Lend New Baby stuff or not?

[Bethan1219]

Hi mums! Newbie here. I have a concern about lending stuff. So I am pregnant and due early nextyear. I prepared everything, cot, changing unit, nappy bin, high chair etc. and they are new! So this coming Christmas, my sister in law is coming and she has a 1 year old baby. Which he might use my baby’s stuff which I mentioned, they are new, still with covers. Question is, if you were in my shoes, would you lend yours? I’m thinking about highchair which is a present for my baby, and i spent time organising and preparing because anytime soon, i might popped! If ever i lend her, the case would be, I will be left with messy stuff. We can’t control children and it would be a double work me. As in, my effort in preparing all of these would be useless. Please help! Thanks mums!

I would let a baby use everything except cot mattress. Doesn't take 2 seconds to wipe down a high chair, you'll be doing after every meal anyway

I think your thread title is misleading. If I understand you aren't being asked to lend items out, which runs the risk of them not being returned in time for your baby's arrival but just for another baby to use some baby equipment while staying with you.

If that is the case then it would be really weird not to let her use them. My nephew slept in our cot while I was still pregnant with DC1 and SIL came over to visit. Why wouldn't he?

English is not your first language, I think? But I think I understand you: you feel odd, and maybe a bit sad, about having another baby use your baby’s things before he/she does? I get this! I think it’s totally understandable - if a bit irrational in some cases. Here’s what I would do:

Cot: no, not unless your sister in law buys her own mattress. This is a safety issue, because of SIDS, babies should have their own new mattress.
Changing unit/nappy bin: honestly, these things can be easily cleaned and it’s really just poo! It’s not exciting, you will soon be so sick of changing nappies, I promise! Let her use these. Wipe down changing mat with dettol wipes afterwards.
High chair: it depends. If you have bought something like the Ikea one it is super easy to clean and will be as good as new after a few days use. Some highchairs are much harder to clean, with hard/impossible to remove fabric parts/straps. My first one was like this. (Aside: this is a terrible choice and you will learn to regret it, no matter how cute it is). If it’s this sort, it would be harder for it to look good as new and though it will be absolutely RUINED the first time your baby uses it, I understand wanting it to look lovely the first time so maybe not. But Argos sell a fab super cheap one - like Ikea’s - for about £20, you could buy that for her visit. Who knows, you might end up preferring it yourself!

Good luck with your new baby!

Cot: no, not unless your sister in law buys her own mattress. This is a safety issue, because of SIDS, babies should have their own new mattress.
That means so that you aren't using an old mattress for a new baby that another child has used for a significant length of time. It doesn't mean you need a new one because another baby has slept on it for a couple of nights over Christmas!

I would. It's making use of what you have in your home, not taking it away from your home.

Your baby won't be able to use a highchair for a long time.

Whatever a one year old does to stuff over a few days will be easily cleaned off.