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September 2015 Moms
bellaluna981
member
Stressing over baby gear
bellaluna981
member
So I'm nesting big time. But I'm also tired all the time, so I feel like I'm so unprepared for this new LO. With me not working and us having just bought a new house (we got a great deal on it, but it needs a lot of repairs, so I feel like I'm never going to be as prepared as I would like to be), and with two older kids, my budget is stretched super thin. I got rid of all of my baby gear when we moved last year from Texas to Colorado, because after 5 yrs of ttc for our third, we'd given up. So there was no point in hauling more things across two states when we wouldn't have room to store it anyway.
So here I am, 5 months pregnant with our surprise! miracle bundle and I keep freaking out because I feel like I'm not going to have everything I need. A car seat is a big must. I'm trying to find everything second hand to save $$$, so it's proving difficult. On top of that, I don't really have any friends here, so throwing a shower would be pointless and I don't speak to mine or my DHs family because they are all jerks and I'm beyond done with the constant verbal abuse I get from them. So I'm doing this all on my own. It kinda sucks.
On the bright side, I found a high chair on someone's curb today. I shamelessly carted that sucker home after making sure it wasn't beyond hope and spent 1.5hrs bleaching and scrubbing it. Aside for a few mildew stains on the fabric cover, the entire thing is in great condition, although it's missing the tray toy and the shoulder straps. Since my LO won't be using it until he's at least 6mos, I'm not too worried about the missing straps since the lap belt is there.
I don't feel comfortable going to yard sales or using craigslist, since this poor lady got attacked and her unborn child was killed not too far from where we are. She had used craigslist to find someone offering baby clothes and it turned out the person offering them lured her there to attack her and cut out her unborn baby. My husband works a lot, so I don't feel comfortable going to strangers houses alone and pregnant. So that leaves thrift stores and I haven't found an infant car seat or a playpen yet.
Just venting my frustration. Everything will work out eventually, it always does.
So here I am, 5 months pregnant with our surprise! miracle bundle and I keep freaking out because I feel like I'm not going to have everything I need. A car seat is a big must. I'm trying to find everything second hand to save $$$, so it's proving difficult. On top of that, I don't really have any friends here, so throwing a shower would be pointless and I don't speak to mine or my DHs family because they are all jerks and I'm beyond done with the constant verbal abuse I get from them. So I'm doing this all on my own. It kinda sucks.
On the bright side, I found a high chair on someone's curb today. I shamelessly carted that sucker home after making sure it wasn't beyond hope and spent 1.5hrs bleaching and scrubbing it. Aside for a few mildew stains on the fabric cover, the entire thing is in great condition, although it's missing the tray toy and the shoulder straps. Since my LO won't be using it until he's at least 6mos, I'm not too worried about the missing straps since the lap belt is there.
I don't feel comfortable going to yard sales or using craigslist, since this poor lady got attacked and her unborn child was killed not too far from where we are. She had used craigslist to find someone offering baby clothes and it turned out the person offering them lured her there to attack her and cut out her unborn baby. My husband works a lot, so I don't feel comfortable going to strangers houses alone and pregnant. So that leaves thrift stores and I haven't found an infant car seat or a playpen yet.
Just venting my frustration. Everything will work out eventually, it always does.
Re: Stressing over baby gear
I recently joined a group on Facebook called Buy Nothing. It is separated by neighborhood or communities, you should see if they have one in your area. Go search "Buy Nothing (the city you live in) on facebook. This has been a lifesaver for us! Basically people just post things that they no longer need and they are up for grabs for FREE!
They have strollers and high chairs and baby things on mine all the time
Hopefully there is one in your area that you can be a part of! You can also post an ISO (in search of) post and see if anyone has what you're looking for! I got a free changing table this way!
Good luck!
You should check with your local Social Services office. Our Social Services office sells new car seats for super cheap. They might not be "cute" or gender specific (they're usually gray or tan) but they meet all the safety guidelines. I have never bought any car seats from there but my sister has. I think the only stipulation they make is that you can only buy one car seat so if you wanted a 2nd one for a 2nd vehicle, you'd have to go elsewhere to get it. Our SS office has car seats from infant carriers all the way up to booster seats. And if your local office doesn't offer anything like that, they will probably know where you can buy a new car seat for cheap or they'd be able to tell you if there's any programs out there that could help you out. Good luck!
I've been scoping out our local children's consignment stores. They don't have used car seats but they only sell items that are in really great condition. See if there is a Once Upon a Child near you or any other consignment stores for that matter.
Message me! I know it's hard to know where to go in a new place - I've been here my whole life, let me know if you need some bargain hunting ideas!
I actually went down to this place today called a Caring Pregnancy Center. While they couldn't help with the furniture/gear I need, they pointed me to a class I can take next Saturday and receive a car seat for free or $25, they weren't a 100% on the deets. Either way, brand new car seat. I'm not picky, I've been poor or lower middle class my whole life and most of my clothes were second hand, I love finding cute clothes at the thrift shop or finding a good sale. I'm the queen of bargains lol. I've bought used car seats before though and never had any issues, but that was in South Texas. Used car seats are sold in consignment shops all the time. Probably not a bad idea to get a new one here in Co though since it snows and I have limited experience driving in snow.
Really I just need a bed for baby and a car seat. I have been buying gender neutral clothes since February. So I have a decent stash. I have a nursing pillow and I found a baby sling for $3 at the thrift shop. I am knitting up hats and if I can ever find my darn baby booty pattern, I'll have plenty of those too. I just stress easily lol because of my OCD, I want things a certain way at a certain time. I just remind myself it always works out, because it does.