what are you grateful for

MmeBP

that people bought off your registry or gave you as a gift?

Friends of ours are finally having a baby in October after 7 years of trying.  Sadly this came at a time when my friend was laid off and her DH's paycheck barely covers all expenses before the baby.  They are living pay check to paycheck and just hoping for the economy to improve.  She has been very down lately and only registered for things such as bibs, blankets, etc. because she doesn't think anyone would buy her anything anyway.  Her mom bought her the crib and she is stressing about how to make ends meet for the rest.  It truly breaks my heart.  They are going to wait for her DH's bonus check to buy the car seat and stroller.

I wanted to buy her one of her big ticket NECESSITY items to help them out, the problem is since she didn't register I'm not sure what to get.  I know for sure that the crib and the stroller/car seat are taken but I don't know what else she would appreciate.  Those are the only big ticket items that I remember were necessity at the beginning but I think my mind is spacing.

She won't need a high chair for a while and the pack and play is not really something she needs.  Any thoughts?

natalee215

How about a bouncer seat or a swing?  I know that they're not really necessary but it would be really nice for her to have and she could use them right away.  If people are aware of her situation, I'm sure that a lot of people will try to by her diapers, etc.

mrsquetee09

I know you're going for a big ticket item, but I think it's the simple frequent items diapers/bottles/formula that she may need the most, and I know those costs add up. I live in Harlem and I notice the strain a lot of lower income families here have for just being able to get diapers and formula for their children due to their frequency of use and cost. Maybe you can get her a huge bulk pack from Costco?

Personally, the big ticket item we were most excited to get from our registry was our stroller, but someone had already purchased the Moby wrap for us, and we figured we aren't going to take her out besides the dr. in her first month anyway, so it wasn't that big of a deal.

Beyond the stroller, I'd say the car seat since it's a must have. If you do get it for her you can always include a gift receipt then she can exchange it if someone else, like a family member, gets it for her.

Happy to help and I hope things work out for your friend

 

BlondeBeachBride08

Definitely the car seat, as the baby cannot leave the hospital without one. Plus that would be a load off. Maybe you could also grab them a snap & go that goes with the car seat so they won't have to worry about a bigger stroller for awhile?

Besides that, I LOVE my Fisher Price Rock & Play sleeper. It can serve as a crib/bassinet as well as a bouncer seat (it doesn't bounce but it's a safe place to put your child, and it rocks) and it's lightweight and inexpensive (compared to PNP)

Good luck to her! 

electracity

With this situation I think I'd probably give a generous gift certifcate to BRU or whereever she has registered.  This way if she receives some unexpected big ticket items and is still needing for other things she can get what she needs.

Ashleysred

electracity:

With this situation I think I'd probably give a generous gift certifcate to BRU or whereever she has registered.  This way if she receives some unexpected big ticket items and is still needing for other things she can get what she needs.

I agree.  that way she can buy diapers/wipes/formula/whatever when the time comes.

What a huge bummer on the timing.  But somehow things always work out.  Lots of luck to her.

dexspsandqs

i agree with the girls that a GC or big basket filled with essentials is a good idea under the circumstances.

spiritenergy

We were in a bad money situation when we got pregnant the first time (it all worked out in the end), but the things that we were most grateful for were your basic essentials.  Honestly, if they plan to CD to save money (we did and it helped tremendously), then I would get them some CDs and detergent (that stuff is expensive).  Other essentials that help a lot is 2 bottles of baby soap (it lasts forever on a little body), baby lotion, sleep sacks (they usually can be used a while and will cut down on the number of times she needs to buy sleeping clothes), diaper rash cream, lanolin (if she plans to breastfeed), and a deceant camera (we didn't have one and someone got us one and it was probably the best gift we got that was not "essential" but much appreciated).  Gift certificates to BRU or grocery stores or WalMart would be well appreciated (we did not live close to a BRU so it was a PITA to redem gift cards from there but WalMart had almost everything we needed essentials wise). 

sillybiochemist

I think the car seat is a great idea but at the same time you don't know what everyone else will do.  Plus I don't know what is close to you (Target, BRU, etc).  It is probably worth asking them what you can do to help, even mentioning that you wouldn't mind helping them to buy a bigger ticket item.  It may just be best to give them cash so they can use it as they need to for baby stuff anywhere they go.  If you want to buy them something (like to give with it), you can always buy diaper wipes (who doesn't need those!?!), some other basics, or a small gift for mom (like a lotion set thingie so she can pamper herself a bit).

We're not in the best financial situation but no where near the worst.  I ended up going shopping with a friend of mine and she bought me a bunch of clothes 9 month size (b/c I got a bunch of 0-6 month hand me downs) which I greatly appreciated and know she didn't have to do.  My point is any little bit helps (which I think you already know).