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Shopping for baby things

54 replies

Chinadoll · 17/03/2007 21:33

Hi guys,

This is my first pregnancy and we're starting to look for baby stuff. Just wondering if anyone has advice on where to get affordable and good baby things e.g. cot, pram, car seat, essentials, etc. I'm slghtly overwhelmed by all the shops and internet sites out there....and how expensive things can be. Help!!

Thank you!

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lins1uk · 17/03/2007 21:43

when i had my first i bought so much but the truth is half of it you dont need!!
you can get everything pretty cheap if you shop around toys r us have baby stuff and have some pretty good deals a lot of the time also theres mothercare etc,
your best bet is to write a list of the things you will need and stick to it dont buy stuff you wont use and dont buy loads of clothes that was my big mistake as i didnt use a lot of them,
just buy essentials,
but i do reccomend toys r us for pram as they always have good deals on prams and sometimes on cots and stuff,
hope this info helps.
lins xx

skirmish · 17/03/2007 21:48

congrats on the pg

we were lucky and had crib and cradle given to us...

you'll get loads of clothes as gifts too, but to be honest, my ds hardly wore any of the newborn ones as we tended to keep him in sleepsuits all day...easier than faffing around getting him dressed and undressed all the time...you can get cheapo ones from primark/asdas/sains etc etc

don't go mad buying loads to begin with

Audiologistmummy · 17/03/2007 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thejelly · 17/03/2007 22:24

ebay is fantastic for baby stuff

WestCountryLass · 17/03/2007 22:25

When I had my first you do kind of get swept along with thinking you have to have everything and that you need it all right away.

One thing I would have done was get a rear and forward facing carseat combo as I ended up buying one for my DD anyway. She got too big for the baby car seat but was too small to be forward facing as they last from birth to about 4. I hardly ever used my car seat as a travel system as I tended to take baby out of the car seat so they could lie flat in the pushchair.

I also just bought far too many sleepsuits and blankets and such like. You do tend to have the washing machine on all the time and things like that take no time to dry so you don't actually need loads.

Also if you have room in your bedroom for a cot, you won't actually need a moses basket, and baby baths are pretty useless, just get a bath support or take baby in the bath with you (not as tricky as it sounds).

HTH and good luck!

paulaplumpbottom · 17/03/2007 22:27

Gap has gorgeous cot linens
Great Little Trading Company is good for things
Also look at the Chic shack (www.chicshack.net) for outfitting your nursery they have the yummiest things

thejelly · 17/03/2007 22:32

or even a cot bed that converts to a toddler bed... should see you to about 4 or 5 years old if you can bear to think that far ahead - or handle seeing a teeny tiny in such a large bed (I quite liked it).

For prams - a maclaren techno or classic would see you through from birth to no buggy and they are lightweight and pretty robust - or if you are hoping for a second in the next couple of years a phil and teds is a great single AND a great double buggy (we use both)...

trixymalixy · 18/03/2007 01:31

glasgow pram centre is generally quite cheap.

PregnantGrrrl · 18/03/2007 09:39

i scanned ebay for a pushchair when i was pregnant with DS. i got a brand new one for £50, which was RRP £120. i got a steriliser 2nd hand on there too, half the cost of a new one.

i recommend buying something each month to spread the cost, and make a list of basics. You can pretty much guarantee lots of gifts anyway, so no need to go too mad.

To start, maybe something like:

Couple of blankets
Few sheets
10 body suits
10 baby grows
Coat / pramsuit
Hat

Then you can see where to go from there. And i do believe if you buy cheap, you often buy twice. I bought mid-range clothing (say Mothercare brand) which washed well and stayed feeling soft.

LaDiDaDi · 18/03/2007 09:46

I definitely reccommend the glasgow pram centre online for great prices and great service. Try before you buy in mothercare or mamas and papas shops first so you don't make a mistake!

Kiddicare have always been good for me too.

Get a cheap and simple sling.

Ask friends who have babies if they have anything that you can borrow. Stuff like baths can be quite bulky to store but friends probably wouldn't mind lending. Also try to borrow a moses basket, some babies are only in them for a week or two although my dd was in hers for ages.

You don't need a changing table, you will change baby on the floor!

Asda sleepsuits are fine. Perhaps buy one or two "smarter" ones from Next.

Friends and family will enjoy buying little outfits as gifts.

BizzyDint · 18/03/2007 09:48

where abouts are you? there is a mamas and papas factory shop in huddersfield, near leeds. good for bargains.

Fillyjonk · 18/03/2007 09:49

ok

don't buy much stuff until after the bub is born is my advice

you need

a car seat
a sling
nappies of some kind
some babygros, cardis, a hat or two
a decent camera

chocolates and books

a moses basket and pram if you want one

thats it, imo.

everything else you can get on the internet shortly after the birth (lets face it, you'll be in a lot...). or someone can do you a mercy dash to mothercare. When you've worked out what you actually need for your lifestyle.

Fillyjonk · 18/03/2007 09:51

oh and sorry, i disagree re the sling.

thats one thing to get a decent version of, IMO. Don't economise unless you need to.

I like the baby bjorn and ergo, though lots of people prefer the cradle carry types (maya, hugabub etc)

Piffle · 18/03/2007 09:51

ebay ebay ebay
Choose exactly what brands you like and then source them on ebay.
Ikea are great and cheap for cots, changing stations and furniture.
Only thing I have to buy new are vests, bedding and carseats.

vixmix · 18/03/2007 09:52

It's so so hard not to go out and buy everything and anything at first, but you'll get really good advice on here. Definatelyagree about no baby bath. We use ours to store all the surplus clothes we bought.
And however much your dp may insist, newborns DO NOT need trainers!

J20BABY · 18/03/2007 10:08

asda seem quite good for baby stuff at the moment, i got a baby bath for £2.47 the other day, i know you don't need one, but for that price you may as well, its quite nice too

TheBlonde · 18/03/2007 10:11

Ikea do a good but cheap cot & change table (if you decide to have one)
Kiddicare good for other stuff - car seat, buggy etc
Tesco baby clothes good, expect Asda is good too but don't have a local one

If you are not too bothered by junk mail then join the baby clubs of the stores eg tesco boots and manufacturers eg huggies - they will all send you discount coupons

LaDiDaDi · 18/03/2007 10:12

My sling is lovely and was quite cheap! I used a coorie from a local shop but it was from brightsparkslings.com.

Fillyjonk · 18/03/2007 10:27

oh yes coories good for littlies,

its more the super cheap baby carrier style things I'd avoid. Its worth spending a bit, I think, if you can. And the baby bjorn is a great choice if its that or a pushchair, IMO.

Chocolatepenny · 18/03/2007 11:21

Its a good idea to start early as I found things crop up that you did'nt know you needed. I found NCT sales and Car Boots great. Cheap baby clothes from Supermarkets like Tescos and Asda are good too.
Spend the real money on a good pram/car seat nearer the birth time.These are unaviodable expenses unfortunatley, slings are good to have but you will still need a pram.
I bought things for the babies room and I loved putting it all together, very cute.

amidaiwish · 18/03/2007 11:22

do take a look at www.mamatoto.co.uk here
i am an agent for them and their stuff is fantastic (but hey i am a bit biased!)
free delivery on your first order if you use this code: KF1ZZ140
they don't sell anything that is a waste of money: no baby bath, no formula stirrer, no wipes warmer etc etc... you'll be amazed at some of the things out there to part you with your hard earned money!

Songbird · 18/03/2007 11:28

Get the best buggy you can afford (or see if people can club together to help you get a decent one). Don't be seduced by the swanky ones, most of them are style over substance (though I understand the Jane ones are really well-made and sturdy). We got a cheapish Britax travel system and it was shite, the wheels kept seizing up (yes, we did try lubricant!) and lots of the plasticky bits broke - I really regret it, because it definitely won't stand up to another baby! Now we've got a Maclaren buggy (not suitable for newborns though) which is ace. Check out the MN review section.

BigHotMama · 18/03/2007 11:30

I found my changing table/bath from Mamas and Papas a godsend after having a CS it would have been impossible for me to bend down to change/bath for the first 6 weeks and am still using it now.

Also got a rocking/feeding chair which was £100 (bargain) and great for breastfeeding.

nappyaddict · 18/03/2007 13:12

sorry for the hijack but BHM - come over here trying to arrange a meet up. have put a few shout outs for you, as we haven't spoke in a while but you probably didn't see them.

BabyMadwithBump · 18/03/2007 13:43

We brought a moses basket and new born baby clothes DS#2 was only in them 7/10 DAYS due to being a big (8lb 14oz) baby not tooo big but enough to grow out of these things very soon after being born! we didn't use our babybath or our changing tables and other things, found them a waste of money!