Baby Equipment: cheaper way of doing it?

bridiej

DD and I are coming to the UK for a visit next May. I intend to bring her stroller but otherwise I'll need a car seat, high chair, potty etc. etc.

I've had a look at the Argos website and I reckon it will be about £100ish for everything.

BUT since we'll only be using it for a month I wondered if there's a better way of doing things?

I know I could sell the stuff afterwards, but I dont really want my parents to have the bother, plus a second hand car seat isnt always easy to sell.

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks

freda

If your parents are UK based, you could look at the freecycle listings for their area - loads of baby stuff comes up on our freecycle. Or, do they have friends with children who could lend things?

There are some quite neat little portable highchairs that you can buy too - some that attach to a table and are fabric on a frame, and some that fold up into a little plastic case.

Personally, I'd not be happy with a second hand car seat with an unknown history, I'd rather borrow from someone your parents knew or buy a new one. All the rest may as well be sourced second hand though.

tammigirl

whereabouts in the UK are you visiting? I live in the north east and if its near me I have stuff i could loan you for a month

elainew

I'm in Glasgow and also have stuff you could borrow. If not then freecycle is fab to pick things up on.

jess1974

Do your parents have a car boot sale near them, most of the stuff you need can be picked up for peanuts at one....

foreversomeday

Could you bring the car seat? I think that would be the most difficult to borrow/sell on.

If not mothercare's basic car seat is £45 and is perfectly good. You can get money off on the discount codes & vouchers board as well.

Edit - sorry that car seat is from birth - 9 months, may not be appropriate.

Mimosa_Miminski

When we went to Aus to visit we took our carseat & pushchair with us - Quantas were great and it didn't count as part of the luggage allowance. It was handy at the airport as we knew how to fit the carseat quickly rather than facing the unknown. I bought one of those little compact travel high chairs (which strap to a normal seat) which was great for the 2 months we were there and handy when visiting friends houses - I got it for around £10 (cheaper than a full sized high chair).

Spendless

Hello Bridie:j I didn't even know you'd had a little girl- congratulations:beer: I remember a post saying you were pregnant some time ago, but hadn't realised how long.:eek: How old will she be when you visit?

anyway- we have had this problem when visiting family in Canada and what we did was family over there either borrowed or bought stuff at yard sales for us to use whilst there. We did take some stuff with us, the pushchair cos we needed to use it at the airport either side, travel cot as family weren't able to find an alternative and car seat.

sooz

I flew long haul with BA, & they too were happy to take both a buggy & car seat as extras to my luggage allowance, free of charge. The only thing I did was pay to have the car seat shrink wrapped at the airport, so that it wouldn't get scratched, as that got checked in with my suitcases.

For everything else, get your parents to ask friends or ask on freecyle. If they live in a family area, try the charity shops as well, they often have loads of stuff. Ikea has a great highchair for £12, but my charity shop often has them donated, & sells them for £2 each.You also might not fancy a second hand potty , but you or they can get one for £1 at Wilkinsons or any pound shop.

jackomdj

This is a fab travel highchair. We keep ours in the baby bag & always have it, handy if a cafe does not have a highchair or if we go to visit friends.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BABY-CHAIR-HARNESS-PORTABLE-HIGHCHAIR-TRAVEL-HIGH-SEAT_W0QQitemZ230300067955QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230300067955&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

With regards to other things I agree with what others have said about friends, freecycle & car boots.

Nicky

hollydays

have alook at beha- the baby equipment hirers association.