I can't ever imagine being so financially well off that...

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

... I would pay £49 for a toddler puddle suit from Mountain Warehouse when I could buy a second hand MW one on eBay or fb for £3.

There's a few of these like this.

Same goes for buying things such as Bumbos brand new. Jumperoos or vtech walkers.

Who actually buys these brand new when they can constantly be found for a fraction of the price in immaculate condition elsewhere.

'Conclusion:
Evidence against baby walker is not enough regarding its negative effect on child development.'

Should I keep reading?

I think playpens are better becuase they can still explore their enviroment and develop motor skills. At least in a pushchair a child gets to see their enviroment. I can't see the point of a jumperoo except to keep them out of the way. Yes whoever asked I child proofed my kitchen and gave him a wooden spoon and sauce pan to play with while I cooked dinner

Err yes do you usually just read the headline/conclusions ? The jury is out.

I buy new, it's easier than having to hunt for the items I want, then go and pick them up. We don't have a car. Loads of friends have got second hand stuff that had faults and they ended up buying new anyway. I've kept a lot of items for a baby 2 (whenever that is!) and the rest I gave to a women's refuge, I did sell a couple items but I gave the money to local food bank.

To be honest, I look at it a different way, I can afford to buy new so I don't want to take bargains from those who aren't well off and can't afford new.

This discussion reminds me of this cartoon from the other week:

You can bust your ladyballs doing the cooking, cleaning, take your baby to multiple classes every week (we do at least three and usually four), work in the evenings so you can afford to stay home during the day, be on top of all their emotional needs, practical needs, juggle appointments, feed them in the night, spend your days reading, singing, painting, baking, doing crafts...

And someone will still have a pop for 10 mins in your day out of 24 hours. Welcome to being a woman, where sometimes your worst enemies are each other.

Well good luck trying to find anything decent within a 10 mile radius of where we like.
Plus how old are your kids?
As people have pointed out someone needs to buy these things for you to get them second hand.
We are not well off by any means, but I would rather have new. Clothing for my children, and leave the ones in charity shops for someone who really needs in at a bargain price.

I don’t have space for a playpen. And my kitchen is child proof, apart from when I open the oven. And then it’s not. And my older children find it difficult to read to me/practice their spellings with me when he’s not climbing on them and trying to rip the pen out of their hands.
Anyway... I am fully confident that my use of a jumperoo has not hindered his development in any way. And he loved it (giggling, waving his arms in excitement, trying to climb into it). I hope the people I’ve sold it to find it as useful as I did .

And someone will still have a pop for 10 mins in your day out of 24 hours. Welcome to being a woman, where sometimes your worst enemies are each other

How true. I’m sure there are numerous ways in which our setups and lives differed from hopefulhalf’s, meaning that what worked for her may not have worked for us. But I suspect that all she wants to know is that she is a far superior parent to us.
Here you go hopefulhalf, you’re a better parent than me

I really should proof read my posts. Too busy neglecting my baby.

When mine were small baby walkers were deemed a very poor idea, dangerous because of them toppling over, interfering with development etc.

However, at a local toddlers group that was very popular they had at least 6-8 of them that had been donated.

They were the first thing that I and others with 6month olds would head for.

We could put the babies down and enjoy a coffee in peace as they were happily entertained with everything around them.

When someone suggested getting rid of them because they were not great developmentally, they were met with a resounding NO!

We were all prepared to risk it for an hour's peace!

Good enough is good enough (for most children most of the time). I still think they are hedious and if only needed for 10 minutes a day why bother.?

they had 2 parents to watch them

that obviously makes it easier. In many families, it's not possible for both parents to be SAHPs or on the parental leave at the same time, so often it's just one person who has to supervise the 6- month old, a few older children and simultaneously deal with sharp knives and boiling water. (Also, my DC really loved their jumperoo)

I can't see the point of a jumperoo except to keep them out of the way.

The point of them is that they're good fun for the person inside jumping. 🦘

You can get new for way less than you are stating I even got a snowsuit for my dd when she was 6 for about £15 from H&M

I used to rummage in the second hand uniform sale along with a mum that was worth around £75m There isn’t any need to always buy new regardless

I'm much better off now that I was when I bought my bumbo brand new.

I did tend to get a lot of stuff off freecycle/eBay/given by friends or family, but if you're going to have more than one kid you may get quite a lot of use out of new things you buy, and/or you may have siblings who are hoping to have kids and you know it can get passed around the family. And some people just like to have new stuff - I'm sure most of them pass or sell on good stuff rather than just chucking it.

I have bought loads of stuff brand new with tags off ebay for my dd.

I don’t think it’s necessarily very well off people who buy the expensive baby gear. I know of people who have really tight budgets who absolutely prioritise getting certain brands of baby gear, saving and budgeting throughout their pregnancy to put aside enough money for the stuff.

Fair point, well made

@Dimblebimble second post of the thread

I buy new, I look after things well so then sell on for 50% or more of what I’ve paid. Means I get brand new for 50% of cost. If faulty can return, stuff is delivered and I don’t have to drive round collecting.

I bought new and other people did the same for mine, as gifts. However I was happy to accept things that were given to me, no snobbery about that as long as in good condition. I passed a lot f stuff on to friends who had a child and everything was well receved, I made sure it was in good condition, replaced any missing buttons and mended any hems that had come undone and everything was washed, dried and ironed. I expect the friends washed, dried and ironed them again, people do, but that's ok.

I didn't get in to second hand until years later and then I had a ball in charity shops, also bought 'reconditioned' levi jeans for me and son (he thought they weren't quite the same as 'second hand'). I was very well dressed!

Now I'm old, or getting old, I buy things online but money isn't tight as it was years ago, that's how it goes. I did have a lot of fun hunting for second hand stuff though and would still buy something s/h if I saw it.

We often buy second hand but have just spent £50 on a muddy puddles suit for my 1 and a half year old. We are farmers and she is out in it for about 5 hours a day. Every day. She needs to be warm and dry. I can’t guarantee a second hand one is still waterproof or the seams aren’t pulled. Her last one lasted a year. It costs us about 14p per day for it. Worth every single penny.

Do you have any nice jewellery, OP, or is it all fake / argos stylee?

Everyone likes to spend money on something. You may be happy for your baby to settle for second or third best, but what about you ?