No matter how practical and minimalist you are (or try to be), preparing for a new baby's arrival, especially your first, will involve an influx of things into your home. Many of them will be gifts and, if you're lucky, hand-me-downs, but you're also going to make a lot of purchases, from small items like bibs to big pieces like a crib. Over and over we hear from readers, even the most frugal and budget-minded ones, about one thing they broke the bank for and really splurged on.
Does this sound familiar? Did you allow yourself one big splurge as part of your new baby purchases? Maybe it was something you thought would make life with a baby easier or more comfortable (like a beautiful glider). Or perhaps it was simply something that you'd had your eye on and couldn't resist.
You can define a splurge however you'd like. To some, it might be $1,000. To you, it might only be $100.
For my husband and I, it was our crib. It was an uncharacteristically expensive purchase for us, but we haven't regretted it.
Share your splurge, if you had one, and let us know in the comments if you would do it all over again or not.
(Products shown: Wing Recliner Glider by Jennifer DeLonge, Random Light, Cameleon Stroller by Bugaboo, Flamingo No. 4 by Sharon Montrose, Caravan Crib by Kalon Studios Dahlia Rug by Angela Adams)
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I have to share my "splurge"! Our second child is due in 6 months and I thought I wouldn't be buying any big ticket items this time around since we still have everything from our first child. Well, that changed when I saw a brand-new Stokki Sleepi crib for sale on Craigslist! I am not kidding when I tell you this - I got the crib, the mattress, and the bedding for $200! It was my dream crib and I had to snag it at this bargain price. And on top of that the sellers are wonderful people that will hopefully become friends one day :)
I thought my S-I-L was a tad overboard when she got a Svan highchair. Now she has two. The 6-year-old still uses her original and the 16-month-old has her own. (On a side note: the baby is fearless and the Svan is steady when she scales it to get it the seat on her own.)
Oh, and the Svan chairs can even hold up to 250 lbs when converted to an adult chair.
Bugaboo donkey for my twins.
After a year, no regrets. I still love having them sit so they face me, and it gets through the snow for winter walks. I couldn't find anything else that did these two things.
I couldn't vote in the survey even though I'm signed in, but our expensive purchase was glider. There isn't space for much in my son's small room, so we splurged on a beautifully designed chair for the living room in a neutral charcoal grey from Monte Design. It doesn't look like a glider/rocker so we'll be happy to have it long after he's grown.
My "splurge" was more that I had a multitude of baby carriers. I had about 4-5 at one point because some ended up not working for me (Bjorn and a sling) and others I liked but were a bit too cumbersome for me, like the Moby. I also got a few carriers as gifts. I ended up loving the Ergo though. I tell friends who are having kids to just bypass the Bjorn and just get one of these.
Despite being signed in I'm unable to vote, but our splurge was the glider. 28 months and it still gets daily use. We're so glad we got something comfortable!
My splurge was a car! The subaru 2 door hatchback was my favorite car, but it was impossible to get a car seat in and out of it. We got a wagon.
I bought a dishwasher.
Our splurge was the crib - we bought the Netto Cub crib (~$550), which seemed like a lot when we repurposed/bought from Craigslist everything else in the room. Now on baby #2, I still love the crib and will convert it to toddler bed for several more years. A good purchase!
A new house. The baby loves it. The toddler also loves it and calls it "happy house."
I'm going to have a second grandchild in January and am seriously considering splurging on this stroller that converts to a bike http://www.tagabikes.com/ Love this thing but it sure is expensive.
Also unable to vote...my splurge was the Monte Luca Glider. I did not want to spend so much on a chair but my husband talked me into it. Eight months later I have no regrets. It's stain resistant, very comfortable, and looks great. I'm sure it will eventually end up in the living room and I'm looking forward to it.
A Boba Baby Carrier. Best investment I ever made! I used it everyday for almost 18 months.
Our splurge was a new car with 4 doors, instead of our sporty car.
My wife insisted on a high-end glider. I went along with her to keep her happy. Now, eight years later, that glider is MY "Archie Bunker TV Chair" that no one else sits in, for fear of the wrath of dad. SOOOOOO comfy. I'm glad I listen to my wife.
Before my daughter was born, I splurged on nursery decorations. Which was a BIG mistake because we ended up moving before she was 6 months old. Though when I look at everything we bought, I can honestly say we have nothing that we purchased previously. It seemed it took me a couple of tries to find the right stroller, carrier, etc. for my daughter. Did anyone else experience this? I feel crazy that I've cashed out on so many baby products!
My big splurge on my kids was the kid.
My portion of the hospital bill was over 6,000 on the first kid. The second was a cheap 2,500. The third was 4,000.
We were too poor when I was pregnant with my first to really "splurge" on anything big--but as the 7th girl in a row in my extended family, we had plenty of hand-me-downs. The only splurge I bought was a fluffy white sheepskin rug from IKEA for $50. It was way to much to spend for a non-essential but I just loved it. Our daughter ended up having severe acid reflux and vomited all over it one day. Oh, well! I guess I learned my lesson about splurging then!
Bugaboo Bee stroller and Tripp Trapp high chair. DD is almost four, and both are used nearly every day. Well worth the money.
Actually my stupidest purchase was the cushion for the Tripp Trapp, which just collected crumbs and mess and was hard to get on and off.
I think we had two splurges... first, a rocker & ottoman from Land of Nod... I just HATE the fugly gliders that are out there, so I basically didn't tell my husband that there was anything cheaper than the $1k we spent at LoN :) Our second big splurge was our UppaBaby Vista stroller BUT we used Amex points for it on Amazon.com, so I guess we didn't *really* spend cash on it. But the glider/ottoman definitely was a splurge. It looks great right next to the $150 Wal-Mart crib we got :) lol
No kids yet, but I'm already eagerly listening to friends talking about jogging strollers. I like to run, but I can see that activity seriously dipping without an easy-to-handle (and pricey) jog stroller like a BOB.
I can't vote either after signing in... but our splurge was buying a house with play space inside and out, and a park across the street, where we now live more than at our house. As for stuff, I've been able to find almost everything I want used for about $50 or less by patiently browsing Craigslist and consignment shops, and the rest is from Ikea or Target, or came as gifts from family.
I think it's valuable to get things that function the way you want and to have fun with it, but to keep in mind that new or used, everything will look used anyway very soon, and that all of this is very temporary. My toddler isn't even two yet and we're already retiring his changing table (it's been easier to use the floor for months), crib (for a toddler car bed he adores) and high chair (for a regular dining chair because he wants to sit like everyone else.)
When we got pregnant I followed some very good advice from a friend, don't find out what you are having (or if you do, don't tell anyone that you know). You can register for the basic things you NEED when having a baby and you'll be sure to get them. And people won't be spending money on cutsie dresses or little slugger outfits so they will be willing to spend a bit more on that fancy video monitor you asked for. Be sure to register for some fun stuff too (we put about 20 books on our registry). People like to buy fun stuff:)
Our B.O.B. Revolution stroller. Only a year old and bought it on Craigslist for $260. Also our Mod Baby crib from *ugh* Walmart which was a bargain compared to the one from Oeuf that looks similar but costs $500 more.
Survey is still not working. Okay, we had three splurges, but two were because of a medical condition. We got the keekaroo highchair and a ridiculously big Graco carseat, but our daughter had hip dysplasia and we wanted her to spend the three hours a day she got out of the brace doing development stuff (like learning to crawling) and not eating and driving. I just got a rug, which was a steal at the price I got it, but still a splurge because I could have gotten something cheaper, but I wouldn't had been as happy. Perhaps our biggest splurge was her own ticket to Hawaii, which was really nice since I was still breastfeeding.
Don't have kids yet, but ran across the Tripp Trapp in a AT house tour. I plan on that being our "splurge" item.
Our splurge was also our kid: international adoption is expensive - close to 30K (although we got around 10K back through the adoption tax credit). Definitely worth it.
The other things: no splurges, everything was repurposed, even our Ergo. The one thing we bought new was a Bob jog stroller, but it was not a splurge - my mother bought it for us and it really was not that expensive.
Haha, I'm with JDAD. I had a baby long after most my friends' kids were toddlers so I got tons of hand-me-downs. They are in every stage for so short a period of time, I just don't understand many of the splurges. That said, if you're planning multiple children I guess it's nice to buy quality and keep. For me, everything is on the cheap until we buy his "permanent" furniture (e.g., the dresser that he uses from age 3 or 4 through 23 or 24.)
Quinny Buzz stroller. Seemed like a good idea, but the carriers were easier in the end. My daughter has been in the stroller less than 6 times over the past 19 months. I wish we had splurged on the Tripp Trapp instead...
I put "stroller" but actually I am with whoever else said 'carriers in general." I got a good, basic folding stroller and used it a ton; walked all over the place with that thing. I also got a nice baby sling that I used daily for months, and a hiking-style backpack I used the same way for another year, plus a bit longer for actual hiking. We also purchased (used) a good-quality jogging stroller that worked well for a larger child. I think we spent our money well on items that allowed us to continue a full, active, busy life with our baby and then later his little sister.
Could not pick two items in the survey, but having a comfortable glider rocker was really nice. However, if we had Ikea back when my first was born I might have saved money and just bought the Poang chair, which bounces nicely and would have done the same job as the glider much cheaper.
Car
Pregnant with twins right now and bought all new appliances for the kitchen, including a stove with 6 burners. Don't even currently have a dishwasher and figured that this would be crucial for all the bottles we have coming! For everything else baby related I am searching Craigslist daily, though we will probably buy the cribs since I want them to match.
Ours hasn't happened yet, but it will happen soon - a new car. I still have the 2000 VW Beetle from when I was 16, and it's both getting old (no major problems so I'd probably keep it a few more years otherwise, but it is 12 years old and has some quirks/issues) and isn't very easy for a kid (2 door and very little space backseat clearance).
Car - we got the enormous Prius V to replace my 16 year old, two-door Civic. It's so easy to get our daughter in and out of, and so roomy in the backseat that I don't mind long family car trips. Splurge within that splurge was the moonroof which was outrageous (esp because it was available only as part of a deluxe 'package' of things we don't care about) but ultimately worth every penny, especially for anyone in the back seat.
Glider - a big, plush thing that's wide enough for an adult and child to sit side-by-side. I was thinking about that aspect only vaguely when we got it but now that I'm hugely pregnant and my lap is virtually nonexistant it is wonderful.
I bought a Jumper-roo! Sure, I was able to pee a few times without worrying but that thing is big and not worth the $75!
Expecting our first baby :) Biggest splurge so far: rocker/glider. We just purchased the Pottery Barn Solano armchair. I wanted soemthing big, soft and comfy; that I wouldn't mind falling asleep in. Plus I figured it could always transition to our living room in the future. Also, got a Phil & Ted's stroller, based on a friends recommendation - shockingly expensive!
My splurge was a Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag when baby #2 came along. I needed something really functional haven't regretted it at all.
In my family, my parents overbought receiving blankets, cloth diapers and clothes.
Here is what I used:
car seat
storch baby wrap
7 outfits
2 night clothes
12 cloth diapers
12 cloth wipes made from old t-shirts
1 wet bag and 1 dry bag for diapers/clothes
sheepskin
jessica simpson massive purple handbag that carried: the wrap when folded, a notebook and pen, the book I was reading, car keys, cell phone, and IDs/bank card, change of clothes and diaper for DS, and a wet bag. it could also carry lunch.
So, the splurge was the jessica simpson bag.
I couldn't stand the ergo, my baby loves the bjorn facing outwards. We splurged on a double bob jogger stroller. it was 450 slightly used on craigslist, about 100 off the regular price. It's great, we walk to the store most days or the park in it, and my 3.5 year old and 5 month old both dig it.
Ehhh.... Stroller, I guess. That said, it was on sale, and not that expensive, but it had all the features I wanted: small (ish) enough to fit in our not-large car, easy to use with a car seat, and not ugly to the max. I'd say we've splurged on 'transportation' in general, since I've also got an Ergo that we use on a regular basis, and a sling that I LOVE for short trips.
I can join the ranks of people naming a car as their biggest splurge. We were a one car household with only a very small, very basic (no airbags, no power anything, including steering) 12 year-old two door hatchback. We decided to bite the bullet and buy something more convenient and far safer. My husband still uses the little car for his daily commute (although the thought of him driving around without any airbags still makes me nervous).
Organic mattresses -- for co-sleeper (also a splurge), crib (free via meetup group listserve), and now twin mattress. Almost everything else was on the cheap via hand-me-downs or craigslist. But cheap mattresses I don't like.
Would you consider an extended parental leave a splurge? My husband and I each took 3 months off, unpaid, in succession and loved every minute of it!
Well, if that doesn't count, then maybe our Tripp Trapp chair does...and we love it, too!
4 IVFs was enough of a splurge for me... everything else has been gifts, hand me downs and craiglist. I think the most expensive thing I purchased new was a crib - and I got it at Walmart.
Splurging on crap that your child won't use in a year? Give me a break. My parents still give me a hard time about how "spoiled" i was as a child, with a playroom full of toys & expensive clothes. As a 27 year old with over 100K in student loan debt & 2 parents who lost every penny in the past few years (their life insurance policies wouldn't even cover my debt), I have every right to say I wish I had no nice things as a child and that money went into a college fund/trust.
Invest in your kid's future instead of your image in the present. Your kids will thank you when they're older.
I
We cheaped out on everything except the rocker/swivel chair which was from IKEA now called the Arvika, but I could have sworn it was called something else and came in orange 4 years ago. Husband thought I was crazy, but he likes it too. It's still in her room today, and hopefully will be something she likes through the teen years. If not, I've got room elsewhere in the house.
our splurge was getting custom shelving for the closet in our baby's room! its a small room and was my husband's closet pre-baby. now they share it. best money we could have spent because now its organized, has increased storage (clothes for him, some clothes, shoes, lots of books and toys for her) and is adjustable to her changing needs as she grows.
It's still soon, I'm still pregnant, but I've never owned a car before purchasing my used Jetta two months ago. Pretty sure that'll be the most expensive "baby" item we'll get.
I splurged on something that I swore I wouldn't because I thought it was a total waste of money: crib bedding. I ended up with a beautiful set from Plover Organic (blue pinwheels). Part of me sort of regrets it in that it was really expensive and now that we have another on the way, and they will share a room, I don't know if I want to shell out for another matching set. They will both need duvets within the next few years too as the quilt is just a bit too small to really snuggle up with. It has held up really well though and the quilt will be a keepsake for my daughter forever. Our big ticket items were generously bought for us as gifts as my daughter was the first grandchild for everyone - Quinny Buzz stroller, Maxi Cosi car seat and the Ikea Gulliver crib. My dear girlfriends all pitched in for a gift card that I used to buy an organic crib mattress (it covered almost all of it). The other splurge was a Petunia Pickle Bottom Scout diaper bag - probably one of the best things we bought. Everything else I pretty much got off Kijiji. One thing I do regret is the rocker/glider. Because I spent a lot on bedding I got a rocker off Kijiji for $50 which I spray painted black and covered with a sheepskin. The problem was the arms were way to high and once my baby grew I had to sit on an angle to feed her. Also it wasn't terribly comfortable. If you're not co-sleeping I really think investing in a glider is a good thing - I didn't think so when I was pregnant. But I still use that rocker for reading stories and I'll use it with the new baby and I really wish I had something wider and more comfortable. I also agree with others about a dishwasher - if money were no object I would have a stainless Miele in a heartbeat.
Also HEATHONIST: I agree that it's important to invest in your child's future, my parents also didn't save a penny for my education/life,etc., and I'll be paying my student loans until I'm at least 40, but there are things you need to get your kid that will only last a year - like a car seat and a crib. If someone can afford a $900 crib them I'm pretty sure that they're making enough money to save for their child's future. We're a generation that has seen, what is essentially, the collapse of the free market - I think we've all learned that living off of credit and living above your means is disastrous. I might splurge on something as frivilous as crib bedding but I sure as hell wouldn't let it be at the cost of my daughter's future education.
For our first baby, we splurged on an organic mattress and bought an inexpensive IKEA crib that we painted grey. I'd really wanted the Oeuf Sparrow crib, but decided it was better to spend more on the part that my baby's face would be right next to for the first two-ish years of his life! Oh, and cord blood banking and a beautiful set of Alexander Girard building blocks that may still be sitting on the top shelf of his bookcase! The more I think about it, I kind of went crazy with my first.
For baby number two, we splurged on a Bugaboo Donkey. We're reusing lots of things from our first baby but still needed a double stroller. I decided to go with the Donkey because both kids get a great seat, I have a place to put everything and it's also quite cute, in my opinion.
Um can we have more than one splurge??!!! Baby no 1 was the Stokke crib & bugaboo stroller..both very well used - everyday for years, Baby no 2 splurge was the Monte Luca glider..after many hard nights on a cheap ikea rocker I treated myself! All well worth it - all used heavily and still hanging in there!
We went the budget/hand-me-down route for our 1st born who, even to this day, has night time sleep issues. So when baby #2 came, the hubby and I decided to splurge on everything sleep related. We bought an organic/natural fiber co-sleeper that attached to our bed and the baby slept there for the first 3 mths of his life. We also invested in the best mattress, bedding and crib (Netto) we could find as well as the most comfortable glider (Monte) for the much anticipated long nights of being up with the baby.
Baby #2 sleeps like a log and part of me is convinced that it had to do with our splurges in sleep gear. Other times I think he is just a good sleeper by nature as he also sleeps well when we do over night stays elsewhere.
I lusted after the Bob jogger before no. 1 came along, but could only afford an umbrella stroller. Around here, sidewalks are few and not well maintained, so it was rough walking in the neighborhood. We moved to a new place before no. 2, where sidewalks are even worse - so, big splurge on the stroller (on sale at REI) and no regrets what-so-ever. My toddler can still ride in it, too.
My biggest splurge was a DSLR (Canon 7D)... I'd been coveting one for a while and after taking her in for a newborn sitting and seeing what they charge, I figured it would pay for itself time and time again.