Pregnant and not realizing how much baby furniture cost

[brandijo5]

Wow - thanks for all the great advice. I knew I could count on the DIS. I actually found a bedroom set last night on JCP's site and for the $700 bed at BRU, I can get the bed, changing table, and a nice 5 drawer dresser for the same amount. My parents are paying for the bed and dresser and MIL is buying the changing table. So now we are set in the bedroom.

I am blessed beyond measure here and I can't thank you all enough for the wonderful advice you have given. By all means, KEEP IT COMING!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MomToARedhead]

Hi, just curious about your Leksvik. We are planning to purchase that as well but saw some reviews online that had concerns about a gap between the mattress and railing. Do you have that problem with yours?
http://baby411.typepad.com/babybarg...ety-issue-mattress-gap-with-leksvik-crib.html

Did you use IKEA mattress also?

Thanks so much!

I read the bad reviews after we'd already been using the crib and I was very alarmed so I went to investigate because I'd never noticed a gap. The gap exists but it is not more than 1/2" wide on my crib and we have never experienced a problem. The only place my daughter has ever gotten stuck is legs through the rails themselves because we don't use a bumper.

We didn't use the IKEA mattress, we got a Sealy I think from Babies R Us.

I love the Leksvik and would not trade it for the world. If you have an IKEA near you, go into the store and check it out. The gap is created from the boxy part of the crib that the mattress slides into and then the crib rails are screwed into the outside of that boxy area. I don't know if people are not putting their cribs together correctly or what, but I can't imagine that very small gap causing any sort of problem. My mattress may be filled out more than others though - we mattress wrap (google "mattress wrapping new zealand" for more info) and between the wrap and the cotton towel and the bed sheet, we may fill ours out, making the gap nearly nonexistant.

 

[labdogs42]

I didn't read all five pages yet, but look for baby resale/consignment stores and sales in your area. My area has quite a few of these stores and twice yearly sales and you can find fantastic stuff at these places! Sure, I wanted all new stuff for my baby at first, but once I realized what stuff cost, I was sold on the resale idea! My mom got all second hand furniture for a room for my DS at her house and she got some great stuff (i did get new furniture for DS's room, but we got one of those cribs that converts to a double bed which is now the bed in our guest room). Google kid's consignment sale or baby consignment sale and you'll find all kinds of stuff!

ETA, I think the one thing worth spending money on is a good glider and ottoman. My DS is 4 now and we still read and rock in this chair almost daily. Mine is a Dutalier and I ordered it from a seller on Ebay. They had a much better price than BRU, even with shipping!

Since it sounds like you have the furniture thing all wrapped up (congrats!), do look to beg, borrow and steal baby stuff like a high chair, swing, pack and play, bouncy seat, etc from friends. My best friend borrowed all of that stuff of mine and it was all like new when I gave it to her! Babies use that stuff for such a short period of time, unless someone used it through 20 kids, the stuff remains in great shape! I'm getting ready to pass my stuff on to my other good friend who is due in August! Don't be afradi to ask your friends!

 

[cseca]

I read the bad reviews after we'd already been using the crib and I was very alarmed so I went to investigate because I'd never noticed a gap. The gap exists but it is not more than 1/2" wide on my crib and we have never experienced a problem. The only place my daughter has ever gotten stuck is legs through the rails themselves because we don't use a bumper.

We didn't use the IKEA mattress, we got a Sealy I think from Babies R Us.

I love the Leksvik and would not trade it for the world. If you have an IKEA near you, go into the store and check it out. The gap is created from the boxy part of the crib that the mattress slides into and then the crib rails are screwed into the outside of that boxy area. I don't know if people are not putting their cribs together correctly or what, but I can't imagine that very small gap causing any sort of problem. My mattress may be filled out more than others though - we mattress wrap (google "mattress wrapping new zealand" for more info) and between the wrap and the cotton towel and the bed sheet, we may fill ours out, making the gap nearly nonexistant.

Thanks so much!!!
You made me feel a lot better. We've checked it out a couple times but we didn't specifically look at the gap. Maybe the trick is like you said to add wrapping on the mattress to add more bulk to it.
Thanks again...

 

[BeckyScott]

ISince it sounds like you have the furniture thing all wrapped up (congrats!), do look to beg, borrow and steal baby stuff like a high chair, swing, pack and play, bouncy seat, etc from friends. My best friend borrowed all of that stuff of mine and it was all like new when I gave it to her! Babies use that stuff for such a short period of time, unless someone used it through 20 kids, the stuff remains in great shape! I'm getting ready to pass my stuff on to my other good friend who is due in August! Don't be afradi to ask your friends!

The other thing is, too, that it's pretty useless to buy all that stuff and then have a baby that doesn't like it. Neither one of my kids liked the baby swing. Fortunately I had my SIL's used one, and hadn't bought one myself. Because I woulda been pretty upset if I had bought one and lemme tell ya, neither one of my boys would put up with baby swings at all. Better to borrow one to try it out-- and if it works well and you want to buy a new one for yourself that's fine-- instead of spending all that money on every thing they sell and your kid not like half of it.