Top 10 Ways to Save Money When Expecting Twins or Triplets

Becoming a parent of multiples is both wonderfully exciting and slightly terrifying at the same time. Thoughts of everything times two (or three or more) going through your mind? Panicking at the thought of all the things you need to have ready before the big day arrives? Here are some great ways to save money when expecting twins, triplets or more.

Top 10 Ways to Save Money When Expecting Twins or Triplets

1. Make your own baby food.
While this may seem like a daunting task, all it requires is steaming veggies on the stove, adding filtered water and putting them into the blender. Some fruits can simply be mashed with a fork. While baby food makers aren’t always necessary, we had one and it really did the job right. The food can be frozen and defrosted when you’re ready to use it. Wholesomebabyfood.com gives tons of recipes, timelines of when to introduce different foods, etc. In some cases, you can make your own baby food for half the cost of the store-bought version, plus it gives your babies access to a wider variety of tastes.

2. Buy pre-owned when it makes sense.
When furnishing your nursery, it may be scary looking at price tags and considering all of your upcoming expenses. Consider looking at pre-owned gliders and changing tables through Craigslist or Ebay, or at local garage sales. It is not advisable to purchase anything used that may have been recalled (such as a car seat, pack and play, or crib.)

3. Remember that you don’t need two (or three+) of everything.
There will be some things that each baby must have (i.e., car seat.) There are some things, however, that can be shared. One swing, one changing table, one jumperoo and one play mat means that your babies can take turns with different activities. It is advisable, however, that you have one Boppy pillow and Bumbo per baby, as they are great for times when you need your hands free.

4. Do your homework on stores and or/local organizations that offer multiples discounts.
Babies R’ Us and Buy Buy Baby, as well as others, offer discounts to parents buying baby items in quantities of more than 1. Seeking out which stores provide such discounts will help you to save more money at checkout. There are local organizations that have large-scale sales for families of multiples. What a great chance to connect with other families while saving on the things that you need for your kiddos! A quick online search will help identify those groups and sale dates specific to your area.

5. Join Amazon Mom.
Seriously. Amazon Mom offers a 20% discount on diapers and a plethora of savings on a lot of other baby items. Another wonderful feature of the Amazon Mom program is the ability to earn $10 credits for each referral you make. 

6, When buying bedding, all you need is a crib sheet.
Bedding sets may be more visually appealing, but the bumper is a safety no-no, and the quilt is unlikely to get used for quite some time (if at all.) It is more cost-effective to buy the crib sheets and dust ruffles, if desired.

7. Skip the really cute (and super-costly) outfits for the first many months.
You will, undoubtedly, get cute outfits for your babies before they are born or shortly thereafter. While the outfits are fun to have, your family is likely to spend the first many months (mostly) at home. Rather than spending money on cute outfits, make sure to have plenty of onesies and layettes. They are easier to maneuver and much less costly.

8. Make an investment in a good stroller.
While this may not seem to be a way to save money, if you buy a good stroller from the start, you won’t find yourself having to get additional strollers as you go. Look for a stroller that is lighter-weight and is known for fitting through standard doorways. Also look at weight capacity as well as conveniences for you and your little ones.

9. Use warehouse shopping for everything from formula to diapers.
Warehouses such as Costco or Sam’s Club, or shopping through Amazon for basic baby needs will help you to save money. There are also great coupons available for diapers and formula that can be used at most physical locations.

10. Shop for items made for multiples.
When shopping for baby items, look for baby necessities that are made for multiples. Arm’s Reach Original Co-Sleeper, for example, is a bassinet made for two babies. Fisher Price makes a Space Saver highchair that cuts down on the square footage taken up by highchairs, while offering the same conveniences. As multiples are becoming more common, companies are responding by creating products to meet families’ unique needs.

Do you have other tips on how to save money when expecting twins, triplets or more? Please share your ideas!