Baby’s can be just as expensive as they are cute! But having a child doesn’t have to mean draining your bank account. At least not until they are two. Here are 6 things you can do to cut costs and shop smarter.

1. Don’t buy too many bottles in the beginning, and don’t open them all right away. Believe it or not, a bottle is not just a bottle. Some babies will drink out of anything you give them and others will only take to specific ones. You don’t want to have 20 of the same bottles out of their packaging and washed only to find out that your baby won’t use them. Instead, only have a few ready to go this way if your baby doesn’t like that particular bottle you can exchange the unopened ones for a different kind. The same thing goes with any accessories that may go along with the bottle. Hold off on opening those as well until you know that brand works for your baby.

2. While you should definitely buy some breastfeeding tops, hold off on purchasing a whole new wardrobe right away. A few are good to have for those first few days when family and friends are visiting, however, if breastfeeding doesn’t work out for you and your baby, you won’t need all those expensive tops. Or if you would rather have them on hand (I know I wanted to), then keep the tags on them all and make sure if you don’t use them that you return them within the stores return policy period.

3. If you are using formula, use the powdered formula vs. the ready made kind; it is much cheaper. Also, buy it in bulk and use a generic brand. Club stores like Costco usually have their own brands which are just as good and much cheaper. If you do choose to go with a brand name, sign up for their mailing list. They will send you free samples and coupons/checks for their products. Also, ask your OB, the hospital, and the pediatrician for samples. Ask your breastfeeding friends for their free samples too! I gave all mine away to friends who used each of the different kinds I had, and donated the rest to a woman’s shelter.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family if they have any baby items they are looking to unload. You would be surprised by how many people are hanging onto things because they can’t bring themselves to throw them out, yet they would love for them to go to a good home. Sometimes the items are brand new either because the parents never got around to using them or the baby didn’t like using them. When I was pregnant with joey I really wanted a jogging stroller but they were all just as expensive as the regular strollers and I couldn’t justify spending all that money on two strollers. But my brother knew I wanted one and when he heard of a friend who wanted to get rid of theirs (that they only used ONCE!) he took it for me. My mom also got a lot of items for us from her fellow grandma friends. They had bought the stuff to keep at their house for when their grand kids came over and it was used so infrequently if at all, that the stuff was practically brand new! She got a high chair, pack n play, umbrella stroller, and a table and chair set!

5. At sometimes more that $10 a pop, books can get very expensive. Don’t think you need to buy an entire bookshelf full of books for your baby. In the very beginning when your baby isn’t handling the books themselves, library books work just as well. So save your money and head to the local library. Borrowing books is free and it will provide an outing for you and baby to get out of the house!

6. And lastly, make your own baby food! Jarred baby food can be very expensive and it doesn’t last long once it’s opened. Invest in a Baby Bullet, or something similar, and puree whatever the rest of your family is eating for dinner.