SAVE or SPLURGE: A new mom's guide to saving (Part 2)

Making the most out of the baby products we buy is the key here.  I didn't realize items for my little guy can cost even more than our one month's worth of grocery!

So parents should always  read up and check out the pros and cons before actually buying. It also pays "where" you get the items. I've noticed that baby products are more pricey in the malls, compared to online shops or bazaars. There are also select items in second hand stores and thrift shops, if you have an eye for bargain hunting.

Here are 5 more baby products and gears plus some  tips before getting them.

Baby bottles

• I suggest to SPLURGE on baby bottles! We use them primarily used as breast milk  storage because my son stopped feeding from synthetic nipples at 8 months.  He drank his milk from cup or through a big syringe without the needle. We invested in bottles made with hard and thicker plastic, so they don't expand or contract when exposed to high heat when i sterilize them.


• You can also get bottles that are convertible. Some brands have a line of sealing discs, spouts and handles which fit the screws of the feeding bottles.  Get the a spout to convert it into a cup. Or just get a sealing disc to make it a storage bottle.


• If  breastfeeding, choose small bottles -  those  with 4 to 5 oz capacity. Breastfed babies feed more frequently but in small quantities.


• Actually, it does not matter what brand you choose, but always choose BPA free bottles or plastic utensils for your baby. Bisphenol A  (BPA) is a chemical used in making plastics. Too much exposure to this may cause developmental defects in newborns, according to some studies done on animals. Based on La Leche Leagues's Breastfeeding Answer Book, plastics with the recycling symbol # 1,2,4 or 5 and/or PP are BPA free. Look for this symbol at the bottom of the bottle.

Baby rocker

• It's a tossup between SAVE and  SPLURGE  on this one. Actually we did not use  a rocker then, but we bought one.  The problem is we bought it late so we did not maximize its use. P was "malikot" and more mobile and resisted being put in the rocker.  I suggest to buy it as early as possible so your baby can use it longer.


• Always check to weight limit of the rocker, that can give you an idea how much longer you baby can use it.Look for straps to make sure baby is securely placed on it.


• The biggest come-on (for me) when we got this one is that it has music and lights - which should have come secondary to the rocker's structural design.

[caption id="attachment_2357" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We bought this rocker when baby was around 7 months, only to realize he's about to reach the weight limit![/caption]

Safety gate 

• A safety gate is a must to prevent your toddler from getting to hazardous places like the kitchen or stairs.  SAVE on this by checking online stores or second hand stores or thrift shops. Believe me, once they start walking they'll  try to get to these  areas when you're  not looking! They usually start walking around 9 to 13 months.


• Make sure that the safety gate is easy to install but at the same time sturdy.  Make sure they fit right on your doorway so it won't fall down when your child swings on it. Believe me, he will! 

[caption id="attachment_2424" align="aligncenter" width="225"] We bought a safety gate like this for P1,000 in a thrift store along McArthur Highway in Valenzuela. Source of photo: ebay[/caption]

 High chair

• You can SAVE on a high chair if you check out thrift stores. (As you may notice by now, we are a fond of bargain hunting!) 


• You can get a high chair when the baby starts to sit on his own, that's around 6 months for our baby.

[caption id="attachment_2423" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We got this high chair from a thrift shop along Del Monte Ave in QC for only P800.00. This converts into a swing by pushing down the back panel. When baby was younger, he would actually sleep on this.[/caption]

• Look for a high chair with a heavy and wide base. This adds to the stability of the chair. Sturdy highchairs won't topple down when your child reaches out to grab on something.


• Straps are a must for high chairs so you're secure as he sits on this. I once sat may baby down, and being to small, he almost slipped down because i forgot to strap him.

Baby shoes

• SAVE  your bucks rather than spend it on too many baby shoes! Baby feet grow so fast! At 12 months, i think we got  about 12 shoes for P din! He just kept on outgrowing them.


• I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get the right size for your kid. Always have some allowance, but not too large for his feet.

Every family's need is unique so take time to check if you really need to get these items. Do diligent research before buying big ticket items like a rocker or a  high chair.  Avoid buying on a whim or else you won't have time to analyze the product's features.

Shopping for baby is always happy time for me! It even get happier when you know that your every purchase is worth it.

Also worth reading:

• A new mom's guide to saving (Part1) 

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Breastfeeding "Must Haves" You Probably Won’t Use

Among the perks of being pregnant was the shopping. I guess it's every pregnant mom's hope to have all the essentials ready before the big day. Husband and i had a lot fun buying baby clothes and toys.  I would often spend a lot time rearranging our purchases in the cabinet, happy that we've had some of his things prepared.

We also agreed to save to buy a double electric breast pump. My co-workers suggested that we invest on a high grade pump because it will be worth it.  It will save time, since both breasts are being pumped simultaneously. So we purchased a Medela Pump In Style Advance pump from an online seller. It was  about Php 13,000. Yes, it was the biggest single purchase we had, but i tell you, it's worth it in deed! 9 months on, i'm still satisfied with how easy to use it is.

So breast pump? Check! Then came other "breastfeeding essentials". As an unsuspecting preggy, i was hounded by salespersons at SM.  Well, i'll just say we really did spend a bit during those early days as new parents.

After some months post partum, I realized that some products, i don't really needed. In fact some products you won't really use! Some products, if not used correctly, could even sabotage your breastfeeding plans.

SM Baby Company lists down a checklist for breastfeeding mommies. Take a look below.

[caption id="attachment_886" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The breastfeeding essentials according to SM
Source: http://www.babycompany.com.ph[/caption]

Of the stuff listed above, i used  the breastpump, nursing pad, breastfeeding canopy (is that the nursing cover?), storage bottles and milk storage bags. They were in deed breastfeeding essentials! I did not use these products: nipple shield and nipple cream.

Below i's the explanation why you probably won't need such products.

Nipple shield

• It's a nipple-shaped rubber or silicone for women having nursing difficulty. It's being marketed for women with flat or inverted nipples.  You're supposed to wear it on your nipple when baby's feeding to aide baby in achieving that perfect latch.

[caption id="attachment_940" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Some moms put on the nipple shield so babies can get s good "grip" when feeding.[/caption]

• Contact nipple shield costs P855 per pair at Medela Moms. Chicco also has nipples shields, which costs P700 per pair in major malls.


• According to Dr. Sears, using  a shield can lead to a decrease in your milk production because the breasts may not receive the same stimulation a breastfeeding without it would.


• My sister had a rough start in breastfeeding because of her flat nipples. Her baby would turn his head away from her nipple because it was so flat he can hardly put it in his mouth. I was kinda wary to let her use a nipple shield so I did more research. Moms with flat nipples should focus on learning the proper latch and make sure that baby's mouth is open wide before bringing baby to the breast.


• Consult a lactation expert if you really want to use a nipple shield.  Kellymomstresses that it should be a last option and that is should be considered as a short-term solution.

Nipple cream

• It's a cream, usually lanolin based, which you put on your nipple. It's supposed to heal cracked or bruised nipples or to soften calloused ones.  Some cream products also aide in preparing the breasts for lactation, according to manufacturers.


• Lansinoh creams cost P500 while Purelan costs P600.

[caption id="attachment_941" align="aligncenter" width="436"] There's a wide variety of breast or nipple creams available.[/caption]

• Along with the Medela PISA was a sample of Purelan nipple cream. But i did not use it because i was afraid baby might ingest it. There's a big chance that baby can swallow any foreign matter you put on your breast.


• Although most literature in deed recommend using lanolin-cased nipple cream, you can get by not using one. On my first week of breast feeding my right nipple bled. It's probably due to excessive and intensive pumping.  I did not use any nipple cream to heal, I just expressed some milk and left it on the wound. Wetness tends to prolong infection so i  just let it air dry. After a few days the wound was gone and I managed to breast feed from that side again.


• Breast milk, because of its antibacterial properties can also heal wounds.  Just express some by hand and leave it on your nipple for a few minutes. Here are some more natural healing tips for your nipples.


• As for the claims that some breast gels prepare for lactation, this probably is not true. I got by without putting anything on them before my birth. I just cleaned my nipples with cotton balls wet with hot water and that's pretty much it.  To establish breastfeeding, you really to feed on demand and express milk when baby can't nurse yet.  For more tips for newbie nursing moms, click here.


• If you really think you need a nipple cream, read up of its pros and cons. Better yet, consult your doctor to be sure of its safety. Here's a rundown of the type of nipple creams for lactating mommies.

Breast is best. This can be said in your manner of breastfeeding, too. It's better to rid your breastfeeding style of any "performance enhancing" accessories. It's best if you learn how to have a good latch  so baby can get the milk he so deserves. In nursing your baby, breast is all you need!

Also worth reading:

• Breastfeeding essentials and tipid alternatives

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