Shopping for baby is so expensive!

[Fatty12]

Hello
I'm currently 20+4 and this will be first DC. I'v been looking around for cots, moses baskets, car seats etc everything is so expensive :-0 & to make it worse I'm on a tight budget as me and DH are currently in the process of buying our own house!

Anyone have any recommendations, or places I could pick stuff up cheap??

Thankyouu

Nct sales, local Facebook groups etc.

As long as things can be cleaned it doesn't matter if second hand.

Babies don't need everything at the beginning - just the basics.

I've bought second hand and from charity shops for things like playmat, moses baskets and stands.

My pram wasn't expensive, I got it from kiddicare, it came with a carseat and the seat unit converts from a pram to a pushchair.

Kept clothes to a minimum because people will give you gifts when the baby arrives.

Make a list of what you definitely need. Some items are pointless and you'll find you won't use!

Defo go second hand. No one knows but you and as long as it can be cleaned like Quin said, then it will be fine. Baby boot sales are great if you have any that run in your area. They are like car boot sales but only baby stuff. And most things are top notch quality. Gumtree can be great too. Good luck xx

You don't need to spend much. When my dc1 was born I wasn't earning. I spent about £500 on the lot.

eBay for big items, you don't need a Moses basket, just a cot, you don't need a baby bath, or a posh video monitor and those alarmed mat things (presuming normal delivery). Second hand sales or friends for clothes, blankets etc. you don't need bottles if you're going to bf. Look for a second hand pram.

Write a list of what you actually need, and then see what you already have.

So where will baby sleep? You prob only need a cot or cot bed in your room and baby sleeps on blanket or in pram downstairs. No need to buy Moses baskets etc

Do You need a pram or sling? What type?

Most things like baby bouncers/ jumpers/ rockers you don't need. Just put on blanket on the floor when needed. No need for actual baby playmats, use blanket/ towel/ rug you already have

Things like baby baths/ towels/ etc you don't need. You have a sink/ shower/ bath/ bowl of water or similar you can clean baby with, and normal towels

Just by basic babygrows and few cardigans until 6 months. Saves a fortune on actual outfits

Once you have worked out the exact things you need then see if you can also get them from friends/ eBay/ secondhand

I would only get a new car seat, but everything else would be happy with second hand (replace mattresses for cot/Moses basket etc). You don't need a lot of the baby stuff that is marketed towards parents. start with the basics and see what you actually need as you go along. Would grandparents contribute to big purchases like car seat, pram, cot?

Facebook, charity shops, supermarket or eBay for clothes.vif you're in genuine hardship, search Facebook for Cloth Bank UK - they provide cloth nappies for free (bar postage) for anyone in need.

Ignore about 90% of the things on the "essentials" lists. Babies need clothing, somewhere to sleep, nappies, a means of eating and a form of transport (pram or sling).

Also look at using reusable nappies and wipes. You can buy some brands cheaper (bloom) or even get bundles online secondhand. Saves a fortune of approx 2.5 years nappies

I'd also recommend the NCT nearly new sales. I've saved thousands over the years by picking up good quality second hand and sometimes new pieces up for really cheap prices. Have a look at www.nct.org.uk to find the sales in your area. I also used to visit the sales in the 'posh' areas near me for even more bargains.

Also read though some of the threads here. They're really useful for sorting out what is essential and what is a 'nice to have'.

It is expensive if you but everything brand new.

Second hand is the secret. Other than a baby gym (purchased with a gift voucher from colleagues), baby bouncer (bought half price this week in Argos) & crib mattress (cheap from boots) everything I have is second hand including the car seat (from my sister). That said baby gym and bouncer aren't essentials - they are things I want and I was being precious about wanting them new.

Local facebook groups are great, a got a never used sling for 15 instead of about 60 new.
I always see cots and prams/travel systems going for up to 50 which are normally into the hundreds.

I would suggest getting a new matress though as recommended by all the baby sites, kiddicare always have good deals on and do free delivery over 30.

I've bought most things from eBay, charity shops etc. the only things we've got new are the travel system and mattresses which were both gifts.

Honestly, stuff gets used so briefly that most of it still looks brand new.

So far, I've spent:

Moses basket on stand c/w bedding: £19.00 from eBay (plus £9.00 for new mattress);

Enormous baby clothes buying spree from the charity shops: £40.00

Buying spree from the 2nd hand baby stuff sale (more clothes, changing mat, bag, sleeping bags etc:) : £30:00

Another bundle of clothes from eBay: £10.00

Bouncy chair: £15.00 from eBay

Baby Bjorn sling: £10.00 from eBay

That's £135. Plus, we've been given a cot, and a bells and whistles travel system from relatives, and another car seat. But I see a lot of second hand prams/ travel systems starting at about £50.

There is very little you need to get new.

Your baby will never remember what equipment they had and will never thank you for spending money on them at that age!

Have you got a mothercare outlet near you - very cheap for your major stuff eg cot for £25 last time I went in, their own make travel system £75 also clothes etc and really cheap maternity clothes like 80% off.
As other posts say there is loads of stuff u don't need eg: baby bath, top n tail bowls (have never understood them - just wash face first bum last!!) changing tables - nice for your back but are a luxury you can change the baby on your knee! Keep clothes simple you can get multi packs of vests/sleep suits from Asda/tesco that's all you need - you will get loads of fancy stuff as pressies - keep the tags on and swap them for stuff you need for baby! Keep an eye out for nappy offers and stock up a bit - but don't get more than one box of first size they soon grow out of them! Unless you live in a mansion you don't need a baby monitor eithier! Muslin cloths are useful provide a bit of modesty while feeding out n about or for wiping sick n dribbles!!

eBay
Local Facebook pages
Brand new car seat.

You'll be amazed at how much you save!

I bought 6 sleep suits, six vests, a nappy mat, a pack of nappies, cotton wool, a pram system that came with car seat and parameter that we used instead of a Moses basket and 3 sets of sheets for it, though you can uses pillow cases and a box of breast pads and disposable knickers for me.

Everything else can be bought as and when you need it, or don't as it usually turns out

Try ebay, car boot sales, charity shops, facebook buy and sell groups and nearly new sales etc. You can pick up some bargains and it's not like baby items get worn out as such :)

You don't have to go mad, just buy the basics!

I've heard Primark do lovely baby stuff, not had chance to go yet myself...but will update when I do

Do you have any family or friends that have had children you can borrow some things off such as a moses basket bouncer chair play mat high chair? If you do need to buy these things see if there's any baby sales near you - like a car boot sale that only sells baby things . You can pick most things up from there then when you've finished with them do your own stall and sell them on to someone else.
Aldi are having their baby event on Thurs bouncer chair high chair and travel cots all £20 each.