From the crib, to the car seat, to the stroller, everything has to smell new. Most of us have done it, shopping for the baby is a way to ease the anxiety about the important moments that are coming.
You end up spending a little fortune, using half the things you bought, and when you do, you only use it for 3-4 months... at best! The baby would be a lot happier in 18 years when you actually have invested that money and he will be able to go to college or visit Europe.
If you have friends that offer to lend baby cloth and accessories, say Yes!
If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have brought everything new. The number one piece of advice I could give to new parnets is DO NOT fall for this trap! If I could do it again I would buy just one travel size swing to take from room to room and buy it used. I would skip the jogging stroller and only buy one regular stroller used.
I have used most everything I got except the playpen. But I think that is mostly due to listening to others who said to not buy some things and to absolutly buy other things, particularly friends and relatives who had babies not long before I did. So I had the bouncy chair and a swing, but I set up one in the living/dining room and the other in the kitchen so I just transfer my daughter back and forth and save myself having to carry everything around (okay, so some of it is laziness).
I love hand me downs! You would be amazed at the things people have kept over the years and would be willing to get rid of! A friend of the family who's daughter is just getting married said she still has all of her baby stuff and would give them to me! Just remember things can be washed and cleaned. You would also be amazed at things you can find a goodwill stores and sometimes look brand new. (I got a travel swing hardly used for $8.oo) The only thing I do have to mention because my husband is in EMS/Fire buy a NEW car seat. You never know if a used one has been in an accident and once it is you are supposed to replace it. Also if yours is older then 5 years (or so) you should replace it because of the advancement in safety.
We've bought almost everything for our baby used....his clothes, his furniture, etc. We only bought a few things new because we couldn't find them used anywhere, or because the only used ones we could find weren't quite what we were looking for. We did have to pass up a few offers from my mother-in-law to use some of the items she'd stored because they no longer conform to safety standards (ex. husband's old crib), but we've found suitable used substitutes online for super cheap. Now we've got more money left over to spend on, oh, diapers. It's great advice.
YES I MUST AGREE IN THE HAND ME DOWN CONCEPT, ITS LIKE GOLD TO ME. THE ONLY THINGS I SUGGEST TO NEW MOTHERS ON THE NEW ITEMS ARE, CARSEATS, BOTTLES AND PLAYPEN....CARSEATS WELL YOU KNOW THIS., BOTTLES AFTER BEING SUCKED CAN HAVE THE HOLE GET BIGGER AND MAKE YOUR CHILD CHOKE OR DRINK TO MUCH AT ONCE AND PLAYPENS ARE VERY HARD TO CLEAN IF IT HAS SOME DROOL FROM ANOTHER BABY **COULD BE CARYING GOD WHO KNOWS? RSV? I DONT KNOW IM I JUST ANOTHER PARNOID MOTHER?
I'm not a big hand me down person so I did get most of my Baby Stuff new. However I agree with Kate that prudence in what to buy is important. Planning wisely for what they need rather than what simply looks "so cute" saves a lot of money. Also I received many items during my baby shower that significantly decreased things I needed to buy.
I got my crib at a yard sale for 40$ (2 years old). I got my crib matteras (140$ value) from a friend hows toddler was getting a regular sized bed. Find a good baby consingment shop and/or handme down boutique and start shopping early for the good deals. My favorite item is a Playpen/Bassinet (raised up bottom)/changing table (up high to not hurt back after labor) with dipar holder, wipe holder, cup holder for rash opiment, mobile, and it had 3 vibrations, 6 mosart songs, 6 nature songs, timer on thee above, and 2 night lights. Ladies this is a all in one perfect for a newborn. You can put it in the living rm if your nursery is on the second floor, or in your bedroom next to the bed. It also has wheels for easy moving around. my dad got it new for me, he bought online and saved 50$ plus free shipping, he lives cross county. But it was 160$ I did see one at a consinment shop looked brand new for 50$.
