Any tips for buying new items for the baby of expecting mother? I want to look at buying stuff for the wife and child at an affordable price, but I don't want to buy something that is not safe or to Australian /international standards. My wife is about 11 weeks pregnant. Any tips?
Happy to hear general tips for new expecting parents. We are based in Darwin, Northern Territory so happy to order items online.
Thank you.
Finish that Steam backlog ASAP (Also, congratulations!)
And buy a Steam Deck. The instant pause function enables gaming as a parent.
There's some infant things on sale next Wednesday (24/7) at Aldi, might be worth a browse. I would keep an eye on Aldi special buys to see what comes out.
Other than that if your wife is ok with going second hand for some things I would suggest asking friends or relatives if they have anything lying around that they could donate to you.
Thank you for the advice.
Loads of that stuff looks super useful, and I think the 'infrared forehead monitor' is especially useful device, though you can use any infrared thermometer. They then can help you test water temperature or warmed milk temperature as well as person temperature.
Also babies love plasma balls.
Sleep now…
and sleep some more!
Congrats, not everyone have this privilege to experience parenthood. The best role ever.
Enjoy every single minute, they grew so fast. Life changing.
Every minute? They do grow so fast, but don't make people feel guilty for not enjoying the hard parts.
The early years are hard work, and the early months can be exhausting. The hard work soon pays off though, and if you train them right and are not unlucky you get ten years of adorable.
Then you get teenagers :-)
If trained right even the teenage years aren't a problem.
…and filled with just as many milestones too.
Yeah, sometimes you may need to ask the partner to hold the fort why you go for a walk alone and then let your partner do the same, or whatever you need to do to unwind.
We're currently pregnant at about 15.5 weeks. The big ticket items we don't really feel comfortable compromising on are the pram and car seat. I know a lot of parents say a 2nd hand pram is fine but it's just a personal preference given it's probably one of the more heavily used items. I've basically signed up to all the newsletters for the brands and Baby Bunting, and also follow the socials. Also keep an eye for TCN discounts like this (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/855285) as the baby gift card works at Baby Bunting. Also not sure if there are baby and pregnancy expos in Darwin but if you're planning a trip to Melb or Syd there's two that rotate around called One Fine Baby and the PBC Expo. Also see if there are some Facebook groups for your local area. Some people give away stuff.
Not an expert as this is our first as well but feel free to reach out if you or the wife want to chat.
Thank you very much, we will be in Melbourne around August to see my wife's family.
Ah I think the expo is in Sept but I came across this - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/darwin-baby-expo-tickets-912…
Oh I also share this with parents who don't know where to start for their shopping list. https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltee50a64aa85c8d90…
I don't think you really need to start buying much a few more months but good to get the research in early imo.
Heavily used? We hardly used the big pram. When they are little, a BabyBjörn style harness is awesome. Backpacks can work too.
And when they are too heavy to carry, a collapsible stroller is convenient.
For newborns, a car capsule is very handy, so baby can move around without being woken. They are a lot of money for a few months, but many people rent them, or get second hard (as hardly used). The convertible seat will last for years, so get that new.
Also when buying prams - look for one with bugger wheels. It will be much easier to push on rough terrains, stairs, etc..
I have often exclaimed "bugger" while pushing a pram.
Typo: bigger :)
We're currently pregnant
Congratulations but this term is friggin ridiculous IMHO.
Why should anyone care about your opinion on this?
11 weeks, youve got a long way to go yet. Slow down, dont run out and buy everything because honestly, most of it you wont use or itll end up redundant (for a variety of reasons).
Things to buy over time:
Honestly, babies are pretty carefree. They poo, eat and sleep. Everything else is our projected nonsense. Mine was in a $20 secondhand carry bassinet on a table beside our bed for 6 months. Pita is now 6' tall and eating me out of house and home! 😐🙄
I think you have already used the tip… /AYOO! (sorry)
We have 2 kids under 5 so I'll try and keep the list simple:
BUY NEW:
* Car Seat - Get a convertible that will do 0-4 years (can be turned from a rear facing to a forward facing seat), don't waste money on a capsule seat. We bought Britax for both, very happy with them.
* Pram - I think 3 wheeler prams are better than 4 wheelers, easier to move around and can go over more terrain as they usually have bigger wheels. Get something that can have a bassinet on top and converted into a pram - we bought a babyjogger.
BUY 2nd HAND
* Cot
* Change Table
^ You will find a myriad of these things on marketplace, throwouts etc. Paint them up if you need to but there is no point in spending big $ on these when you can get pretty much new ones all over the place for next to nothing or free. Just make sure they are not falling apart obviously.
As for clothes, just get whatever is going cheap from kmart or bonds etc. Babies grow quick and you will need to get a bigger size pretty quickly.
The BEST thing to buy no matter what are a bulk pack of cloth nappies, I buy these for all our new parent friends as a gift. They get used everywhere except as nappies (unless you want that sort of thing) https://www.kmart.com.au/product/12-pack-cotton-terry-nappie…?
p.s. Congrats!
why would you buy a pram new instead of second hand. pram should absolutely be in the second hand bucket, easy to get them for a fraction of the new price.
A few reasons:
1) Are you planning on having more that 1 kid, this pram could be used for both like we did.
2) If so, what's the gap between kids likely to be? (new parents won't know this necessarily) We had a 4+ year gap between our two so the prams being used all over again but showing signs of age now.
3) Some prams can be used from age 0 - 3/4 so you'd want something that will last the abuse of 1 kid
Pretty much buy once, buy right.
I agree that there are great second hand prams available but if you have kids you'll know how much they will destroy a pram so you'll end up having to buy another one if you have a second child. Then it begs the question if you are saving money or not.
Once you start telling people you won't believe the amount of baby stuff people will try to offload on you.. really consider to take it so you can spend money on other things.
Every first time parent wants the brand new, overpriced pram. But a lightly used one you can often pick up for 30% of its original price from marketplace. Similarly a used cot with a brand new mattress is a good option too.
Definitely get a new car seat though.
We also found a nightlight and good blockout curtains made a massive difference. Whilst newborns will sleep in a well lit noisy room, adults not so much.
If the hospital offers the class on how to bath the baby go to it, it looks easier than it is.
Username checks out.
If you feel grossed out by used stuff (understandable, no one wants to throw their own into some other kid's puke) then: take the cot and just buy a new mattress for it, attack the stroller with a good steam cleaner, wash suitable toys in mild caustic soda, etc.
Set an alert for the search 'baby' so you don't miss out on any deals
Pro tip. I've picked up my best bargain babies that way.
Have your second baby first. Then you won't be worried about everything.
get a snooo
Become closer to your parents and parents in law, so they can be roped into free babysitting later, and they'll probably spend a bundle on baby stuff. Invite them to dinners, involve them in baby planning, send them prints of sonograms, etc.
Run now, keep running ;)
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/help/customer/display.html?node…
We offer a discount called the Completion Discount on eligible remaining items from your Baby Wishlist that are sold and shipped by Amazon AU. The discount offer is 10% for primary list owners (15% for members of Amazon Prime at the time they redeem their discount). You're eligible for this discount 60 days prior to, and up to 90 days after, your pregnancy due date inputted on your Baby Wishlist. Your Baby Wishlist must be active for at least 14 days to be eligible for the discount.
Most new-parent assistance is oriented toward the lady giving birth and rightly so but the new dads usually get lost. Can't tell if you're male. If you are, look for new dad support networks around you. Don't lose touch with friends just because you have a baby now.
How very progressive of you to not assume that OP, whose wife is having a baby, is not himself a male.
Can’t tell if you’re trying to be funny. OP and wife could be an FF couple using a sperm donor to get pregnant.
That's true. If I said I was having a baby soon and me and my husband wanted cheap baby stuff, we would be using a surrogate or adopting too.
Most first time parents get clucky and want lots of new and fancy stuff. Babies grow up so fast! And they aren't pretty little dolls… they poo and pee and play with their food, puke and drool. So, lots of practical clothes that can be chucked into the wash. I used a baby sling and then a compact fold up stroller… depends on your lifestyle if you think you'll get mileage out of a pram, pretty pricey for short term use. Second time around, I would go second hand all the way. My son loved one of those bouncer chairs. Lots of colourful things to look at and feel. And consider occasional day care / baby mums/dads groups… they love to be with other kids.
Spot on
Take any hand me downs you can get and buy second hand where possible and thoroughly clean.
The main purchase for us was a carseat(Britax). Pram/Stroller, we were given by a friend. Later, we ended up buying a smaller one second hand for $50.
We got all furniture second hand and in great condition. For the cot, we bought a new mattress.
Don't overdo it with large/bulky items. For a stroller, with our first child we carried around a full sized pram/stroller. Second child, we're using a travel pram that fits in the footwell in front of the baby seat.
The terry towel recommendation is a good one. Very convenient having them on hand.
The Snoo did not seem worthwhile but did work well for a friend.
As above. Take all the hand me downs that people throw at you. Don't overspend on useless stuff Baby Bunting has entire departments for. They create a solution for made up problems.
Check out Gumtree/FB as people are always offloading newborn and baby clothes that have prob been worn twice. You can get entire wardrobes for barely anything.
Tip: don't hold out wearing the "good stuff" for the first 3 months. They grow out of 0000-00 reeaaally quickly.
PS Aldi nappies are a fraction of the cost of other brands and are fine.
Unlike another OzBargainer don't believe you have much time when the baby is asleep to watch streaming video services.
Prime might be helpful if you need emergency supply of nappies and baby items.
As per above get as much hand me down freebies as you can. Worst case you can donate it to someone else locally in need.
From 0-1 you are going to get puke on everything and possibly explosive fecal matter. Have one or two sets of gloriously expensive clothes for photos. Rest of the stuff just goes to waste. Look for Kmart clearance items to stock up on stuff you won't get hand me down. Onepass subscription might be helpful. We buy a lot of next size up when they come on clearance.
You might be lucky one with kids that sleep through the night. If not you'll be on 3 - 4 hour cycles of waking up to feed and change nappies.
Reuseable nappies if you are leaning that way. Plenty of it going cheap second hand because not all babies adapt to them (either they leak at the sides or babies get nappy rash)
Given you’re in Darwin. Air con if you don’t already have it. I’m in QLD and having air con in bubs room has been an absolute life saver during bush fires (so we could close up), humid hot summers and right now cold winters.
My favourite thing and best advice for a new parents is to make friends with parents with babies born around the same time. I’m not sure what the parenting group set up is in NT, but any library baby groups, nurse clinic drop ins, sensory play etc are ways to meet other parent in the same phase.
Given you’re in Darwin I’d go for something relatively robust for your general pram. I’m not sure what I your lifestyle is like, but when I was there I walked a lot and the ground isn’t always smooth so maybe a baby jogger brand or similar. Darwin is also a great starting point for international and domestic travel so in that case babyzen yoyo as your travel pram if you can afford it or can get a good price second hand.
I’d stick to all cotton zip suits and swaddles. Just keep and eye out for specials for target and Kmart etc. no need for bonds until they get to crawling age 6months +.
Good gear and set up is great but the most important thing will be your relationship, family and friendships. I would prioritise this.
Some useful websites for your journey:
https://raisingchildren.net.au/
https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo
All the best OP!
My 2 cents:
Great advice here.
I recommend watching Breeders on ABC iView. And don't think it's an exaggeration.
But apart from that - congratulations! Hope everything goes well.
When we got our first kid, I struggled to sleep worrying about the kid. I got an abdominal movement sleep device to attach to the nappy and a camera / microphone with a monitor next to my bed so I could check on them any time I felt I needed too. Allowed me to sleep peacefully.
When I would come home from work, I'd sent my wife off to sleep and I'd look after the baby for a bit, she would come back and join us after an hour or two. Kept her sane (ish) and I got bonding time.
I struggled to sleep
Lol. Who cares about your struggle to sleep?
You won't need 90% of the stuff friends and the internet say you will. Of the stuff you might actually use, most will be offered to you for free by random friends and relatives, and you can pick up the remainder on the way home from the hospital.
About the only thing you'll genuinely need is a baby seat for the car, which I recommend you rent because you'll only be using it for a few months until the baby outgrows it.
Lots of car seats are birth-4 with extended rear facing. E.g. https://www.kmart.com.au/product/safe-n-sound-safekeeper-ii-…
For $169 for 4 years I think it’s worth buying.
This might sound rude, plz check if they are any tests to identify if baby has Down syndrome or autism. when my wife was pregnant we done Down syndrome test and came negative, but unfortunately my son had autism. Things went upside down there after. I don't want anyone in the same situation.
But apart from them, make sure she is always happy, healthy and FIT till delivery. Cook home food, meditate and listen to good music and finally make sure she has less screen time till delivery.
Again sorry if this suggestion was rude. I'm only making sure baby is healthy.
I really hope you will have a health baby.
All the best.
There's no test for autism and having either autism or Downs isnt a negative.
Test for autism pre delivery also tells me that this parent has done bugger all research on autism and what the disorder really is. FFS.
It sounds hectic for you, but I don’t believe there is any prenatal screening for autism.
run
Don't buy things new
Learn to use voice command to shutdown TV and blame the battery is dead and nothing you can do. I have been doing this even now when my kids is 6 and 8, not once have I heard crying, begging and tantrum over TV. They just accept nothing can be done and gracefully go to bed. You welcome
Don't buy big toys not even when 5+. I find kids love small toys that they can hold with one hand.
Buy less toy, many of the toys my kids play is only for 1 day.
Don't overwork and stress because time is precious. Enjoy the baby time because they grow up so fast.
Sleep with them a lot, it strengthens the relationship. I have a spare bed in my kids room I can use.
Tip: use the search function.