Buying for baby, beyond the newborn stages.. what to buy?

[FlyingSoap]

I’m trying to get focus on the expensive purchases while we are still on two good incomes, and know the little stuff can add up too!

I saw a video that said people too often focus all their energies and money on preparing for a newborn and forget the associated expenses that come along with having an older baby.

Is there anything that would be handy to start buying that my future self will thank me for? Thinking about weaning, any toys or equipment they might use.

Thanks!

Well, with hindsight I’d have bought a cotbed straight off, no cot.

I’d say choose a buggy that will last - we had a Bee which was great as it worked from newborn to age 4, whereas some people ditched their big bulky prams and bought a stroller.

Other than that I can’t think of anything that was super expensive. Jumperoo was a godsend around 5-8 months but they are £15/20 second hand. High chair we used the ikea one which is cheap and fab. Toys can add up but again second hand is your friend as they move through the stages fairly quickly, and it’s hard to know what will be a hit.

Weaning you really don’t need a lot of kit. A stick blender is useful unless you’re going to do BLW religiously. Ice cube trays and freezer bags worked well. Those tommee tippee rubber bibs.

Agree with PP. The only thing I'd suggest is look to buy clothing in the sales. For example, when coats are on sale buy the size they will need for next winter x

Hmm, I'd advise holding off and saving your cash until you know a) what people give you either new or second hand and b) you know what sort of baby you have.

Most things can arrive within a day or two these days, and you might find that you have a baby that doesn't enjoy the jumper/one that always wants to be held/wants to roll around on the floor all the time (looking at you DS) etc

People will give advice based on THEIR baby experiences. Which is why I have a mound of unused muslins because people insist you need hundreds but my son isn't much of a spitty baby.

So my advice is put the cash in an interest paying account and let your baby decide what they need!

Honestly, I wouldn’t buy too much ahead of time as it’s really hard to know what you’ll need and you don’t want loads of stuff cluttering up the house. Maybe just start a separate savings pot so that the money is there when you do need it?

The really big expense is nursery fees…

The only thing that is worth it is a good cot bed which will convert to a toddler bed so you'll get the longevity of use.

The next stage car seat after they grow out of the infant carrier? We have the maxi Cosi 360 pebble and whatever the other one is.

Definitely a cot bed, we’ve been using ours for nine years now, first as a cot then as a toddler bed (x 2 as our four year old is still in it).

After the car seat infant carrier stage, I’d get an extended rear-facing seat which will take you all the way to 25 kg (potentially age 6/7 depending on size of child).

But otherwise I agree to save now and then buy stuff as and when you need it. And consider second hand for stuff you don’t need for long, like walkers and Jumperoo, etc.

Something I wish I had bought was the ERF car seat that lasts until age 7- I think it's the axkid one 2. It's expensive but to be honest it probably works out less so when i factor in the various car seats needed at various ages.
Otherwise I would say Facebook marketplace, Vinted and local groups can help keep costs down in the older baby/toddler ages. Things like jumperoos, play kitchens, outdoor play items. A kitchen helper was a great purchase for us and it converts into a little chair and table.

I agree that I'd mainly just put money aside. We don't have a big house and didn't have room for much stuff. You'll have a better idea of what you want later down the line.

I would get a decent sling though. I love my ergobaby.

If your goal is to save money rather than just shop for the joy of shopping and spending money, I would not, while you are pregnant, do much shopping beyond the absolute essentials for the early months. Put that money aside in savings. You can then spend it when you have a better idea of the sort of baby you have, the sort of parent you will be, what the weather is like, how fast your baby grows, etc.

If I could say the two best purchases we made though that lasted us from the baby stage into the toddler years, I would say it would be a cot that we could attach to our bed to give us extra room for bedsharing. I don't mean one of those teeny baby next to me ones. I mean a proper cot that we could take the side off of and attach to our bed flush with the mattress. Both of ours slept in that all or part of the night until they were probably 2-3.

And an off road pushchair. I think we had a baby jogger one, but any decent one that you like the feel of will do. And a backpack carrier, we had a Little Life one. We used it until both of ours were 4.