On the Purchasing of Baby Stuff (32w6d)

When I talked to A. yesterday I told her I'd spent the morning at the scary place.  Of course she knew exactly what I meant:  Babies R Us.  Mostly I wanted to get a sense of what they had that I might need and whether or not it was worth my while to have things shipped via Amazon instead.  I did not need 15 sales clerks asking me if I needed any help while I perused the stroller aisle.  (Needless to say, I will not be capable of going to a local mom-2-mom sale held at a fairground)

What I came home with:  a new cover for our old boppy, one crib sheet (both organic), a package of baby washclothes/towels.  I know, I said I wasn't purchasing baby stuff, but it was just so cute.

The scariest thing of all was the sight of the preemie clothes (I say this as someone born at 33 weeks, who was dressed in infant clothes about 5 sizes too large).  But A told me that if/when he needs them, she will take LG and they will pick some things out.  Isn't she great?

What I decided:  I am only going back there to purchase a crib mattress and maybe I'll let someone else do that for me.  BRU really is scary.

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I'm also fascinated by the way that consumer decisions are, in a way, parenting decisions and vice versa.  Like, for example, I'm not using LG's infant car seat because it's 8 years old, and you're not supposed to use those things after 5 years.  I mean, why not use a newer model, esp if I don't have to pay for it (BPF gave me one of the barely used ones from her twins)?  On the other hand, A. offered me a barely used crib mattress, and I've read myths about secondhand mattresses and SIDS, so that's off the table.  My lovely Pottery Barn (recalled) spindle crib?  Well, let's just say I'll make the phone call to see if I can get one of those adapter kits to make it non-dropsided, but in the end, if it passes inspection, I'm using the damn thing either way.

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Trying to decide if I need/want a Pack n Play thing, which I did not have for LG, but we were living in a small apartment.  In a two story house, I probably want some place to stash and change the baby on the first floor.  For the year I changed LG's diapers in our house, we either went upstairs or I used a pad on the floor, but she was a toddler, not a newborn, and obviously she napped in her crib.  Not something I really need to buy new, but it might be handy.  What do you think?

I don't want to spend a ton of money on baby stuff, but I also feel like this kid is so wanted, and it's been eons since I bought baby things, and he's not even going to have his own bedroom (as LG keeps reminding me).  So shouldn't he have a little monogramed towel, like she did?  Even if that means I need to tell Pottery Barn what his name is, before I really believe I might have a healthy baby who can use a monogramed towel?

Sigh.  I was hoping at some point this would be more fun than it is terrifying.  Right now it's a pretty even mix.