New baby on the way! Advice

[FlyingDumbo]

What can I get used, and what should I buy new? Any tips or advice on how to save some money? I may have a baby shower, but it will be out of state, so not sure I can register for anything that would be hard to ship. I really want to take the full 12 weeks off after having the baby, but it is going to be tough financially.

 

[chris31997]

Clothes, toys and feeding things you can get used. You would want to check to see about recalls. All that can be washed and the toys can be cleaned with a bleach solution.

Some furniture you can get used, again check for recall.

I always got the bed, sheets brand new.

If you nurse and pump, you can see about borrowing a pump from the hospital, not sure about that. You can even get a used pump but get the plastic pieces(replacement pieces new).

Look into signing up for diapers from Amazon, I have heard getting them shipped from there is cheaper Check into that.

Many places, will let you have an online registry and it can ship to you. Look into that also. And you can ask for gift cards, well the hostess can let it be known that they are collecting gift cards for you for local places, like Walmart, Babies R Us


The critical things for a baby are: bed, clothes, diapers, car seat, diaper bag, and lots of love

The rest of it is icing on the cake and may or may not make your life easier.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

The critical things for a baby are: bed, clothes, diapers, car seat, diaper bag, and lots of love

The rest of it is icing on the cake and may or may not make your life easier.

I agree!

Used:

You can save a bundle by shopping for gently used clothes, toys, baby bath tub, baby swing, etc. Babies only use these things for such a short time that they don't get a lot of wear and tear, therefore you can find some almost-new stuff quite easily AND you won't spend a lot of stuff you won't use for every long.

New:

I would save the money for the stuff you will want new of, mainly for safety reasons.

I would purchase new bottles (older ones may have BPA plastic).

I would DEFINITELY purchase a NEW carseat. They have expiration dates, the hot sun can weaken the plastic, etc. If money is an issue opt for ONE carseat that will last for years. You will lose the convenience of an infant carrier but you will save money by only needing to purchase a convertible carseat.

I would lean towards a new crib. Used cribs can contain flaking paint/stain and those with drop sides can be dangerous. I also would prefer to know where the mattress has been (but that is just me...)

Congratulations and have fun!

As said before, the most important thing for a happy and healthy baby is LOVE!!!

 

[la79al]

I would definitely get a new crib and new carseat or at least get one from someone you really trust. I also agree with doing research into which carseat will last the longest as far as what size you kiddo will get too big for it. You can save money by not decorating a nursery for a baby that won't care what the room looks like. Buy sheets instead of a bedding set. Hit consignment stores or even Goodwill for baby clothes but you will probably get a ton of those after the baby is born. Yardsales are also great for baby and toddler clothes. Stick with the basics as far as clothes. Lots of sleepers and onesies will get you through the first couple months. You can get baby gear (bouncy seat, swing, exersaucer, etc) from a consignment store or Craigslist. See if you have a friend or family member you can borrow these things from though, the baby will use it for just a really short time, may not even like it, and they won't be rough on it so you won't have to worry about replacing it if it gets ruined. Don't get caught up on hype about things that you HAVE to have. You need to feed the baby, you need to clothe the baby, you need to bathe the baby. The baby needs someplace to sleep and a way to ride in the car (and probably a stroller too). The more basic you keep it, the cheaper it is going to be. And trust me, there will be plenty of time down the road to spend money on stuff that the baby actually cares about . We got our crib and baby bathtub (that we never used, we put a $5 bear sponge from Babies R Us in the regular bathtub) from IKEA pretty cheap. The crib converted to a toddler bed and my DD used the crib/toddler bed for 4 years. We got a mattress from Walmart for under $50 and again, after 4 years still in perfect condition. Make sure your hostess includes your home address in invites so people have the option to ship stuff to your house. Walmart tends to have really cheap shipping on baby gear.

 

[MrsPete]

These things you will use on a daily basis for months, perhaps years, perhaps with another baby later. Investigate exactly what you want, and don't skimp on these items:

Crib & mattress
Basic bedding -- you need 2-3 crib sheets (I prefer flannel) and a good assortment of blankets; bumpers, dust ruffles and comforters get little actual use.
Car seat -- you really do need an infant seat, then a larger seat later
Stroller -- start with a full-sized stroller, then you'll want a cheaper umbrella stroller later once the baby can sit up
High chair -- but you won't need this 'til may be six months

A breastfeeding pillow -- this is the best thing in the world. Be sure to bring it to the hospital. You'll spend hours holding the baby up while you're feeding him or her, and this makes a huge difference in your comfort. It may look like so much of the other junk on the shelves, but it is definitely a good spend.

In contrast, other things are semi-disposable. The baby will outgrow them quickly, so it's pointless to splurge on them. Fortunately, because these things become obsolete so quickly, they're easy to pick up used:

Clothes
Toys

I agree with Chris31997's assessment of what's really necessary, but I'll add two more things: Books and photographs!

The vast majority of what's sold at BabiesRUs isn't really necessary. Before you buy an expensive item, ask yourself what people did 100 years ago. Sometimes the answer is, "Well, they didn't need car seats because they didn't travel by car like we do today." But often the answer is, "This isn't something that anyone really needs."

 

[irishsharon]

We had the first baby in the family so everyone went nuts and bought everything! I was so glad to pass things on because somethings like the swing and pack and play cost $100 and only got used for a little while.Most friends and family are so glad to pass things on,I know I was.I just had to mention that when we lived in a 2 story house I set up the pack and play as a changing center with diapers,wipes,cream,bibs,blankets and clothes.Also I got lots of use out of the bounce seat.Congratulations and have fun waiting for baby

 

[twinboysmom]

Hi OP. Congrats! I think all the prior posts have been helpful. Most of what I suggest may be repetitive.

Bedding: I would get a new crib but not an expensive one. We have 2 we paid
$100 each that came from Amazon, free shipping. They do convert to
toddler beds. Walmart.com also has inexpensive cribs. I would spend
money on a better mattress, something firm. Bumpers aren't safe so
just get some sheets and mattress pads.

Stroller: Used is fine here. I am not sure what area you live in and how much
stroller use you will have. My sister lives in NYC and I live in the
suburbs in Mississippi. Our needs are different. Pick what it best for
your needs.

Car seat: New. Infant seats are not a necessity but much, much easier. I
would get one and purchase a convertible seat later.

Feeding: Breast is best and least expensive. If you formula feed (and there is
nothing wrong with doing so) generic formula will save you a ton of
money. Buy a breast pump later after you are sure it is the method
you will choose (and get a good one).

Diapering: I know nothing about cloth but it is cheaper in the long run but most
day care centers will not take them. I buy Luvs or generics for day
use and use the good ones at night. Use coupons, check with
amazon for their amazon mom and subscribe and save, diaper.com
can be pricey but does specials.

Bathing: Nothing wrong with the kitchen sink and then an inexpensive tub later

Toys: Used is fine. I cleaned ours with bleach and water or usually, vinegar.
My boys used their swings a ton, bouncers a ton, and exersaucer things
until they were way too big. I also recommend a pack n play. Great for
securing a baby in while you clean. Used is likely fine, or get a basic
model. We have a $69 one and a $200 one. The cheaper model is just
fine.

Clothing: Check yard sales, consignment shops, good will, etc. Used is fine.

I find that unless I have a coupon that most everything I can buy off of Amazon will be less expensive than at babies r us and those type of stores. I primarily use them to look at items but very rarely do I buy from them. My boys turn 3 today and looking back, I have so much stuff that was not necessary. My goodness, the clothes. We have decided we will have no more children so I will be starting to part with their items. I probably needed a third of what I had. It adds up quickly and you really just don't need as much as the baby stores make you think you need. Good luck!

 

[KennesawNemo]

I have been reading over another forum and found that there is a new law/regulation requiring that your insurance company cover you at least one breast pump. I've also read cases that new moms get free breast pump from their insurance company's supplier.

I am not sure what law/regulation is this or whether this is true or not.

ETA: I just googled this:

http://www.ivillage.com/how-get-breast-pumps-covered-insurance/6-a-477000

 

[CoP Luv]

We are in the same boat, OP. Congrats!

We are planning on cloth diapering, but I will have to dispel the rumor that day care centers won't use them. Ask first!

Both of the centers that we have talked to have no problem with cloth diapers at all. If that is part of your plan, be sure to make it known when interviewing.

 

[mjkacmom]

Don't buy a lot of clothes - with my first, people gave me SO many new outfits, I don't think she wore the same one twice.

I had new everything with my first, but the rest had hand-me-downs, donations, and garage sale items. Get a new infant carseat, and a new convertable carseat. I'd get a new stroller, only because I know mine got a bit gross after a while. I found that I needed more than one - a stroller frame for the infant seat, a GOOD umbrella for my van, and a plusher stroller for walks around town (I liked joggers).

But really, almost everything is fine used, especially if you know the owner. I had several used cribs (my kids used them until they were after 3, so I usually had 2 or 3 kids in cribs at the same time). I always got new, good mattresses, though.

 

[lady9]

Definitely breastfeed at least while you are home with the baby. After a week, start pumping (you can rent or if you have a friend that has a good one-like q $300 one, borrow it but get your own tubing and bottles) and freezing the extra milk for when you go back to work.

Start looking for coupons for diapers and buy them as you see a good deal. Walmart is so good about exchanging sizes if you find your baby has outgrown a size and you still have packs left.

Don't count on generic formula, once I ran out of expressed breast milk and needed formula, mine baby did not do well on it and had to have a more expensive formula. This was due to digestive issues, not necessarily the brand of formula.

We only bought our DS and DD going home from the hospital outfit, we got so many clothes in many sizes, we didn't buy much the first year. Our city has a Lil Lamb's Closet sale twice a year. See if your town or a nearby one has a sale. You will get great deals on clothes and other baby items.

Congratulations!

 

[Pesky]

New:
* crib
* car seat
* teething toys (really fine used if washed in bleach solution but skeeves me out so personal preference there)
* breast pump (unless someone you know really well and you get new tubing and flanges)

Used:
* bouncer
* exersaucer
* bathtub
* swing
* changing table
* clothes (let people know what you are having ASAP because you will find you can often get some hand-me-downs for nothing)
* Robeez (I don't buy used shoes once walking (except for seldom worn dress-up shoes) because the shoe conforms to the foot over time and each kid's feet are different)
* stroller (snap-n-go's are great to pick up used and you can get a bigger more sturdy one new if desired)

 

[dhardawa]

For the car seat, either get a new one or get one from someone you trust with your baby's life (because that's exactly what you're doing). If you get used, check for recalls, make sure it isn't expired, and be absolutely sure the original owner hasn't done anything to compromise the seat (in a crash - even minor, washed the harness straps, washed the cover and used fabric softener, etc.). I highly recommend getting an infant seat. Infant seats fit newborns correctly and this is critical. Most convertible seats, even those rated from 5 lbs, will swallow an infant and the harness won't fit correctly.

 

[Disflyer]

I second pretty much everything everybody has said, especially about the clothes... Don't waste money on many expensive outfits.

I wanted to really echo the call for looking into your insurance and breast pumps. We got ours with no copay 100% covered a few years back.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

A suggestion for the shower--one that I am sure will result in some criticism, but whatever.

For my cousin's wedding shower which was out of the state where she lived, she went ahead and registered at department stores in that area. The day after the shower, she took everything she couldn't pack back to that store for a credit and then re-purchased the stuff when she got home.

 

[Agent7]

I volunteer at a community action center which has a thrift store and we actually get baby clothes that still have the tags on them in all the time. Nice brands too. Actually I think of all the clothes you can get at thrift stores children's clothes tend to be the best quality. Some baby clothes even came in with little shoes attached - it was adorable.

 

[tcufrog]

I highly recommend the book Baby Bargains. It's the best Consumer Reports style book for baby stuff and gives advice about buying new or used. I would also see if there are any upcoming large resale sales such as Just Between Friends coming up in your area. They are often big enough to take place at convention centers and you can sometimes score great bargains on baby clothes, carriers such as Maya Wraps, exersaucers, etc. You can sometimes score great deals on strollers, toys etc on Craigslist.

Some things that aren't needed:
-baby bathtub (A sink with a towel in it and a sprayer can work just as well or you can take the baby into the shower or bathtub with you. Our older son hated the baby bathtub so we got in the tub or shower with both kids).
-changing table (you can get a changing pad and attach it to any dresser)
-bassinet
-highchair (we used a Fisher Price booster seat that attaches to a kitchen chair)

You need at lot less starting out than you think

All you really need:
-a few diapers and wipes (different babies prefer different diapers so you don't want to invest in a huge case of one type until you know how big your baby is and what brand fits him best)
-some newborn and 1 month onesies. Your child may be too big to wear newborn clothes for long and you won't be going too many places at first anyways. Babies also are surprisingly opinionated about what they are willing to wear.
-swaddling cloths or options like Swaddle Me
-a safe place for the baby to sleep
- a breast pump
-baby bottles (babies can be picky about what bottles they like so don't invest in too many at first)
-breast milk storage bags
-some way to wear your baby
-a changing pad and wipes case for a large bag
-an infant carrier carseat
-a stroller or snap and go
-infant thermometer, nail scissors, suction bulb, saline and infant tylenol

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I agree, you really need less than you think. And much depends on how you want to care for your baby.

My necessities would be:
A car seat (and you really do need to buy it new)
A wrap baby carrier or sling
Baby T-shirts, pants and sleepers
Cloth diapers (will save you lots of money in the long run)

If you breastfeed, you already have the equipment. Those breastfeeding pillows work for some people, but it's easier to just use pillows you have around the house if you need some for support (every person is different). If you are going to be separated from your baby, before you buy a pump, get someone experienced to teach you how to hand-express. No cost, and research has shown that it can be almost as efficient as double-pumping once you practice a bit.

TP

 

[CandleontheWater]

I agree with what everyone has posted, and you have gotten some information, but I would add that I would NOT buy a used breast pump.

Unless the pump you are purchasing is actually rated as hospital grade, it is impossible to completely clean it and there are a lot of dangerous pathogens that can be pass through breast milk. If you are getting the pump from your sister, and you know 100% that she is disease free, than that is one thing, if you are getting it off Craigslist or from a friend or acquaintance, I wouldn't risk it.

 

[dsneprincess]

I agree that you need much less than you think. I wanted to say that I have had great luck with and bjs diapers, even overnight& they are reaaly inexpensive compared to pampers. (DS#1 was pampers only, live & learn!) we also had to change DS#2 formula due to a Similac recall & he couldn't tolerate Enfmil. We used BJ compare to Similac with no issue.
I would buy the stroller, car seat, mattress & bedding new. Everything else used or borrow. DS#2 hated the swing and even at 2&1/2 will not swing, so not a necessity for every child. Both my boys loved bouncy seats & so did DH & I while we were trying to eat! I agree that you will get clothes once the baby is born, probably more than you will ever use. Be selective & return what you don't love. My sister had great luck with this; used credit for needs as baby grew. Helped that she lived 2 states away & no one knew that she didn't use every outfit given! (until now?) lol.
Best wishes to you & your baby.