I often wondered what it is that an expectant mother first thinks about buying in preparation when she first hears the good news that she is expecting a baby. If you are a Mum, what was the first thing you wanted to go and buy when you got the news?
The bond between a mother and her developing baby is a special one and many women will experience a nesting instinct; You will probably not even realise you are doing it. Changing things in the house, buying new things, cleaning more often are all typical signs of nesting.
Hopefully the information here will help you, if you are trying for a baby or if you have just got the news you were waiting for. I have contacted a number of moms and asked for their feedback on various aspects of pregnancy, from the day they find out to caring for their new baby during the first year.
The top five items that expectant mothers buy first when they find out they are expecting
It is a good idea to start buying baby clothes early on; you cannot have too many and you will be glad you got them when baby arrives. People often worry about what colours to get as they do not yet know the sex of their baby. If you decide to find out what gender your baby will be it makes the whole process a little easier, as you can coordinate colours according to what suits that gender.
If like us, you are going to keep the baby’s gender a surprise you can still buy baby clothes but consider choosing neutral colours that suit either a boy or a girl. Pastel shades are nice and offer more variety; choosing yellow, beige, cream and lilac can suit both boys and girls.
31% bought baby clothes first
A baby stroller or buggy is an essential accessory that you will need when you eventually get up and about after having a baby. For the first week or two you may simply rest at home, allowing your new addition to settle into their new surroundings. If this is the case you may not use the stroller straight away but you should still choose and buy one early on.
There are so many to choose from and they all vary in quality and price so it may take you some time to finally choose. Consider whether you want to have a travel system or a stand alone stroller. A travel system allows greater flexibility because seat is interchangeable between your car and the stroller frame. A stand alone stroller may be better if you have less room for storage; they’re a little smaller and usually fold down better.
Many people are superstitious and one superstition to bear in mind is that it is bad luck to keep a new baby’s stroller in the house before they are born. We had ours stored by my wife’s sister until we were ready to use it. Apart from the luck element, we just didn’t have room!
25% of moms bought a buggy first
A travel system is a term used for baby strollers that can interact with your car. They are designed around the task of putting your baby into a car, driving them somewhere then getting out at the other end and using a stroller. If there is a way of making all of that easier it has to be a good thing, right?
This type of stroller can be a little larger than the cheaper stand alone strollers. They are a little more expensive but negate the need to buy separate items. For example, you can strap your baby into a nice comfortable seat and attach it to your stroller wheels. When you want to get in your car to go somewhere the seat simply detaches from the stroller and can be lifted directly into the car and secured for the journey.
Many car seats come with ISOFIX attachments. These are usually in the form of an optional base that sits on your car seat, allowing the baby seat to easily clip into place without you having to spend time using a seatbelt. Not all cars have the necessary ISOFIX anchor points fitted but you can have them added for a small cost. This is an ideal way to make car travel so much easier and safer for your travelling toddler.
19% of moms bought a travel system first
A baby crib is where your little one will sleep for the first few years of its life. Don’t forget that a new-born will most likely sleep in their parent’s room until they are around 4 – 6 months old. Again, a crib is something that is a significant purchase and you will most likely want to spend some time choosing, testing and maybe even saving before you get one.
Choose early and get planning your baby’s nursery while you still have the energy and momentum. Time will fly by and before you know it you have a half finished nursery with furniture still flat-packed. Yes, I am talking from experience! In all seriousness though, get some advice and choose wisely. There are cribs, cot beds and other variations to choose from. Consider the size of the crib and how it will fit in the room. Also look for coordinated sets of baby furniture that really bring a room together.
Most importantly make sure you get the right mattress. Cot beds may last your child longer and so provide better value for money. They have high sides when the baby is younger that can be removed to make a toddler bed that they can climb in and out of themselves. It is essential in this case that the cot bed mattress is of good quality and will give long-lasting comfort to a child.
19% of moms bought a crib first
maternity clothes will be your saviour. Many first time moms underestimate how big they will get and as time passes they don’t have enough clothes to wear in the final stages. This probably happens to most first timers but is completely normal. After all, why would you want to spend money on lots of things that you may not end up using?
Only you know how your body feels and how it is likely to react to a baby growing inside of you. Talk to other moms you know and ask what they did when it came to buying maternity clothes. It may be the case that they still have clothing that you can have or borrow. This is a really money saver that allows you to spend you money elsewhere on other baby items.
6% of moms bought maternity clothes first
These are just a few things that new moms think about in the very beginning. Some are first time moms and others are not. Having done it before means they will have experience first hand of what works and what doesn’t. For a first time mum even though this is an exciting time, the whole process can be a little daunting, if not scary. Planning early will help you in the long-term.