It has been 6 months since my husband and I were blessed with our little princess. It still feels like yesterday when we first felt the baby bumps, and even today, I feel the butterflies in my stomach, remembering the roller-coaster ride of my pregnancy.
Well, we were very clueless at the beginning, like everyone. The idea of reading books and articles related to pregnancy and the baby’s arrival helped a bit, but then things started to become much clearer when I had my ultrasound during the 18th week of my pregnancy.
That’s when we came to know that it’s going to be a baby girl. That was the point when we couldn’t stop running our minds day in and out about everything we wanted for our daughter.
Have a look at how we shopped for deals and got a scoop on some must-haves on time.
Furnishing & Room Decor
We shifted to a bigger place with a den when we were in the planning stage. The den became our nursery, and most of the action before our princess arrived happened there.
Within no time, we started browsing the internet for room decor options: the girly wallpapers, the princess crib, the pink curtains, and whatnot. I wanted to be a kid again! We ordered a few soft sheets, a pair of warm blankets, and some cute pink curtains.
We weren’t very sure about the pillow. Thus we bought it at the very end after reading a lot of reviews. Although we didn’t keep the pillow on the crib for the first four months, we had bought a pint-sized infant pillow to provide a neck support.
You may think, how could we miss out on the most important part of the room – the baby’s crib?
We didn’t want to rush with the choice of the crib. Thus we went to the nearest IKEA instead of ordering one. They had many sizes of cribs, out of which we chose the one with a medium-size as we wanted to use it for a long run for at least 8 to 14 months.
The crib we chose had additional high railings, which we are planning on fixing as soon as the baby starts turning and crawling.
I felt like reliving my childhood and thus wanted everything to be according to a pink theme. Thus the crib, too, was of a light pink shade.
We also bought a changing table to ease out the regular diaper changing process.
Baby Clothes And Accessories
Since the second month of my pregnancy, I used to scroll online shopping websites for infant clothes. Back then, I didn’t even know if it would be a boy or a girl, but it was challenging for me to resist the cute baby rompers and dresses.
We held onto our patience for a long time for this, but I just couldn’t resist myself while I was passing by a kid’s store during my 7th month.
I feel there is no perfect time to start shopping for your baby’s clothes. It depends on the individual.
We waited till we got to know the sex of our baby so that each and everything we buy can be put to some use. I bought a couple of cute little tees and dresses. Apart from this, I bought some pairs of socks, thin caps, and soft towels.
We decided not to spend much on the clothes as we knew we would get a bunch of gifts on the baby shower and post the baby’s arrival.
Breast Pump And Bottles
Another thing that was on my third-trimester to-do-list was to buy a breast pump.
This was the one thing I was sure I had to buy, but at the same time, I was a bit nervous.
The idea of breastfeeding and using a pump calls for some mental preparation!
I did a lot of research by reading articles and blogs regarding breastfeeding and the breast pump. I ordered one during my 8th month after reading a lot of reviews. Also, I ordered a couple of bottles of small sizes for feeding.
Stroller And Car Seat
Stroller and car seat is never a matter of choice. They are a necessity. We ordered the two-in-one stroller cum car seat during the thanksgiving sale. We were keen on choosing the stroller that could fully recline to use it as a bassinet and the car seat as well.
Initially, we just thought about the stroller as a mode we could use for commuting while along with the baby. After going through many product reviews, we realized how important it is to have a safe and sturdy stroller with smooth buckles, proper brakes, and a folding umbrella.
We assembled it and fixed it into our backseat during my last month to avoid any last-minute hassle.
Diapers And Wipes
Well, this is never an issue for anyone, I guess. We just bought a package of newborn size diapers and a large pack of wipes during the last month.
Apart from the diapers, we also looked for options to dispose of the diapers and finally chose the diaper genie, which supports easy disposal and subsequent cleaning.
Baby Lotions, Soaps, and Oils
We just ordered a set of chemical-free, fragrance-free, and baby-friendly products, including lotions, soaps, and massage oils.
Going through many articles, I got over my myth regarding the use of talcum powders on babies. Talcs can be dangerous for the infants as they can mix into the air while sprinkling and get inhaled by the baby, causing breathing problems.
All of this stuff was ordered just before we were due so that it would be ready and waiting for the baby when she came home!
Milk
Our doctor encouraged us to breastfeed for as long as possible. However, for the first few days, I was not producing enough milk for the baby to feed.
This is something of a dampener that many new mothers face just after birth, but with counseling and encouragement, I was able to overcome it.
Meanwhile, we bought a doctor recommended lactose-free baby milk immediately (we didn’t want to take any risks).
Baby Monitor
I had my maternity leave for the first three months, after which I had planned to start working from home.
Attending meetings and conferences wasn’t always possible from the bedroom. Thus I bought a baby monitor to keep an eye on the baby’s activity even from the other room.
But this wasn’t until the last few days of my maternity leave. I ordered a baby monitor and fixed it above the closet in the baby’s room.
Toys And Play Gyms
Well, before giving this a thought, I think one should be clear if they are going to have a baby shower or not. It is not about relying on the gifts, it’s just about saving on the unnecessary expenses.
We just bought a few rattles and soft toys as we had planned a baby shower during my 7th month of the pregnancy.
We got a bunch of presents, including musical toys, rocking chairs, and inflated baby toys.
After the baby’s arrival, when we felt she had started giving some response, we finally bought a play gym and other little toys.
I can well understand the parents-to-be’s excitement and confusion when the baby’s arrival is just around the corner.
Luckily we managed everything from my pregnancy to the first six months pretty well.
We had a small gathering at home last month, where a lot of our friends and colleagues were impressed with our planning and arrangements.
Here are some questions they had in their minds that might clear your doubts as well:
When Should I Start Buying Baby Stuff?
Well, there is no fixed timeline as such to start looking for baby stuff. However, one should ideally wait till the sex of the baby is determined. This gives a lot of clarity for the kind of preparations and arrangements you need.
Of course, the basic infant supplies will remain the same, but once you know if it’s a girl or a boy, you can easily start planning the room decor accordingly.
When Can I Start Buying The Baby Gear?
For the first three months, babies don’t require anything except feeding and some space for movement. They can’t turn around and roll over until 4 to 5 months.
Keep this in mind while looking for options regarding the baby gear. For the first 2 to 3 months, all you can get is a good vibrating chair and a strong stroller.
What Items Can I Put Off Buying For Some Time?
I can very well imagine how hard it is to resist oneself from not buying the cute baby stuff. But there are more things one can put off buying than those that have to be purchased as a part of necessity, such as high chairs, baby-proof gearing, and even cribs if you are planning for a cosleep.
Conclusion
Having your little child in your hands is one of the most magical moments for anyone, and there is a long journey before this happens. This journey is full of happiness, excitement, and confusion, especially when it is the first child.
One of the common doubts is when I should start buying the baby stuff?
According to my, one can easily figure out the right time by thinking how far along have I reached in my pregnancy?
And it is ideal to start looking for options only when you have completed your second trimester, and you know the sex of your baby.