Ok, I hope this doesn’t come out sounding TOO selfish, but I am going to be a single mother with my first in June and am stressed about my lack of money…sooo I was sorta hoping to get quite a bit of help via the baby shower.
I’m wondering…what kind of things did you get? Should I start saving expecting to buy the large items (i.e. crib, car seat, rocking chair, swing) or are these items often fulfilled in a shower? Or should I just expect smaller things…like clothes, blankets, bibs, toys??
I’m very lost and I’m really hoping to not have to deplete my entire savings (so far only 00) before my little girl is born…that makes me nervous. Any help is appreciated.
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Other baby gift ideas sites online
- 7 Ways to Save Money in College
cherisebeck says
I would expect the smaller things, and maybe one or two big ticket things (like a swing,or a high chair) But most definintly buy the crib/dresser/changing table yourself…all the stuff to decorate your nursery and then make a registry or just a list of stuff that would be appreciated. Check out craigslist for cheap cribs!
bec says
For my baby shower and all the ones that i have been to I’ve only ever seen people getting small gifts of clothes, blankets, nappies etc!!!
Meeshi says
I say register for EVERYTHING you might need. Sometimes a few people will go in on something big but dont expect it. You could always ask around for hand me downs also. Craigslist is another spot to find used baby items for cheap. Sometimes even brand new stuff for cheap.
The most important things would be diapers, wipes, PJ’s and maybe a bassinet.
Good Luck!
KMS says
Don’t worry about this until AFTER the baby shower. Also, mention to your mom or close friend that you hope a few people will go in on one big ticket item! Also, register for diapers and formula if you are not going to breast feed!
NaeRae86 says
I guess it depends how rich your friends are, for my baby shower I got lots of clothes and small things like blankets and toys. My parents helped out and got me a crib and stroller but it really depends on each family. I would say you should atleast buy a cradle as the baby sleeps in that for the first few months anyways and you can save up for a crib. usualyl people spend about 20-60$ so anything more expensive you will have to buy
Bonnie C says
it depends, maybe you should talk to the people that will be attending your baby shower and let them know what you need the most, getting the more expensive things out of the way first and then you can get the small things yourself, some places have those registries as well so you can create a list and then everyone that is coming to the shower can get the stuff off the list
Jess says
THE GOOD THING ABOUT BABY SHOWERS IS THAT YOU CAN REGISTER ANYWHERE..LIKE TARGET OR BABY’S R US FOR EXAMPLE. IM SURE YOUR FAM AND FRIENDS WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU OUT. LETS SEE, MY FRIEND RECENTLY HAD A BABY SHOWER AND SHE GOT:
BABY SEAT FOR CAR
BABY TUB
TOWELS FOR SHOWER
SHAMPOO, BABY LOTION
LOTS OF ONESIES
BIBS
DIAPERS
BABY FOOD BLANKETS
PJ’S
SOCKS SHOES
NAIL CLIPPERS, GLOVES CAUSE THEY LOVE TO SCRATH THEMSELVES!
BEANIES
BABY POWDER, RASH LOTION
AND OF COURSE:
CRIB
HOPE THIS HELPS!
Lorie B says
If your family and friends ask you what you need (I guess they know your financial situation) see if they can get the bigger items. A group of them go in together. That’s what I did for my friends and that’s what they did for me. We got one of my friends a car seat plus bits and pieces, clothes, towels, nappies, socks etc. She also got given 2nd hand bigger items, cot, change table and bath etc. In the end all she really had to buy her self was a pram. She was a single teenage mother at the time.
If any one offers you 2nd hand items take them up on it. Babies only use most things for such a short time that most of the time they are still in great condition.
But on saying that don’t use something that you know isn’t safe just to safe a dime here and there.
Keep a look out for specials and lay by these items is possible. That way you’re not forking out $$$$ all at one but over a period of months.
Good luck
Doodlestuff says
Save for the large items. You will likely be buying them. If you don’t get much from your shower, consider garage sales and check out church places (who often have free clothing for ‘crisis’ pregnancies).
Donna says
You should not expect anything from your baby shower because you may not get what you expected. I would suggest buying 1 thing a month prior to it’s arrival unless you ask your closest of family & friends to pool there money together to buy you something big. Another good thing to do is every time you do the shopping buy 1 baby consumable item (eg Powder, Baby Wash, Nappies or Wipes) in your weekly shopping. Another thing is why not go looking at garage sales. You can normally pick up great bargains there or if you know of anyone who has kids as them if they want to get rid of some stuff or if you can borrow it. Babys don’t stay in cribs for long and if you can borrow one for 3 months then that will save you on costs. I never personally had one because I could not see the sense in paying so much money for a crib they dont stay in to long so just put my kids straight into their cot. Some shops will allow you to layby for 6 months so you could go in and buy the larger items new and layby for 6 months. This was you spread the cost around as well. With my first I would go to garage sales and get clothes for $1-$5 a bag and get heaps of clothes. This has helped heaps. Hope this helps you out with ideas anyway & good luck.
starfire978 says
Generally the shower is good for some diapers/wipes bottles and clothing. Family members will sometimes group together for the bigger items.
There are a few things you can do to help cut costs. First off is check out craigslist and your local classified ads for people selling off baby supplies cheap.
Also start off with things you absolutely NEED.
Baby needs a safe place to sleep and a car seat first off. Check with your medical provider. Many of them have a program set up that as long as you fill in a form and attend your prenatal appointments they’ll give you a free infant car seat.
As for the sleep situation it depends on what you want. You can go ahead and buy a crib and get the most use out of it. Even walmart sells cribs now at fairly good prices.
Early on alot of people do use a bassinette/moses basket but it’s not required. Heck my first child refused to sleep in a bassinette. He coslept that first year.
Swings are nice but not required again you can get great deals if you are willing to go used on swings,playpens etc…just be sure to check them against the recall list before you commit to buying them and also make sure you don’t go alone when you check them out and don’t use a personal check. This way the person you are meeting can’t trace back to your home.
Don’t be afraid to buy at a used clothing store or better yet see if you can hit some early garage sales right before and after your baby is born. Those are the best way to get good deals since generally they’re desperate to get rid of the clutter in their house of baby gear they don’t need anylonger.
Also contact your local food banks/WIC clinic. they have alot of local resources that can help you get the things you need and also provide support through the hecitic first months with a new baby.
Hang in there and remember. Your baby will not remember how much you spent on all the gear you may or may not get any use out of. Your baby needs and wants your love and attention and thats pretty much it. It’s nice to have extras but that is all they are…extras. The baby market brings in tons of money by convincing new moms they absolutely have to have the newest greatest thing on the market only to find that baby hates it and they can’t return it for a refund becuase it’s been used!
naidaig7 says
well most impotent thing a car seat then buy everything you think you will use you can always take something back or get something you need