Top priority items?

pinkforme

I'm not usually not a very anxious person but this pregnancy has got me on a different level!  I feel so overwhelmed with planning for the baby's arrival and making sure I get what's needed and what's best for the baby.  Every time I see a post about a stroller, car seat or anything baby product related I have a mini panic attack because I feel like I'm so behind in my research.  So I say all that to say (sorry...another little panic attack spilled over into this post), what are the most important items that I should concentrate on getting?  I'm looking for cribs now (yes, I'm still obsessing over that) but what else should I be looking for?  What items are you all concentrating on?

jlm245

Car seat for sure, you can't leave the hospital without it!

Stamarley

I feel that way too.  Although, we ended up buying a ton at Target with their 50% off sale and went on a hope and a prayer that they were good.  I know nothing about breast pumps but got the $94.  We also got a Snugride 35 and some other things.  I am hoping they will suit their purpose.

cgrah1ai

I'm interested to see how people respond because I feel the same way...good question.

WestieMama

Last pg, my top priority items were the crib, car seat and stroller (bigger ticket items).  I recommend buying a copy of baby bargains (someone said the new edition is out in Apr?).  I was so overwhelmed and it helped me a ton!

damabo80

I feel the.same.exact.way. I feel like I need to start a spreadsheet of something...

Labor? No problem

Pregnancy? No problem

Stuff to buy? PROBLEM!

FordFalcor

damabo80:

I feel the.same.exact.way. I feel like I need to start a spreadsheet of something...

Labor? No problem

Pregnancy? No problem

Stuff to buy? PROBLEM!

YES! I've been resisting my urge to bust out Excel. I'm a bad procrastinator though. If I get too overwhelmed, I just throw my hands up and don't do anything. Which is why I haven't purchased a single baby item yet...

I just keep telling myself that after the anatomy scan (when we'll know the sex) I will step up my shopping efforts.

soontobemrsdavis

I focused on the bigger items first, more so because I wanted to research how to get the best price and see what deals were out there.

Some items did kind of just fall in my lap because the price was just to good to pass up. 

If I had a method I would prob focus on price point and need first. So I would do:

Crib

Car Seat(decide if you are getting infant and convertible or just convertible. We got both)

Glider/Ottomon (if you plan on getting one)

Breast Pump

Stroller

All of the other things can kind of fall into place and you can research as you go along.The major items, to me, require the most work beforehand.

Baby Bargains was a lifesaver for me, because I was able to at least narrow down items and brands and then I could just research 2 or 3 as oppose to 50!

pinkforme

I have Baby Bargains and it stresses me out a bit.  lol.  Information overload.  Overall, it is helpful and I'll continue to use it.  Right now I'm working on a sticky note system to make it easier for me to handle.  lol. Yep, I'm on another level right now, ladies.  Welcome to Crazy Town.

sarahanderic2009

STEP AWAY FROM THE INTERNET AND DO NOT PANIC! lol, j/k.

I know its hard, for sure to not freak out over the littlest items. We bought our crib/mattress and changing table today actually. We got it at Walmart.com ( don't crinkle your nose just yet) I HATE Walmart, refuse to go there. BUT if you aren't rolling in $$, walmart.com is the place to go. And the reviews are always plentiful. 

Whatever you are researching, the best info is the review section. Look at it from an objective viewpoint. If there are 269 reviews with a significant amount 4-5 stars and only a few bad ones, I say that's a winner!

Also, talk to other mom's. See what they say is useless and not needed versus essentials. I am a very impatient person and want to buy it all NOW. You will figure it out. I'm positive that the baby won't go without!

pinkforme

ihearttab:

damabo80:

I feel the.same.exact.way. I feel like I need to start a spreadsheet of something...

Labor? No problem

Pregnancy? No problem

Stuff to buy? PROBLEM!

YES! I've been resisting my urge to bust out Excel. I'm a bad procrastinator though. If I get too overwhelmed, I just throw my hands up and don't do anything. Which is why I haven't purchased a single baby item yet...

I just keep telling myself that after the anatomy scan (when we'll know the sex) I will step up my shopping efforts.

If either one of you break out a spreadsheet I'd appreciate it if you'd forward it to me!  I feel like I just can't get my mind organized enough to make a decision.  Good to know that I'm not the only one.  

hcdekarske

I felt the same way....and still do.  I am starting to feel better now that we have gotten some things.  What really made me feel better was to do some research on one thing (pick on, stroller, or crib, etc) find a good one, and a good price, and then discussed my choices with my husband.

I did that with the stroller travel system, there were on sale at Walmart, I compared with BRU and Target and then read reviews.  Walmart was the best and then I asked hubby's thoughts and we picked one and ordered it right then, no waiting and mind changing.

Then for the crib (which I totally gave up on, I was so frustrated) I asked my husband to pick out a few for me to pick from, that worked out really well.  We go a full nursery set at JC Penney's on sale and ordered it.  He made a great choice that I really liked, had gread reviews, and it felt so much less overwhelming to do it that way. 

It is way overwhelming, so I say take it slow, you have time, do one major item at a time.  It feels so good to have ordered furniture (which is back ordered with no delivery date, so don't mess around too long on that) and a stoller travel system.  I felt like those were huge items. 

dairygirl19

Carseat

Stroller (I need it for around the farm ASAP)

Crib

Clothes

Bottles/feeding supplies

Diapers (researching cloth)

Everything else I figure I can get as the kid needs it/I think of it. I'm just starting with the basics and newborns don't take much.

 

Kristen61607

I feel the same way! I just ordered my cribs and changer today - it feels like a huge load off (but a little nerve wracking at the same time!) 

Everything else, I'm not going to even bother looking at until after the 15th when we know what they are! I like gender specific stuff, and want to know if I should be looking at girlie or boyish things, or a little of both, haha!

HJOHNSTON411

I started to get anxious about not having anything 'big' for the baby yet.  I have this wonderful ability to spend money in my mind before it even hits the bank ha.  So, I always try to plan and buy the important things in advance.  That way if I mis-budget, I know the baby has the essentials.

So, this week we bought: crib and changing table, bouncer, carseat, and various other small items because I got a PB gift card for Christmas (bedding, Boppy, curtains, activity mat, Sleep Sheep etc). 

I've also bought some clothes - mostly just onesies, sleep n plays, and a few dress up smocked outfits at half price.

Honestly, even after all that - I'm still a list making machine ha ha. I don't want to go overboard though, so I'm really trying to just focus on buying a little more over the next two months (glider, mattress)- then waiting to see what I get at my shower.   

  

scooby727

My main things are crib, carseat/stroller, swing (ds wouldn't sleep anywhere but in his swing or on my chest), baby moniter, breast pump. After that it's diapers, clothes, bath stuff, etc.

soontobemrsdavis

pinkforme:

ihearttab:

damabo80:

I feel the.same.exact.way. I feel like I need to start a spreadsheet of something...

Labor? No problem

Pregnancy? No problem

Stuff to buy? PROBLEM!

YES! I've been resisting my urge to bust out Excel. I'm a bad procrastinator though. If I get too overwhelmed, I just throw my hands up and don't do anything. Which is why I haven't purchased a single baby item yet...

I just keep telling myself that after the anatomy scan (when we'll know the sex) I will step up my shopping efforts.

If either one of you break out a spreadsheet I'd appreciate it if you'd forward it to me!  I feel like I just can't get my mind organized enough to make a decision.  Good to know that I'm not the only one.  

Here is my spreadsheet...but I have A LOT of stuff, so I hope it doesn't add strees   https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AmFPpoIIPGVmdE1KZnA0OE5SOVNJSGRlc05fVVpzZGc&output=html

chocoholicchick

I'm focusing on the big ticket items first: crib, dresser, stroller, and car seat.  Baby Bargains helped me narrow down my choices and whether certain items were worth the money or not.  I still haven't bought anything only b/c I need to clear out the nursery first.  We use that 2nd bedroom as a storage / office room and it's a hot mess in there right now.  There's some stuff that we need to sell or donate too, so it will be a process.  Not fun, which is probably why I am procrastinating.

IMO, I can figure out the rest of the stuff closer to my due date.

FordFalcor

Jhron813:

I've only ordered the nursery furniture so far, and the only reason why I did order it already is b/c of the sale at JCP. 

Other than that, I think you'll find this list really helpful / calming:

https://www.lucieslist.com/baby-registry-checklist/

I feel like this makes it seem so much more manageable.

My strategy is going to be the following (in chronological order):

1.) buy the big items that I don't want to register for (furniture, stroller, etc.)

2.) Register for my baby shower (planning to have the shower around 30 weeks)

3.) Buy anything else remaining on my registry that I need after the shower

4.) Buy the "little things" that I'll need to be ready for the baby, such as diapers, wipes, etc.

Wow, this was all super helpful. I bookmarked that link. Thank you!!

erincorbridge

I honestly had no idea about his at first either!  I created a checklist, organized in different categories.  I looked at the different checklists online, then asked knowledgeable people to help me make it perfect.  I asked people who have had babies recently who really know.  MANY things were deleted off the original list and some things were added.  So now we just have to look at it and buy a few things here and there.  At the end we'll make sure we have everything we need!  It was actually kind of fun to do

amoramoure

ihearttab:

damabo80:

I feel the.same.exact.way. I feel like I need to start a spreadsheet of something...

Labor? No problem

Pregnancy? No problem

Stuff to buy? PROBLEM!

YES! I've been resisting my urge to bust out Excel. I'm a bad procrastinator though. If I get too overwhelmed, I just throw my hands up and don't do anything. Which is why I haven't purchased a single baby item yet...

I just keep telling myself that after the anatomy scan (when we'll know the sex) I will step up my shopping efforts.

This and this. I'm freaked the feck out about what I need to get.