When did you start buying baby items

[CoconutGirI]

Turning 20 weeks in 2 days.
I feel quite uncomfortable buying baby items as I've had so much anxiety surrounding this pregnancy, that something is going to go wrong. Its been years long journey and ivf to get to this point and it's my first pregnancy that I've got this far so I think I'm just anxious.
I've just had my big anomaly scan and everything appeared normal.
I feel like if I wait , what if I deliver a few weeks early or what if I'm uncomfortable running around trying to source baby items at 7 or 8 months. I'm already uncomfortable as it is. How much more uncomfortable would I be by then.
Wondering when we should start preparing. We'd said around 30 weeks but is that leaving it a bit late ?

I started after the 20 week scan with my first and gradually ordered the big ticket items - I definitely had everything by 30 weeks and then just bought clothes and little bits in the last 10 weeks. Nesting is really important for bonding and preparing you for motherhood - I know it’s easier said than done, but try not to let your anxiety spoil it for you. Buying stuff is fun! Relax into it and imagine your beautiful baby using all the lovely things, rather than fixating on how you’ll feel if something bad happens.

Our DC was prem, we hadn’t bought anything. We had started looking for the pram of choice (travel systems they called them then) and arranged to borrow a Moses basket. The advantage of not having anything was that we didn’t over buy. The disadvantages were having to pay for it all at once and not getting anything other than vouchers and books from colleagues as no formal leaving on maternity leave do.

We would have started gathering things at 30 weeks

Hi. I’m 20 weeks next week and so much anxiety around this pregnancy too as it’s my first and I’m coming up to 40. I’ve literally started buying a few bits the last week or so but I’m petrified something is going to go wrong however I think I’ll be like that until I give birth 😔

I’m 25 weeks and haven’t started yet. I can’t see how it’s useful to have a cot and car seats and prams laying around my house for months before I need them. Im saving up each month but I’m going to start buying things at 8 months. You can order almost everything online for next day delivery, so there’s not really any running around to do. And if you do go into Labour early - which isn’t impossible but is unusual - I’m sure you can order things, and I’m sure people around you can help just collect things. There’s not much you need day one, especially if you’re still in hospital from having an early baby! I think it’s a bit of a tradition based on times when you couldn’t just order things online.

After 28 weeks

We went on holiday when I was about 28 weeks and bought one outfit for them. That was the first thing we bought.

We bought a load of stuff a few weeks later, I was probably about 30-32 weeks? Then some things we didn't buy until much later still. I had DC1 on their due and I was still buying some things the week before they were born. And anything we realised we needed later we just bought then or sent relatives to buy, it was absolutely fine.

Just a heads up that when ordering big items like prams and cot, the delivery time is often up to 8 weeks (unless you find ones you like on Amazon for example but I never could!) My next to me crib took 2-3 months to come recently!

With my son I started after 12 week scan, then my next pregnancy I had a loss so I didn't start until after 20 week scan. It gives time to spread the costs, not panic about deliveries and delayed deliveries. My son's buggy with car seat etc I left until last as it was most expensive and it only just came in time and he was only 2 weeks early. It got stressful!!

I'm almost 34 weeks with my daughter and I have all the big items but still on boxes in the cupboard under the stairs so they are there as an when needed. All the cheaper stuff/bits I can grab quickly or order on Amazon prime I am getting after my baby shower at 36 weeks so I can see what I need after gifts!

Sorry I had a loss on my second pregnancy but my third pregnancy is when I have started after 20 weeks. That sounded confusing!

We bought a small bit of gold for the baby in Jan 23, so that was the first thing and our little wish; we were going through infertility and got pregnant Oct 23. I'm 17 weeks now and will start buying after 10 weeks, or closer to 30 weeks.

I started quite late at about 30 weeks pregnant or more as, like you, had a lot of anxiety and felt like if I buy things too soon, something bad will happen.. You don't have to rush to buy too early. Do it in your own time when it feels right for you.

Gosh I'm at 31 weeks and not even looked at anything to buy....

Maybe I was early but I were less than 20 weeks when I got the travel system (first buy). I got a neutral colour as didn't know her sex then

I'm 23 weeks and haven't started yet I'm the same I'm nearly afraid to start buying items with the exception of one adorable baby outfit I had to have. I'm really not sure when I'll start maybe after my 28 week appointment.

I’m not buying anything until the month before, don’t see the point. Will get everything second hand and the minimum possible anyway, just a car seat and cot. It’s pointless buying when baby isn’t here, as you don’t know what you’ll need surely?

@Rosesanddaisies1 I'm not sure if you mean car seat and for separate to second hand but if not, it's highly recommended you don't use a second hand car seat. Cot is fine as long as you get a new mattress

I started buying the odd thing from around 12 weeks. Money is tight so I couldn't leave everything till last min. I just bought things that could be donated (incase the worst happened), then waited for the bigger stuff later on

I left it very late to start (previous losses) and even then felt stupid buying new.

I bought lots of second hand clothes from vinted on excellent condition.

I'd say start doing your research now into the big ticket stuff. Most things can be ordered on a short timeline. Pram/travel system and cot and car seat are probably the exceptions but even those we managed to get next day or within a few days.

Let yourself enjoy it, or be clinical about it and just get it done, so you can enjoy relaxing in the last month doing things you won't be able to do easily for a while.

When my daughter was 6 months or so (my niece is 4 months older than my daughter:) I didn't buy anything for a long, long time! 😃

I got one outfit after the 12 week scan and didn’t start buying anything else until after the 20 week scan. 29 weeks now and have got or have ordered almost everything else. I’m expecting to deliver early though due to placenta previa so didn’t want to wait.

Second hand from a friend who I trust. it's fine as long as they haven't had any accidents.

@Rosesanddaisies1 and date she bought it, they expire x

what is the expiry/number of years

@StartedWithACrisp I believe it varies, average around 6 years. There should be a date on the actual car seat. It's a matter of the plastic weakening in different temperatures, sun light etc so it won't protect baby so much the older it is. I didn't know this when I handed my car seat down to my sister until we found the expiry date on it then researched it

Depends how much help/support you will have.
We didn't have any so I started to buy everything early (from 16 weeks). I bought nursery furniture and pram second hand, so it's wasn't optional to wait.
I had the nursery all done and my hospital bag packed by 28 weeks. I was induced at 41 weeks.

For me, running around with a newborn to buy things sounds like a nightmare. Also much cheaper if you plan in time- you can go for sales, etc.

I was exreamly anxious during the pregnancy too, but seeing the nursery being set up and constantly orgonising things really helped me.