Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

To buy baby items before being pregnant?

31 replies

Pcosfighter67 · 06/02/2022 18:55

Hello,
Brief history, been trying nearly 6 years, clomid resistant, PCOS, on metformin, recently had ovarian drilling and HSG. Waiting to see what's next at the end of the month.

I was just wondering everyones opinions on buying baby items before being pregnant ? My logic is that it saves having to buy everything in big chunks. I'm including big ticket items in this aswell as small items like nappies and wipes etc.
Did anyone do it and would you recommend it? And what did you get?
I'm not the superstitious type and to be honest I don't think having baby items in the house is going to make it harder emotionally than it already is but I'm very open to how others felt and any advice :)

OP posts:
Fallagain · 06/02/2022 19:13

Wipes will dry out and nappies will go hard. Big ticket items will probably come down in price or aldi or someone else will do a good copy. Put the money in a savings account.

RedWingBoots · 06/02/2022 19:25

Apart from the above, technology and safety of items improves every few years.

So you could say buy a high chair now but in say 3 years time when you are pregnant, there could be changes to safety standards and so the high chair you brought is now not regarded as safe. However it isn't a product recall it is just a change in standards.

Then there is the fact some materials in items start to deteriorate if not stored correctly e.g. car seats.

Suprima · 06/02/2022 19:25

There will always be sales on big ticket items. Buying in advance is just bizarre- not from a jinxing things perspective either. But having those things around the house are not ideal when you are experiencing pregnancy loss, should things not go swimmingly.

I know if I had baby stuff in my house when I was miscarrying, it would have sent me over the edge.

I’m 20 weeks with a hopefully sticky baby and only just allowing us to buy little socks and muslins as a way of manifesting positivity. No way would I want a crib in my attic or spare room, even though I am pregnant.

Caspianberg · 06/02/2022 19:27

No. Things change. New products out you might prefer, other people might recommend things to you over time.
It also takes up a lot of space.

RedWingBoots · 06/02/2022 19:27

Oh and you could spend money on items that you would never use either because you don't need it e.g. changing table, or because it is not regarded as safe to use e.g. baby walker.

Cheekypeach · 06/02/2022 19:29

Why not put the money in savings, then when pregnant you can have a big old splurge? Smile

Moiraroseswigs · 06/02/2022 19:33

I agree with Suprima, I'm not superstitious but I've had miscarriages and failed IVF cycles and having baby things in the house when they were happening would have been upsetting for me. I'd rather save the money and you'll have plenty of time when pregnant to get everything you need. Best of luck.

Isonthecase · 06/02/2022 19:39

I think it depends, I'd save mostly but wouldn't have an issue getting a few lovely timeless bits here and there if it helps you keep feeling hopeful. That's probably fancy clothes or shoes though rather than a pram!

Caaarrrl · 06/02/2022 19:55

What if the pregnancy never happens? Or you get pregnant but miscarry? Thete is no certainty that yiuveill end up with a baby. How would you feel having all that stuff in the house? I agree with PPs save the money and when you hopefully get pregnant, buy all the stuff.

EishetChayil · 06/02/2022 20:16

Buying before you're even pregnant sounds like the biggest jinx imaginable!

Nik84 · 06/02/2022 20:17

I was 10 weeks pregnant with my third and almost bought a Moses basket. I’m glad I didn’t as I miscarried and the heartache would have been awful to see it. I can hardly go in my bathroom without remembering and becoming upset. Save the money and have a wonderful shopping spree when the time is right.

Nottsure · 06/02/2022 20:19

Yes you could get a few little clothes , maybe a little glass baby bottle as that would stay nice. A blanket or teddy Just small things x

InnPain · 07/02/2022 09:26

Buying before being pregnant I’d say no. Because you don’t know how long it could take, or could take a month or it could take years. Everyone has an individual situation.

SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 07/02/2022 09:32

I’m not superstitious but I wouldn’t. There is no guarantee you’ll get pregnant or carry to term even if you do so it could just be a huge waste of money. Maybe like one cute outfit (

PurpleDaisies · 07/02/2022 09:33

It’s awful to have to give it away if it doesn’t happen. I wouldn’t.

Anniegetyourgun76 · 07/02/2022 09:37

I was the same as you, we tried for years but it's a waste of time and money buying in advance. I put money into a separate savings account and promised myself however much I managed to save I'd blow on my maternity leave making sure baby and I had everything we wanted. Took us years to conceive and I saved a lot which I was lucky enough to be able to blow on my twins. Hang in there xx

Caspianberg · 07/02/2022 10:16

Yes what if you bought a lovely pram now, then had twins?!

onedayoranother · 07/02/2022 10:23

There really isn't a lot of stuff to buy. Pram, cot, car seat are the big items and can easily be done over the months once you are pregnant. Things like a changing table, Moses basket, baby bath are not essential at all. Clothes and nappies can be bought closer to birth.
Once you get pregnant is the time to buy stuff, and even then I'd wait til 20 weeks. I'm sure you will get gifts too ( my parents bought the pushchair for example).
And of course what if you kit everything out but then do not get pregnant? Will it make it all the harder having to pack things up?
If you really feel the need buy one or two little outfits but I'd leave it at that.

JMPB · 07/02/2022 10:23

My friend did this and it worked for her - she only bought small unisex things and left big things I.e pram & furniture for when she was actually pregnant.
However if you don’t get pregnant or suffer a loss think about how you’d feel with all the baby things in the house
I hope your get your BFP soon xx

Ghastlyghoul · 07/02/2022 10:28

Why would you though? Until you need it it’s just taking up space and new designs are coming out all the time and you might decide you are saddled with a pram, cot, car seat etc you then don’t really want. Clothes are only as expensive as you want them to be and nappies could be a waste if you had a big baby and have loads of newborn tiny ones. It’s not just superstition involved. It could just add to your upset if you didn’t get pregnant or had a miscarriage and are surrounded by baby stuff.

seven201 · 07/02/2022 10:31

I have secondary infertility and have been trying for 4 years. I'm currently sat waiting to go in for yet another ivf appt. Don't do it. Nappies and wipes harden or dry out. Big ticket items go out of date - car seats have an expiry date for example. Our house is chocker block full from dd1 and it drives me mad. We have 5 1/2 years of kid stuff crammed in every space possible. I nearly sold the jumperoo the other day. I even have stuff in my sisters loft. I threw out some disposable breast pads the other day as I've been moving them round the house for years. Nobody wanted them on Facebook free site. I think given you're struggling to conceive it's just not a good idea. Not a good idea for anyone really. I hope you get your baby soon.

seven201 · 07/02/2022 10:33
  • Big ticket items can go out of date is what I meant. My pram, currently under the stairs, is probably dated now. I worry I will have to buy a new car seat (will be at least 6 1/2 years old by the time I have a baby) and won't be able to get hold Of car seat adaptors that will fit my by then old pram.
Caspianberg · 07/02/2022 12:31

Also what you need might change. You might live in the city and take public transport now so baby today would be better with compact travel size pram. But in a few years time you might be in the countryside and need off road large wheel type pram.

Baby clothes are also seasonal even if they don’t seem like it. Ie Ds was born May so most 0-6 month clothing we have is summery like thin cardigans, short sleeve vests. His 6-12 stuff was winter so thicker knitted leggings, thick cardigans and fleecy sleepsuits. If we have another in a different season, 1/2 of what we kept won’t be practical

Maybe open a savings account and build that up for if needed. And then you will have a large buffer to get anything in future

Qwill · 07/02/2022 12:45

This would end up costing you a lot more money in the long run as if you become pregnant things will have moved in in terms of safety, advice, technological advancements etc. Definitely don’t buy clothes as you have no idea what size a baby is and what season. I have a baby and I’ve still got unworn clothes due to this. If this is purely a cost thing (which I am not sure it is by your description), then a savings account is a much better idea. Easy to spread the cost and you have a lump sum as a back up. Baby things are relatively inexpensive and there are always a sales and second hand. The biggest cost is loss of income on maternity leave, so you are better up saving for that.

DockOTheBay · 07/02/2022 12:47

Rather than spreading the cost by buying it gradually, t would make more sense to put a bit of money in a savings account now and again, to buy those big ticket items when you need them.

Also your tastes or advice might change by the time you need the items. You might have a different car and the pushchair you've bought doesn't fit in the boot, or you reconfigure your bedroom and the cot no longer fits, or they bring out a new version of the car seat which you like better. Also, going to choose those items when you're pregnant is fun and exciting - I would imagine buying them now would just be a little bit flat and disappointing as you don't have a baby to put in them yet.

Swipe left for the next trending thread