Have you seen.......?

When we had our younguns, and when our younguns had younguns; buggies, furniture and the like were family heir looms that were used for a couple generations. New stuff would be added if some rich relative per chance saw favor on a particular first born or whatever --(then that piece would join the pass around). Baby stuff has always been relatively expensive.

Mothercare is the marks & sparks of baby stuff though. & they put the prices up since the government came up with the £500 maternity grant, for each baby.

A maternity grant (also known as a Sure Start maternity grant) is a fixed amount of £500 to help people on a low income buy clothes and equipment for a new born baby. It does not have to be repaid. It does not matter what you use the money for.

You can get a maternity grant if you or your partner is receiving Income Support, Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance when you claim. Some people in receipt of Child Tax Credit may also be able to get a maternity grant if their award of Child Tax Credit is high enough. If you are getting Working Tax Credit with an extra amount because of disability you will be entitled to a maternity grant. Your capital (for example, savings) does not affect a maternity grant.

You can claim a maternity grant if you or your partner is at least 29 weeks’ pregnant, or has given birth, adopted a baby or had a child by a surrogate mother within the last three months. You can also claim a maternity grant for a dependent child who is pregnant or who has given birth in the last three months. To claim a maternity grant, you also have to show that you have received advice from a health care professional.

If you are an asylum seeker getting government asylum support, you cannot get a maternity grant but you can ask for a one-off payment of £300. You must apply before your baby is two weeks old.

Well I had my children in the eighties and there was no way I could have afforded to pay hundreds for a buggy. I bought most of my things second-hand from our local paper and they were immaculate and I even managed to sell them on after for what I'd paid for them. I was given some of the larger items when I had my first baby by family and friends that they'd used for their babies. There was one crib in particular that was passed right around the family, we all took great care of it when it was our turn to borrow it so it always looked like new. I suppose you'd call it recycling these days. The trouble is now baby items are more like fashion items and some new Mum's want the latest design and colours and that's why these companies can charge such ridiculous prices for them.

I have an 8 week old grand daughter so I do know how much baby stuff costs now.

My eldest sons pram cost £11.19.6 when he moved on to a push chair (a buggy now) £4

I have a three year old and his buggy only cost £30 - new from Mothercare - it's just a basic model, but it's fine.

You don't have to spend all that much on babies/toddlers.

My MIL bought the cot and that only cost about £100.

I have 3 boys from a marriage, eldest (first born) had all new, second mostly new, third was 8 years later so new again, then at 42 had a girl, all new again, the cot was £350, but I have to say I bought quality stuff so it was expensive, not have a little boy, not planned, so it has cost a fortune again, but I didn't go as daft, bought more sensibly, anyway, that is how to make life expensive! lol

Mothercare does not care for Mothers I find.

Way back in the 70s it was just the same. I shopped around and bought some new and some secondhand.

There are so many good bargains on ebay that you can have a field day.

I am getting quite poetical in my answers...!!!

I bought a lovely Silver Cross coach built pram when I was expecting my first baby. It was my friends who was selling it. It was then used for my second child and I could get both children on it plus all my shopping. I then sold it on to someone else, who used it for her two kids. As far as clothes is concerned, I had two boys with two years between them so my youngest had my eldests hand-me-downs, but not all of the time.

I helped my Granddaughter buy baby items. It is a lot different than when I was young. Everything is very high priced. Babies now have fully furnished beautiful nurseries with items we never dreamed of having for our babies. I especially like the baby registries they have at baby stores now.

My grand daughter was very fortunate she received so many gifts at her baby shower we needed a u-haul trailer to take the gifts home.

Hi Tc & Bj......I've really had a chuckle at some of the answers you've had....you both kept THIS QUIET from me.....LOL LOL LOL...... hope sprog finds all the info she needs for her coursework....

On the cost of Prams etc, I remember ordering my first one from a posh pram shop nearly 40yr ago, a beautiful Silver Cross, but it was a good job they let me take in weekly payments till it was paid for, and I made it in time before baby was born...lol....... I bought my Granddaughters pram 2 yrs ago, that cost me £600...I was flabbergastered at that...and guess what, they allowed instalments too, lol...good job...phew!!!!