I am pregnant and I am interested in what everyone thinks I should buy before the arrival of my baby

Question

I don't have a lot of money, but I would like to know what you think I should buy before my baby is born and what can wait. In particular I am interested in knowing if you think I should buy a changing table and a separate dresser/chest or if I should use a changing table/chest combo. The baby's room is 12X14.

I have all ready purchased 20 onesies, (I got them for. 25 each at a thrift store), 6 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of pants (I don't know if I am having a girl or boy), a bath tub, baby toiletries, 2 baby sleep blankets, 12 receiving blankets, 2 changing pad covers, 4 boxes of diapers, trash can for dirty diapers, a baby rocker and swing, tummy time center, 2 sleepers, a sweater, and 2 cans of formula.

I do all of my shopping at thrift stores so I am at the mercy of what other people no longer need. My husband's coworkers are buying us the travel system. I know that I will need to buy the mattress at a retail store.

Answer 1

I can tell you from experience that you will need more sleepers...that is what most people keep there little ones in for awhile.  Also a few gowns are nice to.  Make sure there are no strings on them.  Also if you can buy more diapers...if you have newborns right now..buy size ones. You will not realize you will use so many.  You will change diapers like 10 to 15 times a day at first.  And get more wipes to.  I would not just get a changing table.  My daughter just had to have one and she never even uses it. Stores diapers in the  bottom of it..but that was in the beginning.  Now she uses a fancy basket and has it underneath her end table.  But, if you want one get the combo that will come in real handy...or just a dresser.  Also buy the baby hangers they are cheap.  At Wal-mart they were $1.20 for like ten or so.  And they come in pretty colors.  I also would get another sweater/jacket as children like to spit up alot.  I also would not anymore formula as you do not know yet what kind your child will be able to tolerate. I would also get a baby bouncer....with a vibrator oh my gosh they save your sanity.  I hope this helps and good luck ahead with your new addition to your family.  The two sites below will also have baby things in your area and not expensive most of the time.

Answer 2

Congratulations! Most of us Mom's have been quilty of buying more than we can use. We get drawn in by all the cute stuff! Little ones grow so fast and will outgrow most things before they have a chance to wear them.

My advice is to stay with the basics. Hit the yard sales and thrift shops as you have been doing, but try to buy in several sizes. You can never have enough diapers. A changing table is a waste of money and becomes a catch-all. Those nap mats that children use are great for changing baby at home, it folds up when not in use.

If you are able and feel comfortable with breast-feeding, do it. It will be wonderful for the both of you. If you can find a rocking chair for yourself I suggest you get one. You and baby will have many beautiful moments in that chair!

Good luck with your pregnacy, enjoy every moment. My best advice on raising your child is this, you are going to make mistakes, we all have. Don't ever let it get you down. Don't listen to all the horror stories that most women love to share. lol. Let people and family know you welcome their help, but only when you ask for it. You will be surprised at the people that are great at raising someone elses child from a distance.

Answer 3

I found t-shirts with the snap in the front helpful, getting onesies over a newborn's head is a bit of a challenge.  A great buy also is a bottle drying rack I got one at Target for about 5 dollars.  

Answer 4

the one thing i would recommend, is a bottle sterilizer. it may seem like a luxury, but if you can find one on the cheap (a friend of mine gave me her old one!), get it.

you don't need so many onesies or socks, do not buy a lot of newborn diapers because you never know how big your baby will be, and how long newborn diapers will fit.

get A LOT more sleepers. they're comfortable, and even as your baby grows they will be the most practical thing to put them in when you're just hanging out at home.

i never used a changing table, i just bought a re-usable changing pad and i changed my son on the bed.

you can buy things as your baby grows. its easier to pay a few dollars every few months, as opposed to paying a great deal all at once.

from my experience, you really don't need a baby sling/carrier unless you plan on walking to places where a stroller won't fit and you don't feel like or are unable to just carry your baby.

have you bought any bottles yet? i had about 40 bottles when i had my baby, but i realized soon that all i needed was about 4.

the swing is a life saver!

Answer 5

I bought a change table/dresser combo and I got very little use out of it.  I wish I had spent the money on a better dresser (shallower drawers, better quality)

I would get more sleepers, some babies are very cold and wear sleepers WITH onsies underneath for months even when it is warm.  However family and friends are probably going to give you plenty.

Socks aren't that great, please never let your baby sleep in socks.  They are cute for short errands if baby's feet get cold but they can cause pressure points.  I used to have the pictures up on my blog of what happened to my son from socks and I found a lot of other moms who went through the same thing.

You can get a mattress for $40, so don't let that worry you too much.  And I think after about $80 they become more or less the same.

If you are formula feeding you need bottles, no clue how many.  I don't bottle feed.

Also I would get some more of the small change pads as some days you go through a few.  The cloth with vinyl backing is nice because baby doesn't get cold.  However the thick vinyl with no cloth can just be wiped and doesn't need to go through the wash very often

Sheets and a mattress pad or two.  But if you get thick flannel sheets you can ski the mattress pad.

Answer 6

In my experience - forget the changing table. Get a couple of baskets at the dollar store place a few diapers, powder, ointment in them where you will be changing and have a blanket or towel handy. Changing tables can be dangerous. If you lay the baby on a towel on the floor and the baby rolls it's fine. Check with your local police department. Often they will give you a new car seat prior to the baby's birth if you go listen to their safety spill and allow them to install it. A pack & play can be great I used mine more than any other baby item. Keep the recipts for the diapers incase the baby out grows the size before they are used so you can exchange for a larger size.  

Answer 7

Someone may throw you a baby shower, so register for the bigger things and don't make any major purchases until after the shower. I think if you're going for a changing table, get the one that's a combo dresser. You'll save money and it can be used as a dresser once your baby is out of diapers. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 8

Get a baby carrier of some sort (sling or otherwise)

Don't worry about a changing table.  I bought a changing table pad (thick with contoured sides), put it on top of the dresser with a non-slip pad underneath.  

Bouncy seats are great if you can find them

Good for you for buying second-hand!  The baby won't need these things for long anyway.  And congratulations!

Answer 9

After having so many things for my first daughter I now realize that babies really don't need much.  We're making everything sooo much simpler this time around.

We ditched the changing table.

All we need for this baby coming in October is:

Diapers

Onesies

Blankets

A couple of slings

Sleepers

Hats

A carseat

Nursing pads for me

Socks absolutely never stay on newborn feet.  They get lost.  I also never bother with actual outfits before the baby is a year old.  Footie sleepers and gowns are all that we use.  Changing table, never used it once. We just change the baby where we are.  We're not even getting a crib for this one, because we cosleep.