Baby stuff $$$

amiserip · January 2010

Is anyone else freaking out how expensive baby stuff is going to be the first year to get ready for their arrival??

nooniesgal · January 2010

It can get very pricey but if you have a shower that tends to help. Try hitting up friends who might have baby gear and check out consignment stores for things that don't have to be "new".

Stizzle · January 2010

DH and I sat down and kind of planned to buy the 'big stuff' thoughout the pregnancy, so that each month we buy something big and that way it's spread out, and it hasn't made it too bad. Also, Craigslist and Ikea have been my best friends. Just an example, we picked out the stroller we wanted at BRU, and then I found the same one brand new on craigslist for $75. It's sort of a lot of work, but worth the savings if you're like us and won't have a lot of financial help from family/friends. Good luck!

Calypso312 · January 2010

::raises hand::

My DH is freaking out more than I am, but I'm very nervous. We aren't poor by no means, but the thought of all the stuff she is going to need makes me have chest pain. eBay has been my friend.

ShernRich · January 2010

If you spread it out, it won't seem like so much at once. We opened an account just for the baby, and put money in it twice a month and have used that to buy baby items. Keep in mind you don't 'need' everything you see or that people will say you will need. Our biggest purchases were the carseat, stroller, crib, and mattress. Mostly everything else we recieved as gifts at our shower. (play gym, bouncer, swing, boppy, sling, high chair and bottles) The rest we've purchased on our own (clothes mostly). Bargain shop, buy things on sale, find coupons online and use Craigslist and/or resale stores also. I got our beautiful changing table for $40 on CL, and brand new it sells for over $200.

Don't stress over it too much, pace yourself. Make lists and use the bump pregnancy checklist.

Good luck!

Shayna0182 · January 2010

Don't let stores like BabiesRUs freak you out, by telling you, that you need absolutely everything for the baby. It's been my experience that certain things, take a crib set for example, can be useless, or a wipe warmer, bottle warmer. Not wanting to start an argument by any means, but once the baby is born, you'll figure out the stuff that you can't live without and the stuff you're glad that you bought. We spent $150 on a packnplay. My son hated the bassinet feature, so we're saving that for this baby.

Trust me, 2nd hand stores can be a godsend. It'll be fine!

BurnNurse · January 2010

Even with two baby showers, my dh and I are buying some of the more expensive things ourselves. I would hate for my family and friends to go to my registry and think "well everything they want is at least $100". Id rather leave things on there that are more affordable. So we're buying a big thing about once a month. So far, we have the crib set and travel system. IL's are buying the nursery furniture, so thats helping us a ton.

CashewsMommy · January 2010

BurnNurse:
Even with two baby showers, my dh and I are buying some of the more expensive things ourselves. I would hate for my family and friends to go to my registry and think "well everything they want is at least $100". Id rather leave things on there that are more affordable. So we're buying a big thing about once a month. So far, we have the crib set and travel system. IL's are buying the nursery furniture, so thats helping us a ton.

This is how I felt too. None of my friends or family can afford to buy me anything over $100, besides a few select people. So we already bought our furniture, mattress, pnp, swing and bouncer (cause it was free with purchase of pnp and swing), and also our travel system. We spaced it out over time and it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

I do have a couple select great aunts that'll compete for the most expensive item on my registry so I went overboard with a monitor and a breast pump so they can feel helpful. They did this with my wedding registry also. I guess it was a big to-do because once the biggest item was bought they called my mother asking if I needed anything else bigger to out-do the other great aunt. Silly great aunts!

jamielollar · January 2010

I was in this same boat until I finally took a deep breath and relaxed. Spring is coming up which means there will be garage sales! For the dresser, drawers or any shelving that we want in the room, I am going to go t ANY sale that I see. I love arts and crafts hour and you can make anyting look the way you want it! I was freaking out until I realized that while you may think you need everything new for baby, it only has to be new to you. We are buying the crib, but putting money back every month. There is a place here where I live that has all sorts of precious bedding and they have lay-a-way; so we are taking advantage fo that. If it doesn't all come out at once it doesn't sting so bad! Also, we got this advice and it is probably the best we've gotten. Everytime you go to the grocery store (I started going back to Wal-Mart even though I hate the crowds, it is cheaper!) get a gift card and put $20 on it. Load it up every time that you go... by the time the baby is born you could have over $1000 sitting there for diaper runs, formula, ANTYHING!

teach2183 · January 2010

Definitely ask around for hand me downs, check out craigslist and freecyle. But I would wait until you have your shower(s) if you are having them. We were absolutely amazed by everyones generosity with DD. We were prepared to buy everything, but all the big stuff was purchased for us. I think we paid for part of the dresser and that's it after gcs. So don't be bashful about putting stuff on your registry, it's not like you are telling people they must buy the expensive stuff. Many people went in on group gifts to get the more expensive things.

If you're using calculators online to see how much it will cost, I'll warn you that must of them WAY overshoot.

KatieLW · January 2010

I am definitely freaking out, especially b/c I'm having twins. We had been trying to get pregnant for over a year but it just wasn't a good 2009 financially for us and we're a little freaked. I just try to take it day by day and look for the best deals I can. We just bought a changing table and 2 cribs (though it was kind of early, we don't have the room ready at all) but we found such a good deal on used stuff from a couple who had twins that we had to jump on it. I definitely plan on trying to breastfeed as well - I always wanted to try but just figured if it didn't work out it didn't work out - now I realize I'm going to have to try pretty hard b/c formula for 2 babies is so expensive!

FemmeNat01 · January 2010

Yes. It's a lot. Plus, we are having two so it's double the cost. And, we are moving into a new house. Ah.

Kadie331 · January 2010

Freaking out YES!! But I luckily have a cousin who just had a baby boy and a few friends that have baby girls so I'll be gladly accepting any hand-me-downs from them. When I go grocery shopping I check out prices on diapers and formula and that scares the crap out of me!! So dang expensive!

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