Where to splurge and where to save when preparing for a new baby
Welcoming a new baby is always a joyous celebration, but it also entails a great deal of of preparation.
If you’re a new parent, you must baby-proof the house and make sure that you’re fully stocked with the basics your baby needs. The problem is, it’s easy to get carried away and choose whatever’s the most expensive option — especially since we generally equate quality with high prices.
While there’s no problem with throwing money at your baby’s essentials if you can afford them, there are certainly some things that you can make do with at lower prices. This way, you can spend your money on other things.
Here, we have listed a few baby essentials, so you can consider which ones are worth the splurge.
Child car seat: Save
Car seats are not a one-and-done kind of thing. Naturally, your baby grows bigger as they get older, and they’ll have outgrown their car seat once they reach two-years-old — prompting you to buy another one to cater to their size. So, while there are a ton of car seats that have extra features like being able to convert into a pushchair, there’s no harm in buying one that won’t break the bank.
Also, all baby car seats have to adhere to the same industry standards to make sure that they’re effective in keeping your baby safe inside your car. In the UK, only EU-approved child car seats are allowed to be sold — so no matter how steep your baby car seat’s price is, it still is expected to be as safe as the cheapest option available on the consumer market.
However, do note that despite not having any safety disparity no matter the price, child car seats should be bought brand new. Second-hand car seats could have expired certifications and other safety issues. So while we advise against expensive child car seats, don’t cut corners when it comes to your baby’s safety by buying old car seats.
Pushchairs: Splurge
For pushchairs, splurging totally depends on the kind of lifestyle you want to have as a parent. From jogging pushcarts to umbrella pushcarts, there are a ton of units to choose from depending on how you want to enjoy the outdoors with your child. It’s also best to check if the pushchair wheels are compatible with your surrounding neighbourhood.
Due to the variety of models out there, there are still some basic things you have to look out for when picking a pushchair. What’s noticeable from the collection of single pushchairs featured on iCandy is that there are three key requirements all modern pushchairs need to satisfy: ease of use, robustness, and aesthetic.
Look for units that are easily manoeuvrable and are reasonably compact so they are easy to transport. Additionally, try to find a pushchair that comes with added features like canopies, shocks, and baskets — all of these can help make being outdoors with your child much easier. Plus, you can always reuse a good pushchair if you plan to have another child in the future.
Baby monitor: Save
If you’re a little anxious about leaving your child in their room while you sleep, a baby monitor might give you peace of mind.
Our post on ‘Seven Must-Haves For Your Baby’s Nursery’ points out that at their basic level, baby monitors will allow you to hear if your baby is crying in their room — something that could be helpful if your walls are thick or if the nursery is a long way away from your bedroom.
In recent years, baby monitors have come with extra features like night vision, temperature sensors, and video outputs. While they certainly help make your life better, a basic audio baby monitor is more than enough to get your attention if your baby needs assistance.
Crib: Splurge
Babies tend to sleep a lot, so they’ll probably spend most of their time inside their cribs. Buying a high-quality crib with a good mattress will certainly be worth the investment, if you want to ensure the safety and comfort of your baby. Moreover, you’ll need a crib for the first two to three years of your baby’s life, so think about buying a high-quality crib as an investment.
Fatherly lists down what you should look for when you buy a crib including slat bars that are at least 2 ⅜ inches apart and a mattress that won’t sag as your baby sleeps on it. Furthermore, drop sides are now considered unsafe, so stay away from cribs that have this particular feature.
