Buying things for baby?

[S1eepflower]

Hello all!

I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant. I've had scans at 11 and 12 weeks and all was well, and I saw the midwife yesterday and we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time :).

I wanted to start shopping for baby things... only little things at first, clothes, accessories...etc Is it too soon?

All I keep reading about is people waiting until after 20weeks...etc I'm on a very low income and want to spread purchases out over the year. I don't have anything yet and nobody has given me anything.

What's people's thoughts? :)

Enjoy

I think, to be fair, most people who have had losses have just said 15 weeks/20 weeks is OK.

FWIW I wouldn't count my maternity jeans as baby shopping. I didn't buy anything for the baby but you can't exactly walk round naked.

One thing I would suggest for money saving is get several 'new baby' books from the library (or online sites) and cross-check all their 'essentials'. NEVER use the shopping lists from catalogues, obviously they will tell you to buy loads of stuff (from them) you might not need!
EBay, Amazon - both your friend if you're on a tight budget. Only cots/mattresses and bottles/'open system' breastpumps need to be brand new... you can get really good bundles cheap 2nd hand.
Likewise bootsales and charity shops.
Just wash it all at 40 degrees with fairy non bio.
Farah have some of the best baby charity shops in my experience - they seem to get posh stuff donated but sell for a reasonable price! Mine has branded prams like Bugaboos very reasonable.

I did wait until about 33 weeks. My MIL had a still birth before DH so was a bit nervous. I am glad I started at 33 weeks as at 34 weeks I had a baby DS. Its nice to buy a few bits as you go along.

Squizita... I think we were reading different posts because most of them seemed to be warning me against buying at all until later.

As for shops - I have a barnados childrens shop at the end of my street (only sells baby/children clothes, toys, car seats, baskets..etc) that's why I'm eager to get a bargain when we see one.

We're also going to the trafford centre this weekend, I've never been in a baby shop before so was going to get one "treat" an item of baby clothing from mamas and papas (and I don't intend on doing any more shopping there bar that one item! ) lol

As for waiting up until the 30 week mark, not a chance :) longest I'd have waited if I was was until after the 20w scan. But what's 5 weeks? I could wait until 20, 25 30 weeks and then still something happens... x

We started buying bits clothing. Im almost 15 weeks. We will gt bigger stuff after 20 week. But would not be able to afford all in one go. And seen as had one healthy pregnancy and can feel babba moving seems sensible x

Ooh, natharley, you can feel it already! So jealous. I've been lying really still in bed and concentrating but I think all I can feel is my pulse

You can feel your baby at almost 15 weeks? My midwife told me yesterday wouldn't feel it for a while yet, I can't feel a thing, lucky you! :)

We waited until a gender scan at 18 weeks, when we bought some clothes and books, and then things really picked up after the 20 week scan. At 36 weeks we've got almost everything. It might be helpful to know what you're having before you start (it's amazing how many things have a gender bias!) and to really explore the options on things like Moses baskets v bed nests before you start, maybe set up a Pinterest board? On a lot of items I ended up changing my mind on what I wanted the more the pregnancy went on. To spread the cost you could always set up a little baby savings account and put some money into it every month? Just a couple of thoughts...

Kiddicare stores are apparently going online- so big sales will be coming up in their actual shops (plus if you join their 'club' you get ££ off vouchers!).

I won't be buying gender specific even when I know the gender :) seen plenty of stuff that isn't xx

Second baby tho so feel ot earlier. Not like kicks but more like some one rolling marble iys lovely tho

OP I think it's so individual.

Personally, I'm a planner. I have already booked my baby's nursery space, snaffled a pram which a friend kindly donated plus bags of clothes. I've also agreed to buy a car seat from someone else who will sell it soon.

I'm 13+3.

I know some people will say that's horrifically early, but I am very realistic that it might not work out. I've already had one threatened MC this pg. Even so, I don't see the point in refusing offers that people are making that will save us money and trouble in the long run. Even if this pg doesn't work out, I know I can get pg now so I would put things in the loft with a heavy heart and hope they'd be useful one day.

I'm in a similar situation to you - I have a good salary but we recently had to do mass renovations on our house, totally unexpected, and have taken out a loan to do this. So I have very low savings and high outgoings. I just can't afford to wait till week 35 to buy high-cost items like a cot. I need to spread these things out and pick up bargains where I can.

If you want to buy a few things I think you should go for it, the way I see it losing a baby would be fucking awful, whether you have a bunch of stuff in a nursery or not. I bought a bit of stuff after my 12 week scan, and have spread out my essential purchases over my pregnancy, it's the only way I could afford everything I needed!

I say do what you want to do. I waited until after the 20 wk scan personally and then spread out all the purchases from there (now 38wks and fully organised). We wanted to find out the gender too so I guess that influenced it a bit as well. I had a baby savings account that we started putting money into from the positive test so some of the bigger purchases had to wait anyway but we'd had a good few months of savings by 20 wks so it was nice to do a bit of a shopping spree after the scan:-)

Its not too early to shop, statistics are on your side with a 12 week healthy scan. Congratualtions! I'd just give the following advice though, from someone who has not bought anything and is 32 weeks!
I've been given things over time, so had I of bought things earlier, I might have had duplicates.
I've done loads of research and been given loads of good advice as my pregnancy has progressed, and now I have a beautiful list and know exactly what I want. I think if I had shopped early on, I would have bought very differently and might have purchased items and later changed my mind. For example, I've changed my mind about what buggy, what car seat and I've decided to get a snuzpod, but I didn't even know such things existed early on. I've also been given loads of tips on where to pick up great bargains and second hand stuff.

Thanks everyone! RevoltingPeasant I think we're on the same wavelength :)

mrsgembles - I'm of the same opinion, not buying things in the case I may lose my baby seems like I'm acting like my little baby isn't already there waiting for me :) just my opinion.

MissingCaffeine! - thanks for the congrats! As well as my 11 and 12 week scan I saw the midwife two days ago, and she let me listen to the heartbeat, she did all the usual "don't worry if you don't hear anything"...etc but it was louder than my heartbeat and the baby was doing somersaults :)

I only have my dad and my brother on my side of the family, my dad may buy or make something as he's handy but he'll check with me first. My partners family are completely different and want to take over, so I'm not buying furniture or anything yet, but I am insisting on buying the moses basket and the clothes, as I know once they find out boy/girl I'll have an over-the-top pile of pink/blue. When I'm more of a happy green/yellow type person ;)

Thanks everyone for the positive comments!

Just go and buy some things, enjoy this exciting time! Yes things could go wrong but that can happen at any stage and things are more likely to go right. You can't out it off forever and it would be sad to spend the whole time stressing worrying.

You won't have the experience of buying and preparing for your first baby again and it's a special time, relish it, enjoy it and make the most of it.xx

Put the feelers out - you will get so much stuff.

Just buy a pack of nappies and wipes with weekly shop and look out for offers on them (you can always swap size if they are a big baby and you have too many size 1)

Only thing I bought was something new to bring them home in and a couple of play mats from online/FB local selling groups.

If you are missing stuff 6 weeks out see if you can borrow a Moses basket - mine was only in his 2 weeks didn't like how unstable it was I think.

Best thing I had was a bedside crib - saves getting out of bed to feed and hubby doesn't wake up either.

Also love my Tummu Tub, think bucket to bath baby in. I hurt my back due to birth and this was great to wash him in as only need two fingers under their chin to hold them up.

If you can get a second hand babybojn great for keeping baby quiet while you do jobs or attend weddings etc

If you have a baby shower you will get gifts and maybe gift vouchers.

I've just seen a bundle of newborn vests on a selling site, 20 for just over a fiver. I'm buying them because I don't want to be left having to spend money on the boring stuff! Best to be prepared!

Aww thanks HappilyMarried :) you're right.

ColdCottage, I know what certain family members are/aren't getting. I'm not really worried about what to get it was more when to get, I want things I've specificly chosen for my baby (second hand or not). My brother has 3 children who all got My hand me downs from when I was little, but he threw them away and my dad threw everything away (my mum died a few years back) as everyone had decided I wouldn't have a baby. (I'm only 26!)

I won't be having a baby shower, I have no friends lol :)

S1eepflower, my 'D'SIL has decided she is having a baby shower for me. No idea who she's going to invite! But from the sounds of it anyone she does will be scared off anyway

Haha to be honest I don't want want one. I understand it's a very special time for my and my partner but people have babies everyday, I have a hard time celebrating it with others as something special. It's just for me and him and family :) Luckily I have no one to arrange a surprise one for me I'm safe! :)

Sorry I changed my username, it's still s1eepflower :)

I quite like the idea of getting together with close girlie friends and having tea and cake and talking baby stuff, but all my close girlie friends live miles away. And the thought if having a gift list (which is what SIL is suggesting) seems horribly crass. Plus, we aren't finding out the sex, so if people do want to buy us a gift (of their choosing!) I think most people would rather wait till they know.

I have no friends nevermind girly friends haha :) I have one friend who's not very girly at all, the rest of the people I keep in and out of contact with are guys. Me and my fella pretty much like our own company. Hermits. Hey maybe he can throw me a baby shower?! haha. Cleaning the house would be a start though, baby steps! :)