30 Tips to Save New Parents $3,000 (or More!)

How families can avoid unnecessary expenses

By Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones

Surprise! Equipping, feeding, and outfitting your small offspring is likely to cost you between $9,000 and $12,000 during pregnancy and the first year of life, say Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones, authors of Great Expectations: Best Baby Gear. Here are their smart tips for slashing your new-baby costs.

Buy a "Convertible" Car Seat

Infant car seats for babies weighing up to 20–30 pounds let you remove your baby without having to wake him up, but they're bulky and a huge strain to carry around. A convertible seat will be good from five to 40 pounds, or more. These seats can ride facing backward or forward, and will remain useful for two to three years, so take a look at them.

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