12-24 weeks pregnant (part 4)

crazy-cat-lady_2

jtr2803 wrote: »

A few grand?!?! Jesus! I just can't see how unless you're going for one of the most expensive buggies there is? Honestly, that seems a lot :eek:

Not one of the most expensive, no. It is probably one of the most pricey single things on the list..But with everything we still need to buy it easily adds up. We have lists saved which we will order on Amazon, ikea and a few other places and it all adds up to a few grand. Easily. That's including decorating the nursery. I don't think it's that unusual.

psychopathbabble

crazy-cat-lady wrote: »

Not one of the most expensive, no. It is probably one of the most pricey single things on the list..But with everything we still need to buy it easily adds up. We have lists saved which we will order on Amazon, ikea and a few other places and it all adds up to a few grand. Easily. That's including decorating the nursery. I don't think it's that unusual.

Dont forget people will want to buy you things or give vouchers too... And research it all, it's easy to think we need all these things but actually all we need are clean clothes, nappies, food and a bed to sleep in. Obviously that's a super basic list but you get the idea! I get too caught up in buying things but having got married in January and just bought our first home, we have to be careful we don't go overboard buying everything as we simply don't have the money for it all. Luckily our parents are buying the pram and cot between them all which is a massive help.

pigpen

psychopathbabble wrote: »

Dont forget people will want to buy you things or give vouchers too... .

Don't count on it.. I had 2 sleepsuits bought for my first.. about 6 for my second because she is a girl... and nothing at all for any of the others until I had the smalls when my OHs mother bought the 2 cots.. my sister got the 3 smalls an outfit each too.

I've spent about £40 on this one.. despite having got rid of everything about 9 months ago!.. but yeah with a puchairs, cot and car seat a couple of thousand pound is easily spent!

crazy-cat-lady_2

psychopathbabble wrote: »

Dont forget people will want to buy you things or give vouchers too... And research it all, it's easy to think we need all these things but actually all we need are clean clothes, nappies, food and a bed to sleep in. Obviously that's a super basic list but you get the idea! I get too caught up in buying things but having got married in January and just bought our first home, we have to be careful we don't go overboard buying everything as we simply don't have the money for it all. Luckily our parents are buying the pram and cot between them all which is a massive help.

Trust me, everything has been researched. My husband reads the reviews for everything and nothing goes on the lists unless they're all good. Not just with the baby, with anything.
I've already knocked a few things off the list after my sister assured me that they were unnecessary and she never used them either time. People have bought us things. But we've only asked them for smaller things as we can do the rest ourselves. If people want to give her anything or spend money, I'd rather when she's born it go into savings for her. That'll be much more useful.

FreddieFrugal

Remember as well that if you're using a catalogue to tell you what you need to buy. Then obviously you have a high chance of purchasing things that you don't actually need!

Products are marketed at parents to be as if they're vital when many are in fact just add ins that you may find little to no use for. Or there may be a much cheaper alternative.

Parents to be are set up emotionally to feel like they must make sure their baby is safe and happy, and some people may add to that a fear of getting things wrong or struggling. Advertisers are able to use that very effectively to encourage you to buy expensive products supposed to help in those areas.

But generally speaking, you could spend £100 on a pushchair or £400 on a pushchair and yet both would be perfectly fine for the baby. you could spend loads on expensive designer clothes that are only going to be worn for a month.

Children are happy playing with anything that they find fun and stimulating and that doesn't have to be a £30 toy. (Playing with the wrapping paper sort of thing)

Babies will cost money, but the amount is completely up to the parents.

Realistically I expect that we'll be spending up to £1500 but hopefully a lot less than that. We do already have offers from family to buy particular high ticket items. The cot, pushchair and car seat should be covered.

Most of our expenses have come from things we're doing to the house! Like the soundproofing in the nursery. Which is about £350 for the materials.

pigpen

I spent £100 on a pushchair.. the rear suspension collapsed after 8 weeks very nearly landing my iny baby on a concrete path on his head.. the manufacturer tried telling me my baby was 'too heavy' .. he weighed about 7lb at this point!!! Needless to say I got a new pushchair out of it... it was awful, for weeks all I could see was his mashed head on the floor.. I was without a pushachair for weeks while they 'looked at it' ... I wouldn't get a 'bargain' again, ever!!

Mine wear only sleepsuits until they are about a year old.. clothes just seem pointless and are for everyone elses benefit not the babys.. we accessorise with pretty cardigans

I would recommend getting lower cost clothes/bedding/stuff.. even second hand.. and putting extra money into a car seat.. a frilly dress or designer shirt won't save your babys life, a crappy car seat will put it at more risk should the unfortunate happen.. Items which keep them safe have to be properly researched... common sense really!

The best highchair I have ever had is the super cheap Ikea Antilop.. all these stupid folding her, cushioned there seem to breed mould and filth.. it is impossible to get in all the nooks and crannies and they never seem to fit properly whereas the antilop is a tiny seat but the tray is at a perfect height.. we have had loads of different ones and the smalls haven't been able to sit comfortably in them until well over a year old. Better still.. the straps come off to be washed!!!! and it fits in the dishwasher!

euronorris

Don't forget to shop around for things, as us MSEr's like to do.


DH's Dad gave us £300 for the cot bed, but after shopping around, using vouchers etc etc, I managed to get the cot bed we wanted, the mattress, 3 bed sheets and a baby towel for that money. With cots and cot beds especially, the difference in price between different companies is phenomenal! First place we saw it - £300. Where we bought it from - £220!

psychopathbabble

euronorris wrote: »

Don't forget to shop around for things, as us MSEr's like to do.


DH's Dad gave us £300 for the cot bed, but after shopping around, using vouchers etc etc, I managed to get the cot bed we wanted, the mattress, 3 bed sheets and a baby towel for that money. With cots and cot beds especially, the difference in price between different companies is phenomenal! First place we saw it - £300. Where we bought it from - £220!

Can you let me know what cot bed you have got? I've no idea where to start

jtr2803

I agree with Freddie, catalogues are a bad idea... Half that stuff is wholly unnecessary!

We had nothing and we've been bought nothing apart from a play mat, I still think we will do £1000 maximum for the first six months equipment but then I search for bargains (my snuzpod with full bedding set and waterproof sheet was an unused prize, cost £180) and my bouncing chair was £16 used but like new from eBay. I do think it's so easy to go crazy, especially when its your first but is rather spend as long at home as I can so would rather save where possible.

ThinkPink

I did pick up a catalogue as i walked by mothercare the other day, I already have a list of what I think we need so plan on sticking to that for now but will the catalogue to get an idea of costs and will then research and shop around for the best possible price. We have some money saved that will buy us a chunk of stuff, I just need to have a look in the shops to decide exactly what we really need in a pushchair. I have an idea of the maximum I want to spend on one so don't really want to go over that!!