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Master June 2025

NWR: Odd question?: purchasing baby stuff before pregnant/exactly trying

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Finally mrs.jkr, on July 18, 2015 at 10:20 PM

I'm just thinking of the future and making having a baby more affordable. A lot of the cost of a baby (other than the medical stuff, but we have some rockin insurance) is the start-up stuff, especially since we live off of one income now (so no difference) and are happy though on a humble budget with a bit of wiggle room... Which will change when DH gets his teaching license (thus can get a better paying job) in a year and a half. So does it make sense to start trying to find great deals on big purchases (we're planning on probably buying used so we can get those uber expensive excellent quality items). We're not wanting to try until it's only 1/2 year until his license, is it terribly weird to buy baby stuff before you're trying if you come across an amazing deal?

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Master June 2025
Finally mrs.jkr · on July 19, 2015 at 1:42 PM
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Okay, thanks everybody! Lots of great advice. We'll be doing that, putting savings away.
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Master May 2020
Kari · on March 28, 2022 at 2:24 PM
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Way too many couples deal with infertility to recommend purchasing baby stuff before you are actually pregnant - doing so seems like a major set-up for disappointment. Not to mention that the most expensive baby items - car seats, furniture, etc - all have regulations attached to them that can change over time, and any items with warranties are usually time limited from date of purchase. So what might seem like a really great deal on a infant car seat + stroller combo now might actually be an item that is deemed unsafe in a few years when industry standards change, or if you buy a crib now you might only realize its defective or missing a part when you go to assemble it two years from now and its out of warranty.

A baby fund is one thing, but I'd certainly avoid collecting a pile of baby items for a little one that might never come or might not come within the time frame you are expecting. If there are a few small sentimental items you want for your future child, such as a family heirloom, there is no harm in putting them aside, but I would not recommend actively purchasing baby items before you are pregnant. Realistically, I'd recommend holding off making any baby purchases until after you get an ultrasound confirming a heartbeat around 8 weeks, or make it through the first trimester at 12-13 weeks, when the probability of miscarriage is highest. I'd go so far as to recommend waiting until the second trimester to start assembling your nursery and waiting until the third trimester to buy any safety specific items (car seat, etc) for warranty purposes.
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