Baby Rooms on a Budget

By Sherrie Le Masurier

We’re expecting our first baby in six months. I’m only working part-time and was wondering if you had any ideas for creating baby rooms on a budget?

 First off you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a beautiful nursery for your newborn. Baby rooms on a budget can easily be done if you focus first on what your baby needs and learn how to resist the temptation that everything you purchase must be new and must come as part of set. Also be cautious of not overbuying. You don’t need as many things as you may think you do.

While there are some things your baby will need there’s also a lot of things you can do without yet still create a beautiful space for your baby. Babies are big business for many companies and advertisers know how to push the buttons of new parents wanting the best for their new baby.

Establish a budget

Before we go any further it’s important to give some thought to your budget. How much can you really afford?

Plan for today and tomorrow

When it comes to both furniture and accessories for baby rooms give some thought to not only today but tomorrow as well. If you plan out your baby’s nursery carefully e.g. paint colors and furniture you shouldn’t have to update it for a few years. While soft pink and baby blue are great for infants, the color may not be as appropriate for a toddler.

A very simple yet cost effective way of decorating baby rooms is to select colors that coordinate with the colors of your child’s toys. As your child outgrows her infant toys you should be able to find inexpensive murals, wall art, bedding sets, and throw rugs which feature the same colors.
Select baby room furniture that’s convertible e.g. cribs that can be made into toddler beds.  Planning ahead now really pays off as you only have to buy one not two different pieces of baby furniture.

It’s always wise to spend the bulk of your money on furnishings for baby rooms that will stand the test of time - like a solid wood dresser or armoire. Such furniture will grow with your child right from infancy to adulthood and can be taken with them when they get their first home or remain and be used as furnishings for a guest room.

Baby room essentials

Let’s explore first what your baby really needs:

Furniture
* Bassinette or cradle (optional)
* Crib
* Change table or dresser outfitted with a changing pad
* Dresser or armoire
* Rocking chair
* Bouncy seat
* Fully reclining stroller

Clothing
* 7 one-piece undershirts
* 7 sleepers
* 3 pairs of socks
* 3 outfits
* 1 newborn hat

Personal Care
* Water proof change pad
* 2 pkgs. of disposable diapers or enough cloth diaper to last three days. FYI newborns can go through upwards of 10 diapers a day.
* 1 pkg. of disposable wipes or 12 cloth wipes.
* Diaper bag
* Diaper pail
* 3 baby washcloths
* 1 hooded towel or regular bath towel
* 1 bottle of baby wash
* Vaseline or diaper cream
* Baby bath or slip resistant pad/seat
* Baby nail clippers
* Digital thermometer
* Sling or front carrier

Baby bedding
* 3 fitted crib or cradle sheets
* 5 receiving blankets (lightweight)
* 1 warm blanket
* Crib bumper pads to keep baby safe and secure.
* Waterproof mattress protector

Feeding
* 12 burp cloths
* 6 bottles, if you’re bottle feeding
* Pacifier (optional)

If you know friends or relatives will be throwing you a baby shower consider registering somewhere that features baby gear and accessories that will work well with the selected decor of your baby’s room.

Whether you opt to buy the most expensive products yourself, ask for them as a group gift from friends and family or borrow it’s important you heed current safety regulations and be aware of any product recalls. While I advocate going secondhand where possible, I also feel items are no bargain if they aren’t safe.

One of the best ways I know of to furnish baby rooms on a small budget is to be the recipient of items from another new mom. Many parents are more than happy to give, lend or sell for a nominal fee items their baby has outgrown.

From a safety standpoint you’ll want to find parents with babies 3 to 6 months older than yours. If you don’t have any friends or relatives that fall into this category consider posting a notice at your local family centre or asking around – maybe a co-worker, someone at the gym, another mom from your prenatal class etc.

The reason you want to target new parents who are a few months ahead of you is that any new items they pass your way will not only be up to date but chances are greater they’ll be happy to pass the items along since their child is now in a new phase of development and the items are no longer needed. A perfect example is a bassinette or cradle which is used for only 3 months or so.

For many parents storage is also often an issue. Baby items like cribs and change tables that aren’t offered as gifts can sometimes be borrowed as parents short on storage space but unsure of whether they’ll have more children need to find a place to keep them.

When shopping for furniture for baby rooms consider both price and quality. If you keep safety regulations in the forefront some great deals can be had at consignment shops and garage sales. You can often find a top of the line furnishings for the same price as basic models would cost new.

Another upside to garage sales is that you can usually negotiate the price. Since most new parents receive high priced baby items as gifts or opt to buy them new, many secondhand items are only gently used.

Just because you’re outfitting a room for your baby doesn’t mean that everything has to be a bona fide baby item. Consider incorporating an antique rocking chair, armoire or chest of drawers into your decorating scheme. As long as the item is stable and safe for your child there’s no reason it can’t be used in any baby room plans you have. You can also opt to refinish or paint the item so it blends better with the decor of the room.

The above ideas can be also be used for clothing and toys, both of which are typically gently used before they’re outgrown.

Another great way to save a ton of money is to do the decorating work yourself or ask a friend or relative with more expertise to lend a hand. If you can paint the walls and furniture, sew bedding and window treatments, put up wallpaper or hang a mural yourself – the more you’ll save on your ‘baby rooms on a budget’ project.

You may also want to paint the walls and decorate with a simple border or stencil instead of wallpapering the entire room which can be costly. Keeping the room simple is a great way to go if you’re on a tight budget. You can always add more decorative touches as your child grows.

There you have it - with a little creativity you’ll not only be able to afford what your baby really needs but you may even have a little money leftover from your ‘baby rooms on a budget’ project to make decorative enhancements down the road.