Nanny to Mommy

Cart Buster runs from March 3 - March 16 at all Kroger Co. Family Stores. Go to the Kroger's Cart Buster Savings site and you can pick your store - there are hundreds of products on sale throughout.

Now most of you know SweetPea had an allergy to every laundry detergent except Tide, so of course this Tide deal is my favorite one! This is a great stock up price!

Tide Laundry Detergent, Select Varieties, Liquid, 50 oz, $4.99
- $0.40/1 Tide 03/03/2013 P&G Insert (exp 03/31/2013)
- $1.50/2 Tide 03/03/2013 P&G Insert (exp 03/31/2013)
- $3/3 Tide Detergent 03/03/2013 P&G Insert (exp 03/31/2013)
= $3.99, Great price for quality detergent!

Another deal I love is for Tropicana! My Hubby loves this so I am always looking for some savings.

Tropicana or Trop50 50 or 64 oz, $2.99
$1/1 Tropicana Farmstand Bottle, exp. 4/28/13 (RP 03/03/13) - if included
= $1.99 after coupon if Farmstand is included!

Go HERE for the full list of participating products.

A new exciting promotion that Kroger stores are providing for their customers today is the...

What is it?
Only TODAY and March 15th, you will receive three random digital, load-to-card coupons for additional in-store savings. You must have a Kroger.com account with store card and sign in to get the coupons.

Why this promo is awesome:
You get to pick your deal and don't have to worry about clipping or printing anything because you just add it to your store card. The coupons are random, everyone will be shown 3 deals and can choose the one they want to use!

Here are some deals that have been made available:

Any thing FREE is awesome! And you KNOW I'm going to grab some more Tropicana! Remember everyone's deal is different, so once you load your e-coupons, come back here and let me know what deal you got!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

•  Follow the 3 Hosts:
  

 
   
•  Follow our CoHost:

•  Add the TGIF Blog Hop button to your blog(Grab the code at the bottom).
•  Visit as many blogs on the list as you can and leave a comment. Let them know if you've followed them so they can return the favor. Also, if someone from the blog hop follows you, you should return the favor!  

Copy the code below:

<a href="http://funnypregnantlady.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://akaywebdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/button_edited-1.png" /></a>

I received complimentary products to provide this post. All opinions are my own.

I got an e-mail today about toddler teeth. According to the AAPD (American Academy of Pediatrics Dentistry), toddlers aged 18 months should be completely weaned from using sippy cups. Toddlers should not walk around with sippy cups, especially not with milk or juice in it.

The first thing I did was go to the kitchen and throw out the sippy cups! SweetPea has been able to drink from a straw for a while and has been using a big girl cup at dinner for months now. So why did I still have them? She has water bottles and cups with a straw. I like her to have water through out the entire day, but why did I not think about using just those before?

Why am I mad at myself?
Because I knew this before I got this e-mail.

Cavities are on the rise in children. AAPD says the sugar from toddlers walking around with milk and juice in a sippy cup has broken down their enamel (the force that makes cavities harder to get).

But hey, my daughter gets frustrated when she can't get to that last little bit without spilling water all over her self. Insert lolls up. I first heard of them from Shark Tank, so I contacted them for a review.

1. Breastfeed
My TOP Tip for saving money with a baby is breastfeeding. No wasting anything, no cleaning anything. Even after breast pads (which Udder Covers sells a variety of reusable ones), cream, and a nursing cover (FREE Nursing Cover from Udder Covers with code BABYSAVINGS, just pay S&H), you still pay less than formula. If you need to pump, go through your insurance to get one. A law was just passed so you should be able to get a hospital grade quality pump completely free! Having supply issues? Try this Supply Boosting Cookie Recipe.
Although I am a very strong breastfeeding advocate, I do realize that it's not for everyone and sometimes you need to supplement, and formula is expensive. Here are some well-known formula makers, that you can sign up for email updates, along with money saving coupons and checks, they will sometimes send you samples. :)

2. Cloth Diaper
Okay I am going to be honest. I never cloth diapered. I did see a ton of benefits, except the extra laundry which meant more of my time. And being a full-time mom, plus taking care of my friend's daughter, AND now being a Professional Blogger, I feel my time is valuable. Now I am NOT saying that people who cloth diaper don't value their time. This is just the reason I didn't BUT saying all that, I am seriously considering it with my next baby.
The upfront cost is what is so hard to swallow. My friend found this site called Alvababy.com that sells cloth diapers for $5!!!
Now, again, I understand that clothing diapering isn't for everyone, so I suggest looking into the following retailers for possible coupons or samples. Also, there are a TON of printable coupons online as well.
Huggies, Pampers (save points through their Gifts To Grow program and get cool stuff, like FREE Shutterfly products). Thing to remember when buying diapers is, the bigger the diaper, the fewer in the package, so make absolutely sure before you move up a size. And remember nothing is wrong with store brand, test them out, they may work for you. And if you are couponing, buy in BULK. Tape the receipt to the box, so you can exchange them if need be.

3. Make Your OWN Baby Food
I made about half of Sweet Pea's baby food. I had a food processor that got shocked during a lightning storm, even though we have surge protectors. PLUS, I found jar baby food to be easier when we were on the go. But of course, even that didn't make the task any easier. Invest in a good food processor and you're good to go. Make a TON and then freeze it.
Not into Homemade Baby Food? I signed up with Beechnut (who send you a welcome package for whatever stage your child enters) and Earth's Best. I also contacted HappyBaby who sent me free samples and coupons to try their products. Of course I love Buddy Fruits as well. Look into ingredients with whatever baby food you choose.


4. Make Your OWN Baby Clothes
Okay I never did this, but I LOVE Pinterest and look at the most adorable things I have found:
Turn Old T-Shirts into Baby Sacks
Old Shirts into Dress
No Sew Onesie Make-Over
Those are just some ideas. You can also cut old onesies, hem it, and make them into shirts. Also look into garment extenders. There also a TON of online sites I love that sell baby clothes really cheap, including: Totsy, ThredUp (like new, used clothes), Zulily, and WittleBee. Another great way to save money on baby clothes is to shop consignment shops or yard sales. My mother-in-law did this for us. Our crib AND changing table were practically new, and she only paid $150 for both! So, deals are to be had and don't be afraid to haggle. Also, there are some online sites where you can exchange stuff, like TheBump's Swap Spot board, SwapMamas.com, there are multiple Facebook groups, or if you feel like risking it, Craig's List. I have had a lot of luck with TheBump and SwapMamas! ALSO, don't snub your nose at sales racks. There is nothing wrong with your baby wearing last year's fashion when you are on a budget!

5. Everything Can Be a Toy
Boxes, pots, and pans; OH MY! My daughters' FAVORITE toys are not the ones we intended for her. Although she loves her Sophie the Giraffe, is that a practical toy for the mom and dad who are on a budget to buy? Not really. Pans with plastic spoons are musical instruments. I also love Coffee mate containers filled with dry beans. They are BPA-free and make a great rattle!

6. Baby Gear is Expensive
Free is nice, but there are some things that are just going to be expensive because safety is more valuable in the long run. Car Seats are something you should NOT get used because you don't know if it was in a car accident. And even cheap ones can run between $60 to $100. If you don't get one as a baby shower gift, just remember, even the cheap ones have to meet the same standards according to government regulation as the higher end ones. You can read more about Car Seat Safety HERE.

7. Don't Waste Money on NON-Essentials
Poor new, first-time parents. We fall for the gimmicks left and right of things we MUST register for and buy to have everything ready for baby. I have found that a diaper changing pad on top of a dresser, can not only save money but also save space. And don't buy expensive crib bedding sets, the Consumer Product Safety Administration AND the American Academy of Pediatrics advise against thick comforters and crib bumpers. So why are they still sold like that? Beats me. But all you need is a fitted sheet and a thin blanket. You also don't NEED a wipe warmer either. Be practical and do your research. Don't register for it but if you get it as a gift just say, "Thank You". And just ask for the gift receipt later. :D

I hope you found this list helpful. And for the experienced parent's out there, what tips do you have to save money on baby?