When to buy all the stuff...?

[Nick47]

I am interested when you bought all the equipment, cots, prams etc.
Did you wait until halfway point, 6months, or later or spread it out? Did you wait for the sales, buy whenever you saw something you liked, or go on a mad spending spree.

I am starting to think about buying for first bub, I am 18wks now and was just curious what other mums and mums 2B were doing and when.

Nicki

[Jamily]

Hi Nicki

Welcome!

Personally I waited until the sales to buy all my stuff. I calculated that I have saved a small fortune and it was well worth being patient and holding out for the sales. Don't get me wrong, I did fall in love with the odd thing and wanted to buy it NOW but my hubby was very strong! Needless to say he was right and it went into the sale shortly afterwards. I also found that a lot of stores will give you discounts if you buy in bulk and there is no harm in asking - I often got the odd thing thrown in for free just for asking the question! As you have a while to go it might be worth waiting until you see things marked down - although I do remember how exciting it was and how I wanted to get everything organised and ready.

I am now 38 weeks and still don't have everything but that is because my Mum is arriving in a few days to help me get things organised and I wanted to leave things for her to "help" with. Thankfully it looks like bub wont' be early!

Enjoy and good luck :)

[Briannabear]

Dear Nicki,Congrats on your pregnancy! Once I hit the 12 weeks mark I bought my first little outfit! (I didnt want to jinx it!) :rolleyes: After that I started laybuying everything I needed. I shopped around to find exactly what we wanted so we werent disappointed. Target, Big W, and K Mart seem to have great baby sales on a regular basis........ thats the time to do it! :D But I actually got my baby's pram, car seat (actually we got a travel system), and bassinet from a baby shop. The service there was great.
The baby shopping is one of the best things about being pregnant! Enjoy it before you get too big and uncomfortable. (The last few months I didnt feel like going anywhere much!) :p
Becca + and my sweet angel Brianna Jade (4 1/2 months)

[Lallas' Mum]

Hi Nicki,

I would recommend watching out for the sales for big items such as cots, car seats and prams. You can save hundreds just on those three items by watching for sales.

As for some of the less pricey items - have a baby shower!!! People love to shop for babies even when it is for someone elses bub. A baby shower is a great way to celebrate the upcoming arrival of your dear little one as well as a great way to save some money. People are more than happy to help out by purchasing items that you still need to buy for bub. Items such as cot sheets, bunny rugs and change bags make for very affordable and useable gifts so hold out on buying things like that.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and for the birth!

Tracey
:) Mum to Alec and Zak

[Tannie]

I think for some things that you need to really shop around for & compare features & prices etc i.e. cot, pram etc - then the sooner you start looking around the better really - cause it just takes a lot of time to get an idea of all the "pro's & con's" of certain features & work out what ones YOU want.......if you find something that you know is a good bargain and fits your criteria - buy it! Too many times I've been caught being hesitant and "waiting" & then when I went back it was gone or back to full price etc........

I also didn't feel like going shopping by 3rd trimester - just got too big and uncomfortable, sore back etc - I think it's good to aim to get most of it out of the way by ~32 weeks. I've also known too many people who left it till last weeks and went into early labour or got problems with pregnancy and then couldn't do it and had to get others to or do it with newborn...........not optimal!

I wouldn't buy too many clothes........just stock up on the basics like Wondersuits in 0000 & 000, singlets & get whatever nappies you want to use sorted out (wait for disposables to come on good sale and buy then etc)........you don't know what people will give you, how big your bub will be or how fast will grow and how you prefer to dress him/ her........

Good luck & congrats on pregnancy - hope it continues to go well foryou.
T

[Chickadee]

Wait for the sales definitely. Keep an eye out for "expos" where a lot of baby stores set up stalls. You can often get some great bargains and it's also great because you can see a huge range of items from different places and directly compare between shops without having to drive all over town. Also, after the expo you may find that some stores mark down the pieces they used in their exhibit. I bought my daughter's cot at half price that way ($200 for new!!!) just because it had been assembled and disassembled and had a mark on it.

Some stuff can be found second hand. I didn't gamble on anything where safety was an issue but smaller things like clothes, baby baths, mobiles, baby monitors, toys can all be found in second hand shops.

[jamb]

Sales are great but I also kept an eye on ebay. I found the pram and baby carrier I wanted at Baby's Galore- (service was great), then I got a brand new in the box model for $200 cheaper.

I also found the friends who already had bubs gave the really practical useful pressies, and they would also ask what I still needed and passed stuff on.

Bonds suits are WONDERFUL and very practical, stock up on those. Enjoy it, its so much fun!

[mumof2girls]

I got a lot of second hand stuff for my girls from my great friends and family. The only things I bought new were the stroller (pram) and car seat that was 0-4 years old. I bought several "new" outfits for both my girls but they mostly lived in second hand clothes which were handed down. I actually had stuff like the cot before I was even pregnant as we wanted children and they were getting rid of it.

I was also a shopper for bargains, I still am! I think most people like to start once they hit the 3 month mark as it gives them time to get everything they need before the baby gets here.

Good Luck and congratulations on your bub :)