When to start shopping!

[Binks15]

We're 14 weeks today - and to spread the cost we'd like to start gathering items soon! But how soon is too soon?

I'm going to as soon as had 12 week scan. :)

I've booked to go to the baby show at the end of October in Excell, London. I'll be about 20 weeks then so so prob start that day. I might have a nosey at prams before but won't actually buy.

I 'may' have bought some clothes already . . . 13+4

Pre 20 weeks I had a "love it so I wll buy it" rule. Anything I would be gutted if it went out of stock.

After the 12 week scan it's pretty unlikely there would be a problem so you're pretty safe, but if you want to wait until you know the gender then after the 20 week scan. If you're a first time mum then it can be pretty daunting and there's loads of stuff you don't need. Might be worth starting a post about what other have bought that's been useful/waste of money if you're on a budget.
Happy shopping and congratulations, such an exciting (and expensive) time!

I'm going to ask one of my close friends, who has a LO, if we can have a girls night and have her basically tell me what I do and don't need. Otherwise I know I will end up with a load of stuff I don't need and forget stuff I do need.

It's a good time to start research on big items, like the pram and car seats.

You don't want to be trying them out with a big bump in the way so going and pushing a few round and trying out collapsing / dismantling them for transport now is a good idea, and you'll have lots of time to think about what you want and what you can afford.

Now is also a good time to try on slings as most are not designed to fit over a bump!

Bit early for clothes etc probably but if you see something cute, buy it! Don't buy everything in newborn - buy a few bits in older sizes too so when you get to them you can think oh yeah, I was pregnant when I bought this and have a little smile to yourself (or even an emotional cry...)

The things I would hold off on are:

• toys - newborns aren't interested
• furniture - have never seen the point in the whole 'suite of nursery furniture' thing. Even my older kids only need a couple of drawers for their stuff
• monitor - they should be in the same room as you at all times until they are six months, shouldn't be sleeping seperately even for naps. So you can wait and see what you will need. If they are devoted to their cot you might want a wall mounted one, if they will only sleep in the pram one with a good battery will be most important (so you can wheel the pram out the back then go watch tv!)

Still two weeks till my dating scan and have bought a hat. Desperate to buy more, but trying to resist for now!

We didn't buy a thing till after the 20 week scan last time, but my self discipline clearly isn't what it was...

I think buying small things like clothes, muslins, and blankets, is fine to do over the course of the pregnancy, but wouldn't want big things like a buggy, cot, moses basket cluttering up the place for months. Better to research what you want in advance, put money aside, and buy nearer the time, imho.

Ask bear in mind the pre-Christmas and January sales. No point buying full price now if you can get a load of stuff in the sales.

Also

After I had a gender scan at 17 weeks, I began making lists of what I wanted. From 18-22 weeks I systematically bought some of the bigger items as I found them on sale and also had a voucher. I'm 29 weeks now, and am buying the small cot for my bedroom. Everything else is bought, put together, and am just waiting to finish painting the room before putting everything in her nursery. I need to buy clothes, but I've started to stockpile wipes and nappies she'll need in the first month. If its on sale, and its on the list, I'm buying it. I want her nursery done by 36 weeks, and I don't want to be trolling around mothercare or John Lewis trying to find the last few items when I'm over 35 weeks.

@SheSaidHeSaid yes a friend of mine has recommended this! Says she got lots of money off the retail prices there!

Im 26 weeks and haven't bought a thing

That was going to be another question of mine, battries.

Are things actually cheaper in the jan sales? Also, my due date is 8th March so is that leaving it too late?

@mycatloveslego not on a budget as such but just hating the thought of getting it all in rush! Thanks

I've chosen to go on the Sunday too, Binks, in the hopes slers get generous with their discounts towards the end of the day

@Batteriesallgone yeah great thought re. The monitor!

@BalticUnicorn mind if I ask why? I'm such a control freak I want it all organised and ready!

Try put pushchairs but buy them at the last minute is my advice because you want the 12 month warranty to be while youre using it rather than while it's stuck in a box.

Clothing and linens from now if you see things you like,my LG had outgrown 'newborn' size within 2 weeks so just buy a few bits, you can always pop out and get a pack of baby grows after LOis born if you need more.

My LG didn't use her room till she was 9 months old so no rush for that ☺

@Amd724 yes defiantly want it all done by 35 weeks - ideal!

Thanks for the all the posts! I think if something is too cute to leave I'll buy - planning to pay for an early gender scan post 16 weeks so will wait until that and the midwife apt to really go to town!

Binks i suppose ive only just got my head around the idea of having a baby! It all seems surrreal tbh i do need to sort myself out though

I have had one baby early in the year (out of three) and would say definitely yes, it is much cheaper to kit yourself out in the Dec / Jan sales.

Also remember that clothes are stocked seasonally, so it's worth buying a few light / summery 3-6m rompers now in the end of summer sales.

Nothing worse than buying a load of clothes in the winter then realising they are all too thick/heavy for when they are actually needed. At least summer stuff can be layered

@BalticUnicorn it's all personal preference! You'll get it done when it feels right!

Regarding pushchair warrantees, mothercare start it from your due date not the day you buy it. Not sure about others.