Baby purchases...overwhelmed

kaelarose13 · December 2011

I'm a planner by nature, so I've already started looking into costs for many necessary baby related items (i.e. crib, dresser, stroller, car seat, etc, etc) I find myself wanting the "top of the line" for everything!! Logically I know that the baby isn't going to know the difference between at $200 crib and a $400 crib, and we are not wealthy by any means but have some money set aside to get ready for our LO's arrival. How are the rest of you (who are planning purchases already) prioritizing as far as what to splurge on and what to get that's less expensive (or even used). I know that we will receive some shower gifts and my family and best friend have already offered to host. However, I don't want to depend on those gifts and I want to make sure we are financially prepared to provide everything we need for the baby even following birth (diapers, daycare, food, etc).

So, I guess in summary...how are you all feeling about baby purchases and am I the only one who feels confused?!?

annerz22 · December 2011

Baby purchases are overwhelming. Especially when there are so many similar products on the market and so many different ''experts'' and opinions on what things are better than others.

I'd start with asking anyone you know who has a LO what their absolute *musts* were when having a newborn and what was a waste of money. Luckily, I have 2 older sisters who have LO's and they have been a huge help sifting through what I should/shouldn't get right away.

As for what to splurge on, that is a personal decision. You're right, a baby isn't going to know the difference between a $200 crib and a $400 crib, just like the baby is going to grow out of those name-brand and designer clothes in just a few weeks. For DH and I, we both talked about what items we really felt the need to spend money on- for us it was was: A great pump for when I go back to work, a top of the line stroller since we live in a very urban area and walk on crowded/uneven sidewalks, and a high quality baby carrier like an Ergo and a Moby so DH and I can baby-carry.

We didn't feel the need to spend a ton on a dresser (We'll get this from Ikea) or a crib (probably spend around $200) as all cribs must meet specific saftey regulations. Everything else we'll research and figure out what products have the best reviews for the price.

rikkilynnette · December 2011

I am so right there with you. DH and I were at Toys R Us the other day and came across something that I really liked, so we asked for a gun thing so that we could add it to the registry that we had started online (super excited). DH decided to walk around and start scanning everything the we want/need. I freaked when I saw how much the crib bedding was...$200 a piece. (We picked out a girl one, a boy one and a neutral one..just in case LO doesn't cooperate next Monday). I know how much I spent on my first two (and I never had a baby shower for either because we lived away from home because my ex was in t he Navy) And of course my ex illegally kept everything that belonged to the children, so I am starting from square one....again. I did have a gf tell me that I could go to WalMart.com and that they have a lot of the same things that toys r us has and for a lot cheaper. So one of these days, I will get on both websites and compare items and prices and maybe start a new registry; as I am having a shower this time and would really like friends and family to be able to afford some of the stuff that we like.

PurpleSnapDragons · December 2011

I CANNOT say enough good things about Baby Bargains:

https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bargains-Secrets-furniture-maternity/dp/1889392405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323808309&sr=8-1

Seriously, it may feel weird to pay money to save money but it's soo helpful at helping you decide what things are worth it for you and your baby.

As for swings, bouncy seats, it depends on the baby. Some love it some hate it. I'm planning to get a used one of each off craigslist and if baby loves it, maybe I will upgrade.

For bottles and pacifiers, just get a few of a few different brands as you don't know what your baby will prefer.

For cribs and furniture, more expensive isn't always better. The Baby Bargain book is so helpful when it comes to baby gear like this, car seats and strollers.

I personally am not buying any bedding sets since you can't use the bumper or comforter it's such a waste. I'm just getting cute sheets. Then when baby converts to toddler bed, we can pick something out that fits babies interests.

Here is one interesting registry checklist:

https://alphamom.com/pregnancy/our-ultimate-baby-registry-checklist/

sarahlou62 · December 2011

With the exception of car seat and mattress, I will be accepting any used baby items my friends offer. There is no reason to buy something brand new that my friend or SIL's baby only used for a few months. I already have quite a stash of hand-me-downs. I am a saver by nature, so I'd rather have that money for important or unexpected expenses.

PurpleSnapDragons · December 2011

sarahlou62:
With the exception of car seat and mattress, I will be accepting any used baby items my friends offer. There is no reason to buy something brand new that my friend or SIL's baby only used for a few months. I already have quite a stash of hand-me-downs. I am a saver by nature, so I'd rather have that money for important or unexpected expenses.

Also, be careful about used cribs. Only take from someone you know and check for recalls. Make sure it has all the pieces (screws, etc). Since the standards changed so drastically this summer, it can be tricky. And of course, no dropsides.

Chelsey68 · December 2011

Well when you add it up all on paper it does seem very overwhelming. I get some things second hand such as clothes bouncers ect. From people i know who have recently had a baby. Also look for sales. I got alot of what i needed from my baby shower so i had extra money to splurge on some things. You really dont need everything they have out there on the market and you also dont need everything right away. I didnt buy my stroller or walker till i needed them.

inspired4life · December 2011

I'm right there with you! I was going over different checklists and looking for recommendations and combing over product reviews. What helped me is to go through each category one by one. I think I've finally got my registry and nursery lists to a manageable point where I feel like I've got 90% of stuff covered.

My coworker recommended to me to start registries at a bunch of stores with baby shower/due dates of like next week and then they will send you coupons when they see that no one purchased anything on your registry to convince you to buy it. He said they generally got 15-20% off that way, so that's an option to help save money.

PurpleSnapDragons · December 2011

Chelsey68:
Well when you add it up all on paper it does seem very overwhelming. I get some things second hand such as clothes bouncers ect. From people i know who have recently had a baby. Also look for sales. I got alot of what i needed from my baby shower so i had extra money to splurge on some things. You really dont need everything they have out there on the market and you also dont need everything right away. I didnt buy my stroller or walker till i needed them.

As for this, walkers are not recommended for babies any more. They have shown to delay walking and are illegal in Canada.

https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/child-enfant/equip/walk-marche-eng.php

https://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/the-dangers-of-baby-walkers/

redheadinlove · December 2011

We're getting almost everything hand me down so I don't have to do research. My only confusion is ring slings. I don't know which one I want!

We have NO room where I'm living, so things like a high chair I won't be getting until we absolutely need them. I'm hoping to be in a different place by the time the baby is 6 months old so hopefully we don't have to try and drag one into our current home =]

PurpleSnapDragons · December 2011

redheadinlove:
We're getting almost everything hand me down so I don't have to do research. My only confusion is ring slings. I don't know which one I want!
We have NO room where I'm living, so things like a high chair I won't be getting until we absolutely need them. I'm hoping to be in a different place by the time the baby is 6 months old so hopefully we don't have to try and drag one into our current home =]

If room is a problem consider getting something like this. We are getting it because a normal high chair wont' work with our pub height table. Baby bargains and other website give this kind of chair great reviews and they sell it at Walmart and BRU and such as well.

https://www.albeebaby.com/fisher-price-space-saver-high-chair-green-meadow.html

Jnkpnch80 · December 2011

This is my second child. I regret buying everything new. How silly of me. Most of the used stuff is barely used because it is only used for a short while. With this child I will be scoping out quality used items.

I will buy a new car seat, new crib sheets etc. But as far as strollers, high chairs, crib (but I got an amazing deal on craigslist), co-sleeper (getting one from a friend for $60), and anything else I can think of, I'll be going used.

Save your money for something else. I promise you'll be happy you did.

KDR1979 · December 2011

I am also overwhelmed with baby stuff & actually just posted this on the "Nurseries & Baby gear" board yesterday:

FYI: We are expecting twins & may not be able to have more children after this (This pregnancy took 3 years & 5 IVF's):

We are most likely registering at Buy Buy Baby over BRU.

Here are 2 decisions we've made:

car seats:KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat in Romantic by Chicco?

https://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=16587915

&

we're pretty sure about this stroller:

Baby Jogger City Select +extra seat for baby #2 + infant car seat accessory pieces.

https://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=129003

I want a nice pack and play for our downstairs area (we have a traditional 2 story) to use for naps and diaper changing-any suggestions?

I'll probably put 2 bassinets in our master bedroom for early months (I am hoping to breastfeed). I do have 1 bassinet that my sister passed down to us already.

I'm leaning toward buying cheaper nursery furniture from Wal-mart and then buying them nicer bedroom furniture when they're older and ready for a twin bed.

I'm also leaning toward not getting any official "crib bedding." It seems like all of these come with bumpers, crib skirts, comforters, and valences! I'd rather use a long curtain instead of a valence. Bumpers & comforters are unsafe & I'm not a fan of the crib skirt. I'd rather just put some baby blankets/quilts (MIL already working on quilts) on the glider for decoration & get cute fitted crib sheets. Does anyone else do this?? We're going to have a wall painted with either squares or circles for decoration and I'll definitely have plenty of wall decorations even w/o having stuff to "match" crib bedding.

Do you have any suggestions for us?

This is so overwhelming!!!

babycatton · December 2011

DH and I have decided that we are going to do everything neutral so that when we have more children we won't have to buy everything again. I say the main thing that needs to be top of the line/best rating is a carseat. That thing could save your babies life if ever in a crash. Other things are just for fun really.

altachica · December 2011

sarahlou62:
With the exception of car seat and mattress, I will be accepting any used baby items my friends offer. There is no reason to buy something brand new that my friend or SIL's baby only used for a few months. I already have quite a stash of hand-me-downs. I am a saver by nature, so I'd rather have that money for important or unexpected expenses.

This is the route we are taking as well. A friend of ours and her family want to buy us the crib--which is such a generous gift! I've been scouring thrift stores and finding some adorable things.

blueshamrock7 · December 2011

We are splurging on everything because it's our first. We got really high quality furniture that I know our baby (or one of our children) will use for a very long time. It goes all the way up to adult furniture and it's nothing I wouldn't mind using even now, at 31!!!

As for what we will receive at our shower, we did purchase our travel system because it was 20% off. We got a Chicco Cortina, in Romantic, which is gender neutral. That way, we won't have to buy another one for baby #2. People keep telling us to stop buying things, that we will get things at the shower, etc. My thought is that if I see it and want it, then we will buy it. People will always find something they want to buy me for my shower and I'm a planner, too, so I'd rather have it now and be able to cross it off my list!

RMama2012 · December 2011

I felt very overwhelmed as well. I signed up for consumer reports which is only $5 a month. It helped me get started on which items I wanted. They website shows you ratings and very often, the expensive stuff isn't worth it (not safer or easier to use).

Start with the must haves- infant car seat/stroller(or snap & go), crib. Then decide what else you need. My sister and 2 SILS all have kids under 4 (5 kids total) and I realize there are so many items that are just a waste.

One SIL for her first, was given a crib in perfect condition and only bought a chaning station and a rocking chair (most ppl think this just takes up space though and she barely used it). Then she used a wall border and some hangign butterflies and it looked great. So you can furnish the nursery pretty cheaply until you decide what you want to do with the room later on.

BelleIsa · December 2011

For our first we were living in Beijing so we didn't really have that much choice (not many baby products there). But based on experience, here are the things to spend money on:

-Crib mattress (we bought out crib at IKEA for $100 and are still using it, and we'll use it for #2 as well - but we bought an organic mattress). In my opinion, the mattress matters more than the crib.

-Stroller - we had originally got one second-hand, a chicco travel system, and while we'll be using the carseat again, I didn't like the stroller very much. It wasn't that great on bad sidewalks. I now have a Britax B-Ready (can plop the infant car seat in the top while my toddler sits in the bottom) and I LOVE it. It was worth every red cent.

-Baby carrier. I got the Baby Bkorn as a gift and it's wonderful - I've since tried cheaper ones and can't imagine using them for any length of time.

-Breast pump if you plan on breastfeeding.

Everything else (even clothes) I would get used.

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