Biggest baby purchases not actually for the baby

dragossoul84 · February 2014

Since we are having another son we were lucky that we don't really need a ton however we have just dropped an insane amount of money to get the house ready for a new addition. Our furnance is from 1979 so we are replacing that because I kept having nightmares of it going out during baby's first winter and I went out and bought a new sleeper set since we only have one guest room and thats downstairs we got a sleeper set for the main level of our house so I wouldnt have to take stairs after my c-section. Same reason we added a bathroom to the main floor of our house. Little freaked out that between the bathroom, furniture and furnace we just spent 9k but I'm happy to know for sure that there were be no unexpected emergencies once we get home. Any one else having larger purchases to get ready for baby?

MamaLlama14 · February 2014

We're moving DS into our current bedroom and we're moving upstairs to a bigger room that was previously just a storage room so that new baby can move into the existing nursery. In order to do all of that switching around, we have to create an entire toddler room now- bed, dresser, storage, etc...

And although we have everything we need for our new bedroom, the room was never touched when we did all of our other renovations so we've spent a pretty penny on a rug, paint, wallpaper, closet organization, etc... Nothing except DS's new toddler bed and dresser were truly necessary, I suppose, but to make everything work for us and be 'final' and not feel temporary, we did it up.

Katemr1146 · February 2014

We did new floors upstairs to get ready for baby. We're looking at some sort of air purification system too.

RachelCA29 · February 2014

We're re-doing our main floor bathroom, which will become the "family" bathroom. It's super dated (think Full House era) and the tub in there was this ugly, grey Jacuzzi with built-in frosted sliding doors. So leaning in to bath a baby/toddler in that tub would have been dark and cause major back pain in my opinion. Our upstairs, current main bathroom is kind of average in style but only has a shower stall in it (it's nice but kind of small, it works for showering and getting ready).

So we just decided to gut it and make it beautiful. We never used the tub or shower in there (it was basically just used as a powder room), but now that it will have a lovely new tub and shower and is bigger than our upstairs bathroom will probably make it the popular spot for getting ready in the morning. All the tiles came in already, we have the vanity and we're waiting for all the fixtures and sink to arrive. Then my husband and his dad (who installs tile for a living) will put it all together.

Not really a "necessity" for baby, but we had the money and I wanted a pretty bathroom!

MrsT2008 · February 2014

Not yet, but in the next few weeks we need to buy DD a dresser and mattress set for her big girl room since we need her current room and crib/furniture for the baby.

We also bought a new car in December to have more space for 2 kids

megmegs · February 2014

I really, really want to replace our fridge, but haven't been able to convince DH yet - it's been making horrible noises, and if the thing goes out after I've stockpiled breast milk, I may completely lose it.

His(1&only)wife · February 2014

Not for baby but we have basically done all new plumbing since November. We are doing new carpet and tile in the playroom/basement. Oh and also a new sectional couch in the living room so we will all fit and so we can move the current couch into the playroom which has no furniture. The plumbing caused a leak which flooded down there...hence the all new everything

ksyknelvr73 · February 2014

We got a new car to have more room for 2 kids, I'd consider that a big purchase! We are having to do some other things that seem to add up b/c the room we are using for this baby hasn't really been used for anything ever, so we have to get a ceiling fan and install it, we had to paint, we have to get blinds for the windows, etc.

Luckyu317 · February 2014

Nothing too crazy. We're using the same crib and dresser for new LO that we used for DS, so we need to buy DS a new dresser before baby comes.

ABColeslaw · February 2014

New car for sure.

Kaylee524 · February 2014

Yup, our van has definitely been the biggest purchase. Decided I couldn't get away with my little car anymore now that we'll have two dogs AND a baby ...

hfooter · February 2014

We are looking into a new washer and dryer since we are going with CD and want to re-carpet the upstairs. I'd rather do hardwoods but DH hates hardwoods in bedrooms. We are just waiting for an awesome sale.

spinsoffresonance · February 2014

Not technically for baby but because of baby. After we had DD we redecorated our entire living room. It's really important to me to have proper family dinners, so we had to buy a dining table. DH and I never had one, we always ate in front of the TV. In order to fit the dining table in the space, we had to get rid of the big sectional and get a loveseat instead. We got rid of the coffee table because of the sharp corners and replaced it with an upholstered ottoman. We moved the tv to our bedroom and removed the wall shelves that were holding the components when DD started climbing on them. We replaced the oriental rugs with a very soft plush carpet remnant for Dd to play on and added a couple floor poufs. Our place is unrecognizable now, the good thing is that our entire condo is basically one big baby proof play space so DD can roam freely and we don't have to chase her around.

flowerx2 · February 2014

We are finishing our basement. We need the extra space and bedrooms for when LO comes. Making our 3 bedroom house into a 5 bedroom. We need the extra room because of SD and SS.

lauralou3x3 · February 2014

I'm not sure if this counts but we are paying off my car next month in order to have extra money for the baby! We haven't even had it two years, so excited for the extra monthly money!

sisterjanet · February 2014

It's not technically for the baby, but we're buying a house. We close in three weeks, and I'm torn between excitement and total panic at dealing with so much transition so close together.

RedInLove · February 2014

These is not entirely for LO, but because of LO. We upgraded my vehicle from a 2-door muscle car to a 4-door SUV. DH travels for work long-term and lives in an RV when on the road (we used to do this together), so we upgraded the RV last summer from one with just the master bedroom, to a bunk house so there's a space for a PnP for sleep time and space to play.

Pinkinboca · February 2014

Does $500k for a new house count??? We also just purchased a new SUV to make getting baby in & out of car easier

AugustGlass · February 2014

We're building a bonus room upstairs that will eventually be the office so that the office can become a playroom.

SweetTea420 · February 2014

We are replacing our AC this winter. It's old and really inefficient. The last thing I want this summer is it to go out on its own! Especially with a newborn!

yvanehtnioj · February 2014

We put in a wood burning stove (pic attached). Our central heat/air system burns through propane in the winter but the AC works wonderfully. We had been making do with the gas fireplace in the living room, which heated that room pretty well, although slowly, and using a space heater in our bedroom. But to reliably heat the entire house we had two options: replace the whole system or go w/ a wood burning fireplace insert thingy. We figured we'd get much more enjoyment out of a fireplace than a heating system. The gas fireplace had a really shitty builder grade tile surround. This looks so much nicer, and you can't beat the ambiance of a fireplace.

We also just replaced our old POS squealing dryer that would occasionally tint a load of whites blue with a new steam dryer.

momthatlifts · February 2014

Man compared to everyone else my purchases are weak! A laz boy recliner that will go in the living room for "nursing" . Not purchasing but leasing an apartment.

tbiscuit18 · February 2014

We bought new appliances, since we had rented our house for 3 years while we were living out of state for DH's job. I was worried about the fridge going out and breast feeding. We are also getting rid if MH's sports car and getting a more "practical" SUV.
Oh, and we finally got a kitchen table so we no longer have to eat at the kitchen island. There's really always something when you own a house, though.

Xath · February 2014

dragossoul84 You replaced your furnace, installed a new bathroom and got new furniture for under $9k? Color me impressed an jealous.

dragossoul84 · February 2014

gertiebarden said:

dragossoul84 You replaced your furnace, installed a new bathroom and got new furniture for under $9k? Color me impressed an jealous.

Thanks it took a lot of haggling and shopping around the furnace was 5k but thats because we use a heat pump here so its the furnace and the ac unit.

jackdustin · February 2014

Our minivan would have to be our big purchase.

daizijayne · February 2014

So far we:

splurged on a fancy new mattress for our room
are currently awaiting the delivery of DS's new bed, mattress and bedding so that baby girl can use the crib
scored a rocking chair for free from my mom (our apartment was much too small for one when DS was born, and I am NOT relying solely on the yoga ball for soothing baby this time).

Next up, we:

need window coverings on our bedroom windows so baby doesn't wake at 5:30am with the sun over the summer.
are hoping to replace the barely-functional dresser in DS's room.
are meeting with an architect next week to discuss finishing our basement (I am most excited about this one!)

And I don't think we'll have any money left to spend after all of this!