STM Big purchase regrets and advice

manacita

I was just looking around and realized a lot of us are going to be buying baby stuff this weekend. I was wondering if any second time and beyond moms have any big purchases that they would do different in hindsight?

I'm on my third. The only really expensive thing I bought was a $400 rocker. It is beautiful and comfortable and can even make the transition from nursery to living room when I'm done with it. I don't want to think about the hours I have logged in that chair. It is also covered in milk, juice, markers, and what I hope is chocolate and not poop.

If I had it to over again, I would buy a small leather lazy boy. That way I would have the same beautiful and comfortable chair, for the same price, and I could clean it.

Ok- your turn ladies. Any big purchases you regret?

emi619

I regret buying our City Mini. DD hates it and it has poor basket space. If I could do it again I would have just gotten the Select, as that could have easily transitioned in to a double.
We also bought a Mamaroo for DD but returned it. DD wasn't loving it and it was a pricey purchase so back to BBB it went.
We did go with a leather lazy boy over a glider and I'm so happy with that decision. It's so comfortable and will be great in the living room after I'm done with nursing 2.0.

Hawk&Eye

We still have are swing so maybe this one will like it...DS didn't like it one bit. Not a huge purchase but took up a lot of space for a while.

Our rocker/glider was our biggest purchase, but like yours, can be used in the living room down the road. That thing has paid for itself over and over.

manacita

@emi619‌ I'm glad you said that about your city mini/select. I was shopping for them last week and worried about spending a fortune on something my kids wouldn't like and I wouldn't use.

@Hawk&Eye‌ Yeah. Dd was unimpressed with our big swing after 2 or 3 months. And we got it second hand, but it took up a huge amount of space. Ds loved it. We had to evict him from it around 9 months because he was too big.

lakingsfan2015

The insane amount of toys that we bought and were bought for DS3. He had 2 tummy time mats; hate both but enjoyed laying on his blanket on his stomach. He had like 10 lovies; he didn't become attached to anything until he got his monkey at 1. He had all the things to engage him; he was so freaking happy with my red measuring cups, still plays with them at 2. The only other big thing we bought was the crib still waiting for him to sleep in it at 2. . .

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littlecookie

I can't really think of anything. DS didn't really take to the swing, but it's in the attic and maybe this babe will like it. Everyone is so different that you just never really know. I love my fabric glider (it's dark so doesn't show any wear), my city mini is still occasionally used and DS is 3.

The one that I'm not sure about yet is the full bed conversion rails. He's still in the crib with one side off and I'm not sure we will actually use them (hopefully they are in the garage) or if we just buy a new full bed.

FreddyisReady

Good point about the recliner OP. We bought a fabric covered Lazy Z Boy. Our cats love to claw at leather material, so that is out of the question. Maybe I will get a slipcover for it that I can take off and wash though.

CateOfChicago

I think it depends on your and LOs tastes. I regret my BOB whereas others love it. I found that there is no basket space, it easily flips if you use a mommy hook with bags attached. Adjusting the seating position is difficult. I have to fold a seat down in my SUV to fit it. It's great if you are a jogger but I am not. I never used the car seat attachment either. I'll be selling my BOB on Craig's List and buying a citi select with the 2nd add on seat. So much easier.

Things I couldn't live without: P&P and bouncy chair on both levels, swing (we have mamaru), snap and go, boppy, glider in her room, enough bottles and pump parts so I wasn't constantly doing dishes. Being in a cold area, a zip in lining for the car seat and a cover were great last winter. Dd was a spitter so we used tons of burp clothes and bibs (like 5 a day on bad days).

We never used the 2nd car seat base. We always take my car. I take DHs car if he's home with dd. I wish I had waited on getting my umbrella stroller and high chair until later. I didn't really know what I was doing when registering and there were too many big choices to make so I just picked whatever. I would have chose differently.

Anna48

We bought two cribs (one for upstairs and downstairs). DS ended up co-sleeping with us til 18 months old. Cribs with mattresses remain used only by our cats. RnP and space saver high chair were best gifts. I also regret spending so much on the sleep sheep and sophie the teether. DS loved the FP glowworm. We have a Britax B-Agile travel system and still love it.

Jillibean68

I have a La Z Boy that I got in place of a rocker and it's amazing. I'm so glad I'll have it around for newbie.

The one thing (and it's not a big thing) that I regretted buying was a Bumbo. DS little legs got chubby and he outgrew it quickly. I'll likely be borrowing a mamas and papas chair this time around. All the tummy time mats are lame (in DS eyes), but we got the Fisher Price Kick and Play and that was a huge hit.

goldengirl84

I regret buying the Pottery Barn/Restoration Hardware bassinet for DS. I did purchase it on Craigslist but it was still like $150 down the drain. He slept in it for a month and we've been storing stuffed animals in it since. I'm going to let a friend borrow it for her baby, then use it for this LO and sell it. It's in good condition so hopefully I can make my money back. 

I can see how some people would regret their BOB stroller. I don't jog, but we have a lot of hills and bumps in our neighborhood and it's also great for outdoor trails. 

CateOfChicago

Forgot to mention that I never used the bassinet or Moses basket.

maritimeme

I'm glad I borrowed a swing because DD didn't like it much and it was really big.  I got an old smaller one from a friend to try this time around, but made sure it didn't take up sooo much space.

Not a big purchase, but I made/received way too many blankets that were barely used.

I do love my Peg SIP30/30 car seat overall but it was super expensive and very heavy.  And hard to click into the matching stroller (Pilko 3 which I got new for $100 bucks).  Probably why we babywear so much.

a316b

Peg perego high chair. It's the most difficult thing in the world to clean, and despite all its adjustments seemed too big for my kids until they were 1yo

Pintobean39

The only thing I'm glad I didn't buy with my boys was a swing. My oldest used it a month and my second hated it. A friend of mine is letting me borrow hers this time, so I won't be purchasing it again.

My youngest the best purchase was the mobile. That boy loved it, and would go to sleep listening to it. Back then they didn't have battery operated ones so I had to continue rewind it.

supersarah77

The boppy! It's not a "big purchase" but it's the only thing we got that I never used. I thought it was a must for breastfeeding but nope. I could never get it positioned comfortably and it was much better to hold DD while BFing. I tried to use it for its other uses but it never worked to prop LO up to sitting or reclined on the floor (skinny thing slid right out). Worthless.

awoo22

byebyebooze said:

I regret buying a nice, expensive crib. Yes, it's pretty and has held up well, but I wish I would have gotten a less expensive, non-convertible one from Ikea or somewhere like that.

@byebyebooze‌ - can I ask why you'd recommend a non-convertible crib?

Lezzie82

I didn't wear my baby carrier once, not once.  I may try a different design with this one.  My Boppy was useless as I sucked at breastfeeding and had to EP anyways.  My mom went crazy with the cute frilly newborn outfits and somehow he didn't even get a chance to wear most of them!

I do regret not buying a comfy rocker/recliner.  Big time.  I am getting one this round and I don't care the cost.  I used an antique wicker rocking chair last time and it was the most god awful uncomfortable, squeaky, things broke off or snapped every single time I went to sit in it to the point I had to toss it finally.

amylee545

It's funny and interesting reading all these comments. A lot of things that some people are saying they never used were things that all 3 of my nieces LOVED that my sister swore by... Such as, her big expensive crib, the swing (which were the only way to get my nieces to sleep), her carrier, the boppie. As a FTM, I guess I'll have to trial and error thing. I wish kids came with a manual.

vballgirl78

We bought a huge swing for DD (it came with a free vibrating chair that we also wanted).  She NEVER used her swing- hated it.  It was pretty pricey too.  But, we used that free vibrating chair a TON, so that part was good.  Hopefully #2 will like the swing.  I guess you just never know.  If you are able to hold off on some of those things, maybe see if you can try one out with your LO before buying it.  It was, however, nice to have everything before LO arrived so we had time to assemble everything.

DawnLilly

Never used our very expensive monitors except when we had the occasional bonfire and most the time I forgot to plug it in anyway.

Never used the $70 sling carrier. DS hated being in it. By 3 months old he was not happy unless he was on the floor.

Did not really use the PackNPlay. I was amazed at all the people who would tell us not to bring it because they have one.

Love my Baby Trend jogging stroller even through I don't jog. It's great for walks on our dirt roads and holiday fairs in grassy fields.

Love the small floor swing and the space saving high chair.

Love our big convertable crib. DS has been in it since 4 months old. It's now a toddler bed and I think he'll probably use it for at least another year. Later the headboard and footboard can be used on a twin. I bought a very pretty medium wood crib that matches everything.

We also have a beautiful heavy wood bassinet that was made for me as a baby by my grandfather. DS slept in that until he was 4 months old. I would not buy one though. If we did not have it I would have just put him straight into the crib.

LITTLE PURCHASE MUST HAVE: a baby straight jacket.

lakingsfan2015

For those that didn't like the boppy for breastfeeding you need to buy mybreastfriend feeding pillow. It is a little expensive but so worth the money! 

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MallyJM128

lakingsfan2015 said:

For those that didn't like the boppy for breastfeeding you need to buy mybreastfriend feeding pillow. It is a little expensive but so worth the money! 

I was going to say that was one of my favorite things. I kept the cover from my old one with DS and will buy a new pillow for this baby. Loved it!

I also loved our rock n play and our mamas and papas baby snug seat. We used that seat once we started solids in place of a high chair.

I can't think of any big purchases we regretted. We didn't buy a swing, bouncer, or high chair (we started using my antique high chair when DS made a year).

gigglalot91

My regret was the Chicco Playyard ( like a pack and play) never used it. The glider type of chair we chose with the wood frame and padding that ties on, yeah that isn't going into my living room later.
Baby wearing devices. ( owe my back). I also am kind of regretting my fancy iron Bratt Decor crib, just because it's SO heavy to move, DD is still in it, but that and the matching changing table, there's no way it's going up into the attic unless The Rock wants to come help us.

Best purchases were the Boppy newborn lounger, fisher price swing, BOB stroller for neighborhood walks, and I loved the Chicco Keyfit system and the caddy that I can snap the car seat into and just go.

manacita

@gigglalot91‌ we went through a few if the portable car seats due to a wreck and other things, and I agree on the chicco keyfit. I love that thing.

I disliked my boppy too. But I'm super short and honestly didn't need too much to get baby from my lap to my boobs. A simple pillow was fine and more comfortable.

My big purchase with this baby is going to be one of those touch free infrared thermometers. Babies aren't that hard to check, but once they get wiggly at six months, i fail miserably at this mothering task. I'd love to be able to just aim it at their head and body and check them.

autumn907

With my 2nd my biggest regret was getting a diaper genie. BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY EVER. IMO lol. As for my 3rd. Her crib. I regretted and still do. I'm a Co sleeper, all my kids have Co slept, and she is my longest offender. She turns 4 in January and has spent maybe 4 months TOTAL sleeping in her crib which we converted to toddler bed. This one will get a bedside bassinet since I can't afford another crib.

Pintobean39

SaltyH2O said:

byebyebooze said:

awoo22 said:

byebyebooze said:

I regret buying a nice, expensive crib. Yes, it's pretty and has held up well, but I wish I would have gotten a less expensive, non-convertible one from Ikea or somewhere like that.

@byebyebooze‌ - can I ask why you'd recommend a non-convertible crib?

@awoo22 - I have a few reasons. 1) The parts for future use are a pain to store. They are big and bulky. 2) My kid chewed on the crib, so there are scrapes and teeth marks all over this bed that she will, in theory, have for her whole life in my house. 3) We always planned on more kids. Now DD is transitioning from crib to toddler bed conversion. It seems like it would make more sense and be more cost effective to get her a twin bed and move the new baby into the crib, but then why have a convertible, right? Looking back, it seems like a bit of a waste. It's still seems nice in theory to me (and DH is pushing just getting another convertible for #2), but the practicality of it is lacking for me.

So I have lots of thoughts on what did/didn't work for us but I'm mobile bumping at the moment (and y'all know by now that I err on the long-winded side) so I need a real keyboard to share my full contribution.

That said, as for the convertible crib discussion, you've shared my same rationale for getting a cheaper, non-convertible option quite nicely @awoo22‌.

We're in the market for DS's furniture now...

Side note: DS turned out not to be a chewer, but a good friend of ours had her reuse-the-crib-as-a-bed plans sabotaged when her kid gnawed the rails clean off in places. When she sent a picture of the damage I about fell out of my chair...it was nuts!



All these people who's children chewed the bed, did you have the plastic guard on it to protect it?

The bed I used with my boys was used for 5 babies and after my last quit using it at 3 it still looked like it did when it was brand new almost 20yrs before. We had a plastic guard on the rails to protect them from bite marks.

It wasn't a convertible bed because they didn't make them back then. I was planning on getting a convertible bed this time because I'll prob move this child into an antique bed once it's much older. I just don't want to put a toddler in a 150 yr old bed, I wanted to wait until it was 7-8 and not coloring on furniture.

peteresa

SoyBoy said:

I regret our Peg Perego Switch 4 stroller. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing, but I wish we would have gotten the City Select that can convert to a double. For the $$$ spent on the Peg Perego, we could have gotten something that we would use for our future kids.

I'm with you on that! We love our Peg Perego but it's not going to do us any good with two babies needing to use it....should've gotten the City Select! Layaway here I come!