Setting up for a baby looks expensive because everything is presented at once. Split into what is fixed, what is flexible and what can wait, it becomes far more manageable.
The fixed costs
Four items you will need, and where the money genuinely has to go:
- Car seat. Non-negotiable and legally required. Every compliant seat meets the same standard, so paying more buys convenience features, not more safety.
- Cot and mattress. The mattress is where not to economise, because firmness and fit are safety matters. The cot frame has more price flexibility.
- Pram. The item you will use most days for years. Worth spending on if your footpaths are rough or you use public transport.
- Nappies and feeding. Ongoing rather than upfront, but budget for them from week one.
Where spending more is justified
- The pram, if you walk a lot. Wheels, suspension and fold quality are what you are paying for, and you feel the difference daily.
- The cot mattress. A firm, well-made mattress holds its shape for years and can serve a second child.
- A convertible cot, if you want it to become a toddler bed. Higher upfront, cheaper over four years.
- A double electric pump, if you are returning to work and pumping daily. Time saved is real.
Where cheaper carries no downside
- Newborn clothing. Outgrown in weeks, often stained. Buy plain and few.
- Change table. A chest of drawers with a change mat on top works identically and lasts longer.
- Bath. A basic tub does the same job as an elaborate one.
- Toys for the first months. Newborns need faces and voices, not gadgets.
- Nappy bag. Any bag with pockets.
What can genuinely wait
Buying these before the birth is the most common way to overspend:
- High chair, not needed until around six months
- Carrier, best chosen with the baby present
- Baby monitor, unnecessary while room sharing
- Toys, books and playmats
- Clothing beyond the first size
Ways to reduce the total
- Packages, but only if you wanted every item in them.
- Hand-me-downs, which are fine for clothing, wraps and most furniture. Be cautious with mattresses and car seats, and check cots against current standards.
- Hiring a capsule for the first six months rather than buying.
- Buying the second size up rather than stockpiling newborn clothing.
- Asking for practical gifts. People want to help, and nappies, wraps and vouchers are far more useful than another outfit.
A sensible sequence
Buy the car seat and sleep space first, around 28 to 30 weeks. Add the pram once you have measured your boot. Bath, clothing and feeding equipment in the final weeks. Everything else after the baby arrives, when you know what you actually need.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying for a second child in advance?
Rarely. Store what you have properly instead, and check cot and car seat standards and expiry dates before reusing.
Do expensive prams last longer?
Often, though the bigger difference is ride quality and fold. A well-maintained mid-range pram will still see a child to three or four.
What is the single biggest saving?
Not buying things you do not need. The second is buying the large items as a package, when the package genuinely matches your list.
Work through it with us
Our Peakhurst team can help you prioritise what to buy now and what to leave until later.
General information only, and not financial advice. For product safety requirements see Product Safety Australia (ACCC).