Should I buy gender neutral items??

foreveryoung3 · February 2011

I went to Babies R Us for the first time yesterday with my mom and had so much fun looking at all the stuff I need to get for my little one. While looking at stuff my mom suggested that I go with stuff that is more gender neutral so that I can use it again for my next baby. This is DH and I's first baby and we ARE finding out the sex. I was super excited about getting things that were specific to a boy/girl but I started to think that maybe she is right because we are planning on having our next baby when the first is 8 months to a year old. Did anyone else buy gender neutral stuff if you planned your kids close together? What could I buy that is more girly/boyish and not use again? TIA!!

ClaudiaStar21 · February 2011

this is our first and we are doing as many gender neutral things as we can. At least the big stuff, like stroller, car seat, pack and play. I want to do gender specific for things like the burp cloths, bibs and clothes. But even sleepers and blankets we are going to do neutral.

ellelepa · February 2011

We bought gender neutral items, bedding. We didn't buy gender neutral clothes though. I guess it depends on how frugal you are.

lucylea · February 2011

If you are planning on more than one LO I would recommend getting gender neutral for the nursery furniture, carseat, stroller, high chair, swing, bouncer, etc. We went with gender specific bedding and clothing though as that is relatively easy and cheap to replace.

christa62908 · February 2011

We did not find out with DD but either way we wanted more kids so we bought everything gender neutral. Once we had DD we got her crib stuff so that is girly but otherwise everything else is gender neutral. IMO the stuff doesn't get used enough to justify buying gender specific stuff if you are planning on more then one chid.

kmw325i · February 2011

keep your furniture in neutral tones. white furniture is a lot more feminine to me than something espresso, oak, cherry, or ebony.

I'm thinking of buying gender neutral bedding, but I'm not sure I'll be able to contain myself if we find out we're having a girl at our scan in 10 days. lol. But it's really not terrible to have to buy new bedding if you end up with #2 being a different gender.

But really, call me selfish, but I'm more interested in having a room I'M comfortable being in, which puts the kibosh on things with farm animals, trains, sports, butterflies, and other such theme-y rooms. Let's face it, I'm the one that's going to be awake in there the most, right? For me personally, a more gender neutral, and "adult-friendly" nursery is going to be more beneficial.

Mrs.Leah.Maria · February 2011

I personally can't stand gender neutral clothing, but I absolutely agree that you should purchase gender neutral big ticket items! It's so nice that we have almost everything, other than necessary duplicates, for our 2nd child regardless of the fact that we don't know the sex yet!

foreveryoung3 · February 2011

Thanks for all the input. Bedding and clothes will be gender specific but I was thinking more of the big items will be neutral. And the nursery will be gender specific. Any big items you would not get neutral?

goteamgo · February 2011

Definitely go gender neutral for the big stuff- the stroller, carseat, crib, swing, pack n' play, bouncer, etc. Anything that could be re-used for the next baby.

The gender specific things you could focus on would be a blanket (not all of them- most should be gender neutral), some clothes and maybe a toy or two.

Unless you want to spend all that money twice. And keep in mind that there usually isn't a shower for a second baby, regardless of sex.

abrazz · February 2011

We didn't really plan on having them so close together but we did buy the big stuff in neutral patterns. The travel system, crib (expresso), PNP, and the bouncey chair and swing are all neutral. I went crazy with the girly clothes though and she does have a pink bouncey chair. All her blankets and bibs are girly too I'll have a couple neutral newborn outfits for the new baby since we aren't finding out the gender. Oh and DH said there was no way he was pushing around a pink, girly stroller or carrying a pink baby carrier. We also have a "rugged" diaper bag. I figured since he was the one taking and picking her up from daycare that it was no big deal.

cburitz · February 2011

ClaudiaStar21:
this is our first and we are doing as many gender neutral things as we can. At least the big stuff, like stroller, car seat, pack and play. I want to do gender specific for things like the burp cloths, bibs and clothes. But even sleepers and blankets we are going to do neutral.

This. The car seat, stroller, PNP, etc will be gender neutral. We also plan on using the crib for our next child as well. We are CDing so I am sticking with gender neutral colors so we can reuse them.

We are buying gender-specific clothes & bedding. My SIL saved all of her daughter's clothes to reuse for her 2nd child. Her 2nd child was born in the opposite season and she was a lot taller/skinnier than her 1st child. She wasn't able to use anything.

Clothes are pretty cheap to buy. Shop clearance or buy used at mom-to-mom sales.

MrsBreezer80 · February 2011

we absolutely did for the stuff that she wouldn't use consistently. So the high chair, the swing, the bouncy seat, the car seat and the stroller were all gender neutral. You can get away with a gender-specific car seat if you do a convertible car seat that s/he'll be in for longer. I mean, certainly its up to you, but since you won't have a 2nd shower, it makes a LOT of financial sense to not have to go out and spend another $500 and up on these items twice

magpiebride61210 · February 2011

like most have said, we are going neutral with the big ticket items. the nursery walls are green, the furniture will be white. stroller, carseat, pack and play, swing, high chair, bouncy seat, sleep sacks, and any other expensive item will be neutral too.

clothes, bedding, and little things will be gender specific.

i couldn't imagine buying a pink stroller/carseat/pack and play and have a boy 15 months later! imagine how much that would cost!

also... my diaper bag will be cute and fit MY taste, even if this turns out to be a boy. it's not his new purse, it's mine. so if i like pink and orange so be it!

damabo80 · February 2011

We're going gender neutral for pretty much everything we can, except clothing.

This little girl is going to be sporting some serious ruffles and cute dresses!!

katie4253 · February 2011

All the stuff that is big, will be gender neutral. Crib, other furniture, pack-n-play, car seat, art, etc.

Bedding, clothing (some), etc. will be more specific. However, I am not crazy over excited about tons of pink and ruffles. So, if we have a girl I'll probably get more neutral stuff.

Hunter22 · February 2011

Honestly it is really a bigger deal if you are buying girly stuff vs. boy stuff. I have a blue and grey carseat and have no problem putting a girl in it. Same with the pack snd play, it's brown but the matt is light blue with darker blue and brown circles. Also, the pack n play is at my house so I don't think anyone else cares honestly. Black diaper bag, red stroller and espresso furniture though. I think you have to go out of your way to get a gender specific swing, bouncy etc and that's a bit overboard anyway. You'll want something that attracts the babies attention vs. what matches their sex.

FyshWyfe · February 2011

I highly recommend getting your car seat, stroller, swing, bouncy, etc. in neutral colors. This time around we only have to buy a few bottles and pacifiers- all the rest we already have. Even our crib bedding was neutral (just white crib sheets to go with whatever room decor) so it's turning out very cheap. Every time I see someone with a bright pink stroller I wonder if that's their one-and-done baby, KWIM?

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