Buying Baby Things

[cateyes]

I know we have a mixed group here between FTM and STM/more time mom's, but just wondering if anyone has started purchasing things for baby yet? We can share and AW as we go things we buy and collect and whatever!!

So far I have just bought lots of cloth diapers, it is my new addiction. Other than that, not too much yet but I am starting to look harder at things

[teachermomtobe]

I haven't bought anything yet but I am starting to fantasize about registry items. We did buy a onesie last December when Christmas shopping because it had the name of our fantasy football team name on it and we couldn't pass it up.

[marshian]

Only bought two nerdy onesies as gifts to MH. We have a small place and don't like clutter so I'm sure we won't buy anything legitimate until much further along.

cateyes - If you find any good deals on cloth diapers, please post them! I'm already very committed to those in my head.

[trebletrouble13]

I plan to make use of as many of DS's clothes and baby items as possible, but I have purchased a few things for baby #2 that I just couldn't resist. June Bug will definitely have some things that are new for them, especially if they are a girl!

[trebletrouble13]

Exhibit A:

[cateyes]

Nov 3, 2016 19:49:59 GMT -5 marshian said:

Only bought two nerdy onesies as gifts to MH. We have a small place and don't like clutter so I'm sure we won't buy anything legitimate until much further along.

cateyes - If you find any good deals on cloth diapers, please post them! I'm already very committed to those in my head.

I hang out in the BST groups on Facebook. Great deals and they are already broke in! I just got a batch of like 15 for like $90 plus tons of inserts.

[mreve]

I plan to reuse everything I have, but am definitely looking at strollers already. I never really liked the one I have, and because DS will be under two when this baby arrives I want one with the option to be a double stroller. I'm stalking BST groups and kijiji because I've realized that the stroller I want (baby jogger city select) is way out of my budget.

[agm04]

mreve I have that stroller and I absolutely love it. I bought my first one used on Craigslist. I'll give you the details tomorrow morning when I'm not mobile (if you care).

cateyes marshian I planned to cloth diaper with DD but I just didn't have it in me in reality. (Which is not to say that you won't succeed at all!) I just didn't need another thing to worry with. That said, I'm pretty sure I still have some diapers. I sold a lot, but I'll dig up what I have and if y'all want them they're yours.

[agm04]

I don't have much on my list this time around...if we have a boy he will have a few pink things to work with. Ha. I will definitely need new nursery furniture. I'll probably buy the same crib and dresser we already have because they're great. I'm just not ready to move my girl out of her crib!

[mreve]

agm04 I'm glad to hear a good review! I'll take any details you want to share . I'm wishing I hadn't been so cheap when picking a stroller before and had gone with something nicer initially.

Even though I read pretty much anything I could get my eyes on, I found it hard to tell before I was living life with a baby what was worth spending money on and what wasn't.

[marshian]

cateyes & mreve - Any BST groups you would recommend? Or are they mostly local?

[cateyes]

Nov 3, 2016 21:19:54 GMT -5 marshian said:

cateyes & mreve - Any BST groups you would recommend? Or are they mostly local?

I just typed "cloth diapers....." into the seat h and picked the groups that have like 10k+ people. Also buy brand like "rumparooz BST"

[cateyes]

Nov 3, 2016 20:30:39 GMT -5 agm04 said:

mreve I have that stroller and I absolutely love it. I bought my first one used on Craigslist. I'll give you the details tomorrow morning when I'm not mobile (if you care).

cateyes marshian I planned to cloth diaper with DD but I just didn't have it in me in reality. (Which is not to say that you won't succeed at all!) I just didn't need another thing to worry with. That said, I'm pretty sure I still have some diapers. I sold a lot, but I'll dig up what I have and if y'all want them they're yours.

I would love to look at what you have

[mreve]

Nov 3, 2016 21:19:54 GMT -5 marshian said:

cateyes & mreve - Any BST groups you would recommend? Or are they mostly local?

The only ones I know and am part of are local, so I'm not very helpful in that regard.

[violetrose]

We haven't bought anything yet and probably won't for a long time. This is our third and we have girl and boy clothes/toys from DD and DS. We are team green this time and we might need to buy just a couple neutral outfits/bedding for the crib.

[agm04]

mreve i so agree about not knowing what's worth spending on! i had a hand-me-down chicco stroller that went with our infant car seat at first, and nothing else. my MIL wanted to buy us a nice stroller but since they are SO $$$ i wanted to wait and see what type we wanted (umbrella, jogging, etc.) - i did not want to be one of those people with multiple expensive strollers!

i stalked craigslist and found a well-loved city select that came with 2 seats, the bassinet, 2 snack trays, and the little ride-on board. I think I paid $350. It was pretty well used, but perfectly functional. Once I knew I loved it, I ended up buying a new one. The basket on bottom was worn out and when I started looking at replacing that and a couple other pieces, it wasn't worth it. So I sold the stroller with 2 seats on craigslist for $350 (what I paid) and kept all the accessories. Baby Jogger gave me a $100 rebate since I was replacing mine for wear and tear (I just had to send in the tags from the seat on the old stroller and the new UPC code), so I basically ended up paying nothing for the new stroller, between the craigslist sale, the rebate, and the accessories.

The point of my novel (sorry) is definitely stalk craiglist! My only complaint about it is that it's a little cumbersome to travel with. I'd never fly with it without DH. I tried once. But really that's to be expected with a roomy double stroller.

[lulu783]

Completely agree about strollers! I have a City Mini GT now and I LOVE it. I also have a Nuna MIXX but I literally never use it anymore. I used it alot in the beginning because I liked that DD could face me.

I'm debating between the City Mini GT double or a Bugaboo Donkey. But of course it all depends if you like tandem or front/back style. These two are tandem, but both narrow enough to get through doorways.

FTMs - definitely research and think long term if you are planning to expand your family. I wish I had just gone with the Bugaboo Donkey in the first place, because I hate the idea of buying another stroller. The Donkey can be single or double though, so I would definitely sell my current stroller if I end up finding a good deal on a Donkey.

Phew, that turned into a novel.

[lulu783]

Oh! I wanted to throw out a PSA for the Solly baby wrap. Love love love. Total lifesaver with tiny squishes and probably will be even more so this time around. We went from the Solly to Beco Gemini to a Standard Tula. Love baby wearing.

[agm04]

lulu783 i've heard good things about the solly. have you used a ktan? if so, how does it compare? we have a couple ktans and LOVED them for the newborn stage, and i use an ergo now. there was an in between period where she was really too big for the ktan but not quite big enough for the ergo without the infant insert (which is way too hot in houston). so i'm interested. i would love a tula or a lillebaby, but i really have no excuse to buy another soft sided carrier. the ergo was a hand me down.

what did other STMs use for sleeping in the early days? we had a cosleeper that attaches to the side of the bed, but i don't love it. i'm interested in the halo bassinest, but $$ - has anyone used that?

[lulu783]

Nov 4, 2016 7:17:02 GMT -5 agm04 said:

lulu783 i've heard good things about the solly. have you used a ktan? if so, how does it compare? we have a couple ktans and LOVED them for the newborn stage, and i use an ergo now. there was an in between period where she was really too big for the ktan but not quite big enough for the ergo without the infant insert (which is way too hot in houston). so i'm interested. i would love a tula or a lillebaby, but i really have no excuse to buy another soft sided carrier. the ergo was a hand me down.

what did other STMs use for sleeping in the early days? we had a cosleeper that attaches to the side of the bed, but i don't love it. i'm interested in the halo bassinest, but $$ - has anyone used that?

I haven't used a K'tan but I've heard the tails are kind of long and it's more difficult to wrap? The solly was user friendly and a close friend had an August baby in Houston and also was obsessed with the Solly. 

The infant insert is exactly why we went to the Beco for our first SSC. No infant insert needed. I really didn't need the tula, but drank the Kool Aid. 

DD slept in the RNP next to our bed for the first 6m. There were times I was worried I was going to need to send the RNP off to college with her, but she transitioned fairly easily. I'm also interested in what people think of the Halo bassinet!

[agm04]

lulu783 thanks for the info! if you didn't have the tula, would you still be able to use the beco?

[cheezee]

I'll wait until we find out the sex and then frantically start rummaging through everything that has been in our attic for 4+ years. The one thing I did with DD that I plan to do again is start stocking up on diapers now. Every time I would go to the store I'd get a pack. Usually 2's, 3's or 4's because you'll get plenty of N's and 1's at showers! I don't think I bought any diapers for a long long time after she arrived.

[lulu783]

Nov 4, 2016 8:47:13 GMT -5 agm04 said:

lulu783 thanks for the info! if you didn't have the tula, would you still be able to use the beco?

Yep! Its weight limit is 7-35lbs. 

[teachermomtobe]

I need to start making a list of all these suggestions!

[mreve]

agm04 wow, sounds like you got a great deal on your stroller, I'm a little jealous! I'm glad to hear that it should be a good stroller if I find a reasonable price on a used one.

I've been laughing to myself because I sold my old car to a coworker for $500 and I'm looking at strollers that cost more than double that. It seems kind of ridiculous.

[cateyes]

Nov 4, 2016 9:02:42 GMT -5 teachermomtobe said:

I need to start making a list of all these suggestions!

My exact thoughts!

[agm04]

mreve it's nuts how expensive they can be. i've seen lots of them on craiglist in our area over time, so hopefully you can snag one that way!

ETA that all the fabric comes off and can be washed.  it's a little annoying to have to put it all back together, but worth it.

[iris1264]

Haven't bought anything yet, and I'm sure we won't until after Christmas. We also don't need a lot, but I will put some things on a registry to get the free stuff!

Although, I am planning on buying some new maternity clothes soon, does that count?

[MrsEmuTavi]

mreve & agm04, I was actually just coming on here to post about double strollers. There's a consignment sale tomorrow AM so I guess I'll be looking for the City Select. Anyone else have double stroller recs?

Any recs on a cosleeper (ex. Arms Reach)?

We will be using as much of DS's stuff as possible. If this one's a girl we will need to buy SOME new clothes but still plan on using gas much of DS's clothes as possible. DS is still in his crib but we plan on just using the PnP as long as possible with LO.

As said earlier, consignment sales are HUGE here but only in the spring, summer, & fall so I will be fighting the crowds tomorrow.

[sdlaura]

Nov 4, 2016 7:21:09 GMT -5 lulu783 said:

Nov 4, 2016 7:17:02 GMT -5 agm04 said:

lulu783 i've heard good things about the solly. have you used a ktan? if so, how does it compare? we have a couple ktans and LOVED them for the newborn stage, and i use an ergo now. there was an in between period where she was really too big for the ktan but not quite big enough for the ergo without the infant insert (which is way too hot in houston). so i'm interested. i would love a tula or a lillebaby, but i really have no excuse to buy another soft sided carrier. the ergo was a hand me down.

what did other STMs use for sleeping in the early days? we had a cosleeper that attaches to the side of the bed, but i don't love it. i'm interested in the halo bassinest, but $$ - has anyone used that?

I haven't used a K'tan but I've heard the tails are kind of long and it's more difficult to wrap? The solly was user friendly and a close friend had an August baby in Houston and also was obsessed with the Solly. 

The infant insert is exactly why we went to the Beco for our first SSC. No infant insert needed. I really didn't need the tula, but drank the Kool Aid. 

DD slept in the RNP next to our bed for the first 6m. There were times I was worried I was going to need to send the RNP off to college with her, but she transitioned fairly easily. I'm also interested in what people think of the Halo bassinet!

The k'tan is the easy one.  The moby had the long tails.  I never could get into that thing, but loved my k'tan