Shop helps parents bring up baby on a budget

Expectant Mums and Dads across Bristol are increasingly turning to second-hand  clothing and equipment as they struggle to bring up a baby on a budget.

A recent survey by Moneysupermarket.com revealed that parents could  spend   between £1,600 and £7,200 on essentials in the first year alone - with some respondents claiming they had put off having a child because of the high costs involved.

Now, a new shop has opened in St John's Lane, Bedminster to meet the demands of parents for more affordable baby needs.

 

Nicky Manners, who manages the Our Baby Needs shop, said many parents are struggling to juggle the bills for their new-borns with their own must-have selection of items.

Nicky said: "We have opened with a range of both new and second-hand goods. Because baby things are only needed for a short time there are high quality goods to be had second-hand.

"People coming in to the shop assume it's all brand new but it isn't - and that's why some items are half the price they might be new."

"Times are tough enough  for the more well-off families, let alone those struggling to provide babies and toddlers with the best possible start on one wage or maybe benefits alone."

In many cases the basic equipment and baby clothing they see advertised is simply out of their price range, buying top quality second hand goods at a fraction of the original price is a great way of keeping costs down while not having to compromise on quality or style.

 "A sensible approach to budgeting is vital especially when you consider babies might only need  basic equipment and clothing for two or three months before they have grown out of it."

Nicky, who runs Our Baby Needs with Hayley Sansom, said they are aiming to provide a wide range of necessary items for bringing up your baby on a budget, with some of the bigger items such as prams and cots carrying a more affordable price tag.

 

Nicky said: "We want people to know that they can come to us to find these essentials, that they don't need to scour car boot sales or take risks on internet purchases. We provide copies of manuals wherever possible and ensure we provide their babies and children with clean, tidy and safe brand names."

 

Our Baby Needs  stocks  a range of top brand secondhand buggies, car seats and cots which have been reconditioned and cleaned for the all-important  good as new look. Typical price comparisons are:

 

Graco Three-Wheel All Terrain: New £210; Our Baby Needs £115

Silver Cross Linear Travel System: New £410; Our Baby Needs £195

Car seats New: Typical model up to £129; Our Baby Needs: £40

Cots New: Typical popular cot up to £200; Our Baby Needs: £95

 

Details of the new Our Baby Needs store can be found on www.ourbabyneeds.com  or call 0117 9717884.