Are You Ready to Start Buying Baby Stuff?
Don’t get too excited and shop for everything you see or find! Do your research, plan ahead and buy only the best.
When To Start Buying Baby Stuff?
Wondering when to start buying baby stuff? First of all, there is nothing wrong or no specific time to start planning for purchasing nursery items. And for all pregnant women, pregnancy is such a precious and exciting time that it is normal to make plans for the baby’s arrival which is driven by an inner instinct. Well, it is good as well as important for you to plan forwards.
Between the present time and the time when you meet your little one for the first time, there is a lot to plan as well as a lot to do.
Well, the fact is there is no hard and fast rule of when to start purchasing new baby stuff. However, some parents get too excited to buy new baby clothes and toys, and other nursery items, whereas, some parents for many reasons prefer to hold off on planning on whether to buy or not.
So, in this guide, we will discuss a few of those reasons and a useful timeline will be provided for purchasing required or must-have essentials for the toddler in this guide.
Things That Should Be Considered Before You Shop For A Baby
With all the cute tiny clothes and new trending baby gear available nowadays, it can become very easy to go extreme for baby stuff shopping in the first trimester. But there are quite a few things you should take into consideration before grabbing a shopping cart and going crazy.
Budget
This is a fact that baby stuff is expensive. According to a USDA report, a family with a middle income can anticipate spending more or less $13,000 per child annually. Where’s the good news? Presumably, you have nine months to make a budget for your new bundle of happiness and research ways for savings on baby gear.
In contrast to what some companies would have made you believe, babies don’t require fashionable clothes, fancy cribs, or state-of-the-art bouncers. Making a budget for the newborn forces you to consider what your little one usually needs, so you don’t get confused while buying the “greatest and latest”.
In addition, advance budgeting motivates you more to find coupons and provides you the patience to wait for the best offers. You can also take the opportunity of reward programs- like our Grow-With-Us Perks–to give suggestions and help you save more for your baby items.
Space
How much space is available at your home is another key consideration while shopping for your baby. Large closets, relaxing gliders, and free-standing bookshelves may sound nice but probably it is not possible for them to fit in a small room.
Keep it in mind while adding stuff and gear to the baby registry. If you do not have much space in your home, you may consider a small crib and other useful nursery items for your baby’s room decor.
Baby Shower
Do you expect someone to throw you a baby shower? If you do, then it’s better not to buy baby stuff in such a hurry until after the baby shower occasion. It depends on how many people will join your baby shower, so that you may end up getting essential things from your family, relatives, and friends.
Even if you have no plans on arranging a baby shower, still it makes more sense to wait for buying baby items. Because once the words of yours having a baby spread, you may end up receiving a lot of gifts and baby’s essentials from family relatives.
Gender Of The Baby
Many expecting moms prefer to wait for the gender of the baby because they think the clothes will be different according to the newborn’s gender so it is better not to waste money beforehand. Usually, it happens between 18 and 21 weeks but some parents discover it as early as 12 weeks.
There is no need to know the gender of the baby to start purchasing things for them. Whether you are being impatient to buy baby items for your little one or keep the gender of your baby a little surprise for yourself.
But if the issue of knowing the gender of the baby bothers you then to solve this, you can always buy unisex baby clothes for your baby. So here, the choice is completely yours!
Package Delivery Items
Have plans to shop online? Don’t forget to think about the time it takes in shipping your baby stuff. Suppose you have ordered a few weeks before the arrival of the baby but it takes pretty much time to ship the package or the products to your home.
So, as a result, either the baby will suffer or you have to buy in such a hurry what you find as baby items in the shop whether it is required or not.
It may take weeks or even months to arrive for your packages at home, so keep it in mind while shopping for baby items. This is important especially when you are ordering something during seasons of holidays and other busy schedules of the year for retailers and shippers.
You Don’t Have To Rush To Start Buying All Of That Baby Stuff
If you just can’t control your excitement and want to shop for baby items right away, you should create an Amazon Baby Registry!
In this way, you can enjoy shopping and also researching the items you want to purchase for your little one. But instead of buying it right away, you can just add it to your baby registry for later purposes! Who knows, maybe some rich relative will buy that $500 car seat for you from the goodness of their heart.
Having said that, here are some questions you might ask yourself before starting purchasing baby items for your little one.
How Far Along Are You In Your Pregnancy?
There is no real cause to rush to buy baby items at the moment when you find out that you’re going to become a mom because ultimately, for 9 months the baby won’t be here.
But there’s nothing wrong in buying some stuff for your little one if an adorable, cute onesie catches your attention that you can’t resist.
Well, I think it’s better as well as important to do research on the best baby stuff and contemplate what is exactly needed before buying a bunch of items. So, that’s where Amazon Baby Registry can help! It’s all interesting and fun to shop there without any obligation.
You might want to think about not welcoming any baby items before getting to your 12 weeks because if you end up having a miscarriage, it would be more painful. And, most miscarriages take place during the first trimester, so after that, you’re hopefully secure!
Do You Know If You’re Having A Baby Boy Or A Baby Girl?
It’s better to wait for a while before starting to buy baby stuff until the gender of the baby is known. Unisex baby stuff is okay, but it’s more exciting especially for moms to know the gender of the baby before buying clothes and nursery items. In this way, you can go with the design of dinosaurs or dump trucks for the baby boy and go with pink for your little princess.
Be Careful Not to take too long to start purchasing Baby Stuff
Being impatient for starting to buy baby items?! Actually, it doesn’t matter at all that much when you start buying baby stuff after knowing that you’re pregnant.
It’s not a big issue if you don’t have all the baby clothes folded in the wardrobe or drawers.
But like I have mentioned above, you don’t have to hold back till it will get too late during pregnancy to start buying nursery stuff.
I think it’s a good idea if you have the basics set up first and then start by the time during your 8 months of pregnancy. The basic stuff will include a car seat, crib, diapers, and some basic clothes. But babies don’t actually need as much preparation but it is essential to plan in advance.
If you want to make efforts early, you aren’t going to figure out how to collect all of the items with the newborn!
Buying Baby Stuff Early - Is It Bad Luck?
There is a superstition that if you buy baby stuff before your baby is born then it is bad luck. Now, let’s be real, it is impossible to medically affect your child if you purchase some baby items when you are in your first trimester.
However, if your heart tells you not to buy any baby item early on, then don’t. My advice for you would be to not do something that will make you uncomfortable. So, if this idea doesn’t resonate with you, don’t put it on the list.
In my first pregnancy, I faced some complications. This is why it took me quite a bit of time to accept that I would become a mother after a few months. Finally, when I was in my third trimester, my journey of being a mom felt real.
All I want to say is you should purchase baby items when you feel sure of this decision, however, it is best to not wait for the last moment because you will have a lot on your plate by then.
A General Timeline For Buying Baby Items
First Trimester
There will be lots of work before you start shopping such as making your room more baby-friendly and organizing your finances for your baby. You can start laying the groundwork for a worry-free shopping spree by doing those other works now.
Create a Budget
This is the first step; organize your bills and finances to create a budget for baby gear. With this, you’ll get a better idea of how much you can spend on your baby realistically. You can check out budgeting plans offered by specialists to make room for all the trendy or adorable baby clothes you want to buy. They will give you useful suggestions to save more money for your little one’s wardrobe.
Set Up a Baby Registry
Setting up a baby registry will help you make a list of all the items you wish to buy for your child. You can keep it private until you are ready to share the list with family or friends. Are you confused about where to start? Then try adding the must-have baby items first like baby pyjamas, wiggle-proof socks, onesies brand bodysuits, and baby shirts as well as bottoms.
Research Baby Gear
From choosing a bassinet or a crib to purchasing the right stroller, you’ll need to make a lot of difficult decisions before your little one sets foot in this world. If you want to find the perfect products that will go well with your family, you need to spend some time researching the most essential baby items.
You can start by reading guides for buying baby stuff or you can check the reviews of the items. This will give you an almost clear picture of what product will be the best for your baby. This will help save your money in a more efficient way.
Stock up on Consumables
The daily items you’ll need after your baby comes home will run out quicker than you can imagine. So, it is better to stock up on those essentials early on. Items like:
- Laundry detergent (both regular and baby-safe)
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Dish soap
- Toilet paper
Along with these, you can also stock your personal items like sanitary napkins, lotions, sanitizer, and any other consumables which will be needed after your baby is born. This way the nesting feeling you have will be at ease and you don’t even have to fill your house with baby stuff this early.
Don’t buy pregnancy stuff such as comfy pillows that help you sleep more cozily or nursing clothes. Keep those kinds of stuff on hold for your second trimester.
Second Trimester
You can buy the big-ticket items now instead of waiting for the baby shower. The nursery glider, baby crib, stroller, and other important baby gear that did not make the baby registry list.
Choose a Nursery Theme
If you know the sex of your baby, then you can choose a nursery theme now. When you are set on the theme, it will get much easier to purchase other baby products accordingly. The furniture and the decor will be as per the chosen theme.
Get the bedding for the nursery; you can get the baby boy bedding or the baby girl one. The patterns, prints, designs, and colors are different for each gender so you will have a lot of options at hand.
Add some personality to the little one’s room by keeping some baby books that match the nursery theme.
Start Ordering Nursery Furniture
Are you opting for online shopping? Then you have to order the must-haves early on. It may be weeks till you get your item at hand. You’ll like to have time on your hands so that you can assemble the baby gear.
Also if something is damaged then you’ll need to return that item and buy another one so these things can take up a lot of time. If the items are bigger and hefty in weight, get your partner or a family member or a friend to help you with that.
Buy a Crib
Some parents purchase a bassinet instead of a crib for the first few months of the baby. But, a crib will be needed after your baby becomes 6 months old. If you want to purchase a crib or a bassinet, the second trimester will be a good time to go for it since you’ll have energy left in your body. This will also give you enough time to arrange the crib and make it ready for your little one.
Declutter Your Home
You need to start decluttering the house so that when the baby items arrive, you’ll have plenty of space for them. You don’t need to finish all the work in one day so be consistent and start small.
Every day, put away at least 2 items that you’ll no longer need. When the bag becomes full you can donate the items.
Decide on Diapers
Have you decided on which kind of diapers you will be using? If not, then it is high time you start looking. You get to choose either disposable diapers or cloth ones. There are lots of different brands that sell various styles of diapers. Start your research now to get a better understanding of which diaper would serve you the best.
Third Trimester
You have finally reached your third trimester, every day your baby’s arrival becomes closer to reality. Now, it’s time to double-check on the baby-items list and pick up the rest of the items that are kept on hold up until now.
Diapers, lotions, creams, and other essentials for the baby
You’ll be surprised how quickly all your clean clothes become dirty with baby poop, pee, vomit, and drool. This is why you need to have a lot of baby burp cloths as well as baby bibs.
Diapers are a big part of this journey so keep them stocked up in your baby’s nursery along with lotion, wipes, and creams. Baby care essentials are a must for your baby.
Buy a Baby Car Seat
You’ll need some practice to get adjusted to the baby car seat so do not want too long to buy this product since it is a must-have item. you’ll be coming home in a car so a baby car seat needs to be there.
Organize your Baby’s Wardrobe
Once the baby shower is over, go through your baby’s clothes and arrange them in the baby’s wardrobe. Most parents end up with a heap of baby clothes but most of them are not of bigger sizes. Fortunately, there are sites like Gerber Childrenswear where you’ll get your preferred clothes in different sizes.
Pre-Wash Baby Clothes
It doesn’t matter if your baby’s clothes are brand new, you’ll still need to wash them before you put them on your baby’s sensitive skin. Some people get hand-me-down clothes but even if that’s the case, pre-wash is a must. There will be harmful chemicals in the brand new clothes and the hand-me-downs, who knows where they have been, so avoid taking the risk and pre-wash your baby’s clothes. Use a baby-safe laundry detergent to wash the clothes.
Keep an eye out for good deals & Offers
Are you bubbling with excitement thinking about your baby’s arrival? Minutes must seem like hours at this rate! Here is a smart way to pass the time — search for awesome deals on baby items.
Keep an eye out for discounts, offers, or deals on bouncers, high chairs, playpens, and several other things that your baby will not necessarily need right at this moment but in the future. This way, you can keep tabs on your favourite items and snatch them away once there’s a hot deal on them.
It's Time to Shop!
I hope this timeline and the small tips will help you in finding a good time to start shopping for your little one. Just remember that this is just a general overview of the timeline, you are not bound by this so, at the end of the day, you’ll purchase and put it together for your baby however you see fit. Enjoy the process and make irreplaceable and unforgettable memories while you’re at it.
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