Shopping For Your Baby Prior To Childbirth
Being pregnant means having plenty of justifiable reasons to shop - for yourself and your baby
. In fact, it's one of the perks of pregnancy. Unfortunately, knowing where to begin is often difficult for new moms-to-be. There's a lot to buy, and every product manufacturer makes their items seem essential. Without a little parenting experience under your belt, it's hard to know what you'll need and what can you do without.Below, we'll offer a few suggestions for making shopping for your baby an enjoyable experience. We'll help you focus on the necessities, leverage your time and money, and prepare your home for the arrival of your little one.
Write It All Down!
The most important thing you can do is make a list of the products you want to purchase. There's far too much to remember, so write it down. Think about the baby gear you'll need, such as a crib, stroller, car seat, and changing table. You'll need bathing supplies, including wash clothes, towels, an infant tub, and skin products. And while it may be a little soon, start thinking about educational toys and traveling gear your little one will need.
If you're having difficulty thinking of items to buy, speak with other mothers. Take advantage of their insight. They'll be able to make helpful suggestions based on their own experience in caring for their babies.
Use Gift Registries To Your Advantage
Your family, friends, and coworkers will likely organize one or more baby showers for you, especially if this is your first child. This is a good opportunity to have others help you collect the products you need. From diapers and toys to car seats, swings, and cribs, baby showers can help you save an enormous amount of money.
To let others know what you need, register at a few online gift registries. As your friends and family buy specific products for you, the registry will be automatically updated. An additional benefit to doing this online (rather than at a local retailer) is that your friends and loved ones who live far away can help out, too.
Is Buying "Used" An Option?
You'll want to buy some products new. These include your baby's crib, stroller, car seat, and bassinet. If you're on a tight budget, however, consider buying a few items used. For example, your newborn will outgrow her clothes long before she has a chance to wear them out. Hence, it may make sense to save a few dollars and buy them from a consignment shop.
Also, ask your friends whose babies have outgrown their clothes whether your little one can borrow them. They may be happy to have you take the clothes off their hands. As a side note, most of the larger items should be purchased new since they need to meet certain safety regulations.
Preparing For Your New Arrival
Once you have purchased the items you and your baby will need, you'll have some time to make a few last preparations. First, while you're waiting to give birth, start organizing your little one's clothes. Doing so now will make it easier to find the individual items (e.g. socks, onesies, hoodies, etc.) following your infant's arrival.
Second, throw some of your infant's clothes into the laundry prior to giving birth. With the right detergent, you can help ensure her clothes are clean, comfortable, and ready to wear.
Third, make sure you purchase a high-quality car seat before her arrival. You'll need to have one to transport her safely from the hospital. You can procrastinate with buying a stroller, bassinet, and other baby gear, but a car seat is essential.
Even if you're on a budget, shopping for your baby before she's born can be a fun, enjoyable experience. Use the suggestions above to maximize your time and money while collecting the items you need.
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