How far along were you when you started buying things for the nursery?

[Anonymous]

I'm in my second trimester and don't want to jump the gun but on the other hand I'm a big planner and organizer and I'm getting anxious to start!

[Anonymous]

I'm a planner as well. For #1, I think we ordered the crib and dresser from Great Beginnings toward the end of five months or so. It was kind of a necessity if we wanted it to be here in time as both took several weeks to come in. I don't think we started collecting everything else untl the third trimester. If you plan on ordering furniture, it's not too early to get started. (Unless by second trimester you mean 13 wks or something like that. Then you probably still have some time.)

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP. I think we ordered our dresser/changing table combo unit about mid-way through the pregnancy. You can ask around and find out how long it takes to get furniture in and delivered. I've heard that sometimes the italian cribs and furniture can take awhile. I think you want to have a cushion (extra time) in case something get delayed or backorded. And, then you need to add in time to assemble it, if needed.

[Anonymous]

Closer to 7 months.

[Anonymous]

I think it took maybe 8 weeks or more to get our crib and dresser - so you have to start shopping soon. My sister didn't want to get furnishings too early (b/c she was having a complicated pregnancy), so she ordered things last minute from pottery barn. I think they were the few places that would deliver things in time.

But if you want to wait until you're more certain - it's fine. They don't really need a crib right away. Mine slept in a bassinette type thing in our room for the first 2 months or so.

[Anonymous]

I am planning on waiting until I am 6 months. I don't want to do it too early b/c I am worried about something going wrong with the pregnancy (thinking it must be awful to miscarry and then come home to a room full of baby furniture). At the same time, I don't want to do it too late in case what I want is out of stock or takes a lot of time to be delivered...etc, plus the baby could be early. So I am thinking 6 months is about right. I think at 6 months I will only order the necessary big stuff like the crib that may take time to be delivered and installed. All the other things that you can easily get at stores like baby clothes/supplies, I will get at the last minute.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it hurts to start early. We have the big things in place (just beginning 3rd trimester) and could quickly scramble if we needed to to get everything else ready. One of my good friends who's normally a plan-ahead kinda person went into labor 2 months early and didn't have her nursery done. Hopefully that won't happen to anyone reading this but it never hurts to be prepared!

[Anonymous]

i bought the paint (neutral) for the nursery while we were still trying (only took 1 try though). yeah, i was jumping the gun a little. then when my mother told my aunt at 7 weeks she wanted to buy me a crib and i didn't refuse. so we have that set up already, but I haven't bought anything else yet (15 weeks now). we're probably buying a ceiling fan this weekend for the room of course it'll take some time to install.

[Anonymous]

I'm in week 20, and we're getting radiator covers installed this weekend, all over the house but with the intent of making the nursery and whole house child-safe. I'd like to paint in the next month or two, but we're leaving the furniture until right at the end. As PPs have noted, you have to order some things in advance, but we can just leave them unassembled until my due date gets closer. It's part silly cultural superstition -- making sure the baby is out and healthy before you get its room ready -- and part us having no idea what we want/need/will receive as hand-me-downs.

[Anonymous]

We bought everything right after the 20 week ultrasound (when we found out the sex!). I was glad we did- it is amazing how long it take things to be delivered, and also, once that nesting kicks in, you're going to want everything there and ready!

[Anonymous]

We started working on the nursery right after we got my amnio results (19 wks?). My mother gave me grief b/c she said it was bad luck to start so early, but we have very busy lives and if we hadn't started then we never would have finished in time (still haven't, and am at 34 weeks). Furniture takes time to deliver, we had a hard time finding a rug we like, needed to get blinds for the room, etc.