcome our next wee-one...whenever that may be...we are able to use it in their nursery as well!


I love it when things work out like that!


I guess my point is this: Having a baby doesn't have to be overly-complicated or overly expensive.  It will be exactly what you make it.


Don't stress, baby...Just enjoy it!