Are you planning to buy new or used baby items – or a combination of both?
I turned 10 weeks yesterday, but my husband and I don’t have a lot of money saved so I am trying to plan the major purchases (crib, mattress, changing table, 4-in-1 stroller sets, etc.). As far as baby furniture, I would see no problem purchasing these things from a resale shop or out of the paper as long as they were in good condition. However, this is my first child and I just don’t think I’d want to buy used baby clothes or bottles. I don’t even think I want a used high chair or swing. I know babies don’t carry lots of germs, but it just seems those things need to be new. I’m not knocking anybody who does buy used items.
What are your thoughts?
Tagged with: babies • baby clothes • baby furniture • changing table • crib mattress • germs • high chair • money • resale shop • stroller • swing
Filed under: Baby Furniture Set
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It really depends on your budget and your preferences.
The cheapest crib from Walmart is about $120, but the cheapest one at Babies’R Us and other furniture stores can range upwards of 250-400. Mattresses are not uncommonly priced at upwards of $100. I would recommend a used one if you can get your hand on one. Check for deals on online furniture stores (ecommerce sites) if you can’t stand using a pre-owned crib. Or check for garage sales, the local newspaper’s online classifieds, or craigslist if you don’t mind.
As for stroller sets, there are all sorts of sales on them. The travel systems (carrier, stroller and car seat in one) are pretty neat things to have. Keep your eye open for good deals on them and shop around. I’ve seen a nice Evenflo Travel System for as low as $75.
As for swings, because they are used for so short a time, even re-sales are pretty high. The really cool swings (like the Fisher Price Papasan swings) are about $120, but maintain their value. A pre-owned one in the classifieds probably won’t go below $60. So you’ll have to decide if its worth the money to go used, if it’s still a big price tag when used. Cheaper, more simple swings are about $60 new. Again… it’s your preference.
Now for clothes. I know it can sound icky to put your precious new baby in some other baby’s used clothes, but remember that babies grow FAST. Spending $10 on a cute baby top or $35 on that must-have outfit, will be a big money-eater as the baby grows out of them faster than you thought possible. Look for bargain bins of baby clothing on ebay, and again on craigslist. Hit up garage sales and handpick the clothes that look the best. Or go the DYI route and buy some plain onesies from Walmart/Target and decorate them yourself. Cheap t-shirt ink and basic screen-printing items allow you to make the onesie say whatever you want. Is your husband a big USC fan? Don’t pay $25 for the official USC onesie. Get red and gold ink, and print out USC Baby on it. Print out patterns or whatever cute saying you want, and customize your baby’s clothes. This also makes for a fun planning-for-baby project, and you have plenty of time before the little one comes. (I’ll attach a link for dyi screen-printing)
Toys and bottles are also good things to get used when you’re on a tight budget. Just remember to sanitize them before they go near your baby. Soak them in a bleach & water bath and you’re good to go.
I recommend going as cheap as you can on as many things as you can. "Necessities" will pop up more than you can believe. Diapers, creams, breast pumps or formula, baby baths, and shampoo. Pacifiers and diaper bags, baby thermometers, etc. Price-shop as much as you can.
And last of all, THROW A SHOWER. It’s the best way to get either big-ticket items or all the clothes you could hope for. And spread the word about your pregnancy. You never know if a long-distance aunt, grandma, or high-school friend is willing to send you a gift or two.
I am gonna have some new some used, probably mostly new. As far as the clothes thing go, to me it doesent really matter as long as the clothes are in perfect condition to the point that they look almost brand new.
If it wont fit in the washing machine I dont want it used lol. I just dont like the idea of dirty items from other babies. Im paranoid and most people arnt as clean freak as I am.
We are bought my glider rocker, the baby swing, carseat, clothes, crib bedding, blankets, sheets, mattress, mattress pad and stroller new. I am probably forgetting somethings too. We’ve bought mostly new stuff and I havent had my shower yet so Im sure almost all of her stuff will be new.
The crib, dresser, and changing table came from a close friend and is in immaculate just like new condition. We do have a few things used items and Im sure will collect a few more along the way.
i have planned to buy few items but new. U can always use older stuff if u r sure where they r coming from like cousins or older siblings but i dont feel comfortable using old things when i dont know the owners.
I bought some used furniture that were very nice but no used clothing I just don’t like that. But yeah your idea sounds good….Just one thing the changing table isn’t that necessary because everyone I know never really even used it. They said the couch, floor, car, bed, crib were good places to change the baby…lol I think that’s true too. Congrats
We got the crib set new (crib, change table and dresser) because we found a great deal! Our high chair came from a friend of ours, their baby did not like it and only used it twice so we got it for $30. The swing we got used, most children only use it for 3 months (or up to 7 months) so they are hardly used and in really good shape. Instead of getting one for $120 plus, we paid $60.
As for the clothes, we have gotten a combination of new and used. The majority of our clothes are used and in such good condition that people we know have a hard time telling if they are new or used. I have no problem with used clothing. They only wear them for a short period of time before they grow out of them and we have an entire wardrobe from 0-12 months that has not really left a hole in the bank.
As for bottles, yes we are getting those new…I have a hard time with used bottles.
Our baby was a surprise so we have been doing things cost effective since this was not in our budget. We are very happy with what we have gotten used and we shop and look around before we buy something to make sure it is the best quality and price.
Good Luck
I’m pregnant with our first baby as well. My husband & I have friends & family who are willing to give us a crib as well as strollers & baby clothes. I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with using hand me downs as long as they are in good condition. I would be concerned with using a car seat second hand though. Experts tend to say that you should not reuse car seats. Good luck!
I’m all for used; not only for my son and baby that’s coming soon, but for all household items, clothes…anything. I got a huge box of clothes from an acquaintance for forty dollars. Huge! It should be all the clothes he needs from birth to size 24m. Clothes are pretty much sterilized after a wash and dry. Bottles–I agree they should be new. I’m not going to even reuse the ones I had from my son. Nipples wear out and get dangerous and stuff. I got a high chair and swing from a garage sale.
When you do buy furniture and things like that used, you want to make sure they meet all the safety standards. It’s best to get a new car seat or one that’s never been in an accident from someone you know well and trust.
Congratulations!
I am 39 weeks and have more of a problem buying a used crib and mattress than clothing. At least with clothing you can run them through the washing machine with a second rinse to get whatever is left over, you can’t exactly do that with a used mattress. As far as crib I wouldn’t ever buy a used one simply because you never know if it is up to regulations or not, the slats on the sides must be a certain width so that baby doesn’t get caught in them. We bought a crib that also turns into a toddler and full sized bed so that it will grow with her and a water-proof mattress so that will last longer as well. I have no problem buying clothes that are used, while everyone else is spending large amounts of money on nice clothing that the child may only wear once, I pick them up for around .99 to 1.00 at the thrift store and wash the heck out of them. Is this your first? You would be surprised how quickly the bill for just clothing can add up! Also wait until your baby shower and you’ll get alllllll kinds of cute little outfits you wanted lol
We have a combination of both. The crib/mattress, dresser, car seat, stroller, bottles, breast pump and other large things we bought. The highchair and swing were given to us by my cousin, and friends and family gave us a ton of hand-me-down clothes, but we bought a ton too. Everything that was given to us is in perfect condition. I plan on using most of this with the new baby too as my toddler doesn’t need it any more.
My husband and I planned on buying both used and new items. We knew we didn’t want to buy a $300 crib or an ugly changing table, so we searched consignment shops to find something we liked. We actually bought the crib from Target and opted for a wide dresser to double as the changing table and dresser. We got the dresser at a scratch and dent place and painted it the color we wanted.
We bought new clothes but mostly when they were on clearance/sale months ahead of time. I advise everyone to do this … since the summer is ending, buy neutral clothes or lots of onesies for next spring/summer. We did buy our bottles off ebay and they were used. I did this because the bottles I wanted are $3.00 a piece and I didn’t want to spend $100 on a few bottles. I just got them and boiled them to clean the germs off. As far as other things, we did try to go used but sometimes it just was worth while to buy new.
The one thing I refused to buy used is a breastpump. The Medela pumps that are quite popular are meant for a single user and not multiple ones. The chance of contamination is high and I wasn’t going to put myself or my son at risk. You can buy the tubing to replace it, but there are places where breastmilk touches that can not be replaced.
im using both new and used!!!!!!
anything that can be disenfected and washed ill take but in good condition as well……. my mom bought me a used bed and it looks brand new nad those cribs are so expensive and they sold it to her for about 50.00 so it wasnt bad and for my first child my sister got her a travel system for about 50.00 adn brand new cost 150.00 and it was almost brand new the tires were bearly worned….and clothes i bought some used but i got so much for my baby shower that i bearly used any but the used clothes were almost like new they looked brand new just bc they didnt have a tag…..so go for whatever you can get and if you have the money to spend go brand new if not just look for used good condition things you hardley use the stuff anyways…….just bc its the first doesnt mena you should go all out bc for the rest you wont care as much and its painfull if they find out when older that the oldest got all new and the youngest all used