Baby Gear Confessions

NeonNoon · January 2015

I've spent an inordinate amount of time in the past few weeks obsessing over night lights and diaper bags.

With the night light, it had to have a red bulb, had to have a dimmer, and be operable remotely. None of this was negotiable. I ended up buying a table lamp with a dimmer, a separate remote switch, and H managed to fish out a red bulb for me.

With the diaper bags, I obsessively looked online at bags ranging from portable pads to expensive fashion bags, for maybe 10 hours. Then I gave up and decided to go with a $20 diaper wallet until I understand how big a bag I really want after LO arrives.

When we were shopping for a dresser, we went to 4 stores plus did some online shopping before buying one from Ikea. It's no wonder I feel like I don't have any time for anything.

Got any silly baby gear stories to share?

niknak1208 · January 2015

LOL Oh I can totally relate. I've been totally obsessed with Pinterest and nursery ideas. Currently, our 2 yr old DD is in the nursery. She's still sleeping in her crib. Her room is pale turqouise and purple. DH refuses to pain the room again. Soo I was searching for hours for cute color schemes to change the nursery to a boy theme. I finally found orange, pale turqouise, and gray rooms that I really really like. So now I've moved on from that to obsessing about curtains and nursery artwork.

Not to mention strollers and carseats and you name it.

mattandlora · January 2015

My story is like @niknak1208. DS's nursery had tan walls with navy, light blue, and brown decor. This included a light blue rocking chair. I don't want to redecorate. We're moving the nursery decor next door for DS and DD is moving into the nursery. Her room will still have tan walls and a light blue rocking chair. The rest will be lavendar and light blue.

I've been too busy caring for DS to do much stressing about baby gear for this one. Poor girl is going to get hand-me-downs for everything. I find myself thinking things like "Yeah, that's clearly for a boy, but it's the pajamas, so no one will notice..." My favorite is "I guess we need new bottles for daycare since DS's name is plastered all over these."

My best gear story came with DS though. We got him a bouncy chair before he was born. It had a vibrate setting, plus options for lovely nature sounds or soothing music. What did the kid end up wanting? He wanted one with bright colors and toys to hit. He HATED the soothing bouncy seat. So we have 2 bouncy chairs now.

GASuzuki · January 2015

With my DD I went BSC and bought a Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag and insisted on the Orbit. I love both but do I think we really needed to spend that extra cash? Now, not so much... Anyway, I really am not buying too many things for this LO. I already have two friends who have promised me their hand-me-downs for clothes, and we have most of the gear. I think the only thing I want is this really cool baby rocker thing from Babies 'R' Us.

NeonNoon · January 2015

It gets worse I'm embarrassed to say @hikerlady‌. DH wanted an LED bulb but we couldn't find one that was dimmable in red.

tishue · January 2015

@NeonNoon... what's with the red lightbulb? Just curious :-)

NeonNoon · January 2015

Nothing dubious @tishue :P . Red light is less likely to disrupt LO's circadian rhythm (once he has one) during night-time feedings/changes, so he'll, very hopefully, fall right back asleep. Blue light is the most disruptive, I understand.

bashfulbird · January 2015

I'm just going to guess it has to do with, near or far sightedness caused by nightlight use?

tishue · January 2015

Interesting.... thanks for the info @NeonNoon! I just had a small lamp with low watt bulb that I turned on on the far side of the room... enough for me to see to change him. We never had problems but I've had a good sleeper from very earlier on :-)

cneiding · January 2015

so although I dont really need any gear at this point because I have everything...my confession about gear would have to be that I own an incredible amount of diaper bags....and not just any bags...most are Petunia Pickle Bottoms...and many are the Cake Collection. They just discontinued them but the leather ones that were the most expensive they ever made...I own both colors them made. Plus I own at least one of every other style bag except they have a couple new ones that I have not bought...yet.

My second obsession is baby carriers and I own a whole lot of those too. A whole lot.

Tsuga76 · January 2015

Diapers, of the cloth variety. DH pointed out to me the other night as I was explaining my current ponderings on cloth diaper laundering protocol that I was obsessing. I've spent hours researching which kinds of diapers to buy, how to prep, how to wash and maintain, how to fold, and then debating how many we need to start, etc etc. So yeah, obsessing. I realized finally that I was directing all my baby anxiety into... diapers. I've since come to terms and decided the world will not end if I misjudged our supply needs or inadequately launder a load, and have now moved on to mobiles. Sigh. This baby better get here soon!

anonymousmotley · January 2015

I was obsessed overall with not buying anything brand new (exceptions were breast pump, mattress and car seat). I was bound and determined to purchase all that I need for at least 50% off retail. Boy, did my obsession pay off! I got $1400 worth of gear for just over $400, that's a 70% savings!! Of all of the items I purchased, the Mamaroo was my first conquest and I was OBSESSED with finding one in near mint condition for 50% less. It proved difficult because it's a hot item and people are trying to sell them for damn near what they paid for them new. But my hard work paid off and I found one for $125 ($220+tax/retail) so I saved 48%. After that, it was a game of increasing my savings with each purchase that followed. Before I knew it, I had everything I needed!! Retrospect, it was a part time job...considering all the hours of Craigslist and 2nd hand store shopping I did! LOL But all worth it considering I saved $1000 in spending.

mdogan29 · January 2015

I was obsessed w/ getting the registry just right and then less than 1/2 the people who have bought us stuff even used it! We've bought most of the stuff off of it!! With BabiesRUs endless earnings program, I was hoping to get a nice return (10% of all purchases) at the end, so I made sure I sent everyone the link to the registry... but people do what they want!

Oh well... we still have time to buy more stuff and then get 15% off to buy the rest, which we won't, probably just a few more things we NEED! Since this is our first baby, I did have an image in my mind of how I wanted everything to look, not everything had to be brand new, we did get a few hand-me-downs, but I'm a graphic designer by trade, so I like everything to match!

mindaa · January 2015

anonymousmotley said:

Retrospect, it was a part time job...considering all the hours of Craigslist and 2nd hand store shopping I did! LOL But all worth it considering I saved $1000 in spending.

I've been trying really hard to buy used too, but agree that Craiglist is a ton of work! And I think we already overpaid a little on our first purchase - a Chariot that DH found a problem with as soon as we got home (wouldn't have noticeable to seller, but DH knows bikes)

I think I'll have better luck at the resale stores, way more convenient, but the the deals aren't as quite good. I've been trying hard not to get too obsessed with getting the very best deals, because I don't want to completely stress myself out or to compromise too much.

niknak1208 · February 2015

Why o why can I not stop looking at bags!!! I have a perfectly usable llbean diaper bag that I'm still using. I'm obsessed with the Skip hop bento bag. I caved. Lol. But I did buy it used from posh mark. $69 with shipping. But I think I'm gonna love it.

liveeeann · February 2015

Have to share.... I just saved a ton of money on new, expensive baby items: Bugaboo Bee3 for $450, Nuna Sena for $150, Mamaroo for $150. Look at "Lil Star Shop" in Alhambra, CA. They stock floor models, overstock, etc. You can see a lot of their inventory on their Facebook page. They are very helpful and will ship!

niknak1208 · February 2015

liveeeann oohhh I LOVE those mamaroos!! I didn't buy one because I already have a swing but I was in Babies R Us a couple of weekends ago and they had one on display that was moving. I had my 2 yr old with me in the cart. Even she was impressed. lol She was watching it and she says oooh mama look! She's my favorite shopping buddy. She hates being confined to the stroller when shopping.. or a cart. She wants out and she walks up to a ton of things and just says look mamma.. soo cute!! lol Daddy's in trouble.

jerseygirl227 · February 2015

I have not obsessed about the registry quite yet, but I do find myself doing a lot of research on carriers and wraps. It'll be July in Arizona when Chloe arrives, so I am thinking a carrier would be better than a wrap (which might get too hot). Any suggestions? I did start a registry on amazon (most of my friends and family are out of state) and I have a Baby Bjorn on there, but I have no first-hand experience with them.

I, too, am trying to get a lot of things used or for free, lol. I have three rubbermaid containers filled with little girl clothes from newborn to 4T. I am so grateful! I also have a bouncer and a swing that I got for free my my future SIL. She said she also has a bassinet, which will be nice. Breast pump will be covered by insurance.

liveeeann · February 2015

@niknak1208‌ So glad to hear your daughter was impressed with the Mamaroo! I worry that I will make a large purchase on a baby gear item and then have the baby not like it! You're so lucky to have a fun shopping buddy!

NeonNoon · February 2015

I don't have any experience with carriers @jerseygirl227 but we talked about it on a thread here a month ago that might interest you:

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12518669/baby-wearing-carriers#latest

There are some comments about hot weather in there too.

jerseygirl227 · February 2015

NeonNoon said:

I don't have any experience with carriers @jerseygirl227 but we talked about it on a thread here a month ago that might interest you:
https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12518669/baby-wearing-carriers#latest

There are some comments about hot weather in there too.

Thanks for the link!!!

mattandlora · February 2015

Am I digging up an old thread? Yes. Because I've discovered my vice with baby gear. Everyone recommended various swaddlers and miracle blankets, etc, for DS. So I got them. Know what? He hated being swaddled and we never used a single one. Now DD is coming and there are some new swaddling contraptions out (the Woombie is my favorite). I want to get them too. DS just wants me to use the old ones which we never used anyway. Oh, sure, that is the logical solution. But why do that when I can have an even larger variety of things my kids probably won't like?

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