Creating a Stockpile – Preparing for a Baby
There was a time long, long ago, in a life now so unfamiliar, when we lived with two comfortable full time incomes. Oh how I miss those days and at the same time wonder what on Earth we did with all the money! It appears the more you have, the more you spend.
Luckily for us, around the time we were trying to have our first baby, I had a lovely friend who had just had her first baby. She told me about how she had stockpiled items in preparation for going onto one income. For her it was her expensive make up and hair products. She didn’t want to feel like she could not afford them, once the baby arrived, so she stockpiled enough to get her through the whole year.
What a great idea! That was it. I was hooked. Although stockpiling for us was originally a means to survive the first year of one income and not go without, 7 years later on one or one and half incomes, it is so much more than that.
So why stockpile?
For Convenience.
Master O was delivered via emergency c-section. This combined with the complete sense of overwhelm with my first baby, meant I only left the house for the first 6 weeks if it was absolutely essential. I couldn’t drive, I was struggling just to move around and get up and down our stairs, and I had a spewy, refluxy, difficulty to breastfeed baby. My STOCKPILE saved me! I had enough toilet paper, nappies, wipes, sanitary items that if I needed to, I could just stay home. My stockpile meant I never ran out of anything essential, causing a mad dash, at an inconvenient time, to the shops.
To save money.
These last minute dash to the shops cost money. You often end up not only paying extra for the item at a corner store but more than likely you will grab a few non essentials at the same time (any one see that great deal on chocolate) When I stockpile I have a “stockpile” price. I do not add anything to the stockpile unless it is a really good sale. A good sale depends on the item. Cleaning/Toilet Paper/Pantry Staples the go to guide is 50% off or 2 for 1. Anything less than that (20% off etc) and you will find it at the price in another few weeks. For nappies and wipes, I buy in bulk so a great deal is $27-29 a box or $13-15 a box of wipes.
There are a million reasons to stockpile but for me these are the two biggest! I focus on stockpiling different items in different months, but generally we stockpile;
- Pantry Staples (Rice, Pasta, Sauces, Juice, Long Life Milk)
- Cleaning Supplies (Sprays, Dishwashing Liquid and Tablets, Blue Loo, Toilet Cleaner, Toilet Spray)
- Laundry Supplies (Washing Powder, Softener, Stain remover)
- Baby Goods (nappies, Wipes, Baby Bags)
- Household Goods (Batteries, Lightbulbs, Garbage Bags, Insect Repellent)
- Personal Hygiene (Soap, Bath Gel, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Shampoo, Conditioner, Deodorant, Bubble Bath)
- Handbag Items (Wipes, Hand Sanitiser, Tissues, Band Aids, Sunscreen)
Right now, our focus is on Baby goods. Mainly because those new babies need a lot of stuff and we have none of it!
NAPPIES
I looked back at my children’s weights over time. Master O reached 5 kgs at 5 weeks, and Little Miss A reached 5 kgs at 10 weeks! What a difference! So I figure if I stock up on enough Newborn nappies for 7 weeks I should be right. I am using Huggies Nappies as an example. Newborn nappies are unisex so they are easy to purchase regardless of wether you are finding out the gender of your baby!
Newborn – For weights up to 5 kg – 108 in a box
Newborns use on average 8-10 nappies a day!!!! In the first few weeks it is closer to 10 then tapers off!
So 8 nappies a day, 7 days a week for 7 weeks = 392 Newborn Nappies!
Our hospital provides nappies and I will be there for at least the first four days so I’m going with…..
3 boxes of newborn nappies = 324 Newborn Nappies
THAT IS A LOT OF NAPPIES!
But wait! Realistically you could get away with 2 boxes as once they reach 4 kgs you could purchase Infant nappies. Because I really want at least a 2 month stockpile, I am covering all bases and also going to grab a box of Infant Nappies. Unfortunately Infant nappies come in either boy or girl specific nappies, but rest assured most major supermarkets will swap your nappies free of charge WITHOUT proof of purchase! Just ensure the box has not been opened! Handy if like us you dont know the gender of your baby until birth!
So our Nappy Stockpile will look like this
3 boxes of Newborn Nappies = 324 Nappies (7weeks) (we can always swap a box of the Newborn for a box of Infant size if we dont use them)
1 box of Infant Nappies = 96 (2 weeks)
TOTAL = 420 Nappies!!!!
A stockpile price for nappies is about $27 – $29 a box. They are often reduced at both Woolworths and Big W and at target during their baby sales. I do not buy bulk nappies unless they are on SALE!
NAPPY BAGS
But there is more to nappy changing than just nappies! We are also stockpiling Nappy Bags these were no where near as popular when I had Master O but seriously the best invention ever. They are often scented and especially great for when you are on the go!
So we need at least 420 Nappy Bags!
I grab a few extras as some require DOUBLE BAGGING! Nappy bags generally come in boxes and I find the cheapest and best ones are from the Dollar Stores!
WIPES
You can NEVER EVER have enough baby wipes! We still use them in our house, car, bags without any babies in the house! For Kids and Adults we buy the Aldi brand in bulk or the Woolworths HomeBrand. They are a similar price. I also buy small packs form the dollar stores for my handbag and glove box!
For babies I have always used Huggies wipes. They have never irritated my babies and are by far the strongest and most effective! Which is especially important in those newborn nappy days! Huggies Wipes, like the nappies are also available in Bulk boxes.
These packets are sensational as they act as refills for the handy boxes.
Woolworths and Big W often have great sales on wipes and you can get a bulk box for as cheap as $13- $15.
I also have a mini stockpile of items like bath wash and nappy cream. I am waiting to trial these items on our baby before stocking up on them incase our baby has sensitive skin.
So there you have it an introduction to STOCKPILING! Don’t worry there is much much more to come!
Do you stockpile?