When It Comes to Baby Furniture, Best Does Not Always Mean Most Expensive
Nov 14th 2009Byron JonasBabies
The best schools, homes, clothes, friends, neighborhoods - these are just a few of the things we as parents strive to give our children each and every day. When we have children, we dedicate the rest of our lives to making sure that they are okay - promising to care for them for long after their turn'.
And while this desire to provide only the best for our kids is a good thing, it can get pretty expensive. New parents are often especially likely to overspend when buying things for babies on the way. Between clothes and toys and diapers, it is easy watch bank balances drop quickly. And on the top of the list of expensive baby items is furniture.
Items like cribs, strollers and playpens can be extremely pricey. Companies know that new parents are especially eager to give their babies the best. They also know that consumers often mistake the concept of the best for the most expensive. Therefore, baby furniture manufacturers fill stores and catalogues with over-priced and often unnecessary items. They try to convince us to spend, spend, spend.
Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that while a baby is new, his or her furniture doesn't have to be. Having a baby boy or girl can be expensive enough without insisting on having all brand-new accessories. Looking into gently used furniture is an easy to way to cut costs without cutting corners on quality or safety.
Babies change and grow very fast, meaning they will outgrow a lot of the things we buy for them within a few months or years at best. While this is generally known to be the case with baby clothes that little ones can grow too big for in a matter of weeks, it can be true for furniture too.
Think about it. Cribs are useful for a few years, but before you know it, your little boy or girl will be itching for a "big kid" bed. Strollers will make your life easier for a while - until your baby starts walking. The same is true for playpens, cradles, changing tables, gliders, and even for decorations. Spending thousands of dollars on a Winnie-the-Pooh themed room may seem like a good idea for now, but when your daughter falls in love with Snow White in six months, you may regret your overspending.
So before going to the mall to buy the newest baby furniture and accessories, why not check into gently used items instead? Friends and family with small children will be more than willing to lend you cribs, strollers and even clothes their children no longer need. Second-hand stores and rummage sales may also hold some great finds. Used furniture is not only more economic, but it is also perhaps safer. Recalls of baby items take place all the time, and you may feel better knowing that whatever you've bought has been tried and tested.
When buying for baby, keep in mind that quality is not synonymous with price. Your baby will be just as happy in a used crib as a new one.
Byron Jonas is a recent father who had triplets. When it came to prams, specifically triplet prams, he soon realized there are no superior products than those of the Go Bubba Go range
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