Let's talk NCT sales!!!!

[Ambivalence]

Went to my first one yesterday - was quite overwhelming and I could really do with some tips for what to buy!

My goodness -it gave me confidence about the social aspect of the NCT -the volunteers were so nice, so welcoming. And chatty -that was lovely.

was rather shocked at the state of some of the offerings - eg really worn, faded and stained baby bjorn slings -no instructions, no boxes, £30, when you can get brand new on Amazon for £60, but they got snapped up! Not sure if I am missing something and being too snobby about the state things should be in for nearly new -it's my precious first born. I had gone with hopes high of bargains galore, but was pretty disappointed. -is this because it is central London and I need to be out in rural areas where people are more realistic about pricing things? Or am I just a snob and will feel differently about worn, stained, bobbled things -once baby has been sick in them a few times I won't care as long as they work!?

Very disappointed that the 2 pieces of equipment I bought - a mamas and papas sling -was missing the extra head support cushion, and a baby gym, missing the musical attached toy and the tummy time pillow that came with. My fault of course as I should have checked they were complete, but I didn't know what I was looking for, lesson learned -I need to do my research , and foolishly I waited to get home to google what the recommended retail price was to see if I had gotten a bargain.

Could really do with some tips from any veterans as to what to buy . I am trying to keep costs down, and am wondering if I am better off doing my baby shopping at a supermarket instead. I live in central London and don't. Drive, so rarely go to the big supermarkets -but looking at baby grows online in Asia they seem bargains in comparison ( and you can return if they don't fit!)

The people were lovely though -so am totally looking forward to my NCT classes now (only going to make friends)

Ahh - the NCT course is at your Mums not here - that makes much more sense!!

Some of the FB groups are closed groups anyway, or you can always look on the local pages on here (and that other pink bannered site ) for ideas.

Best of luck with it all. By the way don't worry about 'not knowing anything about babies' I thought I knew quite a lot about babies, then I had my daughter and realised that actually I knew fuck all - so don't worry! It will be a steep learning curve for you while you and your baby get to know each other!

thanks Annie - thankfully I have the power of mumsnet to answer all those questions!

You might find the sales better up north OP- people love a bargain up here!

Once the babies born, I would definitely try and pick up some more clothes at nearly new sales. I regularly pick up gap, next, morhercare, monsoon, boden and mamas and papas at NN sales. Generally, the younger the size, the better the condition, as small babies grow out of clothes very quickly (which is another reason not to spend a fortune on new). It's also good to have a stock of secondhand clothes when they start nursery as they will get wrecked!

Baby bath? Much easier to use the sink, especially if you've had a cs!

OP - once you're back North come to the Huddersfield sale!

I volunteered at a Crouch End NCT nearly new when I was pregnant last autumn, purely to get first dibs! I think they are quite stretched as it took a while to get a reply to my email too, but agree, they are all lovely. I picked up a Baby Bjorn bouncer for £20 (rrp £100) and a lovely little sweater, but like you I thought the quality was a bit rubbish, plus I had no idea what I should buy. With hindsight I wish I'd picked up a widgy breastfeeding cushion for a fiver as there were several, and things like a bath support (never bothered with a baby bath, just used the sink, but now she's in the big bath the support is handy).

I mainly buy from eBay, especially clothes (Baby Boden/Jojo) clothes as they grow so fast that good quality stuff is easy to find.

Vests and sleepsuits, aim for about 10 of each to start with, John Lewis or Sainsbury multipacks aren't expensive and wash well.

Nns bargains ( as mentioned above) include sleeping bags, baby toys, keep a look out for galt (they are washable) playskool and then more expensive brands like brio (beware of imitations which are fine but significantly cheaper, so don't pay brio premium) duplo (again beware of imitations and mega blocks they just don't work as well) I've found nice things like Janod magnetic rocket wonder world wooden trucks, building blocks, stacking cups, wooden farm yard, crazy golf set....
I think I've read that sellers should price goods around 1/4 of new retail price and the item should be in 'nearly new' condition but having helped at some sales this is not always the case, and I feel that as volunteers we should reject more stuff, we were also supposed to check everything was working/ complete but realistically with a couple of hours to set up that is really tricky to do in as much detail as tummy time pillows etc, but I totally understand your irritation, you could always e mail the sale and tell them the seller number they will be able to identify who it is and possibly monitor more carefully in the future?
Other things I bought were newborn clothes, as they were often barely used and I suspected i'd have big babies so didn't think I'd use them, I also kept a look out for vests and baby grows from M&S and next as they are good quality cotton and fit my ds well, do look carefully at any for 6m upwards as necks can become stained with weaning.

I visited a few different areas sales and found some better than others, worth looking for ones in nice areas, I've never been but always tempted with Wimbledon??

So I went to my first one today and it was awful! Tatty, poor quality stuff. I won't be going back!