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.

But skeppers I'm looking at the painting now and it's worth much more than we paid for it. The same amount spent on a cot would be worthless now and we wouldn't be benefiting from the money spent on a cot as the baby in question is now 18!

i am mixed about it really. i would want a new pram/buggy, new cot and bedding/towels and a new car seat, just to be sure they were clean and safe. and some new clothes because everyone loves new clothes. but other than that, i don't have a problem with buying some things second hand - eg everyone raves about these vibrating chairs; something like that, or books or toys, i'd happily get from a friend or online. clothes i would happily have if they had belonged to a relative or friend. i don't think i would actively buy second hand clothes for a baby. just personal preference.

my dad has very generously offered to buy our travel system (got my heart set on the new i-candy three wheeler!) and car seat, and the OH's mum wants to buy the cot, so we are very lucky.

This is an emotive topic for me. We too, are buying everything new and I won't be ashamed to tell you that we are buying quite expensive brands where we feel we are getting quality for our money. For example I wanted to buy a wardrobe and draws that can store the baby things now but are suitable and sturdy enough to last for years as they grow up. Myself and my husband have worked damn hard to earn our money and we'll buy the things we want to. Another pregnant lady at worked gave me a 10 minute lecture on how I have wasted my money on an icandy pram/pushchair and that's not the only comment I've had. Everyone has different budgets and makes different decisions about what to buy but I don't believe anyone has the right to judge other people's choices.

We might not be benefitting from the stuff in several years' time but, hopefully, someone else will as we're planning on freecycling/donating it once done.

Someone has to buy these things new in the first place for them to make their way into the second-hand market for others to buy on the cheap!

The only things I've had 2nd hand are from family and close friends. The moses basket all our family kids have used (bought new mattress 8.99 from amazon ) they're not in them 2 mins we've also shared highchair and playmate. My dh cousin gave us Graco baby swing must've been quite expensive when bought new, her 3dc used it and it's still like brand new now all we did was put new batteries in no doubt I'll pass on to whoever next in the family has a baby. If the items have been looked after and you know the house it's coming from is clean and smoke free then I don't see an issue with it. Why spend money unnecessarily put it towards other things like family days out or holidays instead the things children have memories of not whether they had something new or 2nd hand as a baby

We could have bought all brand new stuff but just thought it was a waste of money when there was good quality clean second hand stuff available and I hate contributing to landfill/am conscious of finite resources and impact on our planet.

I did feel a tad "mean" for some strange reason and put some money in a savings account for each child once they arrived to kind of compensate in some strange way. This kick started their savings nicely and they are encouraged to save a proportion of any money they receive as Birthday/Christmas presents so that the balance keeps growing.

We recently sold a lot of their outgrown old toys/clothes on ebay and have given some of the proceeds but on the whole it is as yet unspent.

We always buy new underwear and school shoes, anything else and I'm happy to use second hand for me or the dc.

I find the attitude to insisting on buying everything new odd and worrying tbh. Imagine all the stuff that would go to waste if everyone had that attitude, much of it perfectly fine. My DS got some stuff new but got a Moses basket, beautiful solid oak cot (minus mattres which we got new)car seat and buggy second hand. He also got a lot of his clothes from friends or from 2nd hand sales- I won't buy anything tatty but a surprising amount of stuff I got was either barely or never used and a fraction of the price new. We could have afforded everything new but it just seemed so... unnecessary. DS 2 comes next month and other than one newborn outfit I have not bought him anything though thanks to a doting grandmother I suspect he will end up with a fair bit of new stuff.
Accept I'm in the minority here. And yes I also buy stuff second hand for myself, sometimes.
My dB is also expecting soon and we are both jokingly regretting that due to the likely age gap being too small it's unlikely I'll be able to pass on much baby stuff to him. So an but eBay or 2nd hand sale session at some point there will be.

Point I wanted to make was, for some people, it's not about saving money.

...but if nobody ever bought new stuff, where would all the second hand stuff come from!? It would run out eventually; nothing lasts forever!

It's purely down to personal choice and individual priorities. Some people wouldn't bat an eyelid at shelling out thousands of pounds on a car. Mine cost £800. Second hand!

I find your suggestion unusual because it isn't your DC. I always thought the novelty wore off.

It isn't about novelty. My youngest was born more than a decade ago so we need to buy everything as we got rid of all our baby stuff years ago. Everything we had from dc1 was reused for dc2 and then sold on / given away but we don't have anything to pass down this time. We have no family with young children to pass anything down and I don't want to buy things from people I don't know. I have no guarantees that things won't come from smokers or that they will have been looked after properly.

...but if nobody ever bought new stuff, where would all the second hand stuff come from!? It would run out eventually; nothing lasts forever!

Absolutely. I know my pushchair that was used for dc1 and dc2 was practically falling apart after 4 years of daily use, a friend took it and used it for a couple of months but then had to replace it.

If you're worried about waste eBay/donate it when you're done,problem solved

We could have bought everything new, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend thousands on stuff when we could find them cheaper, and be less wasteful.

I wanted an icandy travel system, so I bought one on eBay from a couple who live down the road for £150. I had it steam cleaned and serviced for £30 and it was like new. We also got their beautiful bespoke cot for £70, again steam cleaned and bought a new mattress for it. We have a family Moses basket, so again just bought a mattress for that.

We also bought used cloth nappies, a sling, books and some clothes.

When we don't need these things we'll sell them or pass them on to a local charity that we support. I could never be happy wasting money and resources on things that will be used for a very short space of time, I just think that it's so irresponsible.

We did a mixture - some new, some second hand. I don't think its anything to be upset about Cattyf, you shouldn't feel guilty or emotional about it. Very unpleasent and holier than thou of your collegue to say that to you.

I have 3 dc and always planned to, so some things I wanted to last all three, I bought new, and good quality and they have lasted well and I feel I made the right decision. Other things I was happy to pick up second hand if I felt they might not be used all that much or for very long etc.
Also, when I bought second hand, I paid a bit extra each time to make sure I got an immaculate one that I really liked. I really wanted a bugaboo donkey for dc 2 and 3 (small age gap) but I knew it would probably only be used for a year to 18 months so bought one on ebay. I paid £750 including all the accessories for one which was 6 months old and in immaculate condition. Probably will sell it on when I'm done for a vaguely similar amount. Its been fine as it was almost new when I bought it and only used for a short period anyway. I bought the single buggy thats done all 3 dc new and am very glad I did as its still going strong and I wont need to replace it.

I buy almost all their clothes second hand though, up to the age of about 2. When the quantity and quality tends to decline quite a bit and the balance gradually changes towards new things. I buy really good quality brands when I buy second hand, and only things that are in really good condition. Dont regret it even for a second! I can have far more cute clothes this way :o and I like nice brands which I wouldnt other wise be able to justify when they are in it for such a short period. I do buy new bits and pieces here and there too, its a cost - benefit analysis, the second hand price vs the new price etc..

Most of all what I'd say is: this is a really really special time. You want to feel happy and joyous and really enjoy it. Do what ever will help you do that. We spend lots of money on things that are "experiences" coffee out, meals, cinema etc. This is an experience too - so if you want to buy new just for the joy of it, bloody do it! I love all my baby bits and think very fondly of them now. Dont completely write off second hand though - its definitely worth researching before you buy :)

I think it's entirely up to you. If you can afford it why not? I use a pram every day so I'm having a new one, the play mat will be new, cot was dd's just getting a new mattress, recycling her bedding, jumperoo and older toys will be second hand, I have no problem with second hand clothes either and will buy as I see Stuff I like

This is my first DC but I have no problem buying second hand or accepting items passed on from friends. I bought the car seat New and plan to get a new pram but Moses basket was given to me by a friend (New mattress), I got a beautiful changing unit on Gumtree for 10% of the price, I'm renting a bednest and a lot of the clothes are second hand but barely worn. As long as the items are clean, safe and in good condition I don't see the issue. It doesn't sit right with me to buy new just for the sake of it but each to their own.

We're buying everything new. Noone has offered us any hand me downs or to buy us anything. My sister had loads of stuff she wanted to give us, but ended up selling it as it took so long to get pregnant with this baby (we had IVF). I personally wanted certain things to be new anyway, such as a pram and a car seat, because if it's second hand you don't always know it's history, unless it's from someone you know and trust. I am a tremendous worrier though. Spent a fortune so far on the cot, moses basket, pram, changing table and car seat, I think we got a bit carried away in Mamas and Papas. Hopefully I'll be able to sell them on later, though obviously for a lot less than the purchase price. We really need to watch our budget now on the rest of the things.

We were buying everything new (buggy, car seat, cot, crib etc have all been bought new) but dp has just been told he is being made redundant so we are now receiving all second hand gifts (mostly toys) with thanks. I had loads of second hand stuff growing up so it doesn't bother me one bit. In fact we rarely had anything new! We aren't exactly destitute but I'll be on smp in a couple of months which will be tight so don't see any issue with some secondhand stuff.

superexcited I think we both may have looked at the same thread!

I too have/will be buying everything brand new. I know to some it may across as wasteful but without any close family or friends handing items down coupled with the fact our twins are our first experience of parenthood and we can financially afford it(non boastful just matter of fact) and 'the mothercare experience' as iloveanny put it is something I'll remember for the rest of my life... I am fully aware that I'm in a lucky position to be able to buy all new items and to have very generous grandparents and relatives who want to purchase everything under the sun big ticket items.

Also can't remember the poster who mentioned not buying second hand for themselves and charity shop items being quite expensive.. I'm of the same thought. Prime example was when I spotted a Moses basket for 20 pounds in a mother and baby charity shop. Then I saw a brand new one in asda cost 27 pounds. But to those mentioning saving resources... Hats off to you. However it may be PFB-ness going to my head but DH and I work to buy things we like and in the condition and state we like for our babies without any extra headache. With them being our first/second child we will also hopefully be reusing most of the items. So not so wasteful in the end..

The best advice I can give is that even if you can afford everything brand new and top notch, don't bother! We got everything new for DS1 with the help of generous grandparents but this time I've hardly spent a penny. Babies need breast milk and love and constant attention and that's it. They don't care what they sleep in, where they sleep, what they wear, what you wear, etc. Save your money for the stuff that matters once they arrive and put the rest in their savings account for when they are older!

I think it's totally up to you what you want to do. I'm pregnant with DC2 and am using stuff from first time round (3 years ago), getting some stuff from my sister and some from friends. We are buying new buggy though as last one was shit. And new mattresses of course.

Some people have to buy second hand, some people don't. Don't feel guilty, just enjoy buying stuff for your baby.

It's really down to individual choice- whatever your decision don't let anyone make you feel bad!

We could have purchased everything brand new, but I had my eye on expensive brands so I got familiar with Ebay and bought all the expensive items 2nd hand.

It didn't bother me at all buying 2nd hand. Despite being pregnant and full of hormones, I had a sceptical view of all the baby stores- it's all such a (successful!) marketing thing.

Honestly, the easiest way to make money is off parents/parents to be.
You're lead to believe you need this or that costing £££.

Having said all that, tend to buy new clothes from Mothercare or supermarkets. Was given many brand new clothes as gifts when baby was born.

Car seat brand new of course.