Dont Want To Go Over The Top Buying For My Baby...

[FurMonster]

Im 29 weeks pregnant and tbh havent got a clue what i need.. I finish work in 6 weeks so would like to get as much as i can for my little boys first year (taking a 60% pay cut), so wont have much cash for anything until i go back to work.. but i dont want to get too much.. Anyone got any idea how much stuff ill need.. What sizes and how many of, what essentials do i need.. What kinda toys (first baby in the family for 17 years so things have changed a bit since the last ones).. I really dont have much of a clue..

[boxtops]

LOL, furry, until I opened the post, I thought you were buying things for your kitty....! :-)

[grasscarp]

You will be able to get lots of things secondhand as babies need things for a short time at each stage. I have just given away a high chair on freecycle and my daughter just got a double buggy from same source. eBay and charity shops are also good sources.

[dotty.]

disposable nappies will be the biggest expense but tesco have great offers on at the moment on newborn. baby wipes and nappy bags are on offer too, you'll go through hundreds of them in the first year so buy them in whilst you can. bodysuits and babygros are the next big necessity, the newborn ones won;t fit for long and you will be given alot of newborn and 0-3month presents and so go for 3-6months if you are buying stuff yourself, again, tesco have had a brilliant sale on with most items £1 or £2. if it is your first baby try not to accept second hand clothes but if you do only use them after washing them at the same time as washing the new baby clothes your baby has already worn.

[JaneDoe2]

// if it is your first baby try not to accept second hand clothes but if you do only use them after washing them at the same time as washing the new baby clothes your baby has already worn.//

Dotty this is intriguing , why??

[dotty.]

science jane, science

[JaneDoe2]

come on then dotty -explain ;-)

[boxtops]

Dotty, why not accept second hand baby clothes, I never heard of people NOT doing this - it saves a fortune, and some are barely worn!

[sherrardk]

Second hand stuff is fine although my first child didn't have any, the others all did (my own hand me-downs). Lots of vests and baby grows for the first three months, no real clothes (people will buy them for you and they are a faff). I know things will be tight money wise but don't go mental until you get into the swing of things. Also, don't take the tags off stuff on case you don't get around to using them (baby's grow quickly, things get over-looked - and then you can take them back and get other things instead). I love Asda for baby stuff, find Tesco stuff a bit hit and miss and Sainsburys stuff is overpriced. Good luck with it all, x

[FurMonster]

Lol Box! You see why i cant keep affording vets bills!.. Im crazy but not that much :p.. Hormones sending me loopy i swear!...

Im not a huge fan of second hand.. I think charity shops are fabulous bit i couldnt bare the thought of putting my little boy in someones else childs clothes.. Im stocking up on nappies and baby wipes.. Buy a big pack everytime i do my weekly shop.. its more quantities...

[bednobs]

i have a slightly different take on things - put your money away and get things as and when you need them. My daughter is 9 months old now and she has clothes she hasn't even worn that she's unfortunately now grown out of, because we got given a lot of stuff. She has so many lovely toys and things that she never gets to play with because we just have so much stuff. Baby clothes are very cheap on ebay, compared to how much they are new

[dotty.]

A baby has to settle into a new environment and it's immune system and anti-bodies settle as well, introduce clothing that has been exposed to an alien environment and it unbalances that settling in process, wash the clothing together to maintain thefamiliaroty of the environment .

[bednobs]

ps i bought a terramundi when i found out i was pg and we just put money away as we had extra (i didn't buy a single thing for her till after she was born, and then only nappies and cotton wool for the first seven weeks) and then we smashed it after she was born

[giveup]

Dont buy too much in small sizes,they grow so quickly and don't get to wear half of it. I run a charity shop and the baby stuff we get is unbelieveable,so do check out your local charity shops,people buy so much they just don't use it all,and you get stuff for a fraction of the price,and most of it is nearly new.

[boxtops]

Do think again about only buying new, Furry - people give lovely things to charity shops, or sell unworn/unopened things on eBay.

[bednobs]

i would say a pram/car seat (if appropriate) is essential though - do your homework now about what will fit in your car/what you like cause you wont have the energy or time towards the end, If you are going home from hospital in a car, they wont let you leave without a car seat

[belrec]

Agree with boxy second hand clothing is fine as long as you wash it first. For the first couple of months assume about 3 - 4 changes of clothes per day a vest and baby grow is sufficient for in the house then add a jacket and blanket when out and about. Get 3 - 6 months mostly but when you have just had him send OH out to get right size as you never know how big they will be until they get here :-). Also come back and ask anything there are loads of friendly people here. Good luck x x x

[sherrardk]

I can see where you are coming from re the new clothes - baby grows and vests are cheap from supermarkets and come in packs of seven. When your baby is a little older you won't mind so much (especially when you see how quick the baby grows and how many clothes you need). Sensitive supermarket wipes are fine (and one of my children has sensitive skin) so I would pay the extra for branded nappies.

[belrec]

Also stock up on washing powder and conditioner you will be doing a wash a day

[joko]

id wait and see what people give you as gifts - my sister bought loads of stuff and found people gave her the same stuff as little gifts, so she could have saved the money and bought other stuff
people often like to give a gift and you might find you get things you have just bought - like clothes, toys, teething rings, mobile, blankets etc.

for now just get the essentials - cot, basket, carseat, etc, and just a few of the stuff like blankets, babygrows, bottle, toys etc

besides if you do run out of anything you can always buy as you go along


and dont turn your nose up at second hand - another lovely little baby - just like yours - has worn them, thats all ... what do you think is going to happen?

how would you feel if someone was disgusted and fearful by the thought of your own baby and his/her clothes?
hurt, confused and offended - right? because your little baby is lovely, right?

well so are all babies.

they will save you a fortune.