Oh yes, another financial worry - Help me think outside the box? - Page 5

[poppan]

OP... on clothes for the babe... do you have a mothers group in your area? There is one in mine (an online group) and there are a ton of good deals for baby clothes and other equipment... sometimes even free (I do that when I just want something GONE from my house fast). People don't like to post stuff like that on craigslist but prefer to offer it to each other within the mothers group community, I don't know if that dynamic exists elsewhere but thought it might be worth looking into.

I hear you on the job -- it's a hard market right now. I would still be interested to know if it's possible to restructure your work hours slightly to mesh better with your free childcare options--going in 1-2 hours earlier or later and leaving one hour earlier or later, something like that. Having STBX taking DD/DS part of the time (with option of paying half for child care instead) is a fantastic idea too. It sounds like you have multiple options and I'm sure you'll find a way to make this work.

I also think the less orthodox childcare options like a mother's helper as a PP suggested or a SAHM looking for some extra income are good things to consider as well, that can lower your childcare expenses.

[Super~Single~Mama]

I haven't read the whole thread (I'm late....sorry!) BUT - can you do FT daycare for one kid, and have the other dropped off later? Can you dad watch an infant by himself for a few hours? Then your toddler (or infant - whichever is cheaper to have in FT care) can be dropped off by you, the other cared for part of the day by your dad/mom, and both picked up by you at the end of the day?

[bebebradford]

Wait a minute, tell me if I misunderstood this... Did you say that he CAN come pick her up in the mornings, but doesn't? You said you were going to tell him to pick her up or pay for care right? Why in the world hasn't he been watching her all along then!? You shouldn't have to pay childcare when her father can watch her.. that's awful on his part momma.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by JSMa

The only baby things I need are boy clothes. I have everything else from DD. I was a saver.

Ok, I can't offer you anything, but do you have your dd's clothes still? This won't be popular, but who cares if he wears pink?? Seriously - boys like Pink too. It's currently ds's fave color - his favorite bath town has an explosion of pink/yellow/orange flowers all over it. And you might have some stuff other than NB that he can wear and get away with - brown? Green? I don't know what colors baby clothes come in lately, but get creative with the clothes! If it were me, anything without ruffles would be fair game!

And, check out diaperswappers.com - there is a clothing section on the FSOT, and its AWESOME! If you tell the sellers your story they may give you some GREAT prices. And honestly, the prices are already great. I got a huge bag full of awesome, name brand stuff for my toddler for $25 including shipping. Seriously like 8 or 9 outfits. I highly recommend it. Don't buy anything in NB size - it won't last long enough to justify it. Even if he's tiny. (my son wasn't, the NB stuff lasted literally 2 weeks and then was too tight).

[Phoenix~Mama]

Well, if DS is anything like DD... she was in NB sizes for 3 months. lol She is very petite and both STBX and I were petite babies/young kids. I still didn't get that much NB for him and got more 0-3... but that's all I had for DD and we had to go out and get some NB stuff because she was seriously drowning in 0-3. I have pictures, it's pretty funny.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by Phoenix~Mama

Well, if DS is anything like DD... she was in NB sizes for 3 months. lol She is very petite and both STBX and I were petite babies/young kids. I still didn't get that much NB for him and got more 0-3... but that's all I had for DD and we had to go out and get some NB stuff because she was seriously drowning in 0-3. I have pictures, it's pretty funny.

Then use the NB clothes you have saved from your dd's babyhood - maybe get one or 2 special outfits just for him. Seriously - if you're this strapped for cash, who cares? And, he might not be like your dd - you never know! Boys have a tendency to be bigger anyway, and second babies are usually bigger than 1st babies. You never know.