Feb 2024 thread 4

[Mummapenguin20]

Thought I’d start new one as old one was full and couldn’t see the next one x

Second hand stuff is rubbish near me otherwise I'd get more.Not sure if it's cost of living but people are selling things in terrible condition, not far of new brand new price! Barely anything off a sale price!

So I'd rather get new with warranty etc when not really saving at all!!!
I thought I'd be able to get more to be honest.

I think I sell things to cheaply as everything I put up is snapped immediately LOL

I always tell friends not to bother with new prams or carriers. Buy the best car seat you can afford (check out fb groups for advice) but prams.... they just don't need to be new, if you want to save money.

@LavenderSweetPea I can't comment on either model but I have a Phil&Ted (I've got the Dot, but I hear the Sport and Verso are pretty much the same). I do lots of walking with the dog and first baby. I actually carried her a lot in a carrier (BabyBjorn Mini) for the first 4 months, she seemed to really enjoy being close to me. Bought the Phil&Ted second hand for £100 off fb marketplace this year and it has been amazing. It can be used from newborn (with insert) and can also be used for 2 kids at once with an extra seat attachment so it's a really good investment. Downside is the basket can be a bit annoying as it's not very secure (unless second seat is in).

We also had a very old Silvercross Wayfarer from fb marketplace, which again was £50-ish and I used a lot when out in town as it has a masssssive basket/hood and seemed very comfy. I've given that away now.

And we picked up an Infababy Ezeego for about £85 in their sale, which we use for holidays, flying - any time I need something smaller!! Not as easy to push but it's actually the 2 year old's favourite.

@Mangotango39 have you tried making offers? The Phil&Ted was on for £150 but I just offered £100 and she took it. Came with all accessories as well - so it would have been about £600 new!!

@AbsolutePlonker they are in really bad states though - nowhere near worth the asking prices so I just havn't bothered to be honest!

anything reasonable must just get snapped up to quick and I only see the rubbish lol!

@Mangotango39 Fair enough! And my other top tip is NCT Nearly New Sales, if there are any near you. I live in Berks and they are fairly regular. You don't have to be a member.
https://www.nct.org.uk/local-activities-meet-ups/nct-nearly-new-sales
I buy everything I can second hand - we are on a budget as a family but also there's the environmental benefit.

However I will be taking certain precautions now with bed bugs on the rise again :(

Hi all

We actually ordered our pram/car seat and a lot of other big items last night and was coming on to share what we did, to see questions around prams etc so perfect timing!

Id reccomend to anyone to book an "all things nursery" appointment with John Lewis (you can tailor this to what you are looking for so we spent our appointment mainly with prams and a few must have bits as first time parents it was nice getting some great advice).

The advice from them was amazing- so knowledgeable and we had time to try out lots of prams and how the fold, the weight, size etc, even their opinions on the after care they receive from the different brands. We ended up between two the bugaboo fox 5 and the uppa baby vista. We have went with the fox after much of a debate but I'm sure either option would e great for us.

The best thing about the appointment is that you receive a discount code- 10% off £1000 or 15% off £1500+. This covers most baby/nursery items so we've bulk ordered a lot of our bigger items and saved a huge £520!! We've just set the delivery to December so that we're not having to store boxes right now.

Mammas and Papas do a similar service "buying for baby" however we felt the knowledge was no where near that of John Lewis. They offer gift cards based on qualifying purchase price which you receive when the item is delivered, we didn't feel this as as good of an option, however we did use this when ordering our nursery furniture. Spent over £1000 and we will receive a £100 gift card when it is delivered.

Just wanted to share if anyone wasn't aware as we have managed to save a lot, but most importantly feel we've been filled with all the right information to make those big decisions.

Oh and car seats we have gone for the new maxi cosi pebble pro that spins and slides out.

Mamas and papas had a demo they fitted into a model car for us and it was just the best, seemed so easy to fit the base and the slide on the car seat will make life a lot easier 😊

@Havanalily1806 so interesting you had such a good experience with John Lewis as I had the opposite!

to say this is my 8th pregnancy (but soon to be 5th child) feel like I'm carrying small with our little girl compared to what I've carried like with all my boys 😂 did any of you notice a difference in your boy vs girl pregnancies? Like was your bumps smaller when carrying a girl? Or is it just me? 🤷‍♀️ so thought id share my bump with you all 😊 22+1 🩷

@Havanalily1806 we didn't like the vista - everyone raves I know BUT it felt huge and clunky. Didn't like the fold or how the seat didn't lie properly flat , had a sort of bump in the middle?

but people do love !

@MummyTo4BoysXXXX my girls I was tiny my boy I was massive went from a size 12 to 22 this time (unknown) I think I’ll pop this is 18 weeks xxx

@MummyTo4BoysXXXX I'm so much bigger with my girl this time compared to my son.
Not sure if it's do with being a second pregnancy but I wasn't showing this much until 29weeks with my son.
I'm going to end up massive haha

@MummyTo4BoysXXXX I wish I could be proud of my body like you girls you all
look amazing and beautiful. I have no pictures of my bump what so ever :/ I find it difficult I don’t know why

I'm having a boy and I'm huge but this is my first time getting this far along so nothing to compare with.

I had a proper unmistakable round bump with my girl at 20 weeks! This time I’m still in my usual skinny jeans…no idea where baby boy is hiding 😂

@Shrillwaffle I'm similar, I haven't taken any photos or put anything on my social media about being pregnant. I don't know why because I'm thrilled to be pregnant and have a bump and everything but maybe I'm just a bit private. No right or wrong on this one I think :)

@Havanalily1806 glad to hear you had a good experience at John Lewis, DH and I also have an appointment with them and I'm looking forward to looking at buggies and carseats without being totally overwhelmed! Also the 10% off is pretty good

I haven't put anything on social media either, haven't even told one of my brothers yet. Last year at 11 weeks along I told everyone I was pregnant on Easter Sunday and then on the Friday I found out I was having a MMC so that has really influenced how I did/am doing everything this time.

I realised that it’s written on my notes where my placenta is I have a posterior, upper placenta

@LavenderSweetPea glad I’m not alone. I think it’s one of two things for me I think it’s either still not fully acknowledging the pregnancy or I had body issues before being pregnant but I’ve put it all to the back of my mind as there’s nothing I can do about it i need to eat and put on weight for my baby. Sometimes I feel really mad 😅🤪

I literally just saw where mine is on my notes last night too, anterior upper!

Thanks for all your lovely replies! I was a bit anxious about asking about pushchairs incase it was too early but it’s nice to know a few of you have also been looking/buying!

I quite like the ickle bubba stomp luxe but now I’ve searched a bit my Facebook ads are FULL of different pushchairs!

Im 22 weeks today and my bump is a little bigger this time around but I’m definitely heavier in myself! I just don’t feel nice in anything I wear!

Also I just looked at my notes and can’t see anything about my placenta placement 😩

I feel so extremely pregnant, I had half a slice of toast and a few bites of granola & yogurt and I'm uncomfortably full from that. 🤣 Can't even face my usual decaff latte.

@Cheetocat I just realised I haven't eaten since 3pm yesterday 😫 I have no appetite, like you, I eat a two bites and I'm full up! Even the thought of eating kinda makes me feel sick, i'm forcing myself to eat breakfast now 🥲

@Cheetocat I'm glad you've said that because I was wondering if I was normal not to be eating more! I've always heard about pregnant women eating for 2 and having huge appetites and mine has barely changed besides wanting more sugary snacks

We had our 20 week anomaly scan today and they found the baby’s right kidney was dilated at 10.1mm and the left was in normal range at 6mm. We now have a 32 week scan booked in where they will also check for Down’s Syndrome which can be linked to dilated kidneys. I also have the option of paying for a NIPT or amniocentesis. I cannot see anything online linking dilated kidneys to Downs. Did anyone have this at their scan?