midjd
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Post by midjd on Nov 18, 2012 15:04:37 GMT -5
I didn't want to hijack Maraxqua's thread, but was curious about YM-ers' opinions.
I know there are a few baby items (car seats, crib mattresses?) where it's much safer to buy new, but it seems like a lot of the rest - especially clothes - can be picked up for next to nothing at consignment.
What's your list of must-buy-new? Used? Pros and cons?
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Nov 18, 2012 15:19:22 GMT -5
Car seat, mattress, diapers, and wipes.
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geenamercile
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Post by geenamercile on Nov 18, 2012 15:23:50 GMT -5
Car seat, mattress, diapers (although I know someone who got used cloth diapers), wipes, bottles, coming home outfit and a few special out fits we got for both girls.
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quince
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Post by quince on Nov 18, 2012 15:39:16 GMT -5
I will totally take used cloth diapers. We're tentatively planning to use a diaper service, and they don't come to the door never touched by another baby's butt.
Otherwise, new=items whose safety is in question or cannot be sanitized.
To be fair, we're kind of cheap bastards.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Nov 18, 2012 15:47:09 GMT -5
Take all the used stuff you can get unless it is unsafe. Babies outgrow clothes so fast that in a year you won't have anything they wore as newborns. Most of the time they aren't even seen by anyone else anyhow and they will never remember they dress poorly as infants. Until they stop changing sizes every three months new clothes aren't needed. Same with toys if they are clean and safe they are fine, they outgrow them so fast new aren't worth much and the used stuff is pretty good.
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econstudent
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Post by econstudent on Nov 18, 2012 16:22:11 GMT -5
My must-buy-new list: * car seat * crib mattress (if I used one) * breast pump
I know not everyone thinks a new breast pump is a priority, but unless it was a hospital-grade closed system meant for multiple users, I wouldn't get a used pump.
I have bought used cloth diapers.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Nov 18, 2012 16:26:05 GMT -5
I bought a used breast pump from my friend. It was a medella, but I don't know what model. When I was done, I sold it to another friend.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Nov 18, 2012 16:33:17 GMT -5
They are expensive. The model I had was $300 new.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Nov 18, 2012 16:46:43 GMT -5
Well, sorta - but it may be because my only cousin had a baby yesterday. ;D He is SO cute! But someone needs to let my mom know that the more graphic birth play-by-plays I hear from her, the longer it will be until she gets any grandkids
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Nov 18, 2012 16:47:35 GMT -5
Car seat and mattress had to be bought new, but we'll use the same ones for our 2nd. I probably wouldn't buy a used breastpump from someone I didn't know.
We bought plenty of used cloth diapers, clothes, toys, cosleeper (mattress is covered in plastic so I guess I didn't care on that one), pack and play, etc. We've also had primarily used shoes which I know some people hate, but those suckers are expensive and since we don't seem to have issues with it I'm not going to stop.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Nov 18, 2012 17:22:43 GMT -5
We got the car seat (2nd stage) & mattress used. But both came from people we know & we could verify they were not unsafe. I even got the pump used from Muttley Clean/sterilize what you can & buy new parts for things that need them. Although, most insurances now have to cover a pump, so chances are we will get a new pump for the next kiddo. Clothes are all handed down from my niece (we really lucked out there). We did get new snot suckers & nail clippers though I kind of draw the line there.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Nov 18, 2012 18:22:32 GMT -5
New car seat and mattress/crib. Everything else I'm fine with used. Including the breast pump- which came from Anne81 and cloth diapers. Since I passed the pump on to Sam, I decided I was comfortable buying a used pump off of eBay because I wanted to splurge and get a Freestyle(hands free pump), but I really didn't want to spend over $300 for a new one. I paid $200 for a barely used one and just need to get the replacement tubing.
I do make sure DS has primarily new shoes, but I buy a used pair as his "muddy shoes" since he and DH play outside regardless of the weather.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Nov 18, 2012 21:23:05 GMT -5
We got the car seat (2nd stage) & mattress used. But both came from people we know & we could verify they were not unsafe. I even got the pump used from Muttley Clean/sterilize what you can & buy new parts for things that need them. Although, most insurances now have to cover a pump, so chances are we will get a new pump for the next kiddo. Clothes are all handed down from my niece (we really lucked out there). We did get new snot suckers & nail clippers though I kind of draw the line there. I got the crib and matterss from one of my brothers also. I think someone gave me their kids car seat. I probably wouldn't have taken the car seat if it hadn't been from a family member though. But because they were from family I knew they hadn't been in a accident or anything. I did buy brand new things like the snot sucker and a rectal therm. Like Sam said there is a line even I wont cross.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 18, 2012 21:30:11 GMT -5
Books I think was the only item we got "used". That being said, I am as cheap as you get, so I really didn't/don't spend that much $$$ on kids. Also, neither me nor my DH have siblings with kids so we didn't have an option of getting used stuff from close family members.
I am not a germphobe in any way shape or form, but I just found that for baby stuff my grossness factor was higher than my cheapness factor.
Lena
OK, I lied - we got a playground set on freecycle that my DH powerwashed the crap out of. And his coworker just gave him a bike. But I guess those are not "baby" items....
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 18, 2012 22:48:00 GMT -5
Car seat, mattress and crib. Only reason I wanted the crib new is because I wanted to pick it out and buy it myself. It was the one big ticket baby item I was excited about. Then new nasal aspiratorss and thermometers of course. Take as many aspirators as you can get from your pediatrican and the hospital (we had four of them). The ones they sell in stores are worthless. Get the hospital ones, those are powerful enough to practically suck the baby's brain out. I am not unopposed to a used car seat if it had been from a trusted family member or friend but everyone else's babies were long out of infant car seats. I wouldn't purchase one from a garage sale or anything because I have to take their word for it that it has never been in a wreck or anything. I got my pump used for $89 on Ebay. Best move I ever made, IMO. I had the Medela Pump in Style and new ones go for around $300. The only thing buying used does is void the warranty according to the paperwork. The stuff that toches your boobs can be bought as a separate package for somewhere around $30, unless someone is doing something really wrong the battery unit should not be contaminated.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Nov 19, 2012 9:57:38 GMT -5
With baby showers from coworkers and family, I remeber getting enought baby clothes for the first year.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 10:08:15 GMT -5
We used hand-me-down bassinet, high chair, pack n play, carseat clothes and toys. Heck, I am still taking hand-me-downs from my friends and relatives (it's good to be one of the last ones to get knocked up! ;D)
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 19, 2012 10:30:13 GMT -5
I didn't have to buy baby shampoo till Gwen was a year and a half old. That's how much I got at my baby shower.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Nov 19, 2012 10:32:27 GMT -5
My must-buy-new list: * car seat * crib mattress (if I used one) * breast pump I know not everyone thinks a new breast pump is a priority, but unless it was a hospital-grade closed system meant for multiple users, I wouldn't get a used pump. I have bought used cloth diapers. Yeah. Although I did use a car seat and pump that 2 of my cousins offered. I trusted them completely though. And it was awesome having 2 pumps and not having to lug one to and from work every day...
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Nov 19, 2012 10:33:03 GMT -5
I didn't have to buy baby shampoo till Gwen was a year and a half old. That's how much I got at my baby shower. I think it was longer than that for us and we had 2 kids and me using it.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Nov 19, 2012 10:34:53 GMT -5
I had a used crib and a used breast pump. I cleaned it.
I did buy a new mattress for the crib, but only because they didn't have one.
I had a used changing table, too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 10:36:32 GMT -5
Used baby things? Why don't you just let your baby sleep in the gutter with the bums?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 10:36:59 GMT -5
Because the bums kept bringing them back to the house!
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Nov 19, 2012 10:37:19 GMT -5
Used baby things? Why don't you just let your baby sleep in the gutter with the bums? because we hate our children.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 10:38:24 GMT -5
Used baby things? Why don't you just let your baby sleep in the gutter with the bums? because we hate our children. If only the state department of child services had more employes. These children should not have to live in squaller, like this.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 10:40:38 GMT -5
If squalor was good enough for me it's good enough for them!
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Nov 19, 2012 11:26:37 GMT -5
I don't want my kids to grow up all soft and spoiled.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Nov 19, 2012 11:27:24 GMT -5
Don't have kids, but I'd probably get new cribs/matress/playpen/car seat because of safety, and used everything else.
I'd definitely be getting used clothes for the kids, probably until they were ready for kindergarden. They outgrow clothes so fast and it's not like they're going to be fashion consious at 2 years old. Maybe I'd get them a nice outfit for pictures or something.
Same goes for bottles and toys, those usually aren't dangerous, so I'd likely get used botltles and toys and bibs and spoons and crap like that.
I figured having new disposal diapers went without questions.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Nov 19, 2012 11:28:41 GMT -5
DS is 6 and in 1st grade. I rarely buy him any clothes. I have friends with 7 and 8 year old boys.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Nov 19, 2012 11:34:09 GMT -5
I found the supply of used clothes dried up between 5 and 7 years old. I also found that I had nothing left to give anyone or donate around the same time - because my kids were totally brutal to their clothes, but they slowed down growing enough that the clothes lasted long enough to completely destroy, and then wear 5 more times before I finally threw them away.
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