Baby Gear Store Recommendations for First Time Parents

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for where to shop/register for baby gear. We are first time parents, and feel clueless about the millions of options for everything! I was told that Great Beginnings was really good at explaining everything to you, but after searching online, it looks like they are closed. Are there any better options besides Buy Buy Baby or Babies R Us?

[Anonymous]

I’d register at Amazon—they are cheaper than many brick and mortar stores. Talk to friends/ask here for what to register for.

[Anonymous]

Baby Blossom in Fairfax is Great. Super knowledgeable about car seats and strollers

[Anonymous]

+1 for Baby Blossom. They carry higher end stuff, but a really great curated selection, and not overwhelming unlike BRU/BBB

[Anonymous]

Is there any place near friendship heights where you can look at higher end strollers in person? I really would like to see them rather than just ordering online.

[Anonymous]

Truthfully, I think the best thing to do is go to buy buy baby or babies r us with a friend who has kids and registering there. And also at Amazon. Those places are more easily accessible to the people who will buy you gifts and to you for returns and using gift cards. I think the customer service at buy buy baby is better than at BRU.

[Anonymous]

Of the big box stores, Buy Buy Baby is far and away the better choice. Their customer service is great, and Babies R Us sucks eggs.

If you are buying everything yourself and can afford high end, then the boutiques like Baby Blossom are great.

If you are planning on a lot of gifts and especially if many of the people on your list are not wealthy, then I would suggest talking through your registry with a newborn nanny (many offer registry guidance as a listed service), so that you can get the one-on-one tailored suggestions but still register at a combination of BBB and Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Baby Blossom is nice but small. We just went to Buy Buy Baby for the first time and were blown away by everything they had. If you're going to go there go in with a game plan or you will be overwhelmed!

[Anonymous]

Is there anywhere in DC where you can go look at things like strollers, car seats, etc.? First time parent and generally clueless. Would love a showroom type place where we could look and feel different items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anywhere in DC where you can go look at things like strollers, car seats, etc.? First time parent and generally clueless. Would love a showroom type place where we could look and feel different items.

Target or Nordstrom is the best you'll find and this thread makes me sad that Amazon had ruined all brick and mortar

[Anonymous]

Target is sufficient.

I looked at all the fancy stuff available in my day and still decided on a Graco to go with a bucket carseat and a McLaren umbrella stroller (that could have been any brand).

Don't overbuy for first baby. There's way too much crap on the market that you don't need.

Put the savings in the college fund.

[Anonymous]

Three Littles at Union Market

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Target is sufficient.

I looked at all the fancy stuff available in my day and still decided on a Graco to go with a bucket carseat and a McLaren umbrella stroller (that could have been any brand).

Don't overbuy for first baby. There's way too much crap on the market that you don't need.

Put the savings in the college fund.

I bought expensive items for my first and thought I didn’t need it for my second, went back to expensive items after my cheap stuff broke in no time. Yes there are a lot of items that you’re paying superfluous amounts for, but there are many items you’re actually paying for quality. Our land fills are full of the cheap stuff.

That said, you mentioned Graco which is actually a great brand. You need to do your research on what is $$ due to quality versus ‘name’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there anywhere in DC where you can go look at things like strollers, car seats, etc.? First time parent and generally clueless. Would love a showroom type place where we could look and feel different items.

Target or Nordstrom is the best you'll find and this thread makes me sad that Amazon had ruined all brick and mortar

Agree.
Baby Blossom is closed.