Just Insert Baby
I'm a total gear head, especially when it comes to kitchen stuff. So why not some baby gear therapy to salve my broken heart? We'll be so prepared, all we'll need to do is insert baby.I've started a spreadsheet that lists everything we'll need to get started once the baby is here. I listed what can be bought used and what needs to be new. I made a column to put the cost of the item into. I autofiltered it so we can see what is still outstanding. If anyone wants my spreadsheet, reply with your email and I'll send it!
I love used stuff! It's cheaper and we're not adding to the piles of stuffed that will eventually go to a landfill. I found a used Dutailier glide rocker ($75.00) we're going to look at after work on Wed. It's black and maple. If I watch our budget, maybe we can afford those tres expensive Pottery Barn pads for it.
My parents have a dresser we can have with plans to modify the top into a changing table. Now we just need a crib (not used).
I think we're going for the Peg Perego Prima Papa high chair (used) and a Stokke kinderzeat (right) for later use.
Share your gear stories! What do we need? What don't we need? What's a complete waste of money?
posted by Sacha @ 12:07 PM
16 comments
16 Comments:
Let me tell you what we thought was a complete waste of money. A diaper genie. It worked great for a few moths, but then it started to smell, and no matter what we did, we couldn't get the smell out. So we opted for a garbage can outside the back door. It was not as convenient, but the baby's room didn't stink. I think it is great that you are getting stuff already, and used is ok. You need to save money where you can, because the baby won't use it long. The first things we bought were diapers. We had like 20 packages before he was even born. It was very handy, because diapers are expensive.
We made a big mistake by buying the big bulky highchair chock full of features. It's easy to get sucked in by the reclining options, two trays, etc. It was such a waste of money! We've never used the recline & two trays only means that you have to clean two trays! Ikea has *awesome* high chairs that slide right up to your table & take up 1/3 the space.
Baby dust!
Merr - I've heard nothing good about the diaper genie. It's something for people without kids to buy for baby showers.
Mel&Jess - I'm working hard to cut down on bulk and I hate those huge 2 petroleum barrels worth of plastic high chairs. We simply don't have a lot of room. That's why I figured get a used chair then it won't be too heartbreaking to get rid of it and move the kidlet into the kinderseat.
Grace - spreadsheet has been sent, enjoy!
I really like using a swing. It just gives you a few minutes of peace when the baby is crying. I never had one with my first, but had one for my other children and I think they are great.
I want the kinderseat! I want it I want it I want it! We got our crib used (my niece is only 3 and so it still conforms to the safety standards, we got a new mattress) and our high chair used (though, to be honest, we use our bumbo seat FAR MORE than the high chair. I want to see your speadsheet, but if Bumbo seat isn't on it then you're missing out on something good)
What else -- my parents gave us a dresser that we're using as a changing table, and the diaper genie sucked till we got rid of it (it was a handmedown anyway) and we also got the swing and the bouncy seat as hand me downs. We're going to give them back once we're done. Which is a good idea, because what are you going to do with a swing and bouncy seat once the kid has grown out of them. We're just lucky Julia's still small enough to use her swing. Not many babies are at this age.
I'll go now.
When looking for registry options I have a few suggestions:
You probably want to register thru babies r us, and another site which uses “felicite.com” to power their registry so you can add items from other locations (like gift card from gap or something from home depot). The one I used was babybecause.com (powerd by felicite) b/c they have organic things and nice german wooden toys instead of plastic crap and you can add stuff from other online stores to that registry. Also if someone buys an item you registered for there that is not at babybecause (like if you asked for a hacksaw from some home deopt), you also have the option to get a the cash instead. Make sense?
And:
Car Seats: best ones are Britax Brand (but they are expensive $150-$200 e. but safe, comfy and worth it)
Swings: they are big giant mammoths and you hate them, and they only work for 4 months AND ARE WORTH EVERY CENT. Becuause for us, it meant we could do dishes, sleep, or relax for bits of time. LM loved it and fell asleep in it at night for 2 months. We were terrified that we were going to have a swing addicted baby, but he outgrew it really fast. We also used our bouncy seat (on vibrate) A LOT.
OMG, I could go on and on. Email me if you want more info, otherwise my comment will be 11 pages!
1) Kinderzeat - awesome! Got ours a year ago when I saw it on Craigslist (yes, before we were pregnant, but we have small friends over all the time).
2) Don't bother with a big clunky high-chair. When the baby is just starting solids, you can feed in a Bumbo or bouncy seat. Then you can move to a "booster" or travel high chair - the kind that attaches to a regular chair. They make them with a lot of the features of bigger high chairs (trays that go in the dishwasher, reclining, toys, etc.) but they don't take up the space. Once they can sit up well, you can move them to the fabulous Kinderzeat.
3) CLOTH DIAPERS, baybee. Save big, big money. I can point you to lots of good websites & blog posts about how to start out, best ways to save money, etc.
4) Swings are very good but you can get a small, portable (travel) swing and use that all the time. Then you don't have to give up all that floor real estate.
And don't go crazy buying stuff, either - you will probably get A LOT of stuff from baby showers if you can hold out that long!
Thanks Jen!
This is so awesome to get some good advice from people. I'm a strategic planner so this helps me get ideas for what will work and won't work.
Sacha, I love how you think. I think we may be the same person. I have my file of things I want and when I get bored I cruise craigslist for them. Unfortunately my wife is more of a 'wait and see' type so we don't have any baby gear yet (well except for my Jellycat Truffle which is hiding in its box in the closet). But believe me if once we get back on the TTC wagon, I get pregnant, watch out!
I'd love a copy of the list. anne at reflexiveverb.com
You are so deliciously organised. I'd love a copy of the list! Thinking of you two as we have been through the same monthly grind, getting no-where.Grrr.
I too made a list of things I liked as I came across them - it was NOT a spreadsheet though. And one thing I have found is that we changed our mind some as we saw some stuff in person. I was decidedly against a used crib and in favor of a used stroller (because many "used" really never have been!). In fact, we got a stellar deal on the zooper new and bought a higher end crib than we otherwise would have - but used! I <3 pali cribs now!
Haven't had a shower so no idea what people will actually give us - we have a "we will buy" list and a "wouldn't THIS be nice" list for ourselves though! :-)
Oooh, Oooh, can I still get a copy of your list? I love lists but have not yet started an electronic baby list.
I wish I could make some suggestions to add to your list.
I do have to add though that when I saw my favorite baby bedding on the discontinued rack, I bought it all. (that was 2 months ago, with not a bfp in sight). So I think it is great you got your stroller. I figure that no matter what it takes, even if we end up going the adoption route. We are having a baby damnit and she/he will need some things. :)
Thanks for the list and baby dust to you both.
sandy.doughty@comcast.net
oops... might help if I give you email address for spreadsheet huh? (i thought it would magically show up) baybeasts@bigpond.com Thanks!
If I haven't emailed you already, I promise to get my spreadsheet emailed sometime tomorrow. I get tunnel visioned when I work.
Wow, you two remind me of us during the TTC days! We nearly lost our ever-lovin' minds, and tried to salve our wounds with gear too.
One terrible story to tell on ourselves, though...
On the day of M's second blood test (this was try #1, btw), we took the day off in anticipated celebration and headed for Babies 'R' Us... Guess who got to hear, "We're sorry, but you'll miscarry in the next five days" in the frickin' baby gear parking lot??? We felt like dumbasses and had a lot of trouble forgiving ourselves for the 'sin of hope.'
Did that stop us from doing the full registry process at 14 weeks when M was pregnant with K? Nope. It was wonderful to be back in gear world.
Speaking of gear, I highly recommend the Bjorn Active. It has so much webbing, it would make a good corset for later, but trust me... it supports the dead weight of a little snoozer so much better than anything else we tried. By the end of our search for the perfect carrier, we had 6 distinct ways to transport K, 7 if you count 'in our arms.' We're the biggest carrier dorks EVER, but I have a feeling you two will give us a run for our money!
Hi!
Love your blog, and would love to have a copy of the list! (I love lists!)
Email: lesbiansmakingfamilies@hotmail.com
Mind if we add a link to your blog on our site?
Gretch
Post a Comment
<< Home