When do I start buying things?

[lolateddy]

First time mum here. I'm 16 weeks tomorrow and we're having a private gender scan next week. When did you start buying things like clothes and then other bigger bits? Also when did you start researching into the birth etc?
I feel like I'm still so early in my pregnancy but midwife was asking if I've thought about classes etc.
Just wondering when all you mums starting buying things, spoke about hypnobirthing or anything like that?

I would book onto classes now, they do book up quickly.
Buying things - we did after the 20 week scan, when we felt more confident we would actually bring home a baby! We did the nursery then too.

But whenever suits you really. With fast delivery it probably doesn’t actually matter if you have much stuff, so long as you have a bassinet and a couple of babygrows before baby’s here you’ll be alright!

I started buying after my 12 week scan and bought the pram at about 18 weeks (Black Friday sale otherwise I would've waited), cot etc we bought at about 30 weeks then started getting nursery together.

I also started hypnobirthing at about 20 weeks as I'm super anxious and just wanted to get started, you can start as early as you like.

With our 1st I didn't research birth or do any classes, just went with the flow and we survived.

I started buying bits from dating scan, I was over 13wk. Was better to spread the cost, big things like cot/pram I got in the last 6 weeks. This is baby 6 for us, we've got loads of stuff from older kids but bought most of the things we hadn't kept or were worn out after the dating scan plus a few new clothes that only she will have worn (we have a ridiculous amount of girls clothes in storage). Just cot, drawers and a pram left to get now, I'm 27+2wk.

Went for a scan at 16 weeks too. It was still during lockdown but I started looking up prams online after I knew it was a boy and some of the wait times were only 2 weeks before I was due so I panicked and ended up ordering one. It came quick so was opened before 20 weeks (but not in my house) 🙈 didn’t go mad buying clothes really til after 20 weeks then feel like I’m really organised too early but his room is done, just needs the small things sorted and I’m only 28 weeks. I’m a major worrier (especially about birth) so I want my bag all packed and everything done by 30 weeks, just in case!

I never did classes and didn't buy anything until I was about 30 weeks. I realize I'm in the minority though. DS was a bit of an abstract concept until he actually got here...

I booked an NCT course quite early on as I'd heard they were much better than the free ones, and I wanted to make sure I got a place. I did the most of my shopping for my first in the 2nd or 3rd trimester.

Remember the advice is for baby to sleep in the same room that you are in for 6 months so there isn't a real rush for a perfect nursery set up, you just need somewhere to store all the baby clobber. We had a side sleeper cot but he hated it so slept in our bed.

I've started buying things this week, now I've had my dating scan. Was waiting to find out Baby was okay and how many babies as have twins in my family. I wouldn't have done so, so early but moneys a bit tight so wanting to spread the cost a bit. I've started with bigger more expensive items if I'm finding on sale that I'm not likely to get from friends who recently have had their own little ones. Little stuff for me is a bit easier to get as and when. I totally understand those who wait though there definitely is a worry in the back of my mind... what if something goes wrong and I've spent this money on x y and z.. and the storing of bigger items for longer periods.

It's really whenever you feel comfortable buying things but I understand antenatal classes like NCT can book up early

I bought things before I was even pregnant! Generally neutral bits of clothing that I couldn't help but get from TK Maxx as I was passing.

I started seriously buying around 12 weeks onwards and researching from the moment I found out I was pregnant. Literally researched every single day, no word of a lie. I was like a woman possessed

Bought a couple of babygros at 30 weeks, the big ticket items at 32.... But that's because lockdown was lifted 17th April and we didn't want to buy online...

Antenatal class I booked at... 18 weeks I think but that's all the classes you need? Are there more?? NHS stopped their sessions for a while but I've booked for when I'm 37 weeks... I mean that's pretty late

I think I was closer to 30 weeks. I just couldn't bring myself to buy stuff just in case.

The only thing I started sorting early was nursery. I'd been told by more than one person to find the nursery while still pregnant

Think we got nursery furniture after 12 week scan as wanted to spread the cost and it took about 6 weeks to come. Then I think we did pram after 20 week scan. And then got a few bits and bobs along the way. Did most of the clothes at about 30 weeks ish. I booked NCT early on, maybe between 12 and 20 weeks? X

I booked NCT after 12 week scan as I heard it books up quickly.

I started researching things we'd need shortly after that and making a list. I bought a couple of bits when I saw them come up locally on fb marketplace, including a bedside crib, but mainly I waited until after 20 week scan. Also that was when shops reopened so we could try stuff like prams in person. Since that I've been buying stuff slowly but surely as I see it come up, or as I find the version we want. I'm not one for massive shopping trips so prefer getting bits here and there.

Like a pp, I have also been researching nurseries and childcare options in my area as most round here have a year long waiting list so even with me taking nearly a year of mat leave we need to apply quite soon.

Nursery as in baby bedroom currently low down on the list as it won't be used for ages anyway. At the moment it is a mix of my working from home setup and a growing pile of baby stuff stored in the corner 😂

I've bought a couple of things - 2 little outfits to look at when I feel down. I'm 17 +2 now. We won't be doing the nursery until the end as it's currently my office and I need to work from home.

But it's definitely wise to do some saving because the costs will add up! We did the gender scan as well and it was a lovely experience.

Ds1 we waited until after the anomaly scan to start buying, but I did a lot of research.

DS2 passed away at 21+4 and I'm exceptionally glad I hadn't bought anything to have to put away.

Very newly pregnant again and I won't be buying anything till near the end, if I get that far. I can next day delivery /amazon prime most things if, as and when.

I didn't buy anything until 33 weeks. I understand though I'm probably in the minority but I'd had 2 miscarriages (after 5 years of unexplained infertility) and didn't believe I'd actually have a take home baby. First things I bought were a couple of baby grows and a baby grow matching vest, hat and bib set in the Next sale, spending a grand total of £7 - they were impulse buys as I was just browsing. Then bought the car seat at 35 weeks as thought we'd better get one just in case. Then SIL gave us all her baby stuff like moses baskets and loads of neutral newborn clothes plus other paraphernalia when I was 37 weeks. I didn't order the buggy until after DD was born (online), it was delivered pretty quickly (think within 10 days, is a Bugaboo so wonder if stock levels are/were generally pretty good - it was a month before the first lockdown). I think most people I've spoken to start buying stuff from 20 weeks to spread the cost.

I only did the NHS one day intensive antenatal class because I was encouraged to do something. I didn't want to do anything as again didn't think I'd actually have a take home baby. The class my local NHS Trust runs though is really good and I'm pleased I did it - I think they vary from Trust to Trust. I don't regret not doing NCT because it was the right decision for me given how I felt throughout my pregnancy. My midwife did describe it as an expensive way of making friends - I've made a good number of local mum friends through baby classes after DD was born when things opened back up in the summer last year. If you do want to do any classes book now as they are popular and get booked up quickly.

I'm 19+6 today but have all of DDs stuff still as she's only 15 months old so won't need to buy anything new (a friend has offered a double buggy, I might have to look into those but have plenty of time) ......... of course if baby is a boy I'll buy some new clothes/keep an eye in FB marketplace for bundles but we have plenty of neutral newborn bits so there's no rush. If we get to 32 weeks I'll buy a new babygrow, vest and hat set for baby's first outfit as I like them to have their own brand new outfit for the first thing they wear.

If you want to start buying things now go for it, you're almost 4 months which means only 5 months to go ........ doesn't sound that long when I write it like that. Enjoy the fun and excitement of shopping for your first baby.