New baby essentials for a chas-strapped and confused couple (CALLING ALL PARENTS!)

ailuro2

Our changing cupboard was the best money we spent - it saved my back, wa ssomewhere to store all her nappies, vests, babygros etc, and is still in use as her book and craft cupboard 11 years on - I'm talking about something that looks like a covered bookcase with drawers down the side, not the open type.

As for a baby bath - it's much better for your back to use the kitchen sink with an old towel in the bottom to make it softer for them. Doesn't take up any extra room either. Once they're bigger you can take them in the bath with you.

Charity shops are good for baby clothes, don't buy lots of newborn sizes, DD was out of them in a few days, the 0-3 months fitted her much better.


If you can knit then make a few little hats and bootees, money is wonderful but taking time to make a little something to welcome the new arrival speaks volumes, imho.:D

p.s. I don't know in what way you're related to the parents to be, but do try not to take over and overwhelm them with your generosity.
Ask what they have already, ask what they need, phone and tell them when you've spotted a bargain and ask if they want it.;)

Torkijo

I would think twice about a cot and go for a cot bed - they last until child is 4/5 as opposed to having to 2/3 for a cot (When they can climp out -ours climbed out at 18 months!!)

We shopped around a lot online, comparing sites - Kiddicare, Amazon, e-bay (not always cheapest), Toys R Us - using the discount codes found on the Forums heere and Quidco for cash back.

NCT Nearly New Sales were a godsent, saving us a lot of newborn things and especially on cloths - you can see when and where they are on on the NCT Website.

We have found with the quality )or lack of it) in some cheap things available today it was asometimes a false economy not buying the slightly more expensive versions as where we went cheap, in most cases we had to buy again for No.2

Would definately not buy a second hand car seat - this is a safety issue, if the seat has been in a crash or just dropped from waist height (When swapping it from one car to another) it will have little protective value as they are made from similar material to Motorcycle helmets and once an impact has been absorbed thats it, it cant really do 2- so either get from someone you trust or buy new - somethings are worth more than money saving.

wontfallforit

skintchick wrote: »

BREAST IS BEST, it is also FREE, convenient and a lovely way to nurture a child. Please ask them to consider breastfeeding at least for the first 6 weeks, as it is so beneficial for the child (and mum!).

Yes I totally agree, though I can't force the girl

She still has a lot of medical and healthcare advice to take in at this relatively early stage, so hopefully she'll see the light, as it were...

Again thanks for all your suggestions guys, big help...

I have probably worded some of my posts wrongly, and perhaps given the impression that I'm about to dash off and buy a load of stuff without consulting the parents first...

I'm not . It's their baby, and they have the ultimate choice in exactly what I buy (though I'll probably sneak in a few extras of my own ). They'll be by my side in choosing everything, and you have all given us some really good ideas on priority purchases, and where's best to buy them...

So thanks again from myself and the parents-to-be

Chakani

OP, in your position, what I would do is buy one thing new, maybe a travel system, or cot bed (but would take mum & dad to be to choose it), and put the rest in a pot so they can choose whether to have less, but new stuff, or to stretch it further and buy secondhand. It's always a personal choice what to spend the available money on, and everyone has different preferences - my friend chose beautiful clothes and a brand new buggy, and loves popping into the local coffee shop with other beautiful mums and well turned out babies.

I spent about the same, got a £30 buggy off ebay, clothes off freecycle, and spent the money on a really good baby backpack, bike seat and good quality outdoor kit (waterproofs, lifejacket, warm stuff), as our family is very active and outdoorsy, and DS has come along from day 1.

Neither of us is wrong, we both got what suited us, and are both very happy, but it does show just how important personal preference is!

Good luck to your expanding family, may it bring you all lots of joy.

MrsW82

Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but have a nosy at the Avdertising board in your local supermarket - We did for our DD and got her bedroom furniture for half the price it should have been, and it was virtually brand new!
(Plus in our case it's Ikea stuff, and it was already built - saving DH a job! )

emmaBZ

hi just wanted to say we bought the cot from ikea was under £30 and mattress was £12 its great we bought it 5 yrs ago and are now using it for our latest addition. its a smallish size and great for under £50 bargain they still sell it its a SNIGLAR,

carlislelass

we did without a moses basket and baby bath

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Might be worth a try but:

When my DD was born (in07) i LOVED home made knitted cardis. I brought some from the local hospital for cheap. I also though, asked a few dears in an old folks home (didnt know em) if they would ming knitting some if i donated money (and wool and needles)

The other place to look is in local newspapers. Theres a guy who publishes in the Nottingham newspaper "the chad" and he makes cardis for charitys, the ones that sometimes have dropped stitches in he GIVES AWAY - see if you have anyone like that around or even put a "wanted" ad in - its free in ad mag

Any she ended up with homemade cardis until she was 1 and a half. They also made me (well her) some bootees and a hat lol

She still has one of them on her dollies

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

and dont forget FREECYCLE (although my local board is tight n wont lemme join!!)

And try and haggle shop prices - they might drop them slightly for you! (dont get done get dom!)

Ruby_Moon

People always buy way too much stuff for their babies and much of it ends up being thrown away or sold a year later when baby never wore it/used it.
Apart from a pram and a cot and obviously clothes that fit them babies don't need much else at all but we are brainwashed into thinking that they need half a supermarkets worth of items. Even clothes can be bought at charity shops for better value. The amount of designer baby stuff in charity shops for 40p/50p/75p etc is amazing and well worth grabbing because you will get twice as much back selling it on ebay.
All these 'special' items that are merchandised for babies come with a higher price tag, such as baby towel. Why buy a baby towel when an ordinary towel is just as good and cheaper?
You can budget very well with a baby. You just need to ask "do I really need that?" 20 bottles? special creams and ointments? muslim squares? You don't need any of it.