8 Surprising Ways to Save on Baby Gear

Feeling overwhelmed with the costs of having a baby? Looking for ways to save on the essentials? Pinching pennies when it comes to baby gear?

The list of essential baby supplies is seemingly endless, especially if you’re a first time parent. So many things you probably never considered… or budgeted for! Luckily there are ways to save money in your search for baby gear, and a few might surprise you. Check out our list below for a few tips to save as you shop.

Online shopping: online shopping is so ridiculously convenient, it can really suck you in if you’re not careful. For baby gear online, focus on bulk items like diapers and formula rather than toys and clothes. Avoid retailers that charge shipping or other fees. The Flipp app is a great tool! It can look across online stores and compare same products to give you the best price. Whether your using an app or doing research by hand in your local paper ads or instore, there are always ways to save money.

Diapers: before you buy, compare prices on a few sites and also check the manufacturer’s site for coupons. As long as they work fine for baby, you don’t need to be loyal to one brand.

Samples: ask your pediatrician for samples of everything from formula to eczema cream. You’ll be going often in the early days, so the savings can really add up.

Convertible gear: rather than a stroller that’s only good for a few months, consider convertible gear that will potentially last years.  This includes car seats, high chairs, beds, and certain toys. It is now recommended to buy New only, when it comes to car seats and boosters.

Clothes: babies don’t wear the same clothes for long which means you’ll be changing the wardrobe often. It also means there’s tons of great second-hand stuff out there! Get clothes through mom-to-mom sales, resale shops, and hand-me-downs. Remember not to skimp on safety. Buy new where necessary.

Share: you don’t need a baby version of everything. Consider purchases on products like towels, washcloths, soaps, cups, stools, straws, etc. that will work for both of you.

Reusable product: disposable items like diapers, wipes, and food containers are very convenient and may not cost much up front. But buying them over, and over, and over again adds up. Look into reusable products that will cost more initially but save money long-term.

Borrowing: have friends or close relatives with kids a few years older than yours? Tap into that resource! If they’re willing to loan or even give you big items like cribs, gliders, or bassinets, you’ll be able to spend that money elsewhere.

You will be amazed how much money you can save putting these tips to work as you prepare for the arrival of baby. Whether you have a baby boy or have a baby girl, you can be assured of falling in love and having fun while shopping for gender specific or neutral clothes, toys and necessities!

5 Baby Sleep Strategies to Help Reclaim Your Nights!

Are you struggling with a baby who wakes up all throughout the night? Are you feeling desperate for a few hours of uninterrupted slumber? Need some tips to help your baby and your whole house sleep better?

One of the biggest challenges for many parents of young babies is waking up multiple times a night. It’s tough on your mind and your body. But when your baby gets a little older, it’s perfectly okay to say, “Enough!” When you and your baby are ready, there are strategies you can try for a better night’s sleep for you and your little one.

Ditch the pacifier: if your baby is waking at all hours desperate for a pacifier, you might be well served by ditching it. Once baby is 8 months, they should be able to find and return the pacifier on their own, so when you hear them crying, you can wait a bit to encourage that independence.

Play white noise: especially when baby is younger, introducing white noise to the sleeping environment can help get them to go and stay asleep. The womb is actually a pretty noisy place to live, and white noise helps recreate that familiar and comforting environment.

Don’t hang out: if you’re trying to get your baby to be a more independent sleeper, start by getting yourself out of the room faster. If you typically wait until they’re sound asleep before sneaking out, try leaving before they close their eyes. This can be a gradual process that teaches your baby to go to sleep on their own.

Also try leaving baby for a bit if they’re crying or longer if they’re babbling and playing. You might be pleasantly surprised that they go back to sleep on their own!

Cut back or stop nighttime feedings: if you think the only thing that gets your baby to sleep is a feeding, try lying them down for the night without a feed while drowsy but still awake. Going to sleep without feeding should help reduce or stop night feeds.

After six months, many babies can go without night feeds. If you think your baby is ready, address nighttime waking with another method and hopefully the waking will decrease.

Follow a sleep schedule: adjusting the sleep schedule as your baby develops doesn’t always happen naturally. Some babies sleep too long during their naps, making their nights much tougher on your. Check a few resources to see how many hours your baby should be sleeping during the day and night at their age and stick to a good schedule.

These are just a few of the many strategies that could help you and your baby sleep through the night. It doesn’t matter the gender, the issues are common to both. If you have questions about your baby boy or baby girl’s sleeping habits or patterns, give us a call. We have board certified, in practice for over 30 years, Ob/gyn doctors at our gender selection clinic. We have the answers you seek!

Coping with the Emotional Impact of Infertility

 If you and your partner have been trying to have a baby with no success, it can be very frustrating and disappointing. Suspecting that you might be infertile can be an emotionally trying time for new couples and parents who are trying to have additional children.

How can you stay positive during this experience? How can you prevent strain on your relationship? Infertility issues can result in frustration, anxiety, and grief. Some couples may have a hard time admitting a problem exists, or don’t want to seek out medical help.

At Midwest Fertility and Gender Selection Center, we believe that infertility is important to address through both medical and emotional support. By communicating throughout the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment phases, many couples find that their relationship grows stronger.

One of the key factors in diagnosing infertility is to seek medical advice as soon as you suspect there could be an issue. It doesn’t help anything by waiting. Sometimes a simple conversation with your attending physician or OB/GYN, can help point you in the right direction. If you have not conceived within one year of unprotected intercourse, it may be time for professional discussion.

Couples experiencing infertility should remember that great strides have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of this situation. In fact, many treated couples have succeeded in having a baby.
Sometimes, it’s not IF you’ll ever conceive, but rather, HOW.

To learn more about infertility and to explore your options for growing your family with pregnancy and gender selection, click here.

Easy Holiday Season Crafts and Activities for Kids

Looking for ways to get in the holiday spirit with your kids?

Want to find ways to keep your kids occupied even in the cold weather?

The holiday season is always fun for crafting. Your kids can help you make decorations for home, and you can put together gifts for family members and friends that will be cherished for years.

Here are some fun, easy ideas for kids of all ages (parental supervision needed!):

 Felt Christmas Stockings – This craft is useful and fun! To get started, find some patterned or colored felt. You can get this at any craft store. Cut out a sock shape out of two pieces of felt, and staple the edges together a half inch from the sides, leaving the top open. Add a felt loop to the top corner for hanging, and get creative with decorating!

Handmade Gift Tags – If you still have felt left over from making stockings, these gift tags are a great touch! Use a cookie cutter in holiday shapes to cut out shapes on felt. Punch a hole at the top center of the tag. Use string to attach to a special gift!





Paper Snowflakes – It’s not officially winter until you make paper snowflakes! There are so many online tools that teach you different folding tricks. Once you’ve got a bunch cut out, you can string them up to hang on your Christmas tree, the mantel, or over a doorway.

 Sugar Christmas Cookies – Use store-bought or from-scratch sugar cookie dough and roll out with flour. Have your kids use holiday shape cookie cutters to cut out cookies, and then bake. When cooled, let your kids decorate. Use sprinkles, frosting, and even candy cane pieces.

Getting your children involved in the holidays is fun, and can help teach them about giving gifts instead of receiving. Make sure you supervise your kids as they put together their creations, and you’ll also create memories that will last a lifetime!

When Should You Worry About Infertility?

For most couples attempting to become pregnant, the chance of achieving a successful pregnancy is about 25% during the first month of trying. By the end of the first year of trying to conceive, about 85%-90% of couples will conceive.

As a couple, you should seek medical help if you are unable to achieve pregnancy after 1 year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. If you’re a woman with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, miscarriage, or irregular or painful menstrual cycles, you should also consult with your doctor.

Common Causes of Infertility

Some of the most common conditions that can contribute to infertility are:

• Abnormal Ovulation
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Endometriosis
• Cervical problems
• Age
• Male factors (male infertility, central nervous system problems, pituitary tumors)

At Midwest Fertility and Gender Selection Center, our team of experienced doctors want to help you and your partner with your dream of starting or growing your family. We’ll sit down with you and perform an evaluation to explore your options.

Click here to learn more.

How the Ericsson Method Works

Is the Ericsson Method for you? Are you considering the gender selection process to help with family planning? Do you want to ensure the gender of your baby due to family medical history? Are you sure that you have all the facts? This process can seem complicated, you might feel overwhelmed. You’re not alone!

At Midwest Fertility & Gender Selection Center, we work hard to listen to each family’s individual needs and concerns. When you’re planning to have children, you’re probably doing a lot of research to be as informed of your options as possible. 

To find out more about the difference between The Ericsson Method and IVF, visit our website to learn more!