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Cincinnati Babies
Visit to BRU!
Ah so I took my DH to browse and narrow down choices for a stroller travel system at BRU and I was shocked to see how expensive they are. I had no clue about whats a normal price is for baby stuffs and IMO I think all baby stuffs are overpriced! I am overwhelmed and worried how the heck are we going to afford all the baby stuff! I cried on my way home knowing that I will have no choice but to go back to work after the baby is born even if I don't want to! 
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Re: Visit to BRU!
This is where resale, garage sales, family and friends come in. You can find all these things reasonably priced if you look second hand. Also, I found tons of new-in-box deals on Ebay. BRU and other brick and mortar stores are going to be your most expensive options. And when it comes to big ticket items many people find their parents or ILs buy these things for them (although that wasn't the case for us).
Also educate yourself on what you REALLY need for a baby - not what is marketed to you or what everyone else has. Do some research about travel systems and other must haves and you'll find there are several Graco and other cost effective ones that are perfectly functional and safe. You don't have to have the newest, trendiest, sexiest stroller/carrier/crib/toy/swing/play yard out there.
Things I bought on Ebay New-in-box at enormous discount over retail:
Medela PISA
Swing
Pack N Play
Ergo carrier
Maya wrap carrier
Monitor
Maclaren Stroller
Good luck. It's easy to get overwhelmed and think you need to have the $400 stroller but honestly, you don't. An inexpensive one will get baby from Point A to Point B too.
*hugs* BRU can be VERY overwhelming to a first time mom--I felt the same way after we registered but in reality babies require very few things, the rest are just things that are nice to have--Also price doesnt always equal better quality...do some research, there is a good book about baby gear that rates and compares items (Baby Bargains I think its called)
Plus you only need to get the things you will need right away the rest of the stuff can be purchased over time (or when its on sale) I would say that the main things you need for a newborn are: somewhere to sleep (so either a crib, bassinet, or pack n play w/ a bassinet feature), carseat to come home in, diapers, wipes, burp cloths (which its best to just get a pack of cloth diapers for this--or you can snag a few from the hospital), a few recieving blankets (which again you can always snag a few from the hospital), maybe a paci or two, and anything for feeding (if you are nursing than nipple cream and nursing pads, if you are bottle feeding than a few bottles & nipples)
All the swings, bouncy seats, bumbos, boppys, etc. are just extras and not essential so if money is really tight they dont need to be bought! Try not to stress too much and ask the mamas on here about other baby items--they are a wealth of knowledge about what you really need and dont need
Register for whatever you want but when it comes to buying what is left over or extras look at Once Upon A Child. There are a few things that you probably don't want to buy used, like a car seat or a crib BUT I bought my PNP, swing and bouncy all from OUAC. Starting at about 25 weeks I would drop in and take a look at what they had in stock about once a week. I ended up finding the exact make and model of all the stuff I wanted (they have strollers too). It was all in great shape. The swing was 40 dollars and the matching vibrating chair was 25 or 30. I got this kind.
I took the time to continue checking the store because sometimes the stock was low or the stuff looked a bit too used. This is also a great place to buy clothes. Again, if you take the time to drop in a browse through the stuff on a regular basis you will find amazing deals on items that look great (and some will be new with tags!). Good luck, I was a huge bargain shopper with DD and I saved tons.
Get Baby Bargains and read it all the way through. You'll realize how easy it can be to save money on baby things. There are SO many things you don't need and will just add clutter around your house, honestly. And Once Upon a Child usually has wait lists. So you tell them what you are looking for (like, "I want a Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders swing" or whatever), and if they don't have any, they'll put you on an alert list and call you when someone brings one in so you can have first dibs. And a travel system...really not necessary. You need a carseat and you can get a cheap Snap N Go from Craigslist and you'll be set for the first 9 months on a stroller. A cheap umbrella stroller from Craigslist will tide you over after that.
No stressing! Get a carseat, some clothes, generic diapers, and somewhere for the baby to sleep and you can save up for the other stuff later!
Elijah Matthew - 5/3/07 ~ Adalyn Rosemary - 3/23/11
*Photos by Kacy Cierley*
Thank you so much! I dont' know how gals do it! I am so glad you told me about these money saving tips! Does anyone have the Baby Bargains book I can borrow to read? I don't care for brand names when it comes to diapers unless some of you say no they are absolutely not worth buying.
Can you tell me what are the absolute necessary things I need for the 1st two months? My MIL is throwing a "Meet and greet" in November in PA (not looking fwd to a 6 hr drive with 2 dogs & a new baby!) and I think the weather will be cold by then.
Aww girl! Breathe! I agree with the other ladies that you can find SO much second-hand. Some people refuse to do this (I use to be this way) until I actually opened myself up to it and realized that some of this stuff never even got used. BRU can be VERY overwhelming and to be honest, they can also be on the pricier end of things. You can find just as nice stuff at Wal-mart and Target. Like someone else said, the only thing I wouldn't scrimp on is the carseat.....to me the whole travel system is not something you want to scrimp on but especially the carseat.
I have a friend who is the ultimate thrifty shopper. She has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I think we need to get together and go with her and maybe you can start finding things slowly but surely. Since we are adopting, we may not know until we actually get our baby what sex it is....so I've decided to start buying the small necessities a little at a time already.
Plus, don't forget that you will register and have friends and family buy for you. Even if they don't buy the big stuff and they buy the small stuff, that sometimes is just as important.
I'll PM you here in a little bit when all my daycare kids leave.
Hahaha.. I joked to DH that I am keeping my baby naked for those 2 months till the "Meet and greet" event! Ok he/she will not be completely naked since I will put a diaper on.
Goodnews is that I am getting a used crib and a stroller travel system from my sister in law. Yay! She just saved me some big mulah! Oh I am planning on BF too. So that should work out fine.
What do you need for the first two months? Someone else already said it.
A way to feed baby
A place for baby to sleep
A place for baby to go potty
Clothes for baby to wear (Read: onesies, knit pants, and rompers you can get anywhere. NOT full-on Gymboree outfits)
Burp cloths/cloth diapers
Receiving blankets (and you don't need many of them. 3 or so should do it)
I'm going to ditto all of the above. Love baby bargains! Honestly there are few things we need. I breast feed and cloth diaper so in reality this baby is pretty much no cost at all. Yes the bouncer was nice for her to lay in when I was showering and I do enjoy the exersaucer sometimes for a break but don't really need any.
Have fun looking and things and getting ideas. Feel free to post questions about specific things you're unsure about. I registered for anything I could possibly want and didn't buy most of the things I didn't get. I've gotten a lot of stuff post shower at baby sales and craigs list.