The only mom in our staff, Joanna, advised that we'll need to buy a huge car. For the stroller, the car seat, the bottles, the milk, the diapers, the sterilizer, the everything a little person needs. My goodness, for such a tiny thing, it sure contributes to a lot of environmental waste!
Nikki, Joanna and her little Paolo, Coni, me, Kabbie and Lana
Joanna says that that baby carrier is the best thing ever. Well, I guess we gotta add that to the list of things to buy for the baby then. To be honest, there's no existing list yet. Even now, as people giddily ask what we're buying for the nursery and the baby, Vince and I just say, "Huh?" Nope, we haven't bought anything for the baby, except the camera—and that was on the to-buy list even before we got pregnant, so the Olympus EPL-1 is really for us not Jelly Bean.
But today we were at a car showroom and almost bought a car! At the last minute, we stopped ourselves and said, "We'll think about it," but we know we'll be back soon to buy anyway. I guess we're still fooling ourselves that we don't need a car for the baby.
Nope, not this one! That's a crazy car so we had to get a pic!
We're thinking of the new Mazda 2—cute like the Jelly Bean, but in green!
It's kinda weird really, having to swallow all our drivel about being enviro-conscious: "The earth is overpopulated! Save energy! Stop using cars! Walk! Commute!" We really tried, folks. But we'll still try by breastfeeding, accepting hand-me-downs from my sisters-in-law, trying out cloth diapers, etc. And we really don't want to get the baby stuff—I think it can be done; after all, both of us grew up with few clothes, toys and stuff. And we turned out okay.
While we are not interested in getting anything for the baby yet, we have been talking about other things, like how I'm so excited to teach it to read and Vince is excited to introduce the kid to music and sports. I've also been concerned about our health care so I'd browse medical and term life insurance quotes online sometimes. Vince, on the other hand, has begun wondering about good schools and tuition. We're very keen on the baby's education and welfare. But shopping for it? Not yet.
We figured we'd buy as we need, and I know every parent reading this is shaking their head and snickering, but if our parents were able to raise us with no strollers and fancy clothes and fab toys, I guess we can do the same with Jelly Bean, too. After all, Vince and I are very smart and sensible people. And we've gotten quite far using our heads. Right now, our heads tell us the baby shopping can wait.
Well, maybe we'll get the car anyway.
UPDATE: We did buy the car, but we got the blue one because we had a boy!
Consider 2nd hand items for items like strollers or carriers. The baby will easily outgrow them anyway. Frances, check this out.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10115.html
Frances, I used TushyWushy leakproof cloth diapers on Jed during his diapering phase. He's toilet trained at 2. We only used disposables when we leave the house. Here's a review I did on that.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.marriageandbeyond.com/2006/09/14/tushy-wushy-leakproof-diapers-baby-things-review/
We have this Baby 1st car seat that is barely used. Jed only used it twice or thrice. Don't buy these stuff na. The kids outgrow them so fast! It's yours na, if you want it. It's dark brown. It's still good as new. I kept the cushion that covers the skeleton and it's very sturdy :)
Melanie lent us the bassinet Jed used for the first 4months, beyond that a baby's gotta be either in bed (if you're co-sleeping) or in his crib. They grow soooo fast, I tell you. You might as well save the money for his future expenses.
Tani, omigoodness, that's so scary! Yes, we're cool with second-hand stuff so we'll be knocking on the doors of family and friends to ask for hand-me-downs =D
ReplyDeleteJennie! The Tushy Wushy cloth diapers are an EXCELLENT idea! Thanks so much! And thank you also for offering the car seat =D You've done so much na nga for me. Thanks!
The amount of plastic stuff a baby requires is incredible!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you guys don't let consumerism consume you (haha)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with having less stuff- kids don't need it. I'm single and nowhere on the family way area yet, but I try to be mindful of the things I buy and dispose of. I'm sure that when "I grow up" and maybe have that whole kids & caboodle package, I'll go for the simpler way.
I enjoy reading your blog, this is my first commment- yay! Happy Sunday :)
I agree with the "buy as you need" approach. It's much more practical that way. When I had my first baby I got all excited buying clothes and other stuff. I ended up having more than what I needed because relatives and godparents bought my baby more stuff too.
ReplyDeleteIt would be good to have a gift list or a baby registry during your jelly bean's christening so you can request for things the baby can actually use right away like diapers, bibs and onesies. Definitely, the toys can wait. Your idea of reading books to your baby would do more good than any educational toy or mobile.
Hope your pregnancy is going well. :)
Mader, I agree absolutely! Don't go crazy baby shopping. Babies grow up so fast. Like now, Baby S has outgrown a lot of her clothes. And the stroller, wala pang isang taon, ayaw na niya gamitin. She's mobile na kasi. Feeling citizen of the world na sya sa paglalakad :)
ReplyDelete"We figured we'd buy as we need, and I know every parent reading this is shaking their head and snickering, but if our parents were able to raise us with no strollers and fancy clothes and fab toys, I guess we can do the same with Jelly Bean, too. After all, Vince and I are very smart and sensible people. And we've gotten quite far using our heads. Right now, our heads tell us the baby shopping can wait." --- These are my exact sentiments! But then again, once the baby comes, you'll never know. What you can do is throw a huge baby shower and make an Amazon wish list so that people will just buy all the baby stuff you need. =) CONGRATULATIONS, roommate!!!! I am still quite speechless. :-D
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to factor in the yaya and all the luggage you need when you travel with baby! We use a sedan, and we noticed, on out of town trips and weekends away, with the yaya, stroller, crate for baby bottles and milk - and realized: cars may be too small for growing families!
ReplyDeleteFrances, you won't really need a huge car. Just make sure whatever you get has a big boot to fit the baby's pram/stroller and other things in. We have an average-sized Ford Mondeo and we've managed to take it on long holidays, with suitcases and a huge pram packed into the boot. This way, we don't feel guilty about using a gas-guzzling truck.
ReplyDeleteI agree about getting second-hand stuff. Cloth nappies are great, as long as you're willing to put up with the constant washing. Based on my own experience, I reckon you'll only need these things at the beginning: cot, car seat, pram, bottles and sterilizer, nappies, and a playmat so your baby can make his/her attempts at rolling over when he/she is awake. :)