What do I need/don't need for new baby?

Jess_B

I am newly pregnant with my first and have been looking round the shops at all the baby stuff. Thought if i could get an idea of cost I can look at how much I need to save. But I am horrified by how much things cost and I don't really know what I need and what I don't.

I also don't know anyone who has stuff I could borrow so will have to buy everything my self.

I don't want to spend a fortune on things if I don't really need them or I can use other things cheaper.

Maisie

It's a long time since I had a baby but you will probably find you won't want half the stuff you think you do.

My daughter bought new stuff for her second(he's nearly 2 now) and has just had a car boot and sold most of it. I was shocked how little she sold it for. A padded travel carry cot that we bought for nearly £60 she sold for £15. It had only been used twice and she even had the box! Other things including a pram went for next to nothing. It was all in excellent ondition so have a look round car boots etc (if you don't mind them) as there are lots of bargains.
Babies grow so quickly and won't use the things for long.

bylromarha

byl's top 5

Pram
cot (bed) and bedding
clothes
nappies
car seat if you have a car (this can be bought in conjunction with a pram to make a travel system)

And that's about the lot. I had other things which I found invaluable (like a breast pump) but really not essential

You'll find lots of bargains on ebay, boot fairs and local papers. The NCT do nearly new sales as well where you can pick up great baby and maternity bargains.

there are also loads of tips on here. here's a couple of old thread which may help you out.

All the best with it...I found pregnancy to be the most amazing time of my life...and then I was holding my son and it just got 1000 times better.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=71893&highlight=baby

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=68932&highlight=baby

rach1973

Don't go mad spending loads on nice outfits for Newborns, they tend to cover their clothes with milk when they bring it back up and outgrow them before you can blink.
Infact most of mine spent alot of time in sleep & body suits.
Same with Pushchairs, as long as they have 4 wheels what does it matter what make it is?

Enjoy your pregnancy as things only get worse!!!! :rotfl:

s@sha

Congratulations on your pregnancy. My first baby is due in 6 weeks & like you I was completely bowled over by the amount of things that baby shops would have you believe is '.necessary'. New babies don't need half of it.I've been lucky in that I've been given quite a bit from friends & relatives, but I got my cot, sterilizer & some babygros on Ebay, which is a great source of good quality second-hand things..or even new at a much reduced price. I even got a pair of NEXT nursery curtains from this seasons range, brand new for £10 instead of £39.99...not necessities, I admit!

Two things that you should not buy secondhand are a car seat (because it may have been in a crash) or a cot mattress. The NCT (national childbirth trust) also hold nearly-new sales every so often, where you can get some good bargains.

If you're thinking of buying a 'pregnancy book', they usually have a good list of the basic things you actually do need to start with. Or I can PM you the list from my own book, or type it here. Don't go by those lists in the Mothercare magazine, or similar shops...they will always give you a huge list, because obviously they want you to buy loads!

bylromarha

s&#64 wrote: »

If you're thinking of buying a 'pregnancy book', they usually have a good list of the basic things you actually do need to start with. Or I can PM you the list from my own book, or type it here. Don't go by those lists in the Mothercare magazine, or similar shops...they will always give you a huge list, because obviously they want you to buy loads!

Good idea. To save on this one, hire the book from the library as you'll only need it for a short time.

BTW baby layette = complete set of clothing for newborn. I read all about this layette in the pregnancy books and mags and took me ages to work out what it actually meant!

[Deleted User]

Perhaps I could suggest that you don't need lots of cuddly toys from everyone when it is born - but a financial contribution equating to the same amount might give a him/her a nice start in savings?

super41

First of all, congratulations!

My advice would be not to be fooled into thinking you have to buy all the special baby stuff which you can see in the shops - a lot of it just isn't necessary and is aimed at parents' desire to buy rather than anything else. Babies are supposed to be very expensive but that's a bit of a myth put about by the producers of all this baby stuff! Also the baby stage passes so quickly that things hardly get used - e.g. special changing unit.

You will find people will buy you lots of presents - often clothes - when the baby arrives so you can save money there. Personally I wouldn't spend money on little outfits such as dresses, skirts for little girls as they look silly on newborns! Also unless your 'nursery' is really tatty and needs decorating, why bother? A baby will not appreciate a specially co-ordinated room! Save that for when the child is older and can help choose things themselves.

I borrowed a moses basket but baby never settled in it and went straight to a cot. (They look pretty but that's about it!) We got ours secondhand and I just got a new mattress. There is a lot of scaremongering about mattresses but we compromised with a mid-price one with a washable cover.

Once your baby arrives you'll soon know what you want/need and as long as you have shops nearby should be able to get things. I used to send my husband out with a list of things needed and it gave him something to do!

quietheart

Have you tried your area's freecycle group (search yahoo groups for it). I've given away most of our baby things that way. The only thing I wouldn't get secondhand was a pushchair but that's because I walk so much a used one wouldn't last. Other than that, get everything secondhand. I wasted so much on new stuff that didn't get used including changing units (the bed was nearer), steriliser (cost £40 used it only once.....) that sort of nonsense, having a baby is different to how you think it'll be, maybe wait and see what you actually need once bobo arrives, what one mum finds indispensible another would find useless. And congratulations, life has changed forever now!

zodiac

:T :T :T :T
Congratulations!

Gumtree.com have a whole load of baby things for sale. At goods for sale, click on household goods and then baby stuff

henhog

I would say the bare essentails are;
Cot, matress and bedding.
A baby sleeping bag
Pushchair - one that reclines for a newborn but goes all the way up to toddler, I wouldn't spend a fortune on this, if buying new maybe have a look at Argos. Get one with raincover and foot muff.
Car seat if necessary - this doubles as a baby chair for the house
some baby grows
some vests
feeding stuff if you aren't going to breastfeed (breastfeeding is much more convenient and cheap!)
Nappies and wipes (terry would work out cheaper in the long run, but if using disposable, both Asda and Tesco do good own brands)

What you don't need, IMO!
An expensive pram / pushchair - nearly everyone progresses to a stroller anyway at about six months.
A really expensive car seat - they all have to pass rigourous tests, just make sure it fits your car.
Loads of clothes - babies simply don't need them -just baby grows or those vest things.
Loads of toys - most newborns aren't interested and you will get tonnes as pressies.

Don't buy much now - see if you need it when little one is born, and if you do, get it. If you are planning on having more kids, don't necessarily opt for real cheapo stuff because a good (but not stupidly expensive) pushchair, for instance should last two or more kids. And, finally, if you are even thinking for one moment like you might have more kids, don't chuck anything out - I have a big gap between mine, thinking all along that first born would be an only child. I'm so glad nothing got thrown now - I didn't have to buy hardly anthing second time round.

Good luck with the pregnancy!