Comments on: Fending off the Consumer Economy: Expecting a Newborn Baby http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/ We're here, We're queer, and We're not going Shopping without Coupons Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:42:20 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Lisa http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-172150 Lisa Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:14:51 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-172150 As a mom of two, my humble opinion is that you need very little of the Babies 'R Us gear. Too much clutter, too much plastic, too much garbage. My advice would be to pick up what you need AS you need it as opposed to stock-piling everything you MIGHT need in advance. Craigslist rocks. Milk it. Recycling/reusing baby gear is the way to go indeed. Most of the gear only gets used for a month or two anyway. And, beyond diapers, every baby is so different as to what they like that a lot of second-hand gear is essentially unused. All parents end up learning as you go. As for registering, my vote is to register for cord blood banking. Hopefully, there's never a need for the blood, but storing it is a form of health insurance and you only get one chance. We initially thought cord blood banking was out of our price range, but we set up a gift registry at CBR and let our family and friends help defray the expense by contributing. Also used the $250 coupon from Since you have so much support from family and friends (3 showers! wow!), it might be relatively easy to make this gift possible for your little one. Best wishes.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-172150">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> As a mom of two, my humble opinion is that you need very little of the Babies ‘R Us gear. Too much clutter, too much plastic, too much garbage. My advice would be to pick up what you need AS you need it as opposed to stock-piling everything you MIGHT need in advance. Craigslist rocks. Milk it. Recycling/reusing baby gear is the way to go indeed. Most of the gear only gets used for a month or two anyway. And, beyond diapers, every baby is so different as to what they like that a lot of second-hand gear is essentially unused. All parents end up learning as you go.

As for registering, my vote is to register for cord blood banking. Hopefully, there’s never a need for the blood, but storing it is a form of health insurance and you only get one chance.

We initially thought cord blood banking was out of our price range, but we set up a gift registry at CBR and let our family and friends help defray the expense by contributing. Also used the $250 coupon from

Since you have so much support from family and friends (3 showers! wow!), it might be relatively easy to make this gift possible for your little one.

Best wishes.

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]]> By: Laurabelle http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-167444 Laurabelle Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:47:04 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-167444 Nina, I think that The Right Start (with a location on Newport Blvd convieniently near you...)has a number of slings that they will let you try with the baby...<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-167444">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Nina, I think that The Right Start (with a location on Newport Blvd convieniently near you…)has a number of slings that they will let you try with the baby…

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]]> By: marie http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-166991 marie Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:26:00 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-166991 I am childfree but try to be a good friend to those near and dear to me who have chosen to become parents. My standard baby shower gift is a mammoth pack of diapers and/or wipes--the Sam's Club size. My parent friends all assure me that this is a terrific gift b/c those are 2 things that every parent needs--and in massive quantities! Thanks for yet again making me feel good about these choices, and congrats on your impending parenthood!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-166991">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> I am childfree but try to be a good friend to those near and dear to me who have chosen to become parents. My standard baby shower gift is a mammoth pack of diapers and/or wipes–the Sam’s Club size. My parent friends all assure me that this is a terrific gift b/c those are 2 things that every parent needs–and in massive quantities! Thanks for yet again making me feel good about these choices, and congrats on your impending parenthood!

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]]> By: Nina http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-163947 Nina Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:19:37 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-163947 <strong>Sn: </strong>Thanks for that link to the baby wearing post. Great reviews and now of course, I'm rethinking the Baby Bjorn. <strong>Theresa: </strong>Ahh... I can already tell it's going to be "a wonderful, crazy, completely unique time" and the baby is still a few months his arrival. Those are wonderful tips you've listed. I'm sure I'll be referring back to them! <strong>S: </strong>Thanks for the rebuttal to Dave's comment. Your points make perfect sense and the crib is definitely more than three years old. The family we purchased from used it for both their kids and they looked to be about four and two. And now, as you suggest, I can subscribe to Consumer Reports for a decade!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-163947">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Sn: Thanks for that link to the baby wearing post. Great reviews and now of course, I’m rethinking the Baby Bjorn.

Theresa: Ahh… I can already tell it’s going to be “a wonderful, crazy, completely unique time” and the baby is still a few months his arrival. Those are wonderful tips you’ve listed. I’m sure I’ll be referring back to them!

S: Thanks for the rebuttal to Dave’s comment. Your points make perfect sense and the crib is definitely more than three years old. The family we purchased from used it for both their kids and they looked to be about four and two. And now, as you suggest, I can subscribe to Consumer Reports for a decade!

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]]> By: S http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-163793 S Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:44:01 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-163793 Regarding Dave's comment about recalls: from what I've seen, most children's product recalls happen within the first couple years a product is on the market. Personally, I would feel safer buying an item 3 or 4 years old (after checking on the manufacturer's website whether it's ever been recalled ) than buying a new item which hasn't been market-tested long enough for recall-worthy problems to appear. Also, Consumer Reports publishes a list of product recalls every month. Buying one big-ticket item (like a crib) used rather than new would save you enough to subscribe to Consumer Reports for a decade, and you get all of CR's other financial and product guidance as well. Some manufacturers also allow you to register an item on their site, so they would notify you directly of recalls, regardless of whether you purchased the item new or used.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-163793">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Regarding Dave’s comment about recalls: from what I’ve seen, most children’s product recalls happen within the first couple years a product is on the market. Personally, I would feel safer buying an item 3 or 4 years old (after checking on the manufacturer’s website whether it’s ever been recalled ) than buying a new item which hasn’t been market-tested long enough for recall-worthy problems to appear. Also, Consumer Reports publishes a list of product recalls every month. Buying one big-ticket item (like a crib) used rather than new would save you enough to subscribe to Consumer Reports for a decade, and you get all of CR’s other financial and product guidance as well.

Some manufacturers also allow you to register an item on their site, so they would notify you directly of recalls, regardless of whether you purchased the item new or used.

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]]> By: Theresa http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-163754 Theresa Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:40:00 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-163754 Nina, First of all, congratulations!! You are in for a wonderful, crazy, completely unique time. As to your topic, I have a one-year-old and I share your confusion and revulsion with the baby-industrial complex. It's the same consumerism that drives much of American mass culture, but with babies there are so many more fears and hopes that are exploited by marketing. My partner & I read some of the baby lit. like Parents magazine because there is some good content, but as for the consumption-oriented "lifestyle" stuff, we just try to laugh at it. It's like "women's magazines". I just view it as not part of the reality I choose to live in. Find the other parents in your neighborhood -- they are a great resource. My neighborhood has a Yahoo group for parents, and free stuff is being given away there all the time. a few other thoughts: -- re. Dave's comment, is the store really going to "reach out" to you if there is a recall? If you fill out the registration forms then the manufacturer might notify you. But the store? We got 2nd-hand car seats (from friends, so we knew they had not been in a crash) and just checked the model/serial numbers on the govt. site to make sure they were ok. -- We didn't get a baby monitor because we had the cradle in our bedroom, and now the crib is next to our bedroom. (one benefit of a small apartment) -- If you stay in hotels when you travel, you can usually get a pack-and-play in the room instead of bringing your own. --For carrying the baby, you might want to wait until you have him/her home, then try out different carriers that you borrow from friends, and get something you, your partner, and the baby all like. Practical things to put on the registry (don't worry about requesting cutesy things, you will get them as well!) --boxes of diapers (not too many newborn-sized; they grow out of them quickly), wipes, formula. It sounds prosaic, but that is where you will spend the most money. --Soft drool bibs, and plain cloth diapers (cheaper than the official "burp rags") --Sleep-sacks are great for bedtime. Definitely do *not* get the crib bedding sets. You need a thin, waterproof matress pad and a bottom sheet. No bumpers, blankets, pillows, etc.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-163754">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Nina,

First of all, congratulations!! You are in for a wonderful, crazy, completely unique time.

As to your topic, I have a one-year-old and I share your confusion and revulsion with the baby-industrial complex. It’s the same consumerism that drives much of American mass culture, but with babies there are so many more fears and hopes that are exploited by marketing.

My partner & I read some of the baby lit. like Parents magazine because there is some good content, but as for the consumption-oriented “lifestyle” stuff, we just try to laugh at it. It’s like “women’s magazines”. I just view it as not part of the reality I choose to live in.

Find the other parents in your neighborhood — they are a great resource. My neighborhood has a Yahoo group for parents, and free stuff is being given away there all the time.

a few other thoughts:

– re. Dave’s comment, is the store really going to “reach out” to you if there is a recall? If you fill out the registration forms then the manufacturer might notify you. But the store? We got 2nd-hand car seats (from friends, so we knew they had not been in a crash) and just checked the model/serial numbers on the govt. site to make sure they were ok.

— We didn’t get a baby monitor because we had the cradle in our bedroom, and now the crib is next to our bedroom. (one benefit of a small apartment)

– If you stay in hotels when you travel, you can usually get a pack-and-play in the room instead of bringing your own.

–For carrying the baby, you might want to wait until you have him/her home, then try out different carriers that you borrow from friends, and get something you, your partner, and the baby all like.

Practical things to put on the registry (don’t worry about requesting cutesy things, you will get them as well!)

–boxes of diapers (not too many newborn-sized; they grow out of them quickly), wipes, formula. It sounds prosaic, but that is where you will spend the most money.

–Soft drool bibs, and plain cloth diapers (cheaper than the official “burp rags”)

–Sleep-sacks are great for bedtime. Definitely do *not* get the crib bedding sets. You need a thin, waterproof matress pad and a bottom sheet. No bumpers, blankets, pillows, etc.

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]]> By: sn http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-163729 sn Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:32:13 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-163729 <a href="http://oneofhismoms.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/babywearing-101/" rel="nofollow">oneofhismoms</a> has a great baby wearing run down. but as others here have said, avoid the bjorn. though it's straightforward to use (my parents love it for that reason) it kills your back. our baby hates the ring sling. for now, the moby wrap seems to be working best for us. absolutely agree with getting second hand stuff. babies grow out of things so quickly, and like or dislike their gear in very individual and idiosyncratic ways. that chomsky quote is great, and dead on.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-163729">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> oneofhismoms has a great baby wearing run down.

but as others here have said, avoid the bjorn. though it’s straightforward to use (my parents love it for that reason) it kills your back. our baby hates the ring sling. for now, the moby wrap seems to be working best for us.

absolutely agree with getting second hand stuff. babies grow out of things so quickly, and like or dislike their gear in very individual and idiosyncratic ways. that chomsky quote is great, and dead on.

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]]> By: Nina http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-163708 Nina Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:57:40 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-163708 <strong>Jennifer: </strong>Thanks for the kind words and yes, I'm doing my best to avoid the lull of Buy, Buy Baby! Funny, but I have a couple of friends that swear by the Baby Bjorn. Jeanine and I worked on our baby registry last night and it was hard to make our selections after we started reading the user reviews. I think we pretty much figured out that every baby is different. So yes, our baby might love the Baby Bjorn and my back might hate it or vice versa. Uggh... <strong>Debra: </strong>Okay, okay... so everyone here hates the Baby Bjorn. Thanks for point out a few alternatives. I'll definitely check them out. And I like the yoga ball idea too. Although, we already have the rocker... but it looks cute in the baby's room! <strong>Moorea: </strong>Thanks for the warm wishes! You've become my second hand role model and inspiration. <strong>S:</strong> "Feed them, change them, love them; babies’ needs are profoundly basic!" I love that and will make this my mommy mantra! <strong>Mary Sue: </strong>We think alike! Thanks for confirming that I'm not crazy for feeling crazy at Babies R Us. <strong>Dave: </strong>Good point about the recall issue... but you sound like a plant from R Us corporate? I'm fine going second hand for certain things...<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-163708">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Jennifer: Thanks for the kind words and yes, I’m doing my best to avoid the lull of Buy, Buy Baby! Funny, but I have a couple of friends that swear by the Baby Bjorn. Jeanine and I worked on our baby registry last night and it was hard to make our selections after we started reading the user reviews. I think we pretty much figured out that every baby is different. So yes, our baby might love the Baby Bjorn and my back might hate it or vice versa. Uggh…

Debra: Okay, okay… so everyone here hates the Baby Bjorn. Thanks for point out a few alternatives. I’ll definitely check them out. And I like the yoga ball idea too. Although, we already have the rocker… but it looks cute in the baby’s room!

Moorea: Thanks for the warm wishes! You’ve become my second hand role model and inspiration.

S: “Feed them, change them, love them; babies’ needs are profoundly basic!” I love that and will make this my mommy mantra!

Mary Sue: We think alike! Thanks for confirming that I’m not crazy for feeling crazy at Babies R Us.

Dave: Good point about the recall issue… but you sound like a plant from R Us corporate? I’m fine going second hand for certain things…

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]]> By: Dave http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-163670 Dave Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:13:26 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-163670 But it seems that Babies R Us provided you some value - since you used it as a point of reference to guide your Graig's List purchases? Also, I wonder if Craig's List will reach out to you if your second or third hand items are ever recalled?<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-163670">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> But it seems that Babies R Us provided you some value – since you used it as a point of reference to guide your Graig’s List purchases? Also, I wonder if Craig’s List will reach out to you if your second or third hand items are ever recalled?

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]]> By: Mombian » Blog Archive » What Are Your Best Baby Gear Ideas? http://queercents.com/2008/09/29/fending-off-the-consumer-economy-expecting-a-newborn-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-163595 Mombian » Blog Archive » What Are Your Best Baby Gear Ideas? Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:53:45 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/?p=3795#comment-163595 [...] a baby in December, and wrote today about her meltdown at Babies R Us and her concerns about what to get for her new arrival. She was kind enough to mention that she found my list of baby gear recommendations [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-163595">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] a baby in December, and wrote today about her meltdown at Babies R Us and her concerns about what to get for her new arrival. She was kind enough to mention that she found my list of baby gear recommendations [...]

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