Community› The Bump Month Clubs› December 2015 Moms
December 2015 Moms
New Discussion

Are any of you scared of/not interested in baby stuff shopping?

KimlovescatsKimlovescats member
in December 2015 Moms
I'm just not that into it. I have a few factors like a previous miscarriage and dealing with having to find homes for stuff people gave me and that was hard, and also just not having space in the house right now. But I go to stores where there are baby things and I get totally overwhelmed. Mostly because I hate cheap stuff made in China and hate the overgendered stuff.

I know I am going to need some things when the baby comes, and I have a lot of friends who want to give me hand-me-downs (I am all about that) but it's like I am pretty anti-consumer about this whole thing and don't like seeing ads and stuff.

I'm using the word stuff a lot. 

Anyone else feel this way?
Report Reply to Post

Re: Are any of you scared of/not interested in baby stuff shopping?

  • TomekiaBTomekiaB member
    I'm not a minimalist normally but a recent move and seeing how much stuff my friends with kids are getting rid of by first birthdays makes me wary of buying to much junk! I believe in buying things of quality that will last awhile so all these purchases for babies with a 3-6 month shelf life wear me out. I've shopped and researched online I find baby stores overwhelming.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • KatC129KatC129 member

    I totally understand! This is my first baby and when I first tried shopping for clothes after making the registry I felt so overwhelmed, didn't buy anything, walked out, and haven't been back since. Plus I don't want to buy stuff myself right now since so many friends and family are already giving me hand-me-downs and new clothes. Here in Chicago the winters get very cold, so baby won't really be out much other than her doctor appointments anyways until maybe April or May. And my husband and I are in a 2 bedroom apartment so we are limited on space too!

    My husband always said that the retail industry creates a lot of fake problems to get you to buy more things you don't actually need. We are sticking to the basic necessities for our baby. And I think that will be just fine :-)

    Pregnancy Ticker


    Report Reply
  • RSB1982RSB1982 member
    I am trying to approach baby shopping with the attitude of a practical minimalist.  I think being team Green has really helped me here.  The big purchases and most decor will all be gender neutral and hopefully in use for a long time.  Buying fewer, high quality items appeals to me.  We haven't bought any clothing yet.  I just want to have a few outfits prior to the birth, and then once we know the sex it will be easier to shop.  We will most likely be moving in June so I don't want to acquire too much stuff between now and then.  
    Report Reply
  • maiatenemaiatene member
    I hated it! My best friend picked out 99% of my baby things after I gave her basic directions (no animals, neutral colors). I think the only thing I picked out was his coming home outfit, the travel system, the crib and the swing. I edited her list and whatever I was not gifted hubby got afterwards from target. It's too much crap and you don't need most of it.

    I'm also superstitious about having a ton of baby things in the house before they are born so I'm sure that, along with my usual minimalist demeanor contributed to my less is less approach to baby gear.
    Report Reply
  • satindawl83satindawl83 member
    Me! I registered for maybe 30 things and it was a chore to get to that. I don't feel like wasting the money (or having family waste money) on extras the baby may or may not take to, plus we live in a small apartment, so the less clutter, the better. It's so bad that my mom wanted me to take home all these decorations, gifts bags, and momentos from my shower and I declined!

    As for clothes, we have a few outfits, but I haven't felt the overwhelming "aww and oohs" that it seems so many people have when baby clothes shopping.

    I think shopping for newborns is all about utility. There's plenty of time to cute them up when they're a little older!
    Report Reply
  • azimumazimum member
    same! i've had a high risk pregnancy and was told a few times throughout that the baby wouldn't even make it. even though i've made it to 30 weeks, i've developed some sort of PTSD and haven't purchased a single thing for the baby! i only purchased one pair of maternity pants for myself haha.

    i've been told that there are just a few basics that you really need for the first few weeks anyway, so i'm not too worried about it!
    Report Reply
  • mltarriomltarrio member
    I am not super into baby things at all, with the exception of my baby. We keep a pretty minimalist home and we live in a city, so we don't have a lot of room. I have registered for 30 items, and it wasn't easy for me to put that list together.

    When I feel overwhelmed I remind myself of the checklist my MIL gave me for a baby actually needs: diapers, food, love.
    Report Reply
  • Mykeke94Mykeke94 member
    Me! All I have is gifts and clothes from my nephews one minute I think I don't need alot but then I try to shop Amazon, Walmart etc. I start and never finish because I get overwhelmed and scared first which pattern, what fabric, is this safe, wait this has this special effect or benefit... The questions never stop nor options so yeah
    Report Reply
  • LMJLLMJL member
    I'm so with you on the "made in China" & overgendered stuff. Like PP, I love that part of being team green. I registered for the big things, mattress, carrier, car seat, pack nplay, high chair & a few little things for those who want to spend less. But if I don't get them I probably won't buy them myself. If you are overwhelmed with no help, check out the baby bargains book, it has a really minimal list & you can see where a lot of these things are made. It's also really good at helping you decide what from their list you need. For instance, I don't need a stroller for a while at least, so that's one less thing for me.
    Report Reply
  • KimlovescatsKimlovescats member
    Thanks everyone, I am glad to know I am not an anomaly... 

    and like KatC129  I am in the same weather predicament but I am in Minneapolis, so yeah, I don't plan on leaving the house a heck of a lot for a few months. brrrrrrrrrrr.
    Report Reply
  • lainey419lainey419 member
    I have bought a few outfits, but that's all I plan on buying. This little girl is getting her brother's hand-me-downs (blankets, burp clothes, any more gender neutral clothes, etc)...and I never had much for him. Too much baby stuff overwhelms me and is unnecessary. I never used half the things that I received at my son's baby shower, and gave them away or sold them.
    Report Reply
  • TomekiaBTomekiaB member
    BTW I used the bump's layette list. I bought mostly plain white onsies etc. I bought 1 pack of newborns and everything else 0-3 months (my family has big babies). I shopped carters online on sale. I don't understand buying lots of cute baby clothes this early...since I have no idea yet what size baby will be when for the cute outfits. I find it less overwhelming to shop online (I love to shop normally but I think 7 minutes has been my max in baby stores before getting overwhelmed and leaving).

    I ordered a bassinet and play yard (lotus travel crib/bassinet). Which I figure is adequate sleeping until 2-4 months old.

    So I do need to buy a carseat and a baby carrier (I'm seriously considering delaying stroller buying since December weather isn't great walking).
    Report Reply
  • hayliermhaylierm member
    I'm totally feeling you on this. Everything is so dang expensive! You could take an item that is for adults as well, but geared towards babies/nurseries and its 3x more expensive. For example, I wanted a book case for the nursery because a lot of people have got him books, I have old books to pass on, a few dolls/toys, etc. You can find bookcases for like 30 bucks but if you look for it under nursery or with cutesy design/color they are now magically 50+$ c'mon now! Lol also all the stuff retailers try to shove down your throat. I too find being in baby stores overwhelming. We are very lucky because this is the first grandbaby for everyone. (great grandbaby in a few cases too). So we are getting SPOILED!!!! So I have bought literally nothing. I wont have to buy any clothes, he already owns more than I do. Lol my baby shower is Saturday so after we see what's left on the registry (which I did 100% online) will be the first time I've had to deal with any baby purchases.
    Report Reply
  • lalg28lalg28 member
    Yeah I'm not buying a thing either. I'm having four showers. Church, work, one in Louisville where my family is from and one where I live now for DH family around Knoxville. I'm thinking I may get away with buying nothing except diapers etc later.
    Report Reply
  • Court11152325Court11152325 member
    I suppose it's more because I don't like spending a ton of money over being turned off by seeing baby clothes/gear, but we've been going to local consignment sales and shops to get a lot of things (other than a crib/mattress and car seat). We registered for some bigger stuff, but if no one gets it for us (ie a highchair), I'll just wait until it gets closer to time to use it and start looking for used stuff. 

    We've gotten some really nice things at consignment sales. I got a barely used nursing pillow for $10 and the Ubbi diaper pail for $15 (also don't know if we really need a diaper pail, but $15 isn't bad to invest in figuring out if we do or not). 
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"