The £400 mistake new parents make — and how to avoid it

Cutting costs as a new parent can be tough. (Picture: Getty Images)

Ask any parent, and they will tell you that having children is an expensive business. However, it turns out some mums and dads spend vast sums on items their kids don’t need or want.

UK parents collectively waste a staggering £7billion on items for children that just don’t get used, according to data published by iCandy,.

For context, that would be enough to give every single user on Facebook about £5 each.

Nearly 60% of parents admitted to buying items that were either never used or used less than twice in the first 12 months, wasting an average of £379 each.

57% of the parents surveyed retrospectively said they had bought too much stuff for their baby, and 46% admitted to regretting doing so.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, cuddly toys were found to have topped the list of unused items – the adorable faces of plush animals can sometimes be hard to say no to in the store, and we all know that kids can be particularly choosy with what they actually take to.

Not all teddies find favour with their owners. I’m sure this one did, though. (Picture: Getty Images)

Outgrown clothing and shoes are also high on the list, neither of which will be particularly surprising, with your little uns’ sometimes growing at what seems like lightning speed.

However, some of the items parents ended up not using may raise an eyebrow.

A staggering 28% of the parents surveyed confessed to never having used some of their baby towels – an item you’d think you could never have enough of! – with bath supports or seats also coming in 5th on the list.

Hardly an impulse purchase!

How to cut down on costs as a new parent

As a new parent, being more judicious with your spending on some of the items above can help you avoid the potential for this almost £400 mistake.

However, there are other ways to cut costs and help keep your budget in line.

Blogger Suzy Turner recommends the following to help keep costs in line during the early stages of parenthood.

Use cloth nappies

Nappies can be a significant upfront expense early on in your parenting journey.

As such, many are turning to reusable cloth nappies, which, although they require more upfront expense, can help cut costs in the long run.

Nappies can prove to be a huge expense. (Picture: Getty Images)

Use social media to swap or purchase second-hand baby gear

Nowadays, social media can help form communities around just about anything.

Utilising local Facebook groups for new parents can help you swap advice on saving money and even purchase second-hand baby items for a fraction of the cost.

Embrace hand-me-downs from family and friends

While asking for help may not come easily to all parents, many baby clothes are worn for such a short time that they remain in excellent condition when they are no longer needed. As a result, most new parents are likely to have items to share.

If you have family or friends whose children are a bit further along in their development, reaching out to them for hand-me-downs can be a great way to save money while still receiving quality items from people who understand precisely what you’re going through.

Look for free local activities

Many community groups and organisations offer free activities for new mums and dads in spaces like libraries and village halls.

These can include outdoor activities in parks, storytime at the local library, and more. So, look into what’s available in your local area.

Many community spaces offer activities for parents with young children. (Picture: Getty Images)

Be discerning with your choices of gadgets

The modern parent has access to a wide variety of gizmos and gadgets to help them and their little ones. However, these can prove to be very expensive!

Before you grab the credit card and splurge on every new device you can get your hands on, consider which ones you should prioritise and take a beat to avoid any impulse purchases.

Taking time to determine whether you really ‘need’ that new fancy piece of technology could save you a small fortune.  

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