What Are Your Favorite Low-Cost Best Practices?

[butterfly]

I've learned so many wonderful little tricks from this forum! Things like using a different color for each child, leaving the children's bedding on their cots when stacking them...

What are your favorite low-cost best practice tricks? I'm looking for some more great ideas.

Thanks!!

[itlw8]

wish I could leave the bedding on it would save time..

I just found white washcloths 18 for $4 at Walmart and a wastebasket. It iw working wonderful for drying hands. I thought $5 for 8 was good until I went to Walmart.

[butterfly]

wish I could leave the bedding on it would save time..

I just found white washcloths 18 for $4 at Walmart and a wastebasket. It iw working wonderful for drying hands. I thought $5 for 8 was good until I went to Walmart.

I just switched to these as well!! Working awesome!

[crazydaycarelady]

I bought fleece and cut it into squares that I use for changing pads, use once and toss in the laundry.

I have also found that for hard to remove messy diapers if you put a dollop of baby lotion on the wipe it comes off the skin so much easier.

I have the parents bring one bottle each of SPRAY ON MIST sunscreen for the summer. I use whatever bottle is handy for everybody and it takes about a minute to cover all the kids.

[butterfly]

I bought fleece and cut it into squares that I use for changing pads, use once and toss in the laundry.

I have also found that for hard to remove messy diapers if you put a dollop of baby lotion on the wipe it comes off the skin so much easier.

I have the parents bring one bottle each of SPRAY ON MIST sunscreen for the summer. I use whatever bottle is handy for everybody and it takes about a minute to cover all the kids.

lovethis thanks!

[Familycare71]

Love the sun screen one!

[Willow]

I rarely buy toys new or at retail cost....garage sales, eBay and local online sale sites like Craigslist have all the same stuff at a fraction of the price.

I just got a big and very nice wooden swingset, almost brand new, only very gently used, complete with fort and canopy for only $100

[Blackcat31]

My parents ALL bring one refill package of wet wipes and one box of Kleenex on the first of each month.

Cant believe how much this has saved me.

[MsLaura529]

I rarely buy toys new or at retail cost....garage sales, eBay and local online sale sites like Craigslist have all the same stuff at a fraction of the price.

I just got a big and very nice wooden swingset, almost brand new, only very gently used, complete with fort and canopy for only $100

I definitely agree with this! We actually just got a FREE wooden swing set (Rainbow brand with clubhouse area, slide, and rock wall) from my parents' neighbor - old people left it there, and he moved in, his kids are too old for a swingset. So there Haha, j/k.

And you can't beat a $3 Cozy Coupe at a garage sale!

I am saving a big bag of recyclable craft materials next to my art cabinet - it is OVERFLOWING right now with toilet paper rolls, egg cartons (that have been washed out), empty yogurt cups, stuff like that to use for projects.

[itlw8]

I put the time in to take any class or write any grant or award that I might qualify for and that will get me free stuff.

Many of my friends say that is too much work.... not so bad when the UPS truck comes with the new things.

[MsLaura529]

I put the time in to take any class or write any grant or award that I might qualify for and that will get me free stuff.

Many of my friends say that is too much work.... not so bad when the UPS truck comes with the new things.

Where do you find info on these things?

[Blackcat31]

Where do you find info on these things?

Most grants are given through the local CCR&R agencies and/or through local organizations.

If you belong to any type of child care association, they should know how to apply for these things.

If not, contact your CCR&R and ask them. They will point you in the right direction.

[mema]

When Bath and Body Works puts their foam soap on clearance, I buy a few. When the soap runs out, I make my own foam soap-fill the bottle a little under half with soap, fill the rest with water, and give it a little shake.

[melilley]

I rarely buy toys new or at retail cost....garage sales, eBay and local online sale sites like Craigslist have all the same stuff at a fraction of the price.

I just got a big and very nice wooden swingset, almost brand new, only very gently used, complete with fort and canopy for only $100

[melilley]

Where do you find info on these things?

If you find any info on any of this could you please share! I did some research and couldn't find not one grant for the state of MI! That was a few months ago, but maybe I was looking in the wrong places?.