E-baby..we can do better than that!

jo_b_2

spoilt_BUT_appreciate_it wrote: »

The one thing I looked forward to each day was spending on my unborn child

So whilst we all like a bargain and seek them out on E-bay or in the market or in the sales..., I also thoroughly enjoyed picking up that
extravagant Christening dress and getting the crib and cot that I wanted from Mamas & Papas

I think there is a lot of pleasure to be had in all the planning and preparation for a baby. The key is striking a balance and not feeling pressurised into buying all the latest gizmos and 'essentials' if you can't afford them.

Most people buy the basic essentials and then get some less essential items that just help to make parenting easier. An electric baby swing is definitely not an essential as far as the baby is concerned, but it can make a parent's life a lot easier at those times when baby is screaming and won't settle lying down and you're trying to finish a meal! Likewise I found one of those inflatable baby nests invaluable and worth its weight in gold. (I bought second-hand ones both times - I certainly wouldn't pay RRP for one!) Personally, I found the baby sling we bought a total waste of money but other parents swear by them.

Sometimes it is worth spending money on items that are just useful (or attractive) to have, but it is also helpful to be reminded that you don't need to spend thousands of pounds on a newborn, as the media likes to make out sometimes.