To thrift or not to thrift

that is the question.  Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous prices, or to take arms against seas of overcharging and to seek second hand finds...

OK, that's enough of that.  The basic point of this is that I am trying to keep a fine balance between saving money at a time when we really need to conserve funds, and also not scrimping on things that are vital to the Bun's health and safety.  Some of it seems a little obvious, like when I find things in thrift stores with tags still intact, or when you are dealing with clothes that are easily washed, plastic toys that can be sanitized, or toys for older stages when their automatic response isn't putting things directly into the mouth.

However, other items have me scratching my head.  I was cruising craigslist for a long time looking for a second hand crib until I read the multiple, all caps lines in Baby Bargains that warned me NOT TO DO THAT.  EVER.  I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD THE DEAL IS.  Ok, message received.  Ditto on swings, since you can't be sure about the structural integrity of something that has moving parts that you may leave your child in for an extended period of time, or breast pumps, because stranger's old milk residue = gross.   Fine, little hard to spend big bucks on multiple items, but that's parenthood.  Get used to it.

But what about things like changing pads or strollers?  Things that are going to be used by us in the same way that others have used them, in which you will always supervise a kid's use, which can be cleaned with some effort, that can be obtained on major discount?  I hope so, because I have already bought a couple of big ticket items and celebrated the major deals, complete with self high fives and minor bragging.  I'd hate to think that was silly of me ;-).

For now I am hoping that the registry yields lots of useful items so that we can both save money and have nice, new things that are safe for the Bun.  So far family has been wonderfully generous and she is off to a great start, we are such lucky people!