A miracle from above, babies are a blessing in every aspect of living. They can also be a strain on even the best of budgets.
You have gone to the doctor and confirmed that you are expecting a special arrival in the next few months. A baby is about to join your family. You know you have more than enough love to go around, but do your finances have the same room for expansion? Let's take a moment to find out what you can do to ensure that you can indeed afford a baby without draining your bank account.
From formula to baby food, making sure your baby is well nourished can take a huge chunk of money. The first part of this series of articles will deal with feeding your baby without breaking your bank.
The most cost effective, natural and healthy way to feed your infant is to use what nature gave you. Breast feeding is FREE! It can also save you money on future medical bills. Breastmilk has nutrients and antibodies that can only be found in mother's milk.
Since many women cannot breast feed because of a variety of reasons, there is another method of feeding. Women Infants and Children (WIC) is a federally funded nutritional education program. If you meet certain requirements, based on family size, nutritional needs and income, you qualify to participate in this program. This program provides formula, juice and cereal to infants for the first year of their lives. They also provide cereal, juice, milk, beans, eggs, and more to mothers from the moment they find out their are pregnant until 6 months after the birth of the baby. Children ages 2-4 are included in this program receiving the same things as Mom. Sorry guys, unless you are a single father of an infant or child, you cannot participate.
If you do not qualify for WIC, never fear, you can still receive savings on formula by visiting manufacturer's websites and registering for thier mailing lists. When you sign up, you will also receive a 'welcome aboard' package that usually includes both soy and regular formula in powder and ready to serve forms. At the hospital, you will also receive a package that includes a diaper bag, formula, wipes, and so much more.
As your baby gets older, she will begin eating babyfood. Why pay 33¢-50¢ per jar when you can make it at home for a fraction of the cost? For baby food recipes that I have tried on my own children, and they loved, I suggest you visit: http://earth.vol.com/~teri/ It offers a wide range of recipes and helpful tips and instructions.
About The Author: Debra Vaughn is a stay-at-home mother to 3 young girls. She is a freelance writer in her spare time. Debra Vaughn also edits and publishes The Family Budgeteer Bi-Monthly Online and Newsletter which can be found at http://www.familybudgeteer.com to subscribe email: Familybudgeteer-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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