Baby’s wardrobe turning heads

Image is everything. You want people to look at your baby and say ‘ … Oh he is so cute!’ That is why baby’s wardrobe tops the priority list of any mother-to-be. Not to worry, your baby can always keep the dashing look regardless of the lean economic times if you consider the points below.

Gifts
This is a simple way to save money on baby clothes. Sometimes family and friends will tell you that they want to buy you a gift but are lost for choice. If you already know the sex, you can let them know as this helps guide them on the kind of clothes to buy. If possible ensure each of them has a different item for the sake of baby’s complete wardrobe; one can buy socks, another a bonnet, and someone else a vest, a sweater

Sales
Shop during sales’ offers and take advantage of the slashed prices. Ask your friends to note the shops that have sales and remain alert on the adverts to find out where they are. Use this time to get your baby great outfits, which in normal days would cost you an arm. You may think that when there is a sale then the stuff is cheap and unwanted. Do not stop at that thought. Move on and prove yourself right-or wrong. You may be greatly surprised.

Going second-hand
‘Most of my baby clothes are second hand, although I still buy clothes from the baby shops once in a while something that still dents my budget,’ says Sarah, mother to one-year-old Thalma. The mitumba (second hand) market is indeed a place where a mother can get baby clothes at very affordable prices. The biggest precaution here is to ensure that the clothes are sterilized, cleaned thoroughly and ironed well after buying them. Something to note though, is that clothes from the secondhand markets may be prone to faster wear and tear and may have permanent stains, considering the fact that they have been used before. Mama Maina, a mitumba dealer acknowledges that compared to clothes from baby shops; secondhand baby clothes need extra keenness when purchasing in order to get the best value for your money.

Hand-them-downs
Maintain these clothes well so that your second or third child does not send you on another shopping craze. If you have planned to have other children, then there is no need to be very generous with your baby’s clothes. When your baby outgrows them; that is the time to clean, iron and pack them away for the next entrant. This will surely save you a great deal of money.

Sell! Sell! Sell!
You may find this a bit on the off, but do you know you can sell the clothes when your baby outgrows them in order to buy some more? Now, you do not have to go out to the local market and display your wares. You can organize with a friend who owns a used-clothes baby shop, such that once the clothes no longer fit but are in good shape, you get them sold; clean them well and iron them. These are second hand clothes; and we do buy them. Right?

Precautions
When picking baby clothes, consider baby’s safety. Check whether buttons are well fastened as the baby may swallow them or choke on them. When it comes to socks, make sure that they have grip to reduce the chances of the baby slipping and falling.

Always wash new clothes before adorning your baby with them. Other than cleaning the clothes, the washing makes them softer too-thus friendlier to the baby’s delicate skin. The washing also prevents skin rashes or irritation that may come from the harsh detergent used before the sale or from germs that were not cleaned off the clothes. Then be ready to have all and sundry wanting to cuddle your baby!

END: PG 23 / 55