How to save money during your baby’s first year

As parents you’ll spend around £6,000 in your baby’s first year according to research*. Here we share the easiest ways to save money with a new baby

That number is eye-watering enough, let alone if you are earning less as a result of maternity or paternity leave or simply have less money coming in during this period.

However there are ways to keep costs down when you have a new baby, and they’re all easy to do. From being savvy about where you shop (hint: head to Aldi!) to claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to, here are 10 simple and effective ways to save money in your baby’s first year.

*Smart Cells study 2022

1. Save money on nappies

Your baby will get through a lot of nappies in their first year (around 3,000 in fact!). This can be a huge added cost to your weekly spend. Switching to Aldi Mamia nappies is a quick way to spend less money. You could save £244 in your baby’s first year alone. 

And you’ll have a very happy baby too: Mamia nappies have clever Dry Fast Technology which absorbs wee fast and leaves your baby comfy and dry. 

Available from newborn up to Size 7, the nappies are soft and breathable as well as a bargain! Pick up your pack from Aldi’s baby aisle.

Fancy some FREE nappies? Sign up here and you'll receive a voucher for a full-sized pack of Aldi Mamia Size 1 Newborn nappies.

2. Get free dental care

… and prescriptions. Both are free when you’re pregnant until your baby is 1. 

This will save you a tidy sum: NHS prescriptions currently cost £9.35 for each item. (Prescriptions for babies and children are free.) All you’ll need is a valid maternity exemption certificate. (You can apply for your maternity exemption certificate here.)

The average dentist appointment costs £23.80 for an examination and up to £282.80 if you need a crown. Get your checkups and any treatment booked in before your baby’s first birthday and it’s totally free.

You might also be eligible for free dental treatment after your baby turns 1 if you’re on certain benefits. Check here to see who can claim.

Reduce your spend on baby food and snacks

3. Cut the cost of baby weaning

Weaning your baby is an exciting milestone, but with another mouth to feed and your baby eager to try different tastes, the price of your weekly shop can climb. Aldi Mamia helps you keep costs down with their organic baby food pouches and snacks that are way cheaper than some other leading brands. (They're highly rated by parents and are Netmums Recommended.)

For example, a Mamia Organic Spaghetti Bolognese with Cheese pouch, suitable for babies from 7 months, is 72p. This compares to around £1.60 for a baby food pouch from another brand. Meanwhile Mamia Organic Apple Mini Rice Cakes are 79p for a bag, less than the £1.25 price tag from another brand. 

Mamia’s award-winning baby food range is organic and contains no added sugar or preservatives. From baby’s first tastes to baby puddings and snacks, you'll find what you need for less from Aldi’s baby aisle.

4. Join your local library

Reading is a fantastic way to bond with your baby, and you can start from the moment they are born. 

While you might want to buy a few books, save money by joining your local library. Not only can you borrow lots of lovely picture books for your baby, you can go along to free storytime sessions.

5. Claim the right benefits

While you're pregnant, spend some time checking which benefits and entitlements you could be eligible for. This added financial support will see extra money going straight into your bank account.

Child benefit could see you receiving £21.80 a week for your child (and if you have more kids, an extra £14.45 per child).

A Sure Start Maternity Grant could provide £500 towards the cost of having a child. 

If you’re employed, you might be entitled to maternity or paternity pay. Check your contract or employment agreement to see what you’ll receive, and how much (if any) your employer will pay on top of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). This is called ‘enhanced maternity pay’.

Meanwhile if you’re self-employed or are employed but not eligible for SMP, you could be entitled to Maternity Allowance. This works out at £156.66 a week for up to 39 weeks. You can claim as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks.

Here are all the benefits and entitlements available for families that could give you financial support in your baby’s first year (and beyond).

There are ways to save on childcare

6. Get help with childcare costs

Speak to any parent and they’ll tell you the cost of childcare makes a HUGE dent in your finances. If your baby is going into childcare before they’re 1, you could save money by checking if you’re eligible for Tax Free Childcare.

This is a scheme where the government will pay you £2 for every £8 you pay to an approved childcare provider. The scheme pays up to a maximum of £500 every three months, or £2,000 per year, per child.

7. Be a savvy shopper

That dry-clean-only baby outfit or posh changing bag might look lovely … but are they really worth the price tag?

If you’re looking to save in your baby’s first year, then opting for practical choices and budget dupes – that you can bung in the washing machine! – can be an effective way to spend less as well as save time.

And if you really want a specific bag or brand, keep an eye on sites like Vinted and eBay were you could snap it up for less.

8. Get free baby formula

… and fruit, vegetables and vitamins at supermarkets including Aldi.

You can get these through the Healthy Start scheme, so check here to see if you’re eligible. (You need to be more than 10 weeks pregnant and have a child under 4 and receive certain benefits.) The scheme helps parents and parents-to-be buy milk, fresh, frozen or tinned vegetables, pulses and vitamin drops for children.

If you qualify, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in certain supermarkets and shops. You’ll receive this benefit every 4 weeks.

9. Write a new baby gift list

Harness the giving spirit of friends and family who want to give your new baby a present: Don’t be afraid to ask them for things you really want and need, saving you having to buy them. From baby toys to contributions towards a pram or cot, people will usually be happy to chip in towards something they know will be used.

Keep an eye on Aldi’s SpecialBuys for baby furniture, baby toys and anything else you want in your baby’s first year.

10. Buy in bulk

It might work out cheaper to buy some supplies in bulk. Not only can you sometimes get a discounted rate, it also means fewer trips to the shops, saving on petrol or bus fare.

One great bulk buy purchase are baby wipes. This 6-pack of 60 Mamia Baby Wipes is £3.59 and will keep you going for a while.

All these tips together can save you a bundle and help you focus less on your budget and more on spending the most important thing with your new baby: time.

Want more useful parenting tips? Check out our new parent hacks and money-saving advice, below.

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