Buying stuff for baby when pregnant

[Queazy]

Hello

I've found myself a bit addicted to online shopping and to ebay/gumtree/preloved in the last couple of weeks. I'm 20 weeks pregnant and not sure when to start buying stuff like cots and prams.

I also bought some lovely secondhand baby clothes from ebay but a friend said she'd never do this for a new baby. Am I being ultra-cheap in buying secondhand?

Thanks all
xx

[cupcake78]

Your baby, your choice!

[HazleNutt]

I bought almost all clothes and furniture second hand, why on earth not? They grow so fast that they only get to wear the clothes for 5 seconds anyway. Would be a waste to spend tons of money on one item when I can get a whole load from ebay for the same price.

[IsThatTrue]

I had a pram at 5 weeks with ds2 as it was a bargain. As for second hand as far as I'm concerned its sensible they wear the clothes for such a short space of time. Completely up to you.

[worsestershiresauce]

your friend has more money than sense. Second hand is fine, just wash things well before you use them.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

As long as you wash them, they'll be fine. Have you had a look to see if there are any NCT Nearly New Sales in your area too? Some areas let you in the sale first if you help out or are a NCT member.

Don't get too carried away though, we were given loads and as Hazle says, they are only in them for a very short while.

[FattyMcChubster]

I've a friend who bought everything brand new and spent a fortune. She has the money to be able to.
I bought the majority of stuff from eBay or in the sales. That's the most I can afford.
It hasn't made a jot of difference to the babies. I can't imagine it makes any difference whatever you do but I know some people look a bit when I say it's from eBay.
Meh. Whatever.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Like someone said your baby your choice- obviously you will need a need mattress for cot/mode basket if buying second hand.
What I would say is buy about half the clothes you think you'll need as you will be giving stuff by others and probably get lots of clothes as presents- we brought far far too much and spent a lot on designer clothes our dd is 10 weeks and has 2 designer coats she had never had on and is nearly too big for which is just ridiculous when I think what we could have brought instead I will not be wasting money like that in future

[JollyPurpleGiant]

With DS we started buying after the 20w scan and we had everything bought by about 30 weeks.

[aberjen]

DP and I have been buying bits as and when we spot bargains - buggy bought at ~15 weeks as it was an absolute steal on eBay! And accepting any and all hand-me-downs from friends and colleagues. This is for dc1 aka PFB. My perspective is the more frugal I am when it comes to baby stuff, the more money I will have in the bank to give me the longest mat leave possible and the most time with baby - way more important for me than top of the range, brand new kit :-) Only things I've been insistent about getting new are car seat and mattresses.

[Gooseysgirl]

We ordered our pram early but didn't collect it til I was about 32 weeks. Everything else I was given second hand or got on eBay/sales. You will be given loads of clothes as gifts (I have 6 boxes full of baby girl clothes from 0-12m in our garage, loads were gifts... am hoping DC2 is another girl!!!)

[LilyMarlene]

If you can afford it, it might be better to buy the majority of day to day clothes new for a new baby if you're hoping to have more. I love second hand and wear it all the time myself, but baby stuff gets a lot of wear (washed after every use/stains etc,) so won't have quite the same longevity.
If they are good quality secondhand P&P etc, go for it. I got some really lovely second hand stuff from ebay.
A load of TU, F&F or George, on the other hand, probably won't be in the best nick.
If you buy sleepsuits/vests new etc, try get them from Next or somewhere similar. They are more expensive, but I could actually use them for another baby, whereas the ones from Tesco and Sainburys are baggy round the neck, saggy and stained. I also wish I'd bought dark patterned instead of prettier white, because serving baby his breakfast in a bib and sleepsuit before dressing him can get messy.
Depends on how many babies there are in your friendship group really as to whether or not you'll get hand-me-downs. We got a few sleepsuits from a friend at the start, but they only fit DS for 5 minutes!

[Gooseysgirl]

You are so right Aberjen!

[JollyPurpleGiant]

My Tesco vests have outlasted the Mothercare ones by some way. And they are about a third of the price :)

[Queazy]

Thanks so much all - I think I'm going to go pram shopping while there are a few sales on. I need to stop buying lots on ebay in case the baby never wears it all, but definitely won't stop buying secondhand if its good quality. I feel loads better about it now - I think I just had my first experienced of feeling a bit judged as a (pre)parent when my friend suggested I should only buy new!

Thanks again!

[LilyMarlene]

JollyGiant.. that doesn't surprise me- I got a dungaree set from Mothercare and they were bobbly and rubbish in no time!
Actually, I take it back. The Tesco vests with the little elephants on them have kept their shape quite well. The TU ones have sagged though. I would love to know where else sells really good quality basics. Will have to start a thread!

[Msbluesky32]

My mothercare vests came out misshapen after their FIRST WASH! The biggest waste of money ever. The plain white M and S sleepsuits and bodysuits I bought appear exactly as I bought them and the sleep suits have built in scratch mitts. They get my vote for best value...along with matalan - they've also kept their shape.

We bought most of baby's furniture second hand, just got the mattresses new. I don't see the problem as long as its in good condition.

[gardenpixie32]

We saved a small fortune buying second hand stuff for our twins. I am most pleased that 2 cots cost us the grand sum of 35 quid! They look great too! We spent very little and I am so pleased we didn't waste money. Ignore your friend and do what you like.

[cyclecamper]

I haven't bought anything at all for my baby. I'm 30 weeks now and have had to politely refuse cots (I have been given one and so far been offered 5 others ). I have been unemployed since I found out, so I really appreciate people's generosity. Babies don't care if they are the first or the 7th person to wear something (I am a nanny so don't have many delusions!) - I have washable nappies that I used for some children I looked after so I shouldn't even need to buy them. The only thing I will buy new are matresses for the cot and moses basket.

If I find that I'm short of anything when it arrives, I'll hit ebay. I certainly have enough to get started with.

[Cheesegloriouscheese]

I'm with aberjen, the lower I can keep the cost of baby items the more I'll have to allow me to take a longer period of maternity leave which seems much more important than buying brand new things.

I'm lucky to have been given things by friends and family that just need a wash. I've also found NCT sales, ebay and freecycle great for bargains. Babies grow so quickly I don't see the point of buying new except where it really matters, i.e. with mattresses.

[Christelle2207]

I'm intending to buy as much as poss second hand. Baby won't care! 23 weeks at the mo and got nothing other than kind donations from friends.

[BabyHMummy]

The only things you must buy new are cot/Moses basket/pram matresses otherwise second hand is fine. Just give it a good wash before use.

I have bought cot and team second hand and been given Moses basket, bedding etc and bought at nearly new sales. Like others say they grow so fast no point spending mega bucks

[DizzyDizzy]

nooo!!! buy everything second hand if you can (obviously in good condition) the only things they DON'T recommend buying second hand, is mattress (there's a link to risk of cot death) and car seats (unless you know the exact history) you don't want to be buying a car seat that's been in an accident (like you wouldn't buy a second hand crash helmet). we've bought a few things new (clothes), but otherwise got loads of second hand stuff. got soooooo many nice hand me downs from friends / relatives. most of which still have the labels on!!! everyone always says you end up with too much stuff for the baby, and half the time they never where it, because they grow so fast. so why bother spending a fortune??? xxx

[lozster]

I've just got one nice bundle of second hand from eBay in one size and am waiting for a second in another size. I've picked up some bits in the sales too. I am an older mum so most of my peer group have long given their stuff away! Ikea will be my friend for furniture when I get my act together. The pram situation is currently blowing my mind! The choice and price! Wow!

[lozster]

With car seats, is it ok to buy the isofix base (base only) second hand?

[sjupes]

I had a mix of new and second hand for dd, all new for ds except a fantastic massive graco swing my mum bought from a car boot sale, dd2 has all new BUT almost everything has been special offer, sale or the lowest price for good quality i can get.

I like buying new but i don't like spending over the top. Whats the word is it frugal? Something like that describes me - i like a bargain and try not to spend unnecessarily.

Ds has loaaaaads of bob the builder and fireman sam toys/bedding sets/clothes from ebay - i saved a small fortune and he got bob