When did you buy big ticket items for impending DC?

[wombatron]

Hi all, DC1 due end of July. We don't plan on looking at doing the nursery until late May/early June due to logistics with Dsis who is likely staying with us till then. But we do plan on going to the baby show in March at the excel to view a few things.

I've seen a few things I really like the look of in my random online searches - baby bags, prams etc and a lot of them will be there. Is March too early to buy things like Prams? I'm aware of what things cost online day-to-day but obviously if there were good savings to be had then I guess it's a possibility we would buy. But this is 2 weeks before my 20 week scan and I just wonder I suppose if I am jinxing it/getting a bit ahead of myself. Are there any other baby shows I could go to a bit later on that are any good if not?

When did you buy?

Nothing at all until I was about 35 weeks.

im probably not a good guide but had my twins through IVF after years of infertility so the day i found out i started buying

roll on 7 yrs and by complete surprise and no treatment found i was pregnant with my son,overjoyed but deffo left the big ticket items till nearer the time

if i was you would use the time to really research what you want and need,babys can get by on pretty little at first etc

also in spring good deals can be had as many companys bring out new ranges for the next year so old stock could have good discounts

congratulations op

Do lots of research and do consider second hand for non safety-critical items! Around here, there is a NCT fund-raising sale every spring and autumn, some absolutely immaculate cots, prams, highchairs, rockers, slings... everything except mattresses and car seats would be there. I appreciate everyone wants the very best for their child - but this is the beginning of a lifetime of being a parent, and when you're scratching your head to raise the money for some school trip that they really really want to go on, you may regret spending £800 on a buggy when the previous year's model of the same thing could have been picked up for £80.

Thank you whatsthestorey. I don't plan on buying very much at all initially. I will borrow from friends for the temporary stuff (Moses basket/prep machine). But a pram and change bag etc I will want to buy new. Just wondering if I'm too early!

Everyone is different, but I waited until after my 20 week scan before I bought anything at all, then I think I ordered my pram at about 26/27 weeks. I had to order it then due to waiting times for it.

@AlpacaLypse I totally agree. DH and I have already said we'll buy second hand for whatever we need - def for cribs, Moses baskets etc. I want a very specific pram as it's small and compact and a specific car seat also which I suppose is what I'm wondering. We will borrow what we can also from friends.

What area of the uk are you in? I will def keep a look our for these sales!

good point,my double buggy had to be ordered

well op maybe by something not crazy expensive but a bit of a shop will do you no harm

@wombatron with my 1st we bought from 12 weeks when stuff was on sale, with out next we have agreed to buy everything after 30 weeks (I will deliver at 38 weeks) mainly because you end up with stuff everywhere and also because your warranty begins when you buy it, we also wont be buying a cot until baby is 5 months next time as it just sits gathering dust...

@HJWT that's pretty much why we won't buy nursery furniture before we need it. We'll paint the nursery, get a rocker/chair and set a few bits up in there so that baby gets to know the room, but that's stuff we already have (chest of drawers) or would use. I can't buy it now knowing it won't be used till they are 6 months.

I think if there's a good deal on the car seat and pram I was looking at we'll consider buying and getting an extended warranty if available. Luckily we have a good bit of storage space so those 2 items will be fine to store! Seems there's no right or wrong answer - more about personal preference

@wombatron defo personal choice... if I saw a great deal on a pram I wanted though I would either buy it or do payment plan that way you get the deal but don't have to pay it up front and don't have it in the house for weeks xx

@wombatron I'm north east Wiltshire.

My playpen - an old fashioned square wooden one - is now somewhere in Royal Wootton Bassett, I bought it at a Nearly New from a military family from Tidworth where it had already done four children. It did both of mine, then went to Devizes for 18 months, then came back and did my no.2 sister's child, then lurked in a shed for a couple of years, then went to Swindon for no.4 sister's children, followed by her husband's brother's children, and then came back briefly to me for storage before I gave it to one of my staff outright as none of us family are planning any more. At the moment it is being used more as a place to put things away from the toddler than a place to put the toddler away from things!

Having said, my slightly younger daughter has just got engaged to be married... !

Awww @AlpacaLypse that's lovey! I have no issues whatsoever on second hand as long as it's tidy and well looked after! A friend has a LB who will be 3 soon and she has plenty of bits I can borrow which I will gladly alleviate!

@wombatron no worries :-)