[kittymom]

While I'm waiting to be matched, I'm making myself crazy thinking about buying baby stuff but not being able to because we don't know our baby's gender or even age. I guess it's that "nesting" impulse - I'm desperate to feather the nest with stuff but I can't. SIGH. How did/are you guys coping with this? Do you just buy stuff anyway? I've bought several books, a few outfits that were on super-clearance, and a car seat I found on sale. I keep telling my DH I want to spread out the purchases so we don't have a mountain of big expenses when the baby comes home, but I find myself just wanting to buy-buy-buy right now-now-now! I've restrained myself - somewhat - but then I saw Ikea's barnslig baby stuff online, and the nearest store is three hours away, and I'm feeling a desperate desire to go there!

Anyone else turning into a crazed maniac over baby "stuff"?

[Stormster]

No. i was sooo scared to buy anything. I did buy the nursery furniture (but only the deposit and didn't have it delivered). We also painted the nursery (well more than that really, took down yucky paneling put up wainscotting, molding, painted etc) but said it was for a "guest room" sort of thing, possible nursery "if" ...I'm talking until AFTER we were actually HOME with E.
I kept myself busy thinking of names, buying things his birth mother needed, reading baby books. If I told you HOW much I kept myself calm thinking about names you'd be amazed!

If you're going to buy anything now to save money later, I'd say buy lots and lots of diapers!

[kittymom]

The diapers thing is a good idea. We're planning to do cloth diapers, and those are generally more uni-size than clothes. I still need to do research on which brand and type we'll use. That's a perfect solution for something useful to obsess about!

[tkapelle]

I believe in jinxing, but I couldn't control myself. We had the baby's room and the entire house filled with toys, baby gates, etc. by the time the final homestudy visit happened. Crazy enough, two hours after the SW left our house that day, I met our son. He came home two days later!

[Stormster]

BTW when our social worker saw we didn't have baby furniture she looked relieved and said "good"

I'm sure not all SW's think like that but ours did thank goodness!

[midnighttang]

My husband and I kept saying we weren't going to buy anything, but we did it anyway. We have a pack and play, travel system, nursery furniture, mattress and changing pad, as well as a couple little things. I just keep running into these good deals and I think, well, one day I'll have a baby, so I should get it on sale. My family doesn't know the extent of our insanity, because I don't want them to think we aren't prepared for possible disappointment. It's just too much fun buying baby stuff!

[lovemy2boys]

I bought a baby bedding set when we started trying to have a baby...It sat in our home for years of trying, fertility treatments, and adoption waiting...

Never thought I'd use the thing, to be honest with you...

What I DID do was alot of internet browsing...Looking online and daydreaming...and say there was something I really "wanted", such as an awesome stroller system for $200.00....I'd start saving, when I hit the money mark, I'd put it in a bank account that I opened especially for baby stuff...

By the time AJ came around, we had a nice amount of money in the bank...Enough to get the necessities that held us over til our shower (which was when he was 10 weeks old, after TPR) and enough to provide all the diapers and formula for the first year...

I wish we would have been in the same situation when JD was born!

[4everwaiting]

I'm like you, I want to buy everything!!! But, haven't bought anything. My nursery is still a guest room and nothings changed in the room at all. I couldn't have beared walking by a room that was all set and ready for a baby with no baby... I seriously would have taped off the room.

We are waiting to decorate/buy according to the babies gender and age.

We do have money put away in savings for everything we'll need when we do finally have a baby. We'll go on a big buying spree when all is said and done!!

I have crocheted several (5?) white blankets with pink, blue, yellow or green trim and hats to match each. Of course I have had plenty of time to make all the handmade items which are bagged up and in the guest room closet. If we get a call, I'll be able to grab a bag or two and throw it in the suitcase...

Hope your wait is short!

S

[Fran27]

I bought stuff. The reason was that I wanted to be able to have good deals instead of buying everything full price at the last minute. I got great deals on used strollers, toys, clothes and more. I got a car seat, crib, some baby clippers, thermometer, brush etc...

In retrospect I'm glad I did it. The first two weeks were crazy and we wouldn't have found time to go shopping. It was less money spent at the last minute (especially for two), and we saved a lot of money on the stuff I got used. Of course we lost money because we had to resell the strollers, and I wasn't fond of the high chair anymore so I sold that too. But I didn't have to buy any toys for the first 6 months or worry about getting the crib delivered (well, except the second one) and that was nice!

I totally underestimated clothes-wise though, but it was ok because it was mostly gender-neutral things anyway. But in the end it was actually fun to go shopping, so no regrets here. We just put everything in a closet.

That being said, we knew we would probably not get a shower (and I was right, we only got about $100 from friends), so it's probably different.

[mommamarci]

Cloth diapers can get pricey, start now! I spent $400 getting enough to last 1 1/2 days for 2 kids...

As for what I did, I bought the stuff that is truly gender neutral. Towels, burp rags, wash cloths, mattress pads, white socks, etc. I tried to buy one item every time I went to the store. I also bought lots of books. Regardless of the sex, you will want books and I think a child can never have too many!

We did our nursery gender nuetral. (We were planning to use it more than once anyway so even if we had known a sex beforehand, I still would ahve done neutral.) So, I got the entire room done and was able to buy the accent pieces like changing pad covers as well. For me, it did not bother me to have the room done.

[aclee]

I had a LOT of mostly used gender neutral clothes, and it was good I did. We got a call...get on a plane tomorrow. We also had a second hand carseat to travel with (don't travel with your new seat if you are checking it!) I also had a second hand snap and go stroller. The airline broke it. Don't travel with your nice stuff

If you are doing cloth, start now...I totally agree with that.

When we were gone, my sister bought us a nice travel system, and dropped her bassinet off at our house (and cleaned it and did all our laundry, with my Nana's help) so we knew we would have a spot to sleep the baby when we got home. We would have used a pack and play (that we also had) if her daughter wasn't done with the bassinet yet. They used the 10 days we were away to move their daughter out of the bassinet into her crib!

[Shadowfaerie]

Yep, I just bought stuff. Every time I thought about the possibility of being matched I bought something. It did keep me sane through the first adoption. If there is a failed match or other disappointment, there is really nothing that can cushion you from not feeling it, baby stuff or no baby stuff. I figured eventually we would have a baby, so why not be optimistic?

[sheababy]

Yes! I don't know if a baby born is a possibility in your situation but we were open to it and our agency said to be ready to leave home and fly across the country at a moment's notice. We thought, no it will never happen and thus had some stuff but not enough when we got the call-TWICE! It was quite a relief to have a bag packed with everything we needed for a two week stay.

Unless you are really set on a pink (or girlie) or blue theme, there is plenty of gender neutral stuff out there to get yourself set up now. It was really nice to be able to focus on the baby and not having to go out and buy stuff once you bring them home. It definitely does help with the expense.

[emtb79]

I had to buy stuff too I couldnt stand not to. I bought the crib and used my mom's old bedroom furniture she got when she was 17 that had sentimental value. I bought some things at a second hand co-signment sale like the soother center for a steal. When some of my patterns for bedding or the travel system that I wanted were being discontinued I bought them and put them in the closet. I bought things on clearance with merchandise credit just enough for to fill the diaper bag with immediate essentials. I printed out all the Babiesrus and Toysrus locations around me in tri state area for my GPS that way I can shop when I know what gender and size specific wherever I am.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by emtb79

When some of my patterns for bedding or the travel system that I wanted were being discontinued I bought them and put them in the closet.

I did this too! I got my whole bedding set for $60, including shipping!