Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Just thought I'd pass along a little tidbit of info for all the parents-to-be. We all know how expensive raising a child can be, but sometimes, it's the little things that hit you squarely between the eyes, and you think...how can this BE??

For example, Paul has only been walking since March...started out holding the furniture like most kids. We bought his first pair of real shoes right before his 1st Bday, when he took his first 'real' steps without holding on.

Since May, we have purchased THREE pairs of new shoes!! The newest pair cost $47.00!! I am floored by this cost, since they can only wear them for 3 months! That's more expensive than most of my shoes (well, at least since I stopped working and became a Mom )

So, my son is walking less than six months, and we've already purchased over $100. in shoes for his growing feet. It's not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but when you think about it...it's just a little reality check, ya know?

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

SO TRUE!!!

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

You are sooo right Claud, raising children is expensive. That is what I tell DH. He didn't believe me until one day I took him through the baby aisle at Walbaums. He wanted to buy a huge bag of diapers for his good friend/co-worker who had a baby. Since he heard his friend tell him that he needed to buy more diapers he wanted to be a nice friend and buy him extra. When he saw how much diapers cost (almost $40) he almost had a heart attack. Now every time he start bothering me about having children I tell him lets go to the supermarket through the baby aisle. LOL. His baby fever stops for a while.

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Yikes

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Claud its not only shoes they are only a SMALL part of it. What about CLOTHES?? Emma is growing out of her clothes like I change my underware!!! Today we went shopping and bought her more jammies because her feet are too snug in the old ones and its uncomfortable for her. Clothes that fit her last winter dont fit now. I feel like I am buying new clothes for her every 3 months... plus I fear that I am giving her my shoe fettish... she has almost as many pairs as me!

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

KP - that's why it's easier to have boys! I only buy Paul ONE pair of shoes, per three month period...he doesn't need a different pair to match each outfit! Plus, I only want him walking around in Stride Rite's, since they have the best support for their developing arches.

And thankfully, Paul still fits into some of his last Fall/Winter clothes. He's tall but quite slim, so he can still wear 12 mo. pants - but, they are getting too short fast! But so far, his long sleeve 12 mo. shirts are getting us by this Fall. I'm thinking that by the middle of winter, he'll be into his 18-24 mo. stuff.

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

I TOTALLY know what you girls mean!
JA has had many pairs of shoes since infancy, all given as gifts. Several he outgrew before the tags were even taken off and they were given away to friends.

We also just recently bought him his first 'good' true walking shoes. I wanted to go with the traditional white leather Stride Rite shoe, and then I went into a store and got a glance at some cute shoes, brown soft leather / suede, Made in Spain, soft as ever and very well made, and also winded up spending $45!

Claud, I almost fell into the 'coordinating' trap! I wanted to get white or navy shoes to go with the sailor outfit for his 1st Bday, but I figured why spend over $80 in shoes that he'll outgrow so soon, and I preferred having the brown for the winter as opposed to the white. So I put the brown on him for his bday party, and I thought they actually looked kinda nice

But, those pennies sure do add up! Im sure I'll be buying pair of boots or something before the winter is over...

Oh, and I'm on the hunt for a nice bath robe for him..any suggestions gals?

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Anna, you read my mind re: the little bathrobe! I cannot believe you just posted that! JUST this morning, I was saying to DH - Paul needs a bathrobe to wear when he first wakes up. Not that he really 'needs' one...but, we had our robes on b/c it was a little chilly, and I wanted my baby to have one on too!

I know they make them for infants...but, I'm not sure about toddlers. I'm going on Tuesday to the Tanger Outlet mall...if I see two, would you like me to snag one for JA?

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Claud, maybe now that theyre 'big boys' we see those cute robes and we KNOW they NEED one

Im more of the 'after a bath' type robe, than 'hang around the house' type robe. Arent those the fleece ones?
I think he might be too little/or doesnt yet walk confidently enough to walk around the house with a fleece/lounge robe. Although they ARE adorable! My MIL even bought him comfy slippers for the winter, now that we took up the carpeting
So Im not sure we're referring to the same type robe, or are we? I saw some terry robes in 'Things Remembered' at the mall (they personalize them) for like $29.99. I figured if I spent that much, I can get a Disney one

and it HAS to be in a color (not white). But if you do see something blue, in terry, in maybe 24m?, grab it for me I dnt even wanna go look a the newborn yellow duckie bathrobe I have packed away.. Im sure when I unpack it for the babys room, I'll break down some... and now that its winter, I want to make sure his little head is covered, coming out of the bath, do they make them hooded ?

Funny, you mentioned Tanger, I promised my mom a few shopping days and she's been mentioning Tanger already.

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

I'll look for a terry robe...I was even thinking flannel - would that be okay, too?

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Actually, Im just thinking terry, I dont know how well flannel would dry him up. and I could picture him tripping over it as he walked around in it (but what a cute sight!!) YOU MUST take pics of Paul in his new robe when you get one!!

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

They have the robes at Kids R Us. Those little robes are sooo cute!!!

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

Yikes=shoes!
Juoianne has had 2 pairs of sandles that were given to her..and wore them maybe 2x..but she not walking yet.
Im sure we are going to buy something for her feet come this winter...

regarding clothes- we have been graced with some generous freinds/fam members..and they gave her clothes as gifts..in many sizes...but there are some that I just found in the attic..6-9 months...so..the footed ones dont fit her as she is LONG...so she had one outfit on the weekend that she got to wear ONCE
I found that children's place in the source mall has good sales...and I check every clearance rack at all stores...and I will pick up things in the 18 mo size that are springy/summery as they really are looking to get rid of stuff and she will be 18 moths in June next year...

my SIL does this for her 2 kids for years...always buys next year's clothes during the clearance periods at the end of the season...

hth!

Re: Parents-to-Be - Save Your Pennies!

$45 for shoes...remember the days Claud when we could buy multiple pairs of shoes on our lunch hour...