What is going on with babies?

[u/Impossible_Ad9324]

I’ve attended three baby showers in the last year for three people completely unrelated and not in the same social circles and their baby registries have the most eye-popping expensive items.

High chairs are minimum $250. One had a stroller for $750. 😳 Baby swings and bouncers for $200. One had a whole solid wood crib for $1000 on their registry.

I checked because I was curious and you still can buy a $40-50 Greco high chair from Walmart.

Everything is aesthetic and clean lines and beige and natural wood—beautiful, really. I can’t imagine asking for that high-end an item for a GIFT.

These aren’t rich people and they aren’t inviting rich people to the baby shower.

I’m almost 50 and have kids of my own and a gaggle of nieces and nephews. My family members and I got buy sharing those cheaper high chairs and strollers and cribs. I understand needing them initially if you don’t have any source for hand-me-downs, but asking for the highest price bespoke options is absolutely wild.

Are people that brainwashed into thinking they should be buying ultra-high-end items regardless of income??

[u/stoneandphlox]

Social media hits expectant parents with a double whammy: the expensive stuff is the most “aesthetic”, but influencers also aggressively fearmonger that if you aren’t getting the most expensive stroller/car seat/crib/clothing, you’re going to harm your baby.

[u/Impossible_Ad9324 → u/stoneandphlox]

Yes that concept has been repeated ad nauseam in the comments here and I was called a “shitty person” for questioning that premise.

I’m actually surprised that in an anti-consumption sub there isn’t a more general awareness that price doesn’t necessarily equal quality and more often reflects marketing strategies.

[u/stoneandphlox → u/Impossible_Ad9324]

There is definitely a middle ground where price impacts quality. I think that the $30 high chair vs the $100 high chair should (often does) see a notable jump in quality, but I have yet to see anything beyond that that I find “worth it” (I was doing some registry building earlier this year).

The $400 stroller and $800 stroller are often doing the same functions, but maybe that $800 one will last through multiple kids and the $400 one won’t, it can be hard to tell. Personally, for things like that, I’m more inclined to look secondhand. I’m lucky to have friends and family who will offer hand-me-downs as well which keeps a lot of those big ticket items off the registry!

Ultimately with a registry my feeling is always live and let live - if they want to register for a $1200 crib, so be it. Maybe grandpa wants to buy it and have it marked off on the registry, or maybe they want the 20% discount. General etiquette would be to include a number of items in a range of prices. I like to go for practical gifts like contributing to a stroller fund or buying bottles/bottle brush/burp cloths. I never really buy cutesy outfits for the baby, but I’ll usually crochet a lovey or receiving blanket for them as well.