Mama Hack: Double Up

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2 Baby Swings As I’ve shared some of my Mama Hacks over the last couple of months, I’ve mentioned the idea of doubling up or buying in bulk a couple of times. Buying diapers and wipes in bulk saves money and reduces trips to the store. Having two diaper bags means you can swap them out quickly when you’re on the run. I even snuck in a “bonus hack” on how you can buy the same outfit in multiple sizes so when Baby outgrows one size, you can move him into the next and extend the cute.

There are a couple of other areas where it seems really handy to double up. While this might cost a little more upfront, I like to remember that most baby items can be found on the cheap with Craigslist.org. In fact, once you’re done, you can often turn around and sell items for the same amount you originally paid on Craigslist.

Strollers – We’ve talked before about strategic stroller use, but we didn’t look at how helpful it can be to have more than one stroller. The big, heavy-duty stroller is nice for be-bopping around the mall because it’s got extra storage space for shopping bags and such. On the other hand, it’s pretty bulky. For a recent trip to Las Vegas, I purchased an extremely light-weight umbrella-style stroller for BabyHacks. It was much easier for navigating. It also compacts nicely to be stored in the trunk of the car. Both strollers get lots of use.
Outerwear – First of all, has anyone noticed that they apparently don’t make little snowsuits without ears on them? I’d complain, but they’re really jus so adorable that it’s impossible not to just go with it. Anyway, BabyHacks has a cute little suit that I can zip right over the top of her clothes. It’s faster and warmer than a coat. On the other hand, one diaper disaster, and it’s completely out of commission. Since I live in a part of the country where we can spend months below freezing, it turned out to be a good idea to have more than one on hand.
Swings/Bouncers/Walkers – This is definitely one of those you want to buy on Craigslist to keep from spending a fortune. Still, one of PapaHacks’ coworkers had twins this year. As you can imagine, they spent a fair amount of time in their swings. The poor mama, though, was constantly trying to get both babies and both swings up and down the stairs. She finally gave in and bought duplicates (that’s a grand total of FOUR swings), and she hasn’t regretted her investment a bit.
Toys and Blankies – Some kids get really, really attached to certain toys or blankets. I’ve had several parents tell me that when they notice their little one is especially enamored with a particular stuffy or toy, they go ahead and buy a backup. You can put one away to pull out when the original gets lost or worn out, or you can put a version in each diaper bag and keep one at home. I know a woman who once had to drive many, many miles with a screaming baby to find a lost binky. He’s 30 years old now, and she’s still holding it against him.

Mama Hack: n. A tip or technique that reduces the chaos in a mama’s life and makes it easier to manage or more convenient. Because no one looks back and says, “Motherhood was a cinch!”)