Ticket NOT sponsored by Aubert
I warn you: My little experiment how-to shopping in this area ... advice, sort of. (Although I do not like giving advice, usually).
Welcoming baby without breaking the bank?
was the theme of the issue Nursery of February 8, 2011. (Not seen, I wrote this post in advance)
So no, I warn you right away, I was not in issue to testify. But this Topic
interpelée me, and it made me want to talk a bit here. For a first
baby, we are faced with this challenge pretty huge: what to buy, manage to make choices, do not know too many crazy things while having fun, buy all the necessary without (too) fall into the superfluous.
Everyone is different, some expectant mothers need to buy the best, most expensive. The consumerism adds a layer, the vendors are very strong to tell you that if you do not give up € 750 in a mini-cabinet, you're a bad mother.
When you think the slogan Aubert was "successful baby ".... one can imagine how quickly the market for childcare is world crazy (just as con-con).
Personally, and this is my rebellious side hippie anti-globalization (yes, I am a little), I do not give too much importance to material things, especially those who are not called upon to endure. Expectant mother, I never thought I would spend a maximum for my baby if I wanted to succeed my mission as a mother.
First, because the baby, he does not care that his stroller or in solid gold covered with wild salmon from Lake Nasser virgin cold-pressed. And also because I prefer to book holidays or super good restaurants rather than write a check to 4 digits for a nursery, which goes out of style in 2 years.
In addition, the idea to spend my Saturday in a mall (or even another day of the week) makes me sick. I've never set foot in a store like Aubert example. And this, by political conviction: Saturday, I gland!
short, we tried to simplify our lives, not to over reduce our bank accounts. And besides, if you're a little help from family and friends, frankly, it is very possible not to spend much.
And I do not speak of our second child we spent almost nothing, and we even removed the equipment that we had ultimately never served for our daughter.
Here, for those interested, our little experiment, the errors we committed, and good deals we found:
- The stroller
If you want, like Aubert, "pass your baby" You do not get out in less than 600 € for the stroller base without any options.
From our side, we went to a great consignment shop ( in Levallois, "Smart Baby" : well known throughout the 92): For 250 €, we could buy a complete Peg Perego: stroller + bucket + 0/6mois car seat, raincover, blanket, diaper bag to match. So okay, its design dating back to 3 or 4 years, it was blue and not stupid "sand and mocha chocolate spotted with strawberries". But even used, it was in perfect condition. And she always resists well today.
- The bouncer
Also at Baby-smart, we found a Chicco for 20 € approx. It is always Nickel. (Elsewhere, there are new chairs to 90 € minimum!). But even without brand is perfect. The key is whether the standards.
- The high chair Baby Smart
forever. Wood, traditional, with 4 cores on the shelf. About 50 €.
- The changing table
Encore Smart Baby. For 50 € instead of 150 €, a beautiful table Geuther. It is, in Vert Baudet example, at 95 €.
And then, finally, we found that the changing table is not an essential purchase. We do are never used for our second child: too large, too dangerous, no real value. We just finally a small mattress, and we change our baby everywhere: on a bed, floor, etc. ... much simpler!
- The bed
Then there with strollers, it is the second scandal. In any store brand, you find beds to 400 € . As a reminder, a baby bed is 4 feet and a wooden bed frame.
For 49 €, we found a beautiful crib in natural pine, extremely simple, at Leclerc!
Yes, everything in the supermarket, and during the month of childcare is even more interesting!
Our son sleeps in the bed too, it is perfect, simple, lovely and of good quality.
When our daughter went to the "big" bed, like: the same dilemma. We have finally bought a bed for great quality (100% pine wood, not MDF like you see everywhere) on Alinea.fr for ... at just 79 €. I then sanded, painted and weathered to give it charm. Well, compared to all things faux-wood to 600 €, that's the joke and it's better!
- cradle
We have not bought the cradle. Our children slept in the car during the first 2 months, then in their bed.
- the "room" Baby
We do not want to spend € 2000 + bed + wardrobe dresser. First, because we found out-of-it prices. Secondly, because the furniture print teddy, small boats or I do not know what reason to riv-flowers, I do not see how we can keep it 10 years.
The nursery was therefore composed of beautiful furniture family. But frankly, if we did not budget a little trip to Ikea is just as good and 10 times cheaper!
- Park
Supermarket Own! The simplest wooden square with bars. Within 50 € approx.
- the walker
I'm not sure this is very useful. Personally I never had. It would appear that even this is enough dangerous (it's banned in Canada) because most head injuries in infants, and may slow the acquisition of walking.
- The bathtub
For what it is used, it seems to me not worth spending! For 12 € maybe we found our happiness at Leclerc. To impress the neighbor, you can always invest in a Baby spa Tigex (sic), but I do not see the added value of this "advanced" marketing.
Or in a bathtub foldable Flexy-bath ... why not if you're still on the loose, it seems that it is effective. Finally we had bought on holiday quickly-made concrete in a tub Bricorama to 5 € to put in the shower of the hotel ... perfect.
- Heater bib 'sterilizer:
ever bought! The bottle warmer does not seem useful to us: in any case we already have a microwave at home, we always check if the milk is not too hot and voila! And then you quickly understand that milk at room temperature (tap water), it is even easier and just as good, right?
- nursing pillow / pregnancy
It is really an essential purchase . Successfully sleep late pregnancy, and to prop baby. Such, it is found in supermarkets in the 30 €. While it may be 3 times higher in a sign of childcare ("ah yes but the fabric Liberty Limited Edition Paul Smith madâââme comes at a price!")
- hold baby
A true wedge Baby is expensive ( Cocoonababy of Redcastle, for example) in the 150 €. That, it seems, very effective. But it is also very simple to create his own wedge-baby. In fact, it is common sense: babies need to be curled to feel serene. My pediatrician advised me Trailer coverage pudding, then give the pudding a U-shape and wedge baby inside. Being careful that the sausage is not too long not to reach his face.
is what we did for our son, thanks to good advice. Price: 0 €! Toub thank you '.
- the baby-phone
It is a bit expensive, but it may be worth it. Everything depends on you, the layout of your home this season. If you spend your evenings on the terrace and you want to be reassured to hear your baby, it's a purchase to make. For our daughter we never got served ... our son uses it all the time.
- the baby cook
Wow bullshit! It is really stupid thing I put on the list of birth to my daughter. I had to use it once. As say "Bad Mothers" , if you want my opinion, it is especially effective for ice crushing and you do a little good mojito.
What is a baby cook, I ask you? jar and steaming. I think you all have a furnace in your home, or at least baking sheets. a fork or a small blender to crush the vegetables. Well now, that's enough. The baby
cook has no added value, gathering dust, takes up space, and Moreover, it must be cleaned. Boo, trash!
And between us, small pots, one quickly realizes that it's faster than making yourself a homemade mashed potatoes (which is beautifully and deftly spat on your best white sweater). Right?
- the diaper pail
If it exists. We have invented everything. Personally I do not see the point of this thing. Regular trash in the kitchen seems to me equally effective, obviously being emptied at least once a day if it is filled with layers dégeu (previously individually wrapped in a plastic bag to reduce odors). Afterwards, if you do not leave your garbage that twice per month, for sure you can crack the very aesthetic and affordable (sic) bin Chicco for the modest sum of € 69.99 (I choke).
However, if anyone has any arguments to convince me of the usefulness of this thing, it is expressed here in the comments (or be silent forever).
- pot
Well, for about € 4 there are the sublime at Auchan. Afterwards, you can always buy the comp pot, one that plays music (and barbecue, also, for that matter?) To motivate baby ... but frankly it seems superfluous to me (and super scam above.)
- The sling, the sling the Chinado ...
That these are important purchases. You will see that they will serve you long. And they are often more effective than a stroller paid for gold.
The scarf has a very specific fabric, very resistant, not expandable. It is good to invest in a serious mark.
For the sling type baby bjorn, also try not to take the junk, bought a small cheap shit can ruin your back (and therefore moral) very quickly.
- the Playmats It's a bit pricey
(from 60 € approximately) but so useful! On the net, we can not find too expensive.
For my daughter, I had a Playmats Tiny Love (a little this genre), a little too flashy, with rigid arches and not easy to fold. I much prefer the Nattou my son, because folded completely flexible, and more sober colors.
- toiletry products
The easiest way is to buy the liniment Treats pharmacy. Natural, safe from allergies, odorless. And much cheaper than wipes or milk brand.
Well, after wipes it's great practice too, as we share a ride.
- Bottles
Thereupon, I have nothing special to say. Oh, for sure the most economical, is to breastfeed for months and months. But for others ...
Me, during withdrawal, I found that Dodie Mam (with air infiltration through the bottom and ergonomic pacifier) were the ones my daughter liked. So, I did it at home. It's a bit tiring
washing (you must remove the suction cup to the bottom each time, unscrew the bottom ...), but I love them.
- car seats
Oh that's a purchase that is important and complicated!
And if you have 2 cars (and 2 children), you may need to quickly ... 6 car seats!
Yeah, the seats 0 / 6 months, then they should be replaced by the 9 / 18 kg ...
were all bought in supermarkets. No entries range of 50 €, because they were too hard ... for 150 € but we found very good, very comfortable. (Instead of 300 € for other brand ...)
- finally, the clothes!
So there I am not going to give you advice! There are great things and great quality at Kiabi for 3 €, things beautiful and that cost an arm or at Jacadi Bonpoint .... there is more than fun then ... Well it is simply fun!
One thing: do not buy much in birth size (it will last 5 days max), not much not much in a month ... 6 months and up to avoid clothes that are too complicated, immittance those of adults (style button shirt, frilly dress ...) that complicate life, especially when you have to change baby 6 times a day.
I have a number of dresses and small shirts ... who have just served.
~ ~ ~ ~
So to summarize, and if I did not forget the essentials ...
We did the math for our basic purchases, before birth, for about 700 € (the price of a brand new stroller), we managed to buy at almost any grocery store / consignment shop / internet.
We did not spend much, so this does not prevent our children from living in an elegant, refined and class (well yeah it's like that with us: the claaaaasse, always the class).
First, because a slam max does not mean that it will be prettier than rely on the natural simplicity and sobriety, that's fine, too. Needless to invest in gadgets, tricks unbearable noise, vibrating or I whatever.
Making things yourself, decoration, clothing ... do not rush headlong into head-shops, feel guilty to death by the consumer society, it will not make your child more miserable. (Which, I remind you, does not care desperately to have a body in linen and lurex by Dolce & Gabbana)
I'm curious to hear your opinion on my post. Your experiences? Your comments?
Pregnant? already mothers? Things to correct, to add?
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