Since we're totally sure we want an only child, I've thought about how it might not be worthwhile for us to get tons of baby gear. I don't want to deal with getting rid of all that stuff, and there aren't a lot of families with babies in our area or babies in our own families!
If you knew you weren't having a second child to save things for, what would you not get? For instance, I've always wanted to cloth diaper, but am not sure I can justify it.
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
I don't know about the rest of the gear, but even with only 1, cloth diapering is way cheaper. 
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
I think now with lots of consignment stores and facebook groups you can resell stuff pretty easily.
persimmon / 1427 posts
I think if we were only going to have one child, I'd borrow (or buy used) as much baby gear as possible (things like bouncers, swings, exersaucers). Basically anything big that isn't used for more than a few months.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
I'll be hitting up garage sales for toys and clothes. We bought an IKEA crib + dresser that saved us $$ and aside from the must-haves of stroller and car seat (which hopefully we are getting at a shower!) we won't be buying much new or full-price. I know we won't save it, so I don't want to spend oodles of money. Target clearance section has been fun for picking up stuff!
GOLD / papaya / 10206 posts
I would buy exactly what we bought for her if she was the only one or if she had a sibling in her future, but I felt everything we bought was necessary. The only gear we bought and didn't use was the bouncy chair, she had no interest in it.
eggplant / 11824 posts
We're 99% sure we're only having one, and we're trying to resell as much stuff as we can via online and local consignment sales. I also give some used clothes to friends, and the rest I donate to a women's shelter, which I can deduct on my taxes.
Even though we are only planning on having 1, we're ended up buying so.much.stuff.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
We got a lot of second hand toys. I bought good gear and I plan on selling it as soon as DD grows out of it.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
We plan on having more than one but we still bought things used and at consignment shops, on clearance etc...
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I would probably still buy gender neutral gear for better resale value and I would probably still cloth diaper and sell ithem later!
pomegranate / 3383 posts
I would also get all of the same gear..I try my hardest to avoid buying baby stuff full-price because of the short lifespan.
bananas / 9227 posts
I'm with @Sammyfab, I'd get all the same gear. I tried to only buy necessities and almost every single item has been used, even if it's just for a short while. You'd be surprised to see how a 20-min break, every now and then can save your sanity and how much you'd actually pay for some of the things that offer that kind of amusement for LO. For instance, DD's infant bouncer was very short-lived, but man was that thing a lifesaver for us at the time! We wouldn't have been able to eat at the same time otherwise!
honeydew / 7916 posts
Oh wow, you guys have so much helpful advice! I'm so glad I asked and didn't just try to guess!
apricot / 460 posts
@spaniellove: Also, I know there are companies that have cloth diapering services. We have a couple here in my city. That way you could use them but not have to purchase/resale them. Just an idea 
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
I'm only having one! Here's what we did:
Used: Bassinet, changing table, toys, jumperoo, clothing from consignment sales.
New: $100 crib and $26 high chair from Ikea (both great quality items but not hugely expensive).
Most of our really expensive things (stroller, car seat, glider) were purchased for us. We registered for marginally priced items, not the most expensive items.
We plan on continuing to buy used - toys, bikes, clothing, books - while we can. I just sold a huge car-full of stuff (all of the items I had purchased used or been gifted) at a consignment sale. For some reason I'm still hung up on my snug-a-bunny swing. It was so expensive, I feel bad selling it. And kind of don't want to let it go yet. Haha. Attachment issues, it helped us through those first 3 months of our daughter's life.
pear / 1664 posts
We're just having one. Short list of what we ARENT getting:
-expensive crib (ours cost about $100; we have my husband's childhood bed she will sleep in when she outgrows)
-changing table (just using a dresser)
-baby bathtub (family and husband say we don't need - will run out and buy one if we do).
-fancy baby gates that bolt in (simple cheap ones will be fine)
-standalone high chair (got a 'space saver')
-a 'stroller travel system' of the hundreds-of-dollars variety
-a mini van or large SUV!
We are borrowing a swing and other 'big items' from a friend who has a few kids and intends to have at least 1 more. We are going to avoid buying large toys or play centers that she will grow out of quickly, unless we find it's something she really loves and/or it's found on sale/handmedown.
I also got handmedown clothes from friends, and what I've bought new has been on deal sites like babysteals, or off the Target clearance rack.
We are disposable diapering but that's more personal preference than financial.
Honestly, the big thing I've spent way more than I expected to on is maternity clothing. I got so big, so fast. And I'm tall so I can't borrow from friends without feeling like I'm waiting for a flood. Our thrift stores here didn't have anything. And since I have to work professionally, I can't wear yoga pants every day. (I actually tried. It was not looked upon well.)
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