Anybody else buying everything new rather than secondhand?

[Superexcited]

Inspired by another thread.
We are going to buy everything new for the baby despite being on a budget. I know lots of people save tons of cash by having hand me downs given to them or buying off ebay / in charity shops but I want everything new (and fortunately so does DH so no arguments on that front). We did reuse dc1 baby stuff for dc2 but long since got rid of everything. I don't mind reusing my oldest child's things for his younger sibling but I can't being myself to use stuff from other families.
It does make me feel wasteful though when I read threads on here where people are happy to buy second hand. Everyone else seems very thrifty.
Please somebody tell me that I am not the only person who wants everything new.

Nope- we're getting everything new! We have no other DCs or friends with very young children; they've already got rid of most of their baby stuff.

Fortunately, 'first-grandchild' syndrome does have its upside: my dad has agreed to buy a travel system for us (huge chunk of potential expenditure) and mum is rapidly stockpiling clothes/nappies/wipes, etc.

If you've got the money, why not? We're on a budget too, but can definitely get everything we need for less than £1000 (our budget was £1200). I'm quite fussy too, which I know is ridiculous because it makes no odds to baby, so want to get things which I think are 'cool'!

We have been offered some second-hand bits from friends but they are all a bit cutesy or naff. I know that sounds ungrateful, everyone has different tastes which is fine, but- as I said before- if we've got the money, why not buy new stuff? Although we've happily relieved our friend of her son's junior drumkit...much to her relief I think!

I think this is a pretty poor attitude to want new things for their own sake. There are finite resources in the world you know! Wasteful, wanton consumerism is rampant in Western society - I think in the future we're going to look back and be sorry we weren't more mindful during this period of affluence.
Congratulations on your pregnancy but I do think your attitude is shallow.

Same here, we bought most of the baby stuff new. I dont see a reason not to do so, i dont buy used clothes for me, neither for my baby.

I did sell some of dc2 stuff at car boot sales, gave some to friends and gave some to the charity shops. Very little went to landfill directly from my house.

We bought:

New cot (sold it still in its box as accidentally co slept!). Ikea.
New playpen (sold after being 'used' twice as child screamed blue murder going in it)
Some new clothes
New high chair (Antilop)
Playmat (Ikea)

Second hand moses basket (then never used, see above)

That was it. Oh, new pushchair.

We didn't buy a whole heap of stuff, didn't decorate a nursery. Child is 3yo and about to go into their own room - which, surprise surprise, still isn't really 'decorated' as such. One bed (new), some pictures, mis-matched furniture (2nd hand).

Neither DH nor I have rich rellies desperate to buy big-ticket items. They bought the odd babygro or cute outfit, as did friends, and things such as stuffed toys. We didn't go nuts either: we bought everything for around €400 including pushchair. Clothes mostly from Primark as they get vomit and shit all over them when they're tiny.

Child wore the clothes we were given, even if "not to our taste" - who gives a shit? They're clothes. A child is a child, not a fashion accessory.

Announcing you're buying everything new seems a little boastful to me. "We can afford all new... so... er... that's all. Carry on."

Oh, and ditto TropicalHorse

We bought everything new first time round, and I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. As a pp says, I don't buy second hand bedsheets, clothes, underwear for myself so why not want new for my baby.
We did also use clothing from nieces we were given, but had we have not had these in the family then even more would have been new.

I am pregnant with DC2 now and don't know what it will be - if it's another girl, of course I will reuse the clothes we have, but I will also be buying new. If it's a boy, almost everything will be new again.

Second time round, I am looking into second hand equipment eg pram etc as the quality of this is amazing, but first time round it was all new and I don't regret the expenditure.

I totally understand that not everyone has the option of new everything, and I see absolutely nothing wrong in anything second hand, but my OH and I work really hard to earn the income we have and therefore should be able to choose how we spend it.

We have accepted what little second hand stuff was offered through family and friends but like a pp most of our friends are out of the baby stage and have sold/given most of their stuff away. This means we have bought a lot of stuff new but have tried to be savvy and buy items that will last a few years so a buggy that should hopefully go until the twins are 3-4, a cot bed that again should last them for a good few years. I have looked at ebay for any bargains and have bought some maternity clothes from there for me but have yet to find any bargains that I can be bothered to bid on for the babies.

I accept that buying new stuff for the sake of it is a waste of resources but I refuse to feel guilty for wanting some things new for my twins particularly if I'm not convinced I can get a second hand item as clean as I would like it to be.

I have one child and bought everything new.

It cost me £3000 for everything.

Im not really a fan of second hand stuff.

I have 3 dc and first time everything was new. We didn't know anyone to give hand me downs and I never used eBay or anything at that time. Tbh looking back if there was all the but swap and sell sites and I used eBay I would have bough more 2nd hand. We were on a budget too and I wish I'd been able to buy some better quality items second hand. I did end up buying a pram off a friend when dd was nearly a year old and bought it knowing we would be having a 2nd fairly soon after and would use it again. And ds1 went I to that pram and I sold it on again. Ds1 also never needed ne clothes until he was nearly 2 thanks to a very kind and generous woman I met at toddler group.
When dc3 came along after changing our minds about another baby and getting rid of everything I did do what I wished I could have done first time around and bought a second hand pram of good quality, bought cot from a local selling site etc. and I've passed on or sold on again. It has never occurred to me to be bothered about buying 2nd hand I've always been delighted at a bargain and feel I'm getting more for my money. It just seems very wasteful of both money and the items themselves

It wasn't intended to be boastful, I also didn't say that any of the stuff would be expensive or top of the range. In fact when I look at second hand stuff (in particular in charity shops) they don't seem that much cheaper than new stuff bought in the sales. Most of the adult clothes in my local charity shop are almost the same cost as new stuff. I don't buy much clothes for myself as I make most of them. I will be buying baby clothes from primark, asda, matalan as I agree (and know from experience) that they don't wear them for long and they get covered in all sorts.

I suppose I have been put off 2nd hand by stories on here from people who have bought prams or other baby equipment off ebay and not received things in the condition they expected. A pram that costs £150 on ebay is a false economy if it turns up damaged, very worn or rickety.

We have bought some things new, others not.
I wanted a new pram, as I wanted to be sure it is clean (not from a home where people smoke or have pets) and it is difficult to really wash a pram.
I wanted a new car seat, as you need to buy a new one after a fall or accident and you cannot always tell just by looking at it that it isn't safe anymore.
I have a new play pen and blanket/mattress for in it, which was a gift from the inlaws.
I have my own old chest of drawers and changing table. DH sanded it and repainted it.
I have the crib my best friend had for her baby. I did buy a new mattress, because that is recommended due to the relation between infant death and used mattresses.
I have bought a new cot, as it needed to have one side that comes off, so I can attach it to our bed.
Clothes are a mix of new, second hand and home made.

I don't think it boastful in the slightest. It's not something I openly broadcast; OP asked a question and I supplied an answer. You're in no position to call me 'wasteful' unless you buy all your own possessions second hand. If you do, (recycled) hats off to you for sticking by your principles so firmly.

I rarely spend money on clothes, gadgets or anything for myself, I wear pretty much everything I own to ruin; not through any 'worthy' motive, just because I hate shopping, to be absolutely honest! So I'm allowing myself this one 'splurge', for once in my life (as we're only planning on having one child...how 'resource' friendly is that?). I don't need your approval. I'm spending the same on my baby as a lot of women spend on new clothes/shoes/whatever in couple of months. It's all about how you choose to prioritise.

Oh, and my relatives aren't 'rich', they are just caring, generous and want to make a contribution.

The world has much bigger problems than someone who wants to buy their baby a new crib and some new clobber.

If you've got the money, why not?
Two words: Finite Resources
Of the planet and your own.
We chose a painting over a beautiful cot when DD1 was born. We've still got the painting and it can be sold or passed down in a way. It's an asset in a way a 'trendy in the 90s piece of nursery furniture' isn't.

I bought everything new for DS, he's 8 months now and I'm not completely against second hand stuff.
I've learnt that they use stuff for such a short amount of time that most second hand stuff is in v good condition.
However, I loved picking out all of his bits from the shops and think everyone should have the 'mothercare experience'!

I plan to buy everything new too. It's our first baby., and always said i want to buy everything new for my first, as it's a special moment. Were lucky that my parents will buy our Travel System and DH parents want to buy the Nursery Furniture, even though we were happy to buy it out of Ikea (Love that shop). We don't know what we are having, so will buy enough clothes (mostly white) to last a week or so, and save my money till i can out and buy boy or girl things. However if it is a girl, i will be more than willing to get second hand clothes handed down from my Niece, as my mum has keep a few things... I don't mind a couple second hand things, but i personally would like to new things. However i do hope to have another child, i will be keeping all my things for second child.

CountingThePennies
No you're not.

Hi Superexcited, were exactly the same.
Our dc will be the first grandchild and noone I know friends or family has children.
I was considering going to some NCT sales but probably won't as I might just leave with random items I won't use.
I would rather carefully consider each purchase and buy new.
I have done my research and selected most of what I want for baby, although we will inevitably get generous gifts from family I have ensured everything I want is also within OUR budget.

You see, Seriouslyffs this is what I mean by differing priorities. To me, a cot is a functional thing; it serves a purpose. Whereas a painting is purely aesthetic. So I would choose the cot over the painting, iyswim?

I didn't mean to get so defensive earlier, it's just that I resent being talked to like a 'spoilt rich kid' when I am far from it; I've worked and saved hard to get together the money we have for our baby so, goddamit, I'm going to spend it how I like!

I'm buying everything new, dh agrees. Mil cannot understand and has saved everything for 10years from previous grandchildren, some of it going through x5 kids and all cheap & cheerful. I hated appearing ungrateful but its nice & exciting buying new and things change so much, better products, gadgets etc. Were going to a baby show soon to buy the rest at best deals, so many deals & sales you can get great bargains on everything. Don't feel guilty and enjoy shopping :-)

We have bought everything new.

I wanted to get used stroller but my husband was definitelly against it.

I was not given nothing as hand me down because we have no family here.

We stil did it on the budget, every single thing we bought we tought about and bought just minimum of stuff, we dont have all sorts of gadgets and equipment.

I think we can still sell it after we use it for recover some value.

I want to try cloth diapers but again my husband doesnt agree to get used ones from library or on ebay. Even if this is being commonly done it is sort of offputing, like wearing someone elses underwear.

We bought most new but got a few second hand things from friends. Wouldn't have bought second hand from strangers (ebay etc).

Of course we could also have afforded to buy new (although I can't help thinking that people desperate to buy new just enjoy the shopping) but I love a bargain so I was very into second hand donations.

I think spent £200 on dc1. I had no idea what we would use and one of the most expensive things (travel system) I'm so glad we didn't buy one as he was in a stroller at 3 months.

Anyway my point is, it was NCT sales and such like that got me into second hand things and now I love it. I realised I only bought new for myself, since then I now buy some of mine second hand too. I really enjoy a charity shop for clothes, toys, books, DVDs.

So I was going to say - try it. You might like it.

We bought everything brand new

Dd is our first child and first grand baby so we were lucky enough for my parents to pay for the car seat/pram and dh's parents paid for the crib.