This is an exciting and emotional time. Baby is on the way or has already arrived, and you want to make sure you’ve got everything you need. Time to baby shop!
Before you Buy for Baby Checklist
But wait! Before you buy for baby, let’s think this through for a second. We have a baby list of things we’ll need, or we can get a Buy for Baby Checklist here or New Baby Checklist here. From that list, we can assume that we will get some baby gear as gifts such as bibs and bottles and burp cloths, and there will be offerings of second hand baby needs like high chairs and cribs or bassinets for the nursery, or diaper bags and strollers…
Most common baby gifts are baby blankets, bedding sets, and clothing. So to save money, it is a very small risk to hold back on those baby items before you buy for baby until you see what the baby shower brings. Your baby shopping list will have baby essentials like towels and bath care items, and these are many times gifted at baby showers as well. Waiting at bit before shopping for baby may save you a lot of money.
Infant clothing is quickly outgrown, as are diapers, so overstocking on those things will be wasted money. Before you buy for baby, consider that baby will make sure that nothing fits for very long. Buying on-sale summer clothing for age 2 months when your baby is still an infant at Christmas will be wasted, as baby will have outgrown them by the time summer comes along…
Consider Second Hand Before you Buy for Baby
Cribs, Car Seats, Cots, Playpens, and Strollers
You might also consider second hand items, as long as you are safety conscious about it. Used cribs and car seats need to be closely inspected, assembled, and installed correctly. It is also wise to check for product recalls on any baby product item, even new, before you buy for baby. Cots and playpens can also be, or become, hazardous.
Infant and Baby Toys
Second hand toys for infants and babies are generally NOT a good idea, as absolutely everything finds its way into baby’s mouth. Everything. It is difficult to assure the cleanliness of second hand items. You really don’t know where it’s been…
Old Hazards that still Haunt
Lead paint used to be everywhere, so make sure that any older product is free of this very serious hazard. There have also been use restrictions on some newer types plastics, so before you buy for baby, a bit of research goes a long way to ensuring baby’s health.
Relax, Take time to Plan
There is no need to rush into buying everything. Take it slow and consider getting only the most important things first before you buy for baby.
[...] I have wasted a lot of money on baby stuff. As a new parent, all that bright new shiny stuff was just sooooo attractive…I love my babies…and spent my hard earned money on all kinds of stuff that we did not need or use. Read this…BEFORE YOU BUY FOR BABY [...]
[...] Before you buy baby clothes, please note that newborns do not need that much. You might expect baby clothing as gifts for baby if you have not already received them. Baby clothing stores will discount off season baby clothing, so remember baby’s projected age in the season you are buying for. The same goes for buying baby clothes online. Those cute baby clothes are no good if they don’t fit baby in the season they are intended for… [...]
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