Your priority tends to come to the top of your mind when you get that first positive pregnancy test, or at least you start thinking about what your priority maybe should be. When I was pregnant with my first baby, I was convinced that we had to have the newest and best things for her. I was so excited to open all the packages and organize everything…until I got completely overwhelmed by it. I also labeled all the drawers, so I may have gone a little overboard with my label maker. I was in grad school so I really liked procrastinating by organizing and we definitely did NOT have money for all the new things. If I had it to do all over again, here are the
Five things I wouldn’t waste my money on again:
- Changing Table (or other special nursery furniture)–we used that changing table for maybe 3 months, and that was it! With the second kid we put a changing pad with a belt on it on top of a dresser and got rid of the special table.
- Fancy baby shoes were a super waste for our family. I know people love to make their kids look dapper, and yay, good for you if that’s your priority. The thing is that your baby does NOT need shoes at all. There’s even scientific research to support them not wearing shoes when they start to walk. If fashion isn’t your priority, skip the shoes.
- I do not know why wipe warmers are a thing. I don’t warm up my toilet paper. The wipes we used out on the go were not warmed up and I honestly just found this to be a complete waste of space & something else for my kiddo to grab while I was trying to change their diaper. (They get very wiggly!)
- If your priority is pragmatism, this tip is for you. This might be controversial to say, but the snap up jumpers were a total waste of money in my house. Yes, they sure look cute, but have you ever tried to snap them in the dark while you are half asleep? With the second kid we got a few more gowns and were done.
- I was very excited about carrying around my pretty diaper bag, but then my partner refused to use it. Diaper bags have come a long way in the last ahem 18 years, but honestly think about UTILITY for this bag more than aesthetics. Lots of pockets might look cute, but will you remember which pocket you put every single thing in when you’re panicking about where they heck that butt cream is?!? Your priority when your baby has a blowout might be a little different than when you’re standing in the store looking at that cute diaper bag.
In hindsight, of course, I have some things that I’m so happy I invested money in when starting out this whole parenting thing. Here are my top 6 for your consideration that might become your priority too:
- A sturdy perfect-sized easy-to-fold stroller was worth every single penny to us! We used the heck out of our Phil & Ted’s Sport with a doubles kit when that second kid arrived, and it fit so neatly into the trunk of my Honda Civic. I LOVED that thing so much!!
- Having an Ergobaby structured carrier that grew from newborn to toddler with my kiddos helped me keep my kids close while allowing me to still change the laundry while they slept. There are a ton of different carriers now, I especially love Hope & Plum, which my friend Abby introduced me to a few year back. Find one that works for you and your partner, and it will be money well spent.
- Hands Free Pumping Bras like these kept me sane while pumping for my babies. (Use coupon HillaryM20 to get 20% off!) I hated pumping, but being able to pump while doing something else made me feel like a SUPERHUMAN–which of course made me hate doing it less. If hating your pump less is your priority, get one of these.
- Taking a quality childbirth class was great for my partner and I because we got to learn together and even ended up making class nights into date nights. We got some great bonding time together and learned important skills. Learning about the process made me feel so much less scared to do it!
- An outstandingly safe and easy to install convertible car seat. I know everyone seems to love the seats you can put in and out of the car, but I personally preferred to spend more on one seat that could grow with my kiddo from newborn all the way until they were ready for the booster seat. Making sure to get it checked by a certified passenger safety technician was also really important for us! If saving a little money and not skimping on safety is your priority, get a convertible car seat.
- Hiring a doula for my birth was honestly an important investment for us. She anticipated my needs and helped my partner feel like he didn’t have to have all the answers the whole time. She supported us both through the birth, and we’re still friends too!!
For the physical things, scouring thrift stores and online marketplaces can really save you some money too. Watch for local church, MOPs, and Moms of Multiples sales to get some good deals from parents who are done with their treasures too. If you’re on the hunt for a childbirth class or doula services, we can definitely help you with those!
The best news: no matter what things you have for yourself or your baby, they are gonna LOVE them and YOU soo much. You’ve got this!
