When to Start Buying Baby Stuff: A Complete Guide

So, you’ve recently found out you’re going to be having a baby – congrats! You probably can’t wait to start buying baby stuff ready for your little one’s arrival. But how early is too early?

Well, there’s no hard and fast rule. But here are some useful pointers if you’re wondering when to start buying baby stuff.

When should you start buying baby stuff during pregnancy?

There’s no set timescale for when you should start buying baby stuff during pregnancy.

Many people don’t feel comfortable buying until the second trimester – or after the 12th week of pregnancy – as that’s when you’re likely to start telling people and relaxing into the pregnancy. However, there’s no right answer and it’s all going to be about what’s right for you.

Here are a few things to consider.

• Pregnancy is long. You’ll generally be pregnant for around 9 months, so you’ll have plenty of time to browse baby items. There’s no need to rush.

• Consider the gender. If you’re planning on finding out the gender of your baby, you might prefer to wait until after (for many people, this is at around 20 weeks). That way, you can look in a more focused way.

• Hand-me-downs. Once you start telling your family and friends about your pregnancy, they might offer you hand-me-downs and gifts. If you start buying too early, you’ll risk paying for things you could otherwise get for free.

• Sign up to mailing lists. Signing up to baby brands’ mailing lists nice and early could mean you start receiving discounts by the time you’re ready to buy.

• Cash flow. Baby things can be expensive. By starting to collect items early, you could spread the cost out over a number of months which might be kinder on your bank balance.

• Sales. If you feel comfortable browsing early, you’ll be able to keep an eye on items that you like, so you can catch when they go on sale – which can help financially. In fact, if you save items to Moonsift, we’ll notify you if the price drops!

• Gifts. When it’s time for your baby shower and baby’s arrival, you’ll get inundated with gifts. Instead of buying early, you could create a baby registry so you don’t double up on purchases.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to looking early. But ultimately, there’s no need to rush into buying things very early in pregnancy. 

Most babies arrive within a week on either side of their expected due date, which would mean between weeks 39 and 41. As long as you have the essentials by around week 35, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about (although bear in mind that twins and other multiples tend to arrive early).

At the same time, if you do want to start looking as early as the first trimester, that’s fine too. The great thing about Moonsift is that you can save your favorites for later. So, if you do feel it’s too early to buy baby stuff quite yet, you can still enjoy browsing and collating those teeny tiny baby things ready to purchase nearer your due date.

Can I buy baby stuff before 12 weeks?

Yes, you can start buying baby things whenever you feel comfortable. However, many parents-to-be would prefer to wait until after 12 weeks before buying those first baby items.

Why? Well, sadly, among people who know they’re pregnant, around 1 in 8 pregnancies end in miscarriage (according to the NHS). 

After 12 weeks, the risk of miscarriage drops massively. So, this is when you can generally start to relax and enjoy your pregnancy (aside from all those annoying pregnancy symptoms, of course!). And that often includes starting to get things ready for your baby’s arrival.

If you’re wondering whether to buy baby stuff before 12 weeks, it’s worth thinking about the risks – the last thing you want if your pregnancy doesn’t work out is to be surrounded by baby stuff. But then again, the odd memento (like a nice babygrow) might be something you want to keep to remember your pregnancy by. Everyone is different, so there’s no right or wrong.

If you’re still not sure, we’d recommend saving those bigger purchases, in particular, until after the first trimester is over. However, there’s no harm in looking!

Why not use Moonsift to save any baby items you like in one place, ready for you to buy when you’re a bit further along in your pregnancy? Not only is it free, but you can share your collections with family and friends as a baby registry. That way, they can tick things off your list when it’s baby shower time – or, even more exciting, when baby arrives!

What to buy during pregnancy

If you have a baby shower – and definitely after little one’s arrival – you’ll be inundated with gifts for the baby. So, you don’t want to overdo it with the shopping during pregnancy. 

That said, there are definitely a few things you’ll want to buy before baby arrives. Here are some ideas.

For pregnancy

It’s not all about the baby – let’s not forget about you! There are lots of things that can help to make pregnancy more comfortable.

• Maternity clothes that make you feel good.

• A pregnancy pillow to help you sleep more comfortably.

• Bubble bath so you can ease those aching joints and get some TLC.

• Pregnancy supplements to help keep you fit and healthy.

• A pregnancy belt to ease the strain on your back and joints.

• A birthing ball to bounce on during pregnancy and labor.

For the birth

Remember to get hold of some bits for labor and delivery too. Here are some things to consider.

• A TENS machine for pain relief.

• A fan or water spray to cool you down.

• Something loose and comfortable to wear.

• Lip balm to stop your lips from getting dry.

• Hair tiebobbles to keep your hair out of the way.

• Drinks and snacks to keep your energy up.

This pregnancy collection has all the must-have items to help you prepare for your baby’s big arrival.

For baby’s arrival

Finally, the bit you’ve been waiting for! Here are some essentials you’ll want to have around for baby’s arrival.

• Bottles if you’re bottle feeding or planning on expressing breast milk.

• Nipple balm, nipple shields and a breast pump if you’re planning on breastfeeding.

• Nursing or normal (larger) bras (your breasts will be bigger than usual).

• Breast pads for soaking up leaking breast milk.

• Baby clothes to keep your little one warm and comfortable.

• A car seat and strollerpram  for getting your baby out and about.

• A baby carrier or sling to make it easier to carry your baby around.

• A hat, mittens and booties for your baby to wear outdoors if the weather is cold.

• A sun hat for your baby to wear outdoors if it’s hot or the sun is bright.

• A bassinet or cribA moses basket or cot for your baby to sleep in.

• A cellular blanket to wrap your baby in.

• DiapersNappies and wipes to avoid messy accidents.

• A changing padmat for changing your baby’s nappy.

• Muslin squares to wipe up after your baby.

• Cotton balls wool for cleaning your baby.

• Toys like a bouncer or activity gym to keep your baby entertained.

Remember, you can keep track of all your pregnancy and newborn essentials right here on Moonsift – and even share it with your family and friends as a baby registry if you want to. In fact, we’ve made a start for you. Head over to our newborn collection for some inspiration.

Pregnancy gift ideas

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be challenging! Treating someone who’s pregnant to a gift or two can be a great way to keep their spirits up. Here are some pregnancy gift ideas.

• A pregnancy journal to document the journey.

• A keepsake box for storing mementos such as ultrasound photos.

• A pregnancy massage to ease aching joints and promote relaxation.

• A maternity photoshoot to document the pregnancy.

• A gift basket packed with snacks and treats that are safe during pregnancy.

Pregnancy registry on Moonsift

As you can see, from pregnancy right the way through to when baby appears, there’s no shortage of things you’ll need. The best way to keep track of it all is to start a pregnancy or baby registry on Moonsift.

Creating a baby registry on Moonsift is completely free. With a universal ‘save’ button, you can add items from any store in the world and collate them all in an easy-to-manage place. 

Simply send the link to family and friends and they’ll be able to tick items off your list (and leave a gift message) to help you get ready for baby’s arrival. In other words, they’ll know exactly what you want and you won’t ever have to worry about getting three of the same thing (trust us, it’s a real problem!). 

Create your pregnancy shopping list and baby registry for free.

FAQs

When should you start shopping for baby?

There’s no right or wrong when it comes to when you should start shopping for baby. However, many parents-to-be like to wait until after their 12-week scan, which is when you might start sharing your news with family and friends.

When should you buy things for a baby?

Try to make sure you’ve bought all the essentials for your baby by around week 35 of pregnancy. This should give you plenty of leeway as most babies arrive between weeks 39 and 41. Just bear in mind that twins and other multiples tend to arrive early.

When should you start getting things ready for baby?

The NHS recommends getting Pack your hospital bag packed at least 3 weeks ahead of your due date, so this could be a good goal for getting other things ready for baby too.

That said, it’s recommended that your baby sleeps in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months. So, you won’t necessarily need to get their nursery ready until months after their arrival. Unless you want to be organized of course!

What is the first thing I should buy my baby?

The first thing your baby will need are bottles (if you’re planning on bottle feeding), nappies and a few basic clothes – plus a car seat if you need to drive your baby home from hospital. So, if you’re a practical person, these can be a good place to start.

That said, if you’re excited to buy baby stuff early on in pregnancy, you could start with a cute babygrow or soft toy. This could be just enough to keep you going until you’re ready to buy more bigger ticket items nearer to your baby’s arrival.

Head over to our guide on what baby items you should buy first for more ideas.

When is the best time to start buying baby clothes?

If you’re having a baby shower, it could be worth waiting until afterwards to buy baby clothes, as you’re sure to get lots as gifts. This way, you can make sure you’re not doubling up.

Either way, we’d recommend buying just the essential newborn clothing as you’ll get inundated with cute baby clothes once your little one makes an appearance!

Is 13 weeks too early to buy baby things?

Not necessarily! By 13 weeks, you’ll have probably had your first scan and started telling your friends and family about your bun in the oven. So, if you’re itching to start buying baby things, you should now be able to do so without worrying.

Is 20 weeks too early to buy baby stuff?

No. 20 weeks can be a good time to buy baby stuff. After all, it’s around halfway through your pregnancy. Plus, many parents-to-be discover their baby’s gender at around this point – so, you can now buy things in pink or blue if you want to!

Is it bad luck to buy baby stuff early?

Some people believe that buying baby stuff early is bad luck, or tempting fate. However, there’s no science behind this.

Your baby’s health won’t be affected by these kinds of myths. But if you feel safer waiting, that’s fine too.

You can always collate your favorite items in a Moonsift collection to buy when you’re ready.