Saturday, September 10, 2005
Baby Crunch Time
I haven't blogged a lot about the preparations Shelly and I have been making for our forthcoming baby. Well, that's largely because we haven't been making a whole lot of progress. After all, we've got nine months, don't we?
Well, we realized this last week that we now have less than two months, and Shelly is getting less and less mobile and able to run baby-related errands. We only have a few weeks left to get everything ready, and there's a lot to get ready.
We made a list this week of all the things we have to do before the due date (November 5). Most of it is just a big fat shopping list with a lot of overpriced items on it. We tried to tackle some of the big stuff today: crib, dresser, glider (they're not rockers anymore!). All we ended up with is frustration.
There are a couple of websites that offer some decent things for less-frightening-than-usual prices. But the problem is, with this kind of a purchase, you really want to see one and heft it and make sure it's got sturdy construction and no sharp edges and the kid isn't going to kill herself on it. But on the Internet, there's nothing doing. And even in nice big stores like Babies-R-Us, they really only like to show you the $500 cribs and the $600 dressers.
We ended up finding a matching dresser and crib at Ikea that really aren't all that good-looking, but are sturdy and functional and relatively cheap. We could get both for about the price of a low-end Babies-R-Us crib. But I'm hesitant simply because they're not the beautiful nursery furniture I had imagined. I want the best for my little girl, but I guess she's not going to get the best because I'm not willing to pay top dollar in order to get the best for my little girl. And the more I search the Internet, a place populated by baby furniture sites that don't have pictures, don't have prices, have prices over $500, or don't have any sort of a brick-and-mortar store where I can check out the product before I buy it, the more I'm tempted just to shut up and get the less pretty Ikea stuff.
I'm kind of frustrated with the whole thing. The baby industry is out to get expectant parents for all they're worth. I can't imagine a couple of child-bearing age who could possibly afford the complete nursery layout you see in some of these product display pictures. And I just don't trust an industry that promotes things like diaper stackers (a flimsy fabric hanging square thing to put on the side of the crib--as though there's nowhere else to put diapers (like the $600 dresser next to the crib)) and baby stain remover (because stains on baby clothes are harder to get out than stains on adult clothes) and baby wipe warmers (baby wipe warmers?!).
As the due date gets closer and closer, you can be sure I'll blog more and more about the frustrations that will accompany it.
Well, we realized this last week that we now have less than two months, and Shelly is getting less and less mobile and able to run baby-related errands. We only have a few weeks left to get everything ready, and there's a lot to get ready.
We made a list this week of all the things we have to do before the due date (November 5). Most of it is just a big fat shopping list with a lot of overpriced items on it. We tried to tackle some of the big stuff today: crib, dresser, glider (they're not rockers anymore!). All we ended up with is frustration.
There are a couple of websites that offer some decent things for less-frightening-than-usual prices. But the problem is, with this kind of a purchase, you really want to see one and heft it and make sure it's got sturdy construction and no sharp edges and the kid isn't going to kill herself on it. But on the Internet, there's nothing doing. And even in nice big stores like Babies-R-Us, they really only like to show you the $500 cribs and the $600 dressers.
We ended up finding a matching dresser and crib at Ikea that really aren't all that good-looking, but are sturdy and functional and relatively cheap. We could get both for about the price of a low-end Babies-R-Us crib. But I'm hesitant simply because they're not the beautiful nursery furniture I had imagined. I want the best for my little girl, but I guess she's not going to get the best because I'm not willing to pay top dollar in order to get the best for my little girl. And the more I search the Internet, a place populated by baby furniture sites that don't have pictures, don't have prices, have prices over $500, or don't have any sort of a brick-and-mortar store where I can check out the product before I buy it, the more I'm tempted just to shut up and get the less pretty Ikea stuff.
I'm kind of frustrated with the whole thing. The baby industry is out to get expectant parents for all they're worth. I can't imagine a couple of child-bearing age who could possibly afford the complete nursery layout you see in some of these product display pictures. And I just don't trust an industry that promotes things like diaper stackers (a flimsy fabric hanging square thing to put on the side of the crib--as though there's nowhere else to put diapers (like the $600 dresser next to the crib)) and baby stain remover (because stains on baby clothes are harder to get out than stains on adult clothes) and baby wipe warmers (baby wipe warmers?!).
As the due date gets closer and closer, you can be sure I'll blog more and more about the frustrations that will accompany it.
Comments:
My personal suggestion, get a Lazyboy instead of a glider. They are more comfortable to sleep in and seem cost about the same.
I 2nd that. While I like our glider, a Lazyboy would have been a much better investment. In fact, I didn't really start using the glider regularly with Jared until this summer - it simply was simply too awkward and uncomfortable for those lengthy feedings early on. And I never could have slept in it with him (and if your little girl is even remotely like Jared, you will want something you can sleep in!). Happy shopping!
I third the Lazy Boy thing-- as soon as possible. As it got harder and harder to breathe in month nine, sleeping in the chair was a good option.
As for the crib stuff-- I found that you can get away with cheaper furniture if you find cute stuff to decorate with. (i.e. the whole crib blanket / sheet / bumper pad set) Diaper stackers are unnecessary, but a changing table is very convenient. One thing I would spend a little time and money to find is a good stroller-- you use them more than you'd think.
Can't believe you're going to be a dad, Astle. Don't know why it's so hard to believe-- I have three already in the 8 1/2 years since Brazil. Little girls are great-- ours has had her daddy wrapped around her finger from the moment she was born.
Good luck!
Used-to-be-Bennett
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As for the crib stuff-- I found that you can get away with cheaper furniture if you find cute stuff to decorate with. (i.e. the whole crib blanket / sheet / bumper pad set) Diaper stackers are unnecessary, but a changing table is very convenient. One thing I would spend a little time and money to find is a good stroller-- you use them more than you'd think.
Can't believe you're going to be a dad, Astle. Don't know why it's so hard to believe-- I have three already in the 8 1/2 years since Brazil. Little girls are great-- ours has had her daddy wrapped around her finger from the moment she was born.
Good luck!
Used-to-be-Bennett
