Budgeting For 3 Kids Under 3

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Member’s Mark® Advantage® Infant Formula.

In just three short months, Olivia will be one. The following month we’ll be welcoming our second baby girl. I’m still shocked that I have one baby girl and it hasn’t quiet sunk in that I’ll soon be a mom of two girls! As soon as I had Olivia, I knew I’d want her to have a sister but I NEVER, not in a million years, would have thought it would actually happen. Now to be honest, I’m 100% realistic in knowing that having two babies in the house and a toddler (who’s still in diapers) will not be an easy or inexpensive feat. There’s three sets of diapers to buy, and Olivia will have just started to be weaned off her formula, but the cost will be replaced by our new baby girl. Luckily, I’ve been down this road before and there are a few steps I plan to take in order to reduce costs during those first few months. Below are a few ways I plan on budgeting for 3 kids under 3.

Baby girl #2 at my 20 week scan.

1.  Start potty training early! I still have Joseph in diapers because he’s a little afraid of the whole process, but with Olivia I plan on getting a head start! She’s constantly watching us try and potty train Joseph so my guess is that she’ll be more comfortable with the process than Joseph is, since he’s brand new to it all. We have a pretty large bathroom and I’ve made it a priority of allowing Olivia to watch and even read books along with us while I try to ease Joseph into the whole potty training process. They both always have a ton of fun together, so I’m hoping that they will feed off of that vibe and speed the process up.
2. Getting creative with hand me downs. All those clothes I bought for Olivia will be put to some really good use because we plan on using them all over again with baby girl number two! I’ll be buying her certain new things like special outfits and bibs, but other than that, I’ll be getting creative with the clothes we already have. That’s why I’m asking Santa for a new sewing machine this year! I’ll be using it to add fun embellishments like lace tutus and maybe even some patches to Olivia’s newborn onesies to give them a fresh fun look. For her dresses, I’m thinking I can add some new buttons or add some fabric to them to give it a new feel. I’m so excited to have fun with it!
3. I already know that I’ll be formula feeding. This time I plan on trying Member’s Mark® Advantage® formula (similar to Similac Advance). While shopping at Sam’s Club (love that place) for diapers I noticed the significant price difference in the selection of formulas, so I asked Olivia’s pediatrician if there was a difference between the other pricier formual selection they had and I was assured that they were comparable.

I would have tried out this formula with Olivia when she was born but I never thought to look for an alternative or even knew that Sam’s Club had their own brand of formula for that matter.Member’s Mark® stage 1 formula is specially formulated for babies who are prone to fussiness and gas due to lactose sensitivity. PLUS the formal  has a unique blend of DHA, lutien, and vitamin E, that work together to support growth and development of baby’s eyes and brain. These nutrients along with the savings calculator that they offer will play a big part in making this exciting addition of another baby girl and budgeting for 3 kids under 3 a lot easier!

These three ways that I plan on budgeting for 3 Kids Under 3 is just a guide. For me, the most important thing is to enjoy them while they’re little because I know all too well how fast they grow up. Whether you have one new baby or planning on having one, a budget is essential!  Looking for some more tips and tricks on budgeting? The Family Budget Bandwagon has great tips on getting the whole family involved!