Always the best for the baby?

Laura - posted on 05/14/2011

As a 1st time mother I worried about that kind of stuff quite a bit when I was pregnant. What I 've found is that just because somethin is name brand or extremely expensive it doesn't always mean it's the best. when choosing baby produckts you should always read consumer reviews on the product, also you should always think about buying 2nd hand. Not for anything like cribs or carseats of course. but used baby toys and certain products if they are in good condition will save you alot of money. Baby's grow out of things so quicky that buying everything new and top of the line could easily put you in the poor house. my son's entire wardrobe for his first year was made up mostly of clothes that came from a friend and I passed them on to another friend. the only things we bought brand new were his crib, carseat and playpen. everything else came used from friends and family . It was a blessing because most of the things we had to be honest we almost never used. I hope this helps. remember that being a great mom isn't about buying having everything top of the line. It's about making sure you're children have all of your love.

Sarh - posted on 05/14/2011

You don't want to buy top of the line for your child because then she will be materialistic and have problems if she can not afford it like you right now. It's unnecessary!

Vicki - posted on 05/14/2011

As long as your baby is loved, fed and clean then who gives a hoot if he/she isn't in the best brand of clothes? xxx

Nikki - posted on 05/14/2011

Don't feel guilty at all, babies need love and care not designer clothes and toys.

Mary Renee - posted on 05/14/2011

oh yes, also as a side note I was raised in hand-me-downs from my cousins. I don't think I wore my "own" clothes until I was a teenager. I did not feel bad about wearing hand-me-downs at all! I thought my cousin's clothes were cute!

Stephanie - posted on 05/14/2011

I tottally agree with whats been said here, spend on big stuff, car seat, crib, pram, but save on clothes and toys. I get quite a lot of my daughters clothes from charity shops/ebay, but i only go for the named brands. I also buy for the year ahead in the sales, my daughter is currently wearing summer dresses that i bought last year for £1 in the sale!

Meagan - posted on 05/13/2011

Babies don't need the best things. They need the basics and they need them to be safe. That's it. You can't afford a new crib? Check out baby resale shops (and make sure they dont purchase anything recalled). Nice clothes? Resale shops, store sales (buy roughly a season in advanced, so like winter stuff in summer, and vice versa) and you can get them dirt cheap. Also factory stores and places like ross. The factory stores take the slightly irregular things (things with like double stitching, slightly uneven, etc) and sell them to you for a fraction of the store price. If you look closely, you'll find the "imperfections" are usually something people wont notice until they look for them. Resale shops you can purchase gently used (sometimes even new) brand name clothing, toys, etc. And online classifieds like craiglist is great for finding gently used, but really nice things. Garage sales too. I bought my daughter a pair of $60 Ralph Lauren pants at a garage sale for $1, and they look they they were never worn!

Either way, nice stuff doesn't have to bankrupt you, and ultimately, a place to sleep, food in it's belly, a onsie, and love is all a baby needs.

Last thing. Grand parents are known to spoil their grand children with nice things. It may not be YOU buying it, but it still feels great! =]

Alison - posted on 05/13/2011

I agree with the ladies saying it's not important to get top-of-the-line items for your baby! With the price of things, and how quickly kids are in and out of things, there is no reason to feel guilty about buying a cheaper brand or going for hand-me-downs/2nd hand.

Lesley - posted on 05/13/2011

Do you Love Your baby? Do you keep her safe and sound? is what you can afford fit for purpose and safe even if it is 2nd hand or not top of the range? If YES is the answer to all these questions then Chill Out you do not need the best stuff if your child is happy settled and adored by you always remember love and respect can not be bought.

Jade - posted on 05/13/2011

Kids don't know the value of things as long as they are fed clothed and have a roof over their head your doing a good job. Plus I find when they market baby products they tend to use the guilt factor.like if you don't buy the best you're doing a horrible job.

Mechelle - posted on 05/12/2011

Yard sale items are great! A lot of the time, you can find brand new name brand baby/toddler clothes at yard sales. I also like to shop at goodwill, salvation army, and other stores like that. At baby age/toddler age, they grow so quickly, and I personally feel that it is not worth it to spend $30 or more on an outfit that they will wear twice. Sure, I buy new stuff once in a great while. For example, I was taking to get my kids pictures taken and I bought my youngest a new dress to match her sister's. I bought them each a coming home from the hospital outfit. Other than that, unless it is a REALLY good sale, I don't buy from name brand stores.

My parents had 5 kids and we got a new outfit twice a year, Christmas and birthdays. We wore hand-me-downs. You do what you have to do, and with the rise in gas prices and every other bill we have, new clothes are not a priority. Used clothes do just as well and you can't tell a difference. Don't feel bad about it. Really...are your kids going to know the difference of used or new???

Julie - posted on 05/12/2011

Did you know that your child will not remember the brand of clothing you bought but the time and love you poured into her?
I raised my 5 from Thrift Store buys and felt very smart as spending wisely. Let others buy name brands for her as gifts if they so chose. You can start a VERY GOOD habit by being a wise shopper. Our economy is going to change... and you will be ahead by shopping bargains NOW.

Tamarya - posted on 05/11/2011

In my opinion, a lot of the cheap brands are gorgeous =)
but!
I noticed the COSTCO sleepers are cheaper and better quality (thicker material) then the walmart brand sleepers...

Coady - posted on 05/11/2011

My mom is very disapproving of the fact that her grandkids wear clothes from walmart. She only shopped at dept stores for mine and my sisters clothes. It's very upsetting to me that she looks down on me for that. What she doesn't understand is that I am doing the best I can. She was lucky to have landed such a great job having no college degree when she was a new young mother. Unfortunately in todays society it's hard enough to get a job. But top that off with having no college degree and little experience.. I just feel lucky to have the job I do have! What's important is that you are providing for your child. The cheap brand is almost always just as effective as the name brand. Don't feel guilty about it.

Lindsy - posted on 05/11/2011

Don't spend a ton of money on anything that you won't use for more than 3 years. Baby gear no way, but houses and cars sure. Also , think about versatility , does to convert to anything or "grow" with the child in some way? If not you probably can do without it.

Teresa - posted on 05/11/2011

Every diaper my son wore for the first 6 months of his life were from my 'diaper shower'. 99% of his clothes were hand-me-down's... til he outgrew the main hand-me-downer. Now it's more like 50-75%....



Babies don't care about 'top of the line'. All they care about is being loved and taken care of. :)



Your guilt will hurt you a lot more than 'lack of stuff' will hurt your baby.

Savona - posted on 05/11/2011

YOU FEEL GUILTY THAT YOU DONT HAVE MONEY???? =O Dont! The economy sucks! A lot of people don't have the money to get their kids what they want or whats the best, =(
Youre trying, youre in their life, youre not abusive, youre not agressive or drinking or drugging out or neglecting them! Theyre greatful to have a mommy like you, they love you and youre always gonna have a spot for them in your arms =)
goodluck and best wishes fellow mommy!

Giacci - posted on 05/11/2011

it doesnt matter how much money you spend on things for the baby as long as that baby has its necessaties =. what do you think people that cant even afford a crib do? they use a dresser drawer with loads of blankets and what not. as long as your baby has what it needs the price doesnt matter. theres SOOO many mothers out there that get everything on sale. its a way of saving money. if you spend all you have on the new expensive crib for the baby then how do you feed it??? so dont worry as long as your giving you baby love and attention and everything it needs dont feel guilty. times are rough right now.. itll get better the older the baby gets.

Schyla - posted on 05/11/2011

We live in 550 sq feet with three kids and the two of us. Our kids don't have the best of everything but they have the best of us. we spend lots of time playing together and doing fun things. They have cute clothes mostly hand-me-downs and food to eat and a roof over their heads and shoes on their feet. But they have what's most important the thing they WILL remember they have a Mother and Father who love them and care for them. So if you can give that to your baby then don't feel guilty!

Tara - posted on 05/11/2011

There is no need to feel guilty at all! Times have changed and most people CANNOT afford even close to the best things for their kids (and those that do buy the best things, their kids tend to be spoiled brats anyway...not saying you are though). As long as your baby's needs are met and he/she is happy and healthy, that is all the matters. I would LOVE to buy the best things for my kids, but when you live on a budget, it's not usually possible.

Stifler's - posted on 05/11/2011

I don't buy anything "top of the line" for my kids. They'll both probably have hand me downs forever, I refuse to spend heaps of money on things they wreck or wear 5 times and grow out of.

Emma - posted on 05/11/2011

I agree with Mary. Spend more or certain things like a new car seat or crib (I wouldn't buy those ssecond hand) but other things like clothes, toys, accessories then look for the bargains. My girl is 5 weeks old and I haven't got her a cot or pushchair yet because I cannot afford them. I stick to the moses basket and sling while I am saving up for these things. Babies grow up so quickly they do not need top of the line, they don't fit in them for long enough for it to be worth it. I have a boy who is 5 and even him I don't buy top of the line clothes because he grows out of them too quickly!!! Save ur money and use it to py for days out and holidays..ur baby will get more out of these than any possessions!

Charlie - posted on 05/11/2011

Aww hun Babies wont remember what they had only how much you love them , there is no shame in hand me downs , second hand stores or even cheaper versions of things .

I love a good bargain anyawy ;)

Brie - posted on 05/11/2011

sometimes we have extra to spare and i can buy really nice things but most of the time we don't... i swear by the thift store!!! i could be a millionare and still i would shop there lol!! i find all kinds of deals.. when i was pregnant i would leave the store with all kinds of baby stuff and spend like 15 dollars and leave with 5 bags full!! and they have osh kosh and carters (to name a few) out the butt so my son had the tag without the price!!! i shop there for other things too... and i donate or sell my used items to thrift shops also so its like a circle lol... but yeah don't feel bad about it like the others have said when they get old enough to actually care about money they aren't going to care if they slept in the $500 crib or the $20 one from a yard sale or thrift store... btw i love yard sales too!! i am also a couponer!! but don't feel bad about not being able to give them high end items.. its not the material posessions that matter.... when all is said and done and when you are gone they aren't going to say well screw it mom never bought us the abercrombie jeans rot in hell, they will miss you and remember all the things they had with you like your love and the memories made!

Holly - posted on 05/10/2011

I am a master bargain hunter (I get it from my Grandma. lol). I can't afford "top of the line" stuff either, but you would never know it looking at my kids. Here are some of my tips:

Marshall's and Ross are my favorite stores (and hubby's too - he's even more of a master bargain hunter than me!). Really nice stuff for a fraction of the cost.

I also like Craigslist and my kids wear a lot of hand-me-downs (which I pack up and hand down again when the kids grow out of them - in a family as big as mine there's always another baby lined up for a box of clothes - lol).

I have found stain removers that work wonders (Oxi-Clean and degreaser are my FRIENDS) and I only buy machine washable clothes (as well as washable markers/paints/etc.). This helps keep clothes nice longer, and as long as the clothes are clean and look nice, no one much cares about the label.

Apples, while a delicious and nutricious treat, leave stains on clothes if the juice dribbles. Put your kids on "play clothes" to eat apples - I learned that one the hard way...

No one cares about what the tag says on baby clothes. Honestly, not a lot of people look away from the cute little baby long enough to notice if the clothes are name brand or not. :)

Consignment shops are great places to shop for kid's clothes and stuff. Usually, they only accept clothes/items that are in nice condition.

EVERY birthday/holiday/special occasion that people give gifts to your children for ASK FOR CLOTHES OR THINGS YOU NEED. Seriously. My husband's uncle is very well off and ALL the clothes my kids have that are "name brand" or "top of the line" were bought by him because I told him exactly what sizes the kids are and what they need. My kids honestly love getting clothing as presents, so it's a win-win for everyone :)

Mary Renee - posted on 05/10/2011

Don't feel guilty. We live in a one-bedroom apartment so not only were we not able to get the top of the line stuff, but we didn't even have space for the normal stuff!!!!!!



If you have ties to getting "top of the line" stuff, I would buy certain items top of the line and then forget about the other stuff. For example there is absolutely no reason to get top of the line clothes for kids. They grow out of them in months and plus babies poop and pee and throw up on themselves all the time. But I wouldn't get a used basinett/crib because they could be missing parts or recalled. So splurge maybe on a good crib and don't worry about the rest. In my opinion there is very little difference between a high cost vibrating infant seat and a low cost one.



And don't feel guilty. Look at the BIG picture. Babies have been born and survived and thrived LONG before there were organic cotton onesies and wipe warmers! They survived before there was a diaper changing table or swing too! Look at babies in other countries that grow up with a fraction of what we're "told" we need. All your baby needs is you. You cuddle your little one when they need comfort, feed them when they need food, change them when they're dirty, and keep them from being too cold or too hot and honestly... the rest is negotiable.



Also I second what others have said here, ebay and craiglist has great stuff for half price and when you think about it, a kid uses something for what, 6 months before they're on to a new stage in their life so these items are hardly even used.



And by the way, when ever I see a kid under the age of two in Nikes all I think is GHETTO!

Tamika - posted on 05/10/2011

u shouldnt feel guilty, as long as your child is well taken care of and has clothes that are clean and appropriate then your child is fine!!...ITS NOT THE CLOTHES THAT MAKES THE PERSON, ITS THE PERSON THATS WEARING THEM!! :)

Melissa - posted on 05/10/2011

babies dont alwas need the best of everything as long as they are happy and healthy the price of thing shoudnt be a concern, toys etc i look on sites such as ebay they can only be used for so long until ur child out grows them wots the point in spending all tht money for such a short period of time

Elise - posted on 05/10/2011

There is nothing wrong with buying cheeper thing for you kids. If it does the same job why spend hundreds. My kids have heaps of secondhand and hand-me-downs. I buy a lot of second hand items off ebay.

Christina - posted on 05/10/2011

You have a baby, who cares! Your kid isn't going to remember whether they had a $500 crib or one purchased from good will. If you want to buy nice things, then hit sales. I use coupons from Department stores and buy things on sale. I am known for purchasing a $50 pair of jeans for my kids and spending $4.95 for them.