When is the best time to start buying baby stuff?

ianders23 · September 2014

I'm totally unsure about when me and my boyfriend should start buying baby furniture/clothing? Help please!

jennjilljo · September 2014

You don't need anything excrpt diapers, wipes, a bassinet or sleep area, a feeding solution and a car seat before you go home from the hospital. Baby stuff is expensive though so I would start buying what you can now or shortly after your baby shower if you want to wait and see what others buy you.

chickyclg · September 2014

I buy things when I see really a good deal, and not just a normal sale price , like I got 2 Chicco KeyFit car seats for $135 each vs the standard $189 and I got a free $100 baby monitor. I also got 2 Ergos for around $60ish each vs $120 each. But I am trying not to go too crazy until after my shower, so my spending is on reserve.

Chcaggie1 · September 2014

I'm FTM so take this advice with a grain of salt... Our plan is to buy stuff to start decorating the nursery now bc I want that done by the end of 2nd tri. Other than that trying now to buy much unless it's on a GREAT Sale until after the baby shower. Then we will buy what's left on the registry.

t8keepr03 · September 2014

Start buying when you find deals. Target does a huge baby sale 2 times a year where a lot of things are 20% off or more. We are waiting for the one this fall to get our crib, dresser and extra camera for the monitor.

Sahara6971 · September 2014

I wait as long as possible. Like until around the middle of the 3rd trimester. I am probably pretty alone on this one though.

My mom was raised Jewish and it has totally rubbed off on me (being prepared with material items for baby that is). The best way to describe it is kind of like a superstition. They believe that it is bad luck to start buying baby items before the baby is born.

SarahB0427 · September 2014

I waited until after my shower to buy anything. I usually got most of my stuff at my shower and also gift cards to buy the stuff I didn't get. The only thing I bought before the shower was the babies crib & changing table. Other than that nothing. With this baby because I am not having a shower I have been buying sale diapers and that's about it. Since I am having another boy its not really necessary to buy anything else.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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Angeldcf · September 2014

Remember that babies don't actually need much (carseat, diapers/wipes, clothes, feeding- boob/bottle, place to sleep). Try to avoid the urge to overspend on baby crap. Some kids LOVE the swing and others hate it (so you wouldn't want to spend $150+ on something s/he hates). Try to borrow from other moms to test things out or check resale shops.

We were very blessed and received lots of items at our shower. We did purchase the nursery furniture mid-2nd Tri as they quoted 2-3 months for it to arrive. Honestly though, we didn't move him upstairs to the nursery until he was 4mo old as he slept in the PnP in our room.

kerrycharpe · September 2014

I'm not having a shower and don't expect anyone to buy us things, so I've started with the big stuff and am gradually working my way through it. we have nothing so starting from scratch. I chose to spread it out bc there are so many things and I didn't want to spend a fortune at once.

That being said, the only things I've bought so far are the stroller and one of the car seats bc they were killer deals. oh, and clothes. DD and I love to find cute little onesies - it's something she really gets into and we can do together.

cls78 · September 2014

I started buying at 16 weeks.

MapleMomma · September 2014

Honestly, I'm probably a strange situation. I don't think we will have a shower at all (first baby for both), and if we do it will be ridiculously small. Also, our main income is from May until October, so I didn't want to wait until December when money is tight.

That being said, our nursery is complete (painted, wallpapered, crib set up...) with everything except crib sheets and crib skirt (only because I plan to make these and just haven't done it yet). Otherwise all we need is our car seat and stroller (I have 2/3 of the money saved for them on gift cards).

I bought EVERYTHING used, on mega sale, or made it myself. Also my cousin owns a kids resale store, so its been relatively easy for me.

maltwin1 · September 2014

I found it really helpful on our budget to buy things all along the way. We started out getting some items like the stroller (that we knew we'd get gender neutral) very early on. We had all the big things purchased by 6-7 months. But we did hold off buying smaller things like clothes and crib sheets until after the shower because we didn't want to double buy.

kdhuling · September 2014

FTM here who isn't going to be having a shower. We started buy at or around the 12 week mark. When we would see a really good deal we would snag it. I like trying to spread out the cost so it doesn't hit too hard all at once. So far we bought a travel system, rock n play and pack n play. We started stocking up on wipes and some diapers though I know there's a possibility they won't all work for him. DH boss just had her last boy and is giving us a ton of hand me downs (clothes, swing, sling, walker and more). There are still several items I need/want but I feel like we have the bare bones minimum covered. If I were to have had a shower I wouldn't have purchased anything till after that.
I would say don't go crazy but keep an eye out for good deals and compare pricing.

StephanieLBerg · September 2014

My hubby and I just bought the first things of baby stuff last night. We found a barely used set of furniture; chest, dresser, and crib, off Craig's List last night for less than $300 for the whole let. The set was in perfect condition! The people we bought it from only used the crib for 3 nights before the baby refused to sleep in it anymore. So, by getting this set at a great deal, we saved quite a bit of money to be able to buy the little bit more expensive things we want later on once we have our shower in December. :-) So if I were you, I would be looking for super great deals now to help you save up some money for the nicer things you want later after your shower!

HailsMom · September 2014

Start buying when you find stuff you want on sale. The only thing I would hold off on would be carseats. You don't want to get them to early only to have them expire before you are ready to be done with them. If you are only going to be planning on using them for one kid, the infant carrier shouldn't be an issue as they are usually good for 5 years. But the convertible car seats - you won't start using it until 6-12 months after the baby is born - buying it now means that at most you would have 4 years to be able to use it.

psychobutthead · September 2014

I started buying stuff before getting pregnant with this pregnancy.

Mostly I went to consignment shops orthrift stores and got bigger itens cheap. I got a walker for like $5 so Im a cheapo. Im not waiting to buy until after my shower. At that time I wont be working so I want to make sure I have everything I want and need before I resign. Im also not depending on my shower to hwt me the things I want just because I doubt anyone will follow our registry.

ruemorgan · September 2014

I watch for sales and any time something is 50% off, I buy. I got my crib and pack and play this weekend 50% off! Keep your eyes peeled.

AngieAn · September 2014

I'm pretty much starting over with baby things, I just finished getting rid of everything, cause i assumed we were done. My SIL is letting us use her crib and high chair, so thats awesome!

My neighbour gave us a beautiful crib set, and thats pretty much all we got so far. I'm probably going to start shopping soon though. I just honestly have no clue where to start. I feel like a FTM again. Everything is so different from 10 years ago.

mirigirl · September 2014

We have only bought a couple big items (used crib, re-purposed dresser). We want to wait until we know the sex of the baby (next week) before we continue to purchase. We are also having two fairly large showers, so we will wait for those as well.

wintersong139 · September 2014

Yesterday?

I am waiting on the big stuff until after the shower, and I am wary of stocking too much up on diapers and wipes until I see what works for us. We did already start our registry, and multiple people have already looked at it without any prodding from us, so we know that people are interested to see what we need.

BUT, I am buying baby clothes now. If a baby changes outfits two times per day, plus sleep outfits...let's just say that multiplies quickly, and I don't want to be doing laundry every day of my life. I figure the cost is easier to swallow spread out over several months, particularly since I am buying anything between newborn and 6 months. We aren't finding out the gender, so finding cute clothes for newborns is a bit more challenging.

Angeldcf · September 2014

wintersong139 said:

BUT, I am buying baby clothes now. If a baby changes outfits two times per day, plus sleep outfits...let's just say that multiplies quickly, and I don't want to be doing laundry every day of my life..

Infants sleep A LOT (but not in big stretches which is why you become a zombie). Kiddo ended up mainly wearing footed sleepers or onesies 24/7. "Outfits" were very rare those first few weeks.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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psychobutthead · September 2014

Stephanie2378 said:
In regards to the sleepers you all are buying, are you buying the thicker, plush ones? I bought a few but figured since the baby will probably wear a onesie, sleeper and then be swaddled or wear a sleep sac, I've bought mostly the thinner materiel sleepers.

I think buying thicker ones would depend on what area you live in and hw long the cold lasts fir your region. I bought maybe two thick omes. Kind of jard to shop now when most clothea are winter that are out. Here it starts.to be nice in march.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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Alygohome · September 2014

I am buying lots used so whenever I find a good deal I buy it. The furniture and the car seat we will buy around 30 weeks. We aren't buying a whole ton since we are having a baby shower after (and my family tends to buy lots of clothes for showers) and I don't really know what I will need for baby and what I wont. I am not buying that many outfits to start out as we are team green.

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