To think first time parents are massively over marketed to?

[monaaay]

It’s really hard not to be ‘influenced’ and I have already fallen into the trap of thinking we need everything for our baby. We have all the essentials: pram, cot, bath seat, Moses basket and next to me, carrier, baby swing, playmat, new car seat, clothes, sleeping bags and toiletries plus lots of extra things like books and gadgets. Our latest buy has been a device that rocks the pram for you!

There’s still so much more I feel we must buy, but I wouldn’t have known about this were it not for hugely pushy marketing online (Instagram ads etc) and salespeople in JL and M&Ps. It would be so easy to spend thousands and thousands of pounds, and I can imagine some of the stuff wouldn’t be useful or work for your baby anyway!

I completely agree. I bought everything you've said and more, and the expensive versions of each! I know more now about what's needed/worth it and what's not but only though experience.
That said though, I did use more of it but it wasn't worth buying the expensive versions of each.

I remember buying the silver cross high chair that she hated, and she uses the IKEA one now and loves it 😂 sometimes the basic stuff is the best.

U won’t use half of it. People buy fancy clothes for babies , jeans jumpers etc. nope u want baby grows and vests and cardigans. Trust me putting on jeans and a jumper on a baby isn’t fun or easy or comfortable.

I didn’t buy any of the stuff everyone said I needed. Only thing I got that I used was the baby rocker swing thing. That was a life saver.

within three days of bringing my son home I sent my husband out for more baby grows and vests. And cloth for baby being sick on.

Totally ... new parents are a marketing department's dream ... don't be sucked into their vision.
In fact the whole of your parenting life you will find that you are guilted into buying certain products, 'if you don't your children are missing out and surely you love them' ... baby food, shoes, clothing, 'educational' toys, special classes, tutoring etc etc.
We had our DC very late in life and many of our friends were already parents and gifted us so much second had stuff .... much of it barely used we ended up with three pushchairs 😆

You won’t use half of it.

Never bought ‘nursery furniture’, or a change table. Mamas and Papas must see first time parents and rub their hands with glee.It’s a huge market.

I bought a microwave steriliser with my first, with my second I used a Milton tank, so much easier!

It’s only when you have a baby that you really realise what you do and don’t need

Also some parents swear by some products that we felt we never used and vice versa

The ikea high chair is 100 percent the best baby buy ever . It’s so cheap and also it’s in so many restaurants, it’s handy being used to it when you go out . It’s simple to use and easy to clean.

I agree. One of the most ridiculous baby buys I purchased was a parasol for the pram. It was so pointless as the angle of the sun was constantly changing and it had to be moved around the whole time. I don’t understand why the pram didn’t have a built in one in the first place.

New parents...
Brides....
Kids starting school...
Anyone celebrating Christmas...
Students leaving home for uni...

The economy of manufacturing, marketing and selling stuff that no one needs makes the world go round, and fills landfills.

Totally agree about the ikea high chair! I got rid of the gigantic first one I bought and just used that one.

@AngelDelightButNotStrawberry thrre was no way I was walking up and downstairs all day to change the baby on a changing mat. I used to have a changing mat on the floor.

I didn't have half the things on your 'essentials' list.

Read "Bringing Up Baby" by Daisy Goodwin, it's not to do with baby stuff but it is sort of a literature review of parenting advice through the ages alongside the socio-economic things going on in the world at the time and is truly fascinating and helps you keep all the 'expert' advice, which is often actually just personal opinion particularly if from online influencers in perspective.

Being a FTM is overwhelming but don't forget that baby's have been born for millennia in all sorts of conditions and we have survived, don't forget to listen to your instincts too, we are animals our true 'needs' are minimal.

New parents are a large market. It's an exciting time for most and part of planning/nesting. However as adults we do have to take responsibility for ourselves. I just wouldn't buy an item because it was on an influencer's list and not everything needs to be bought in advance.

They need something to wear, transport, somewhere to sleep, feeding equipment, nappies and wipes. They actually need very little.

The only thing you need to spend on is a decent car seat.

We didn’t buy nursery furniture - just normal furniture. Didn’t bother with a changing table - just used a changing mat in which ever room we were in. They wore babygros until they were nine months old so didn’t buy clothes. Used a rucksack as a baby bag - much more practical than those marketed as baby bags.
Used a Moses basket and then a regular cot - no next to me.
Best thing we bought was a playpen - used it from day one.

Buy as much as you can secondhand. Take all the handmedowns you get offered. Get into local parents' WA/Facebook groups as people pass on things free/for few £ all the time. Never buy things like bouncers new!

So did I, I had one downstairs and one upstairs.

I did the same, Changing mat and bag behind the sofa. Changing bags in my day were very different. The one for DGC I find way to cumbersome and heavy

Parents are marketed to but you make the choices about whether to purchase. We were very minimalist about our purchases as we had a small flat with first dc, and we managed without most things on your list. Didn't fork out for an expensive car seat as we used public transport to get everywhere. We're in a very solid financial position now as we always think critically about our spending and haven't been affected by the COL at all.

I absolutely agree! And unfortunately it keeps going. Whatever difficulties you face with a tiny baby - which are mostly just 100% normal - there’ll be a product marketed to “fixing” it.

Every time you go to buy something ask yourself did they have it 50 years ago. If not you are perfectly fine without it (bar legal changes like car seats)

Most of what you've bought isn't essential..

It’s true but lots of things parents say are unnecessary, will be invaluable to others. I used our baby bath a lot for instance, where others will say it’s a waste of money.
I also had a big expensive pram and had tons of use out of it as I didn’t drive and walked everywhere. People who drove tended to ditch theirs.

Clothes apart from onesies etc are generally a waste though.

Definitely. Though I'm glad there's so many things out there that can make parenting easier.

If you aren't breastfeeding or can't breastfeed, my favourite gadget is the perfect prep machine. I have 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs. 😂

Your last comment also applies to toys in years to come, our first had lots of toys, the usual suspects, but spend hours putting the pegs into the plastic washing basket, tipping them out and repeating it. It became quite useful, we eventually got her to sort them into colours etc. then to count red ones etc. She learned a lot from a free activity!
New parents are over-marketed to because they buy the stuff, if they stopped buying every new fad on the market the sellers would have to stop.

You need to learn to ignore the marketing, and not just for baby products! We never had several of the things on your list.

Ask people you know in real life for recommendations - you'll know that Sarah will buy anything but that Jane is cheap etc and interpret their advice in that way.

I'd say buy the minimum (which you're well well past) and an Amazon Prime subscription!