Welcoming a new baby is an exciting time, but it can also add to the financial strain of a household budget, especially when the cost of living has jumped so high in recent years. If you're a two-income household, maternity pay can be a struggle, so clever ways to budget and spend your money in a savvy way are must-have skills for any new parent.
With helpful tips from financial experts and clear information about your rights as new parents, here’s how you can save money.
1. Choose reusable nappies
In 2021, the government's money advice service MoneyHelper estimated an overall saving of £1,475 over the first two and a half years if you switched to reusable nappies. Alongside this, it's been found that local authorities can save up to £11 in their waste disposal budget for every £1 spent on reusable nappy schemes. To encourage more families to try reusable nappies, many councils offer vouchers, cash back offers, trial nappies or discounts. In some areas, you could get a voucher worth up to £70 to help with the upfront cost of buying reusable nappies, or to put towards a washable nappy laundry service. Contact your local council to enquire if they've got such a scheme in operation, and if they don't, consider writing to your local councillors and ask them to introduce one. For more information, visit Nappy Alliance.
Also consider using reusable baby wet wipes and breast pads, too. They're all safe to use and will not only take the pressure off your bank balance but will also help the environment. That's a huge win in our books!
2. Become a M&B tester and make the most of freebies and other discounts
When you're on maternity leave, it can be tricky to make ends meet with the reduction in earnings. So, make the most of sample freebies and discounts to help your money stretch further. The Mother and Baby Awards run every year and we have hundreds of products across categories such as travel, playtime, feeding, nursery accessories, toiletries, and products for mums. They all need to be tested by real parents and tots under 3 and you can keep them after testing! All we need in exchange is a review and original imagery. Registration is closed for this year, but will reopen early next year.
Some brands like Bounty and Ella's Kitchen offer freebies to parents in exchange for their personal data. The contents vary, but most include samples and money-off vouchers for baby products. Tip: Follow your favourite baby brands on social media so you're alerted as soon as any big discounts or flash sales become available.
Many online stores offer discounts on your first purchase when you sign up for their email list. Sign up for Boots Parenting Club and download the Boots app for gifts and extra points when you purchase baby items. Similarly, the Amazon Baby Wish List offers free next-day delivery if you're an Amazon Prime plus, enough, enjoy a 15% discount on eligible baby items in your Baby Wishlist and save up to £300.
Both Sainsbury’s and Boots also hold periodic Baby & Toddler Events. These are the perfect times to stock up on all your essentials.
Another savvy way to save money is by attending The Baby Show. The event runs in London and Birmingham, and although you have to pay to attend (advance tickets are £16), you get to discover new brands and pick up a ton of freebies and discounts.
3. Swap, borrow and hire what you can
Avoid spending money by borrowing or swapping baby stuff with friends and family. Sign up to local community groups on Facebook or its own online platform, Facebook Marketplace, where you can pick up bits new or second hand. Search sites such as Gumtree and Freecycle, where people doing a clear out will be happy to pass on clothes, baby equipment or toys they no longer need for free. Swap clothes with local mums and take a look at companies like The Little Loop, where you can hire branded clothes for growing little ones. Many local councils also have toy libraries that allow you to hire toys suitable for your little one's age, and companies like Whirli allow you to rent toys. When it comes to books, head to the local library.
4. Buy preloved
Babies outgrow clothes fast, and you'll be amazed at what you can find in charity shops and at car boot sales. Buying clothes, toys and baby books from these places will save you a fortune. Also check out local charity shops, car boots, Facebook Marketplace and even Vinted, which can be a treasure trove of pre-loved baby products, from clothes (even maternity clothes, if you're still expecting) to buggies and other baby equipment. Once you realise the bargains to be had, you'll never look back!
5. Buy products that will last a lifetime
When making big purchases, try to find products that will grow with your child. For example, a car seat suitable from birth to age 12, a highchair that converts into a toddler chair, or a cot that converts into a bed. These purchases will likely mean a larger initial cost. But it'll save money in the long run. Also consider multi-use items, such as a bedside crib that's portable and can compactly fold so you can take it on your travels instead of purchasing a separate travel cot. And, make sure to sign up for and check cashback sites such as TopCashback to ensure you're making savings on those big purchases.
6. Feeding on a budget
An 800g tin of formula milk can cost up to £19, then there's the added cost of the bottles, teats and steriliser. It's not difficult to do the maths to know that, if possible, breastfeeding will save you money. When it comes to baby weaning, keep it simple and budget-friendly. Save money by avoiding ready meals and home-cooking simple recipes instead, avoiding sugar and salt. Carrot, sweet potato, parsnips, swede, cauliflower and broccoli are good introductory foods. If you get a chance, drawing up a toddler meal plan, batch cooking homemade baby meals and purees and then freezing them will ensure your baby gets healthy food and save you time in the long run. You'll see a range of 'baby-specific' food on the market - baby porridge, baby rice, etc, but try and get products from budget-friendly supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi rather than leading baby brands.
7. Create a babysitters' club
Depending on where you live, babysitters can cost up to £20 an hour - add that to the cost of dinner, drinks and taxis, and you might not be bothered to go out at all! Heidi Skudder from Positively Parenthood says, "Save money on babysitting costs by asking friends or family members to help out for a few hours. We are so bad at asking for help in today's world that we forget that often, friends and family are happy to help out. As a mother of three, I have had to teach myself to be OK with asking for a few hours of babysitting here or there from friends and family. I still don't always love asking, but it saves hiring a nanny or babysitter, and almost all of the time, your friends or family are honoured to be asked."
8. Keep the nursery simple
Lucy Shrimpton, Sleep and Wellbeing expert and founder of The Sleep Nanny, says: 'Don't over-complicate the nursery unless it brings you joy. Remember, your baby won't care what the nursery looks like at such a young age. So, keep things simple.' Before you buy anything, ask yourself three things: 1. Is it practical? 2. Will it save you time? 3. How long will you use it for? If it's under a month – or even six months – is there an alternative, cheaper option?
9. Buy own-brand medicine
For too long, clever marketing tactics have made us believe that buying big brand names means more benefits. When it comes to medicine and vitamins, you don’t need to buy expensive branded products. Supermarket or pharmacy own-brand products work just as well and cost far less, and yes, this also includes baby medicine. According to the MHRA (The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), the main differences are price, packaging, and inactive ingredients.
10. Find free events
Family days out can get really expensive. So, searching for free things to do with the kids is a great idea to keep little ones entertained for less. Galleries, museums, and country parks are all great places to spend a day with the kids without breaking the bank.
It’s also worth looking out for 2-for-1 tickets and free child tickets on product packaging next time you’re doing your food shop. These vouchers are normally available for bigger attractions, and other attractions can offer parent and toddler weekday tickets at a cheaper price.
Head to your local library to take part in a host of free classes to keep little ones entertained during the week. Most libraries run free rhyme time and story time classes for babies and toddlers. These sessions are a great way to help you save money on expensive club memberships, plus you’ll be able to meet other parents. Meet local mums via mum groups on Facebook, and you can go for walks together, plan playdates and more. Church groups often host toddler events, and these are usually open to the whole community regardless of religious belief.
11. Free prescriptions
In England, you qualify for free prescriptions while you're pregnant and for a year after the baby is born, and you're also entitled to free NHS dental care during this time. You can claim by filling out a Maternity Exemption form (FW8), which is available from your GP or midwife.
12. Child benefit
As of 7 April 2025, Child Benefit payments have increased by 1.7% giving families a little financial boost. Now parents will receive £26.05 per week or £1,354.60 a year for the eldest, and £17.25 per week or £897 a year for each additional child. It can be claimed by parents or guardians once you have registered your child's birth and can be claimed up the age of 16, or 20 if your child stays in education or training.
It's a boost to your household finances. But alongside this, Child Benefit ensures parents qualify for National Insurance credits, which can help protect their state pension, and it also helps children automatically receive a National Insurance number when they reach 16. To check eligibility and make a claim, visit GOV.UK Child Benefit can be used with Tax-Free Childcare.
13. Free childcare
Childcare is one of the biggest costs facing working parents. But from September 2025, eligible working parents in England will be able to claim 30 hours of government-funded childcare for children aged nine months up until they start school.
Currently, eligible working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours of childcare per week, and eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds can access 30 hours per week of government-funded childcare.
These hours are usually spread over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), but they can also be stretched over up to 52 weeks if you use fewer hours per week.
To be eligible, each working parent must earn more than £9,518 per year (the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage), and neither parent can earn more than £100,000 per year.
14. Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-free childcare is a government-funded top-up scheme to help eligible families across the UK with their childcare costs. Working families, including those who are self-employed, can receive up to £2,000 a year per child - or £4,000 if your child is disabled - to put towards the cost of childcare. Simply put, for every £8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it up with another £2.
You can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if your child is disabled) every three months for each eligible child. The scheme is for working parents or guardians who:
• Have a child or children aged up to 11. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If your child has a disability, you can receive support until 1 September after their 16th birthday
• Earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
• Each earn up to £100,000 per annum
• Do not receive tax credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
The benefits of using Tax-Free Childcare
One of the benefits of using Tax-Free Childcare is the flexibility. Because it can be used for any approved childcare provider. If you use a combination of childcare providers, you can use it to pay them all. It can also be used alongside the 15 or 30 hours free childcare offers, and to help pay for any specialist equipment needed for a disabled child when they're attending childcare. Each eligible child requires a separate Tax-Free Childcare account. So, you'll need to register an account for each child. The government top-up is then applied to deposits made for each child, not household.
How to open an account
It's simple to open a Tax-Free Childcare account and takes about 20 minutes via GOV.UK. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
15. Plan ahead
Now that you've got the basics of making the most of your money after welcoming a new child, it's time to get further savings in motion by getting into the habit of planning ahead. Keeping an eye out on sale and buying out for season is a great way to significantly reduce the amount of money you spend. For example, the pre-Christmas toy sales start after summer and you can save on big brands. In the end of summer sales, stock up on shorts and t-shirts in the next size up to be worn the following year. Look out for Amazon Prime Day too and you can pick up breast pumps and pushchairs at incredible prices. In the Christmas sales, grab those reduced price kiddie Christmas jumpers, and reduced gift wrapping paper. Planning ahead not only means you get items at the best price, but it also helps to spread the cost of big spend times of the year such as Christmas and birthdays.
16. Sign up to the M&B newsletter
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About the author
Keya Modessa is our Senior Digital Writer, bringing over a decade of digital experience to Mother&Baby. With a BA Hons degree in Journalism and Sociology, she has contributed to M&B for just under a year and is also a mum of two. Her extensive portfolio includes work for national women's magazines, Food and Travel, and Muddy Stilettos.