Starting a family is such an exciting time but it is all too easy to get carried away when shopping for the many items that you will need for you new baby.  Here are a few practical tips on how to save money when planning for your new arrival.

• Tempting as it is, try not to buy lots of fancy outfits for your baby to wear in the first 3 months.  During these first few hectic months you will probably find it most practical to dress your baby in sleep-suits during both the day and night.  You can find sleep-suits available in multi-packs at major supermarkets such as Asda and Tesco. 
• Join baby clubs such as those offered by Boots and Tesco to receive a variety of money off coupons and free trials.
• You are going to get through rather a lot of nappies and baby wipes so once you find a brand that suits, buy multi-packs from your local supermarket.

• Remember to shop around for your nursery furniture and bedding, avoiding expensive “themes” if possible.  Try to avoid buying furniture such as wardrobes and chests of drawers from the specific nursery section of stores.   You could opt for a simple “Cot top” changer which would be much cheaper than buying a chest of drawers/dresser with built in changing station on top.  
• Avoid spending too much on a Moses basket for your baby as he/she will be moving into a cot after the first 3 – 4 months. 
• A pram can be one of the most expensive purchases you make for your baby and there is a huge range on the market to choose from.  If you choose a pram that also converts to a pushchair for when your baby is older, then make sure that you opt for a lightweight model.  This is because some people find these combination pushchair/prams just too heavy to handle and then end up purchasing yet another pushchair once the baby grows out of the pram.