how much did it cost you to buy your baby items

[kaity08]

yesterday I went shopping from morning till night, and I spent 600$ and I am still not done buying, I only bought the crib, bedding set, but not the mattress, clothes (almost done with the clothes) bath items, blanket, a toy for the car seat, a teething toy, snow suit and that is it. and it came up to 600$.
I still didnt buy the stroller, the car seat, the diaper bag, breast pump and so many other things.
how much did you spend on your baby items????? am I spending too much??

[nikko*ttc]

Holy Cow, of course we are talking double the babies. Currency exchange currently for the pound is 1.48$.

[StressHead]

I managed to get all my stuff for twins for 2600 pounds. I put 1000 in a baby fund and so did my partner and the grand parents put 300 in each. We refused to let them spend any more than that because we didnt want them to go silly and we wanted to pick our own stuff.

[LauraB78]

I live on Nantucket Island, MA and things with the ex are very challenging, to say the least.. It has been really tough, but thanks for your support and well wishes!

[tramaddi]

I would consider if u really need a baby monitor.  Unless u have a hearing prob or live in a large house they are sorta useless.  I didn't get much at my baby shower alot of dollar store bath products and papmpers.  We put things on layaway at K-Mart.  I can't say enough about e-bay.I got my swing for $5.00 on ebay.  I got the crib at a yard sale. Look for all the bargains u can.  People have kids everyday so there has to be a ton of baby stuff floating around being unused! Dang Laura it must be a pain to ride the ferry.  Geeze where do u live?  How are things w/ ex?  That makes things so tough.  I wish u the best

[LauraB78]

We haven't really spent any money yet.

My old roomie is throwing a dinner party for me Wednesday and I know a few people are bringing gifts. Our big items have been purchased for us, or I found for free.. We have a green website for my community (I live on an island) and it costs money to "dump" things, even brand new items, so people oftentimes list  them on the "green" website forst either for free or for sale. I got my crib from that website. It was a couple in their 60's who bought it for their summer home here for their Grandchildren.. It had been used 3 times. It looks brand new. I also got a diaper genie, never used and 3 refills from that website. I got my changing table for $10. at a yard sale and refinished and painted it. My Father bought the travel system. A friend of my baby's Father is absolutely wealthy and he had a glider made for his wife (she picked the fabric, everything..) I think he said he paid like $800 for it, he gave it to me as his kids are 5 and 8 now... We have received SO MANY clothes, I would say half new and half hand-me-downs from friends that are in fantastic shape and up to a size 2T. I got the pack and play and bouncy at my first shower along with tons of other essentials (monitor, receiving blankets, etc..etc..) We need essentials (diapers, meds,) But the last big ticket item is the armoire. I figure we will probably spend $750.00 in one day when we go to get everything.. Keep in mind I live on an island, and when I go to shop, I have to take my truck on a ferry ($175. round trip at the discounted rate) and it is a 2.5 hour ferry ride EACH way. It isn't fun and this is why I will be going ONCE and getting everything we still need. We plan to do that sometime in the next couple weeks.. I just have to keep crunching numbers and get a commitment from the ex as to what he is throwing in... He has more $$ than I do, and I think he is planning on paying for the majority.. At least I hope so..

Oh,and I have purchased a couple things on ebay, you really can find great deals! I am rambling..

It is soo expensive..

[Tarobinc]

Also, I forgot to mention that I am renting a breast pump from the hospital.  I just have to purchase new tubing. These types of breast pumps are made to be shared, with the system being a one way expression. The milk. etc can not move back into the pump.

Since Im not sure what pump will suit me best, I decided to rent one. Also, at the hospital were I will return to work, I was told I can use the pumps there. The OB department is very close to my office.  Again, just need my own tubing,etc.

[Tarobinc]

Luckily, thanks for 3 baby showers, most of the things we needed for our baby were purchased by other people, including our crib and other big ticket items. We bought her dresser and gliding chair/ottoman.  Plus, a friend gave us a few things since her baby is only a year old and she is not planning on anymore children in the near future.

However, what we didn't get, some I purchased second hand and off of Ebay.  Mostly, it was towels, blankets, and clothes.  You would not believe how inexpensive the clothes were and in great shape. Some weren't even worn!

[nikko*ttc]

BTW, the car seat was brand new and still in the box. Otherwise that was on my list to buy new.

[nikko*ttc]

I have spent around 300$ a month for the last 7 months, so I am in at about 2100$. The only thing I have left is the breast pump and pump supplies, which I figure will be at least another 350$. And believe it or not, I've haven't bought everything new either. I've been getting stuff from yard sales, craig's list, ebay, and consignment shops. I have paid retail on very few items, but the major cost was the crib and bedding. The crib I bought was about 600$ and the bedding was about 75$. I got the changing table from a friend, the rocking chair is a family heirloom passed on to the first born girl in our family, the dresser for 15$ at a yard sale, the swing for 15$ and the bassinet for 15$ at a consignment shop, and the car seat and stroller from a yard sale for 75$. I've bought clothing and blankets, etc both retail and used. I've bought new bottles and accessories, a few packs of diapers, the medicinal musts, etc all retail. I did get most of the bathing supplies and alot of clothes and toys at the shower. But still had to buy extra sheets, mattress protectors, and so much more. I know that I could have spent less but there are some things that you just buy new and others that you buy used. Babies are so expensive especially when you are starting from scratch again (there are 10 years between this one and my first). I have used as many coupons as I can, even signed up for credit cards to get discounts (paid the bill and canceled the card as soon as it came in), and hit as many sales as possible. I am a list person, so I made a list and then checked out prices on the essentials and then guesstimated at the items not on the list that would be purchased. Overall, I have stayed within the budget I set. Oh, yeah don't forget baby laundry detergent. I did that with my first and when I put her clothes on she would get a slight rash. When I finally figured out what it was I switched immediately and her problem cleared up. I was able to go back to regular laundry detergent somewhere around month 5 or 6, but those first few months definitely get baby laundry detergent.  

[Helen72]

I am waiting for Thanksgiving.  With economy doing so poorly I hope for large discounts as we approach Christmas.  I plan to buy all the necessities that are not bought from our registry on Thanksgiving and toys around Christmas time since for Christmas lots of toys will be discounted, I guess.   I am also collecting coupons that could be applied to larger items, like the travel system.

[Kash12]

I have brought the car seats(2), one crib , one mattress and  one breast pump and it cost me 650$. OMG.
I did however get a diaper bag a bouncer, one activity gym, some clothes, blankets and towels in my shower....
I still have some health stuff to buy ..small stuff... but am sure will cost me around 150/200$.
My mom and aunt are knitting woolen stuff stuff for the babies..so that will save a ton of money.
Babies stuff is pricey. Till now I always managed to use 30% -40% coupons from bru... without that it would have gone to 1K for sure.

[Cheesecake7]

You know I forgot to say yesterday that I got a lot of things on ebay for a fraction of the cost.  You have to be diligent, but you can get a good deal, you may try that.....

[kaity08]

I am not having a baby shower, but I am sure that so many people are going to give me presents when I have my baby, that is why I am not going to get my breast pump, mobile, monitor, clothes to wear when going out for the baby, swing and many other things. but it is so expensive...
I put a budget to spend, my budget was 800$ but that was with everything, then when I realized how expensive everything is then I said to my self that I am going to leave some so people would give me when I deliver.
I had a budget of 800 $ and spent 600$ so far and I still have to buy the travel system and so many other items....
this is my first baby and I was amazed of how much it is coming out to be.....

[Cheesecake7]

I was shocked at how expensive it was!   I know having a baby is not the cheapest thing, but was surprised at the overall cost.  We have been buying things little by little over time.  I think, out of our own pocket, we have probably spent close to a thousand. Now granted some of that is cutsie clothes that I didn't have to buy.  I was lucky enough to get my travel system for my shower too. But, it is amazing how these things add up, the big things plus there are so many little things.  Are you having a shower? If so and that is coming up that may help a little.  Im with ya though, the reality of the cost all at once really hurts!  I just made my last big purchase, breast pump.... $250, yikes!