Expensive purchases for baby - good or bad?

username456

got-it-spend-it

To be honest we have tried to save money wherever possible in preparing for our first baby, but we are very grateful for the indulgent gifts from excited Grandparents, aunts etc. We have a gorgeous travel system from the in laws, and a lovely John Lewis cot bed and mattress from my Mum- both will last years.

I was saying to a friend the other day that as much as I love Baby Gap stuff, I really resent spending so much on things that will be outgrown in weeks! She pointed out that it is friends and family who buy these luxury items- mums and dads can stick with Tesco and Asda stuff!

I'm a big fan of the Tripp Trapp by the way, and would be delighted if someone bought it for us.

rocketdog_2

When it comes to things for babies - I believe you get what you pay for so good on your MIL.

tiamai_d

I didn't say anything bad about the ikea chair, we use them in our coffee shop, but I personally wouldn't have one because the tripp trapp is better suited to us (we have a 4 chair dining table that we use to eat every day, price of buying an ikea chair + new table and chairs = more than tripp trapp). So, expensive high chair that will last a long time in our lifestyle = MSE.

isitenough

Just reading through and I want to say to the OP - your post was lovely and well written and I didn't sense anything to suggest that you were jealous etc... and feel some posts have been rude regarding this fact.
Grandparents do like to spend but at the same time should consult the parent-to-be as it could get uncomfortable if the parent to be is a moneysaver! *yes, I have 2 children and know how expensive it can get but doesn't have to be!*

Fuzzy_Duck

I, like you, think it's bonkers to spend such a ridiculous amount of money, especially when the baby will outgrow it in no time and you can get something just as good- if not better- for much cheaper. I will never understand it and even if I won the lottery tomorrow I still wouldn't spend more money than I thought reasonable. It's just the kind of person I am.

However, it's her money and if she wants to spent £160 on a highchair that's up to her. I'm sure she'd be just as excited if it was you having her son's baby. Still, if you and your SIL end up having lots more children she will almost certainly realise she can't finance that many and calm down a bit

username456

zzzLazyDaisy

When my first GD was born I was so excited! I was a very poverty stricken single mum when my son was born, and had no-one to help me, so everything was such a struggle. When GD1 was born I was much more able to help with things, and would have been gutted if they had refused.

By the time GD6 came along, we had discovered freecycle, and a more MSE way of life! But even so, if the children need anything and it is within my power to help out, I do.

That's what grandparents do

kindofagilr

rocketdog wrote: »

When it comes to things for babies - I believe you get what you pay for so good on your MIL.

Totall disagree

So you would say its better to pay say £10 for a top from Next as opposed to a one from Primark for £1 that they will wear for 3 months?

Not everything is better the more expensive it is

becs

Agree to a certain extent about not worth spending a lot of money on things they'll only be in for a matter of weeks. However I do pay more to get things from "ethical" backgrounds. Personally I can't think of anything more abhorent than buying childrens clothes from a shop proven to be exploiitng children.