The only things I'd say should be new are the car seat (unless you buy it from a friend so you know it hasn't been in an accident) & the cot mattress.
If you want to keep your costs down accept anything that anyone wants to give you for free. If you decide you don't want it then you give it to your mother or MIL for when you are visiting there - stuff like bouncers & high chairs etc. That's what we did.
If you only buy stuff when it's on sale you will save a lot of money. Avoid the baby shops completely. You will find all the basic stuff you need in places like Kmart, Big W & Target but for far less money.
I got most things new, cos no one i knew had babies before, or if they did, stuff was still in use.
so all furniture and car seats and pram were new.
I have heaps of second hand clothes and bedding, all washed and aired really well before using, seriously they grow out of clothes so quickly that its madness to have everything new. Mum volunteers at the Red Cross shop so she was on the look out for cute clothes and all at a fraction of the price... you cant beat $4 for a pumpkin patch set of overalls
I got an ebay high chair - but not until MJ was 5 mths old, it would have just cluttered the place
I also bought a bent wood rocking chair as I have fond memeories of my mum rocking me in hers (that they still have) so i found on one ebay for $50... i had to have it!
I like Satya's idea of giving stuff that you dont want to inlaws and parents to have at their place... Mum has a second hand cot at her place that we were given and loads of blankets too... she also has a stash of clothes.
I bought nappies (MCN's) early as i wanted to have a good stash before bubs arrived... im still buying though, its addictive!
I like to keep an eye out for things when they are on sale, and if I come across something 2nd hand that I can tell is in good condition. I looked at 2nd hand carseats, but they were grubby and I just couldnt trust how old or worn they were - but then saying that, we sold a carseat from our DS that was in excellent condition - but I know alot of people out there dont care if they sell you something shabby or lie about its history ...
Anyway, a cot mattress is important to me to be new and 2nd on the list to be new would probaly be a carseat.
Other things I`ll buy new or get them 2nd hand, depending on what I see and like first.
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