wonder years

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Baby on a BudgetSave a bundle of money on everything for yournew bundle of joy BY CLAIRE McINTOSH

They warn new moms about postpartum depression. Why didn’t any-one tell us about postpartum debt? For first-time moms, preparingfor your new baby will be a crash-course introduction to the $6 billionjuvenile-products industry. The endless list of must-have items canmake us nostalgic for the older days, when “baby food” was adult food

mashed with a fork, and “formula” was a can of evaporated milk for pennies. Hereare tried-and-true money-saving tips from experts and moms-in-the-know:1. Breast-feed as much as you can. In addition to breast-feeding beingbest for your baby’s health, it benefits your pocket with $500 savings in the first six months,according to Denise and Alan Fields, authors of Baby Bargains (Windsor Peak Press).2. Try hand-me-down hookups.Ask friends, family, coworkers and neighborswho are parents looking to unload gently usedcribs, strollers and swings. Reach out to momswith a child 6 to 12 months older than yours.The Fieldses also recommend visiting garagesales and thrift shops in affluent neighborhoods.3. Surf for freebies. Makers of dia-pers, formula and baby food are vying foryour loyalty. Check out Similac’s Web site,welcomeaddition.com, for a free diaper bagand coupons, and Growing Up Gerber atgerber.com for special offers. Other sites:babybargains.com and couponcraze.com.4. Be selective when you shop.Instead of a $300 dresser and changing tablecombo, try an oak dresser at a discount storefor less than half the price. For $25, add a con-toured changing pad with a safety strap.Check out last year’s stroller model, whichprobably differs only in fabric, to save $30 to$100. You can also buy diapers in bulk at 35percent of the cost, which, according to Con-sumer Reports, is a big savings, consideringyou change up to 8,000 diapers per child. [Claire McIntosh, deputy editor at ESSENCE, isa mom to 17-month-old twin boys.

baby’s first yearParents spend $6,300 during baby’sfirst year, the Fieldses estimate,while other experts put that figureas high as $11,000. Here’s a samplebudget from Baby Bargains:

Crib, mattress,

dresser, rocker $1,500

Bedding, decor 300

Baby clothes 500

Disposable diapers 600

Maternity or nursing

clothes 1,200

Nursery items,

high chair, toys 400

Baby food or formula 900*

Stroller, car seat,

carrier 400

Miscellaneous 500

TOTAL $6,300

*Add $500 if you did not breast-feedexclusively the first six months.—C.M.

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