There is a VERY simple solution to this that millions of people have done for generations: it’s called budgeting. Set one, stick to it.

If you will drive the baby to daycare every day in infancy, a car seat base is worth it. Expensive strollers are great to buy used, imo. The really nice ones hold up well past one family’s use. Get a nice one with rear facing and your car seat adapter used, then you can switch to a lighter weight forward only one when baby can sit up on her own.

If you’re getting the Chico key fit, ask on your neighborhood list serv if anyone has a base to give away. I do! Two!!

Anonymous wrote:
You do not want chemically-treated cheap rough cotton on your baby. Go with hand-me-downs that have been washed so much they’re chemical-free, or new organic. And if you tell people that’s what you need, you probably won’t have to buy much.

For the big stuff, it’s absolutely worth paying more for the quality, safety and particular features you want.

Just do your research.

Wash your stuff from Walmart. Think of all the crap your kids will be exposed to over their lifetime and chemically treated cheap rough cotton is none of your worries.

You are both right. There are things worth spending on (car seat, stroller, some toys) and things not worth overspending on (most baby clothes, some toys).

Congrats on the baby! Set a budget per month, stay within the budget so you aren’t arguing about every little thing. You will see that you won’t need as much as you think if you have to wait until the following month to get it.

You do not want chemically-treated cheap rough cotton on your baby. Go with hand-me-downs that have been washed so much they’re chemical-free, or new organic. And if you tell people that’s what you need, you probably won’t have to buy much.

For the big stuff, it’s absolutely worth paying more for the quality, safety and particular features you want.

Just do your research.

Anonymous wrote:
I disagree with the other posters, OP. A good quality stroller is worth it. I LOVED my Stokke Xplory, and it worked for two babies until I passed it on to someone else. I have a similarly cheap DH, but he recognizes quality too, so each time he complained, I showed him exactly what features I found better than in other items. I wanted organic clothing, and was given everything the baby needed by family, clothing-wise. We went with a cheap crib for our first, that we replaced with the Stokke one.

You will not regret well-thought-out, quality purchases. That’s my point.

Agreed! I bought an uppababy and I use it for everything. I also bought the UB car seat that clicks into it. I used it for 2 kids and never needed another stroller. My friends who bought cheaper strollers ended up with a travel system, a jogging stroller and a couple others. Individually, they’re cheaper but when you add it all up it’s actually more expensive to have a bunch of cheap junk my strollers than ONE good one. Penny wise pound foolish. Plus I hate the clutter of all that baby crap that’s almost falling apart.

$500 on a stroller is not exorbitant, especially if you plan on using it a lot! Sure, other one and done items can certainly be purchased from Walmart (which, in my opinion, is a great store!), but some items, including the stroller, are worth not skimping on.

A $500 stroller car seat combo is not ridiculous, that’s a whole system of two devices (car seat and stroller) and generally means you can travel lighter. Does the stroller work for older babies (not infants). Than it’s reasonable.

Anonymous wrote:Another one for DH team. What's wrong with Walmart? You think your baby will complain?

Walmart is crap. That said I do agree that most people need just a few items and everything else ends up barely touched. The thing is, until your baby is here it’s impossible to know which items will be crucial and what will be superfluous. My baby loved the swing and would take long naps there every single day. Other babies hate it. I used my expensive stroller for walks just about every day. I loved that it was so easy to switch from the car seat travel system to a seat and I could do everything one handed. Other people baby wear. Whatever.

Are you guys having money problems?

Baby items for a first baby is one thing I think moms shouldn’t get criticism for.

I am more of his mindset, but there should be some compromise.

My husband and I just don't comment on each other's purchases anymore because we trust each other to make good decisions.

I don’t understand how people can have kids with each other but not be on same page on financials.

The stroller is the only item worth spending on, the rest is fine if money is not an object, but the baby will grow out of everything fast (I don’t think ours fit newborn size for more than a week or two)

I would spent money on strollers and the big stuff. Shopping at Target for baby clothes is fine.

I think there needs to be a rationale for expensive items and that sometimes they can make sense. In other places it is worth saving. For example I was going to skip the bassinet and just get a cheap crib (ikea sniglar) but I will be a single parent post c-section and others convinced me that an arrangement that didn’t require so much bending would be better for me. Unfortunately my bed is very high so cheap side car bassinets do not work. So I spent more on a high babybay. (OToH when I’m ready for the crib will go with the sniglar and not some more expensive option.

Clothes on the other hand can be sourced for free from parent and buy nothing groups and acquaintances. I think my newborn is set in terms of clothing without my buying anything. Downside is there is a lot more pink than I like (maybe my colleague with a boy will end up helping balance things out) but really can’t justify the expense.

After much debate I did end up going for a doona based on my specific situation. Not 100% sure it will be worth it but there is some value in convenience.

So it’s a balance between need, want, convenience and finances. It sounds like you need to sit down with your DH and figure out what makes sense as an overall baby budget given your finances. That may help in figuring out where you want to spend more versus save while keeping within an agreed amount total cost.