When should I start buying things for baby?

bellbaby12 · March 2012

This is our first child, and I'm curious about when people are buying things for their nursery, as well as carseats, strollers, etc. I start a job on Monday for 2 months and I hate shopping on weekends. I'm thinking that after my contract is over 2-3 months before due date should be enough time. When are you going to start buying stuff?

eunruh69 · March 2012

I haven't bought anything and probably won't till after our shower(s). We are going to a "secret" store to price their cribs and strollers and if we find a super good deal we may walk out with those on Saturday, but other than that I don't plan on doing much till later.

Once we find out what it is I'll focus on the nursery, which room it's going to be, and how we want to decorate/paint it.

ljanette85 · March 2012

Im going to start after the baby shower... I want to see what we get and Im sure we'll get some money which will go towards these purchases (and if not we are prepared to buy them) I am also getting a good amount of hand me downs from my sisters which is a life saver! I think if you have the essentials ready about a month before your due date you should be fine

Buona Fortuna · March 2012

I'm a FTM as well but we bought the crib and a dresser a few weeks ago. DH just bought the carseat off Amazon because he noted the price kept going up at BRU and didn't want to have to pay more for it later. My sister bought me a jogging stroller from Goodwill Saturday.

mswood1977 · March 2012

Some people, like me, are a little crazy and start buying things early (we ordered our nursery furniture when I was 8 weeks and we got our car seat/stroller on clearance when I was 10 weeks), and others like to wait until later. I think you can start whenever you are comfortable starting.

If you want your nursery furniture in before you baby is born you probably want to order it 12 - 16 weeks before your due date as some furniture can take a while to arrive.

Raserei · March 2012

I know I've read places, and it's probably true, that if you have house stuff to work on, do it now because you won't too soon after baby is here.

We're acquired baby items from family who see deals or have hand-me-downs (no need for all brand new stuff, as long as it's clean and safe!), but have done no shopping ourselves. Instead, we have worked on upgrading our home. It's 70+ years old and needed some major things, 4 windows replaced, roof, nursery walls and a couple other projects. We're focusing on those right now instead, to make our home as safe as we can for LO. Also, I told DH I would like the big project done by end of 2nd Tri, so that I can spend the 3rd enjoying the little things like decorating

jrgoogrl · March 2012

I'm waiting until after the shower to see what we still need. My parents are actually buying us the nursery furniture and DH's parents are getting us our travel system stroller....along with probably many clothes...lol! I also have friends who told me they're going to give me stuff, so DH and I are holding off. We've only bought 1 outfit, and that was on Monday.

hterry85 · March 2012

This being our 3rd, we don't have much to buy. But I'll do the same as before...watch for sales/clearance on things I know I want to get. Anything thats left I'll use registry completion coupons for (not having a shower, just doing a small registry as my own list and for the coupons)

dani2480 · March 2012

I think you'll find that most people wait until after after the shower, to allow others the opportunity to buy them what they wish. Whatever is left on the registry can then often be purchased using a "completion discount" offered by the store you're registered with.

But, if there is something in particular you really want, or that you want in advance of the shower, or that you find for a great price and don't want to pass up, then by all means go for it.

We purchased our crib, stroller, glider/ottoman and dresser during our fourth month. But that was because we had found really great deals on all of those items. However, if it helps put things into perspective, we're now in our sixth month and nearly all of those items are still being stored (in our garage or the guest room), because we haven't started decorating the nursery yet, or aren't ready to use them (like the stroller). If you have adequate storage space to house things until you're ready to use it, then go for it. Otherwise, you may want to hold off (keeping in mind that some larger items can take many weeks to ship, if it's not in stock at a local store and ready for pick up).

bellbaby12 · March 2012

Thanks everyone. I think the baby shower will be in July, which will give me a good 2 months to shop, so I'll wait til after then to start. And I agree about the tip to take care of other house stuff before baby. We have been doing a ton around the house, like getting insulation and heating/cooling upgraded and also looking into an alarm system.

Thanks again!!

APendola · March 2012

2-3 months before your due date should be plenty of time.

Just keep in mind that the stores don't always keep a lot of the furniture in stock. So you may need to special order some items like the crib and it could take 4-6 weeks to be delivered. If you aren't particularly picky about the furniture, there are things in stock - you just won't have as much selection.

AprilAngie · March 2012

Im expecting my 4th child- but first daughter- we have been buying a few things already- clothes when they are great deals etcetra.

I have been researching what I want and watching for prices.

Honestly- babies need very little. So you can get away with waiting.

ccam · March 2012

We will be waiting until after our showers to finish up shopping for what we need. It will leave us plenty of time to get the necessities.

Just remember that some furniture can take months to come in, so keep that in mind when planning your shopping. We found our set at USA Baby and they estimate that the furniture will be delivered in 16 weeks.

AmberMH08 · March 2012

my son came early and i had same idea wait till 2-3 months before... he came 7weeks early and i had only half the things i needed i had 2 small showers and they were a week b4 he was born...and i didnt have time to get the fill in things b4 he decided to make his grand entrance in a huge snow storm no less haha...just when u are out look and get things here and there its just a good idea to do a lil at a time so u aren't stuck the week or two in pain-running on no sleep trying to make these decisions haha...or even worse letting others pick things up for u that end up far far from what u actually wanted

u dont have to buy a whole wardrobe or do the entire nursery now... just a few things here and there as u go along will make the biggest difference.. and by the time u are in ur 3rd tri u will be big and misreble and not want to go shopping

GreenMonkey1 · March 2012

We picked up a few smaller items (tub, travel booster seat, onesies) at a Children's Resale event because they were in great shape and a fraction of the cost to purchase new. Then we didn't register for them - I'd rather receive $25 worth of diapers compared to a $25 kid's tub I can buy for $5 at a resale event (if someone wants to give me a gift). We're purchasing our crib and changing table ourselves. For everything else (unless I see it on a mad sale) we'll wait until after the shower. We'll likely receive some gift cards we can use and will receive a completion coupon from BRU and Target - those will help cut the cost of our expenditures.

Salem1013 · March 2012

We are also waiting until after our shower to buy anything. I may pick up a cute little outfit here or there or a decoration for the room but for other items I'm waiting to see what we receive at the shower.

mandamartir · March 2012

We've bought a couple onsies here and there but for the most part we arent buying anything until after our showers. We've played around with the strollers and carseats and have done a ton of research but we're registering for pretty much everything and then we'll get what we still need later.

ken&jennifer · March 2012

We are moving this weekend, and our starting point for buying baby-things (and "growing family things - like a pull out couch, etc.) has been set for after this move is out of the way. Once our bed it in place, we'll figure out how much room is left for a crib/sleeper & that'll probably be our first big purchase.

Outside of that, the only things i've purchased has been a baby bag (just because I saw one that I loved on ebay... a kate spade bag - yum.) and a baby toy/blanket that was too cute to pass up

Mrs.vtjaime · March 2012

I still haven't really bought anything. I registered about two weeks ago, so we've chosen most of what we want for her. I think you'll be fine for another two months. We are putting new windows in her room, and then having it painted, so we're a little behind where I'd like to be on the nursery, but the work will be done by the end of April, and I'll be ~27 weeks, so again, I think you have plenty of time.

mommy510 · March 2012

We bought the crib when I was about 5 months because I love putting things together and I wanted to do it while I still felt great and didn't have a huge belly in the way. I picked up a carseat and stroller on sale, but other than that, we waited until after my shower to get the rest of the basics. Even then, we bought items on an "as needed" basis.

Make sure you know which family members want to purchase big items before you buy stuff! My parents had an extra dresser that they gave us, so when we went crib shopping, we got one that matched the dresser.

angelrue522 · March 2012

I started at 12 weeks. I bought 1 thing per week and made sure to keep all reciepts.

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