7 Things You Should Wait to Get Until After Baby is Born
Number 1 could be a heartbreaker...
STROLLER
Your baby will eat your money. No, not really. Actually, they really can but the point I’m trying to make is how expensive babies can get. According to a survey by BabyCenter, you can expect to spend almost $10,000 in the baby’s first year alone—not including contributions to a college fund. By simply holding off on purchasing a few items, you are able to make more informed choices and give yourself more time to shop around. Some items you thought you absolutely need may end up being just a huge waste of money!
7. Have you seen how much nice strollers can go for? It can cost you from $100-$1200, depending on what features are important to you. You will need an infant car seat to be able to bring baby home from the hospital but really, the stroller can wait. It is nice to have but it’s not a necessity if you choose to use a baby carrier as well.
MOUNDS OF DIAPERS
6. Before giving birth, I was under the impression that baby needed mountains of diapers so I bought boxes of the stuff even before she was born. I had to return a few boxes because baby quickly outgrew the smaller sizes. I find it is better to just have a box of one size at any given time especially in the newborn size since most babies only use those for such a short time. Enjoy the super cute newborn sizes while they last!
BABY TOYS
5. Your infant will have no need for toys for at least a few months. Trust me. They won’t even look at it. And when he/she starts to be interested in toys, you will find that an empty water bottle (washed and de-labeled, of course) is just as exciting as an expensive toy is. Obviously some toys are a great thing to have, however we recommend saving some money by not buying into all those expensive baby toys.
TOO MANY CLOTHES
4. You might be tempted to go shopping for bigger-sized baby outfits to match the seasons but really baby sizes vary so wildly by brand. My 6 month old wears 12 months now and I can’t help but feel bad for a lot of the clothing we purchased or were gifted to us that won’t fit her anymore. I find its best to not stock up so soon. Or if you do, keep those receipts handy!
BABY BOTTLES
3. I had a few different brands ready by the time I gave birth and baby hated them all. I found that breastfed babies required a more natural type bottle and nipple (they look like boobies) while bottle-fed babies match well with classic type bottles. And then there is colic to deal with—some brands are designed to help with this issue. I even wasted money on nipples for the breast pump system thinking I could pump and just stick a nipple on the pump bottles. I was feeling so smart but those just gave my baby awful gas. So if you are buying bottles, just assume your baby will have gas issues. It won’t hurt them to use the vented bottles even if they have no gas but it will really help if they do.
BOTTLE WARMER
2. Many parents use it but you might even end up not needing one at all. My baby likes her milk room temperature (cold even) and cries bloody murder if it is at all warm. It's best to wait and find out what your baby's preference will be, and they will have a preference, before you go out and spend money on something you just won't need.
BREAST PUMP ACCESSORIES
1.I totally had this vision that I would be a rock star breastfeeding mama so the electric pump provided by my insurance was a gadget I planned on really using especially for when I went back to work and I’d have to pump all the time. I bought a breast pump bra because holding a pump against your chest for 15 minutes several times a day was just not the most pleasant thing. Just be prepared for your husband to start calling you Robo-boobies. I also got extra storage bottles and nipples too but unfortunately, I was not meant to breastfeed no matter how I wished it would be so. Now I have a sad, unused stash of breast pumping paraphernalia that I have hopes of being able to at least donate to charity. So be smart and save your money, wait a while before you decide if you really need something before clicking Place Your Order.