Power parents make wise decisions about kid gear, baby essentials and other family stuff. With so many choices, often prospective parents think they need to have everything for their little bundles of joy the instant they appear on the scene.
Want to know a crazy little secret? You don't need all of that stuff! And you'll probably get frustrated with and throw out or donate half of your purchases unless you take a little advice and do some research before you buy.
Ramp up your gear slowly Phasing in the gear as your child or children really need them is the best approach. The classic example? My gigantic high chair taking up space in my kitchen when I was seven months pregnant. Stop snickering - you know you did it too the second you got it at your baby shower. Well, you can stub your toe when you trip over that sucker for the next 6-8 months, or you can wait to set it up or even get it! Your baby will not be eating solids and will be too flopsy to use it for a long time. Unless you have unlimited storage and floor space, it might be nice to leave it at the baby store until you really need it.
Beg, borrow and bargain before you buy If you are new to this parenting thing, you'll probably be surprised to learn that people are dying to find a good home for their surplus baby and children's supplies.
I found this out when my very generous sister-in-law brought a Suburban full of plastic toys over to my house when she learned we were trying to get pregnant. For the longest time, as we struggled through fertility issues, we explained to visitors that our backyard was the "Little Tykes Graveyard". Of course, those suckers are expensive! And when I did have three kids, first by the miracle of modern medicine, and second and third by a couple of lucky glasses of wine, I was very grateful for the excess plastic that didn't have to be financed on my credit cards. That and the acres of hand me downs of all shapes and sizes. Now, all of this happens in even the poshest of neighborhoods. Really! There is no shame at all in conserving our planet's resources and reusing gently worn, but beloved toys, clothes, shoes and especially baby gear. After my third and final child, I tap danced and sang my way through work, church and schools trying to find people who might need baby items so that I could reclaim a bit of space in my house. Some very lucky people got free top quality strollers, a high chair, tons of clothes and baby toys galore that just seem to breed when you have more children.
Other sources of bargains are: garage, tag or yard sales, consignment shops, thrift stores and Craig's List. Check for clean, lightly used items in good shape and you'll get a great deal.
The Best Baby Gifts By far the best baby gifts I ever received were the personal ones: a memory box for each child, a personalized blanked with the child's name and birthdate, inscribed books about parenting and childcare, and religious objects commemorating my children's saints. Anything handmade is especially precious because you know the time and love that went into it (especially in this day and age). I also love practical gifts that you know new parents will need like large packages diapers (hey, it happens), a first aid kit, bathing kit, a basket of baby food, or a gift certificate to a portrait studio?
Or how about taking care of the new parents with offers to babysit, movie rental gift certificates, ordering in food for them, help with housework or pampering for mom at a local nail shop or spa? What I didn't get but needed to buy for myself were feeding tools - sippy cups, baby spoons, bowls, bottles, etc. I did not get enough pajamas, especially the sac type, but I got way to many infant outfits. No one gets you clothes for 1 year +, so gift certificates for future clothes or gear purchases would probably be most welcome.
Selective Shopping When you must shop, do your homework first. I love checking ratings, prices and comments on Amazon.com before purchasing anything. Because they provide that extra level of comfort in my purchase (and because usually prices are competitive and they ship for free on so many items), I've come to rely on them for all my children's shopping. There is nothing like getting that box on your doorstep knowing that you didn't have to take your grumbling honey bunny to the store to pick it out and haul it home.
Now assembly - that's a different story! I'd like to spend some quality time with the person who decided that 97 twist ties were an appropriate solution to fasten a children's toy into its packaging.
Power parents make wise decisions about kid gear, baby essentials and other family stuff. With so many choices, often prospective parents think they need to have everything for their little bundles of joy the instant they appear on the scene. 