Baby Saving

My 14 month old is in the process of learning how to eat like a grown up. We have repeatedly introduced the spoon to her daily eating regimen, but it seems that she thinks of it as something to point with or throw instead of using it to scoop food into her mouth. She has these cute little brightly colored toddler spoons we got dirt cheap (something like 20 for $3.50) in the States. I only wanted one, but buying 20 of these was cheaper than any of the single spoons there. As soon as I started using those spoons, I was on the look out for cute little brightly colored plates, bowls and cups to match; but in the midst of my shopping dilemma I realized that I had plastic containers and lids that would do just as well.
Kid stuff is SO expensive, and what's more, it seems like most people buy everything brand new and matching when they have their first little sprog. And I don't blame them - every magazine, commercial and store you walk into has a 4 piece bedroom set and color co-ordinated crib linens with decor and toys that accent the color scheme. It just seems like the thing to do. And it's fun.
We were lucky enough to get everything we needed second hand and her whole bedroom cost us $81 (linens included). It's not a matching set, but the colors are the same so it doesn't make much of a difference.
Along this line of thought, here are some of the things we are actually doing (that are cost effective and they work) to save money in raising our little monkey:

~We ask for diapers and wipes as gifts (do they really need more toys?)
~We arrange clothes swapping with other moms.
~We thrift shop for clothes, baby items, books and toys
~We use plastic containers and lids instead of buying plastic dishes
~We return gifts we don't need for items we do need
~When she turned one, we switched to whole milk from formula
~When she turned one, we gradually stopped buying baby food and cereal and give her real food
~We do walks, play dates and go to the library for entertainment
~We always bring snacks and drinks when we leave the house
~We mostly only give her water to drink (it's healthy AND you're already paying for it)

To sum it up, we use what we have, play with what we have, wear what we have (even if it's not stunningly stylish and in perfect shape) and don't spend what we don't have.