Q for First Time Moms

[oceanv]

When are you planning on buying the big items:

We are first timers so we have nothing......

Car Seat (we have to have this one to leave the hospital....)/ Stroller
Cribs
Change Tables / Dressers
PackNPlay
Swings


Are you going with a bassinet for a while then buying the crib or are you having everything in place before baby comes home?

[oceanv]

I flip between wanting the crib set up and in place and knowing that for the first 4-6wks i can get away with the co-sleeper thing I'm keeping my eye on (can roll it around the house, we have a rancher) so technically I don't have to actually buy the crib beforehand. Just the change table, swing, bath, stroller and car seat and maybe pack n play.   All the waiting is hard, pregnancy does not suit my personality at all.

I could of borrowed a lot of stuff from my friend but she went and got pregnant at the same time (I found out I was first, so when we went shopping she kept saying "oh i have that, you can borrow it NOT) she's due the day before me.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I just keep thinking My Cat babies are so not going to be happy about all this!!!

[Kristi_King]

We are going to be using a bassinet for the first couple weeks, my best friend has one that she is going to let me borrow.  But we are going to start buying the big things as soon as we get out of the first trimester and I know everything is ok, we already started looking and know for the most part what we will buy

[Whitneylauren]

I would pick stuff up that you know people aren't going to buy for you. For example, I know that my in laws are rather frugal people and that they weren't going to purchase anything expensive for the baby so I never counted on receiving the big items as gifts.
After I had my first son I wasn't sure when I would have another baby so I got rid of everything. Then, when we started planning on our second I began collecting baby items from my friends (who were done), and was able to get everything used for really cheap. I wouldn't care about the storage (we lived in a 900 sqft apt at the time) because I just wanted to get everything for cheap.
For clothing I shopped off season sales for the following year. That way I got clothes on clearance.

[JoyRenee]

I agree with kjbutcher- if something you want is on a GREAT discount, don't hesitate! Grab it up and save yourself some moolah.

[kjbutcher]

Here is my opinion...if you see something on sale, buy it and put the rest of the money somewhere to buy the things you didnt get at your shower.  I would keep the item in the box, because most places will let you exchange baby items not opened.  I did not buy the crib and such until i was 36 weeks and that was a huge mistake!!  I wanted to be so involved with everything but was so tired and unable.  I would say if you start getting things ready between 30-36 weeks and save the stuff daddy will help with for after 36 weeks you will be good.  here is one thing I wish someone would have told me though.  Wait to buy some things including clothes.  I loved shopping while pregnant, but once my son came, i wanted to shop for him...now that I knew who HE was.  It was just a different experience.  i already had everything and didnt need to shop which made it hard to find money or reasons to buy things.  good luck and enjoy!

[oceanv]

There's so much to think about.... argh.

I'm not sure If I'll be having a shower, usually they occur after the baby is born so some stuff can't wait until then. Maybe my co-workers will throw me a little one :-O)

I'm going to get the stroller / car seat
co-sleeper thingy (arms reach)

This will be my parents second grandchild but probably still exciting because their only other one is turning 13 this year.

[chantal21]

I'm not a first timer either, but my parents were nice of enough to buy the crib and co-cleeper/play-pen combo for us and we bought the changing table. We also got the stroller...i was just 5 months when my hubby got it. Everything else I put on my registry. I had all the big stuff by the time I was 7 months I think. My parents were just so excited as Jeremiah is the first grandchild in the family and they went crazy buying everything. I am set on most things for this little one...but if it's a girl....then I will tons more shopping to do later on!! lol.

[J_MO]

Register for everything that you need and then wait until you have some showers.  Lance and I ended up not having to buy any big items because people bought them for us.  You will be the ones buying the diapers, bottles, passies, and clothes.  Just wait until it is almost time for the baby to get here or at least until you know what you are having.

[kellyjo82801]

I have nothing either. I have to save up for all those things again. I thought my son was gonna be my last and he's 5 now.

[oceanv]

Thanks,
The problem is the car seat / stroller combo I was looking at went down $100 from 259.00 to 159.00 so I thought that would be good to buy now but I don't want to buy a bunch of stuff and have to find a place to store it all ..... we only have a 2 bedroom house.

Ya, I guess if you have more than a few years between children you may very well have gotten rid of all the stuff in time for the subsequent baby.

[JoyRenee]

I'm not a first-timer but wanted to answer anyway. I actually don't have anything beyond a boppy, a playpen and bassinet.

As first-time moms you should buy your own carseat and crib (unless someone has offered to purchase those for you). Register for everything else (swing, pack-n-play, highchair, etc.).

Since you don't always have a baby shower with subsequent kids I'm buying the crib and carseat in the coming months- whenever I have the money to do so!