Buying baby stuff - when is too early?

[Twinkle1989]

Hi - I'm pregnant with my first baby - 9 weeks + 1 day - I've had a scan last week and all was as expected - strong heart beat and dates aligned perfectly.

I've seen loads of good deals for baby such as bottles etc. I won't be buying clothes because I am (sorry if it offends) an all pink or all blue person! So will wait to find out the gender.

When did everybody start buying bits and pieces?

I want to start buying nappies, wipes and bits as I see them - is this weird?!

It’s up to you of course but I personally wouldn’t consider buying anything much until at least 20 weeks.

Completely up to you! I bought neutral things as soon as I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks with DD and current pregnancy (DS). Bought more gendered stuff when I found out the sex at 16 weeks.

I bought a couple of things then mc about 8 wks. I(I waited to 6 wks) I think past first timester so around 12 wks would be reasonable. REally don,t know when I satsted getting stuff with my first. TBH i left it late as I was going to move and get things sorted but she came early.

I bought my pram at 13 weeks due to it being a really good deal. I’m 22 weeks now and just bought a steriliser(again another good deal) I think in two weeks time when I’m 24 weeks I’ll go for it.

I started before I was pregnant.

I waited until 28 weeks with my first due to a previous miscarriage. With my second I think I bought a token packet of vests after the 20 week scan and the rest in the third tri

In my opinion you can't 'jinx' a pregnancy by buying things but only you know how you would feel looking at things around the house if you did have bad news.
I bought the next to me cot on black Friday, just before 12 week scan, and hid it out the way. We then ordered our travel system in the January sales. Didn't bother getting the little bits until nearer the time but bought something every month just to spread the cost and bought those big ticket items when they were on offer.

I waited more until about 20 weeks

Just a FYI, I wouldn’t stock up on wipes/ nappies much as some babies react to certain brands. We have ended up using washable as he gets rashes with any disposable.

Apart from a pack of 3 vests after my 20 week scan, I bought nothing until 35 weeks... I had a list ready, but a) didn't feel comfortable with it and b) although we had a large house, I didn't want it laying around taking up room when it was being used.

If it's on offer it makes sense to buy it now

Anytime you feel like it. I've started early on and made the most of the sale for small items, then waited that baby was there for the big stuff. I was worry to buy a lot of stuff that I wouldn't need. I bought a few quality pieces such as wool cardigan, pretty sleeping bag and cosy sleepsuit. Then bough the pushchair at the very last minute but again it was on sale.

Personal preference really. I was quite minimal and waited to see what I'd need when baby arrived. I didn't even buy a cot until after the baby was born - had a Moses basket to use in our room so didn't need it for months anyway.

After 20 weeks.

I noticed about 5-6 years ago that different retailers always have random offers on except just before Christmas so there is no need to rush.

Also people will give you and specifically buy you stuff. For example I was given quite a few unused bottles. Though in the end my DD preferred two much cheaper brands.

Don't buy too many things like nappies and bottles as your child may suit one brand over another and you will be left with loads you don't use.

Clothing try to be aware of season. And sometimes they skip the tiny sizes and go straight into 0-3 months. Other babies will be in newborn or 0-1 month for 3 months, so that can mess the seasons up.

If I were you I'd think about how I'd feel if I lost the baby and had a room full of baby things. Obviously the risks of miscarriage reduces the further along you get, and if you choose to have the screening tests at 12 weeks they should hopefully rule out severe issues such as Edward's and Patau's, but sometimes abnormalities are discovered as late as 20 weeks. I can't imagine having to make the decision about a late TFMR and then wondering WTF to do with all the baby stuff I bought. It's rare of course and you might be comfortable taking the risk.

It does make sense to buy the more expensive items when they're on sale or on offer, but sales and offers do happen throughout the year. When I was pregnant with DC1 I bought most of the bigger things (bedside crib, cot bed and mattress, pushchair, car seat) over Black Friday weekend, when I was about 6 months pregnant IIRC.

If I were you I'd wait until the 20 week scan and then keep an eye out for baby events (places like Aldi and Asda do them) and deals over Easter and the early May bank holiday.

Lots of helpful tips here
www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/baby-checklist/

Buy them when YOU want to buy them.
I have known people have early mc, late mc and very sadly 2 friends have had a stillbirth so things can go wrong anytime. If I was to lose my baby a few wasted purchases would be the least of my worries. (Obviously everyone is different but I wouldn't want to wait until baby arrives safe and then have to start shopping).
We bought a few things early because I got a good deal on FB Marketplace (swing, next to me crib and double buggy) and then toys and clothes which were more gendered when we found out we were having a girl - SIL just had a boy so we passed on a lot of our boy clothes to her.
(Sorry I know MN HATES gendered clothing....we did also keep a lot I promise!!)

Buy bits when u want to, I brought one outfit each time with my dc after I had an early scan, then waited until after12 week scan and just got bits as and when they were on sale, had nearly everything ready for first ds at 28 weeks which was a good job as he came early. This time we don't have to buy much as have everything already but I have still been buying bits that we need. Think I even got the 2nd pushchair seat before bfp as we knew we wanted a 2nd child
Have fun with it, research big purchases and try and get bits when on sale

It’s up to you. I wouldn’t have wanted nappies and wipes gathering dust for months but do what works for you!

I got lots of stuff early in my last pregnancy and then found out I would miscarry and returning/selling/getting rid of the stuff I imagined my baby using/wearing was a horrid experience.

This time I did get my pram at about 8 weeks as I saw one I really wanted in great condition second hand for £600 less than it was new. I kept it hidden under the stairs. I'm 21+6 and have started getting clothes in the past week.

Not getting nappies until much closer to my due date, if you've got room in your house go for it but 7 months is a long time to be taking up room if you don't have the space!

I started as soon as I found out with all of mine so from around 5ish weeks

I'm 21 weeks and have finished everything minus a few things of clothing

I'm 18 weeks and have only bought a couple of bits waiting until after 20 week scan to start properly

I waited until I was 12 weeks and picked up the odd bit of clothing! I'm now 18 weeks bought a few blue clothes as were having a boy and a mat as it was on offer! More than likely ordering my pram the end of January